Child’s class told to self isolate/ lone parent

[Givemeabreak88]

I got a phone call this morning to say my sons class has to self isolate but I have 2 other children at school, they asked me if I have anyone else that can bring them (I don’t I’m a lone parent) they said they would call me later to discuss what can be arranged , has this happened to anyone else and what is the outcome??

The 'we'll get back to you' will have been them finding somebody senior enough to say 'as she can't bring the isolating child out or leave them home alone, we need to authorise the absence of the other two children/code them as authorised or as if they are self isolating as well'.

@Givemeabreak88

I am sure they are useful but as I’ve said I haven’t actually heard of them outside of MN, I’ve heard of class Facebook groups which I did look for in the past as I thought that could be useful to get information from but I couldn’t find anything at all, (just a group for adults who had attended the school as children)

They can be a pain but you can keep them muted. They are useful if you have a question about homeworks. Also situations like this! We have one for all the dc classes plus for football and dance class. I keep them on mute to be honest and just look at them when it suits me.

yay... glad it's sorted.
Now get their 'glad to let you keep them off' comment in writing.

Will they send home work? I wouldn't be happy about the dc missing 2 weeks of school without some structured learning sent home.

I'm pleased it's sorted but with a self isolating child myself I am surprised how many parents (from my child's class) have made the decision to keep their other child off, seemingly just because of drop off/pick up issues. I have offered to help out one other family, and everyone lives within 10 minutes walk of the school so it really doesn't seem a big deal (admittedly many schools will have much wider catchment areas). Having done homeschool with both children in the spring, I found it such hard work and tbh having to homeschool just the one is so much easier. More to the point, both would prefer to be at school than stuck at home for 14 days. I see no reason to not send the other child - granted some families will be stuck but in the vast majority of cases there will be some kind of workable solution.

Just my opinion. Obviously everyone's family set up is different.

My children are thrilled to be home for 2 weeks 😬 one class was already sent home and all 3 of them were sad it wasn’t their class, they have their wish now!

@Frazzled2207

I'm pleased it's sorted but with a self isolating child myself I am surprised how many parents (from my child's class) have made the decision to keep their other child off, seemingly just because of drop off/pick up issues. I have offered to help out one other family, and everyone lives within 10 minutes walk of the school so it really doesn't seem a big deal (admittedly many schools will have much wider catchment areas). Having done homeschool with both children in the spring, I found it such hard work and tbh having to homeschool just the one is so much easier. More to the point, both would prefer to be at school than stuck at home for 14 days. I see no reason to not send the other child - granted some families will be stuck but in the vast majority of cases there will be some kind of workable solution.

Just my opinion. Obviously everyone's family set up is different.

I agree. My 7 year old has just done 2 weeks isolation while my 5 year old is still going to school and it was so much easier homeschooling just her than it was trying to support them both before the summer (I have a toddler too). Also the 5 year old would have been well pissed off to have been off school unnecessarily! She’s already had 2 short periods of isolation when awaiting test results for a cough and that was enough!

Maybe you missed my comment but my children are very pleased, not all kids like school mine would rather be at home!

it's tough to do. glad they are pleased though. good luck with getting them to do work.

Fab, hope the home schooling is successful!

Self isolation rules are bizarre. I have to have a COVID test then self isolate prior to a medical procedure in a couple of weeks time. But my kids have to go to school and I have to get them there/back? Surely if my aim is to remain covid free that's a funny way of going about it?

Just to let you know, you are far from the only person who has had to do this, OP. It is a really tricky situation for a lot of parents (not just single parents but those with partners who work away or on shifts etc).

A lot of people don't have anyone to help with the school run consistently for 2 weeks - it's not exactly easy if friends work, for example.

When you go back to school I would ask others how they managed, the problem is this could keep happening, and then all your children will miss a lot of school!

@Givemeabreak88

Maybe you missed my comment but my children are very pleased, not all kids like school mine would rather be at home!

That's a shame. I wonder where they've picked that attitude up?

It does rather sound like you were hoping no solution could be found OP. Home schooling is a valid choice, but you didn't have to be so aggressive with posters trying to help you with getting your kids to school, which is what we thought you wanted.

@Givemeabreak88

My children are thrilled to be home for 2 weeks 😬 one class was already sent home and all 3 of them were sad it wasn’t their class, they have their wish now!

Agree with others that this is really odd, are they having a lot of trouble at school? Will you be actively homeschooling so they are keeping up with the class? How will you manage work and income?

My older two would be happy to be out of school for 2 weeks but would be a lot less excited about being stuck inside the front gate and doing homeschooling all day while I juggle the needs of three kids by myself.
Since you don't have the number of even one parent from any of their year groups I also assume that the ones who aren't officially isolating aren't going to be having any friends swing by for a hello from the gate or a walk to the park with a friend and their parent.

It does seem that your life is really isolated (covid or not) which can be fine if it's just you, but if you're alone with 3 DCs and your only local support is your disabled mum, you might need to.make sure that their community widens, to helo you and them have more people who are there for them, and especially backup in an emergency. I've been there and it is hard work, especially if you're not naturally very extroverted, but it is beneficial to everyone to foster better ties with some of those around you.

Best of luck with the isolation.

This thread sorts the can-dos from the just can't-dos, doesn't it!

@Frazzled2207 based on our school, where this is an issue, I think the answer is that a lot of people keeping all the kids home when one is isolating are either not actually doing meaningful homeschooling or not doing meaningful isolating or both. Not all of course! But many. It's an added pain for teachers, having to perpetually catch kids up.

Not sure why this is still going on but it’s probably the novelty of having time off school, my older two are just excited for the break, and my youngest has never liked school ever since he started reception, that’s never changed and I’ve address it with the school many times but they just say he is fine at school. 🤔 anyway the older two said it’s a holiday so unless your kids don’t like the holidays (which I find that seriously hard to believe) then actually I think that’s strange as well? I’m sure the novelty will wear off when they realise it means they are stuck inside for two weeks And it won’t be like the usual holidays. I’m not sure what people on here want from me other than to tear my life apart? My child has been told to self isolate for something that I didn’t choose, it was the phone call I was dreading! And why do people keep banging on about me being isolated, I don’t just have my mum, most people I know work or have their own children I’ve said that before They cannot commit to doing the school run for me for two week straight; I don’t think that’s unusual actually?! I couldn’t do that for anyone. And I don’t work (im still at home with my youngest) so that’s not an issue.

I can't get over PrivateD comment that why would being a single parent be harder than 2 that work?

Has to be up there with the stupidest things I've seen on mumsnet. Clueless.

We've never had Whatsapp groups either so they can't be that common

I think you've had a really rough ride on this thread OP.
My children were so pleased to return to school in September and have been really enjoying being back.
I know though that both of them would be thrilled to have a few weeks at home with me, even if it doesn't mean leaving the house like we would in the holidays.
There's nothing weird or concerning about children who are happy for a few weeks at home, doing a bit of homeschooling, lots of board games, some movies, some cooking, many hours of Roblox.

anyway the older two said it’s a holiday so unless your kids don’t like the holidays (which I find that seriously hard to believe) then actually I think that’s strange as well?

My 7 and 5 year olds got a full days worth of school work sent every day when we were self isolating for 2 weeks so it was nothing like a holiday!

who is in your support bubble? can't they help?

Cuppaand2biscuits

Thank you! Don’t know what’s wrong with people on here but they love to insists everything is weird or not normal. First it’s not normal to not have anyone who can commit to doing the school run for two weeks, which I think is a massive ask, the pick up and drop offs are staggered as well which means a lot of waiting around in the cold and rain. Then it’s unusual to not have any school mum friends beyond a quick hello or small talk despite the many many threads where people say it’s perfectly normal, then it’s weird to not have a class WhatsApp despite others saying their school also doesn’t, now it’s weird the children are excited at having two weeks off, They would rather not get up super early and rush out the door in the freezing cold to sit at school all day where the time drags, it’s the novelty of being at home, when the school work comes I’m sure they will realise it isn’t going to be as fun as they first thought but right now yes they are happy to be home.

@Givemeabreak88

I don’t think class WhatsApp groups are the norm, I’ve asked a couple of people and none of their kids schools have class WhatsApp groups? Sounds Kind of annoying! Maybe it’s more common in small village primary schools? There’s 30 kids in my kids class, I wouldn’t want to be in a class WhatsApp with everyone from the school and my phone constantly pinging about unnecessary stuff, I’ve only ever heard class WhatsApp groups on MN .

It might be worth setting up a what's app group yourself or FB page. E.g johns primary yr 2 group. There might be other mums in the same situation as you who also don't talk to others at school. I am a very shy person and these groups have helped me get to know other mums and kids (even just knowing by them name). If you know at least one mum then invite them on fb/WhatsApp to join the group and then it gets built up really quickly.

@Givemeabreak88

I know. All the “leave at home, get the others to get a bus, don’t you know any other mums brigade”. That’s why I wouldn’t bother asking on mumsnet due to its demographic. I have three at one primary, my oldest being in year six and it’s a quick hello at the school gates and that’s it.
Don’t even know their names. To be honest though my kids used to be at an affluent village primary and I much prefer life now. So do they. All of the school gate dramas have been banished and I kind of like just saying hello and getting on with my day. Leaving an 8 year old at home is just ridiculous in some areas and not something I would ever do. Anyway hope all your children enjoy their break.