Are you taking your dc out of school early for Christmas?

[FestiveFannyGallops]

Mine officially finish on the 18th but I'm taking them out on the 11th to protect myself
(Clinically extremely vulnerable) and my elderly mum who is with us over Christmas. There have been 7 cases in ds's relatively small primary in the last week and at dds' secondary not a week goes by without a year having to isolate. It's been a shit year for everyone and Christmas is the one thing we've had to look forward to. We are in tier 3.
Anyone else doing the same?

Yes I'm considering it.

Private schools here have broken up already (and don't go back till 11th).

Surely to make it work the whole of your household would have to make sure they are shielding for the 14 days which means no outside work or shopping etc?

Plenty of households have been doing this since March, and their biggest risk is their own school-age children.

Mine haven’t been back since March so yes we will stay off 😀 The government is making decisions for the majority because it’s in the best interests of the vast majority of children to be in school.
Same in the run up to Christmas, all based on what is best for most.
Whether you get a head / LA brave enough to use their discretions is some sort of lottery so only option is for parents to act in the best interests of their children and families. Sounds like you’re doing the right thing for you and yours OP. Happy Christmas!

Yep. I am doing exactly this. I don’t feel bad and I know that it’s better for all of us (my family and our elderly parents) to be able to mix without worry for the first time in this dreadful year! As someone said up post, the wealthy with kids in private school don’t even have to worry. It’s outrageous that the government would dangle this carrot of seeing family but make the kids stay in school until just before Xmas. My kids will have no problem staying home as that’s what we have done all year since Feb! They do deserve a nice Christmas without the worry and to be able to see their grandparents.

Yes, we are - I've already notified their school and have been honest with them, luckily the head is sensible and has said she won't refer us for a fine. I was surprised as both children have had time off due to cases in their bubble.

We lost my sister in March to Covid. She was 47. My mum died 5 weeks later when her Chemo was stopped during the first wave. I'm CV, my eldest is CV. My CEV FIL will be alone on Christmas day otherwise. After the year we have had The, the last week of doing bugger all in school vr's spending Christmas with their Grandad. Grandad wins hands down.

*verses.

No I have to work !!

"Surely to make it work the whole of your household would have to make sure they are shielding for the 14 days which means no outside work or shopping etc?"

Well yes, obviously

Quite frankly it’s these attitudes that shock me rather than people taking their children out. You would rather your children spend a week in school probably doing sweet FA instead of spending a week of relaxing family time, hugging relatives who may not be here in a few months

My DC's school will not be doing "sweet FA" in the last week of term - they always work up to the last day even in normal years.

This could well be FIL's last Christmas. He - like this poster's grandad - has told the children that they should stay in school as he doesn't see one Christmas as such a big deal and (if on the chance that they do) he does not want our children to have to live with the knowledge of giving him Covid, which will likely kill him. Plus he'd rather we don't meet in a situation where everyone is on edge - he wants happy memories. We will video call and have a good chat. We'll be a little bit sad that we are not meeting in person, but we will still be connected, which is the main thing.

I wasn’t going to but my year 10 is now isolating until 21st December my year 7 is one of only half his year still in in the whole school. Kids still coming in coughing not being sent home. The number of cases since half term is over 80!! The school should be closed.

@RedskyAtnight

Quite frankly it’s these attitudes that shock me rather than people taking their children out. You would rather your children spend a week in school probably doing sweet FA instead of spending a week of relaxing family time, hugging relatives who may not be here in a few months

My DC's school will not be doing "sweet FA" in the last week of term - they always work up to the last day even in normal years.

This could well be FIL's last Christmas. He - like this poster's grandad - has told the children that they should stay in school as he doesn't see one Christmas as such a big deal and (if on the chance that they do) he does not want our children to have to live with the knowledge of giving him Covid, which will likely kill him. Plus he'd rather we don't meet in a situation where everyone is on edge - he wants happy memories. We will video call and have a good chat. We'll be a little bit sad that we are not meeting in person, but we will still be connected, which is the main thing.

What a ridiculous post. The top para that is.

Ie not yours Red. Can’t see who you are quoting.

The top para wasn't mine. I was quoting.

Ah - cross posted. It was from CovidFears posted at 23:17 yesterday.

Everyone should do what they feel is right - your choice; but it’s not for you to judge others.

But all those saying kids do FA in the last week - that might be true in some schools but not in my kids primary. Teachers are working so hard to catch them up from missed time earlier in the year and get everyone back on track, they are all working their nuts off.

Our head has just begged for honesty - ‘do what us right for your family but please please let us know’ (I think so class treats can be for appropriate numbers etc). I feel for her, must be so hard to organise everything with a fair proportion of people planning to take kids out but without saying so up front. I thought all fines had been suspended for now due to Covid anyway? (Wales) so may as well let them know. Mine will be going in as we are not seeing anyone anyway 🤷🏼‍♀️

no. dc have school until 22.12 and we can't travel as dc have school tests the first few days back.
we are staying home and are looking forward to a nice and relaxing holiday.

Our local.news website has just announced that schools can take Friday 18th as an inset day so many local schools will.close then.

@EmmaGrundyForPM

Our local.news website has just announced that schools can take Friday 18th as an inset day so many local schools will.close then.

Ours doesn’t, but some close on 22nd don’t they? Can they take both days (I assume so?)

No way, but that is also the very reason we're not going to be bubbling over the holiday period. Its difficult, but the right decision for us.

I'm not sure, apparently cases are rising worryingly where I am and I don't want to get covid, nor the family. However we are not seeing anyone over Xmas, so having to self isolate won't really impede us.

I totally understand and back anyone who is pulling dc out however before and after Xmas. It's going to be carnage in January.

Perfect conditions for covid, winter, cold, everyone in doors etc.

Looks like it's been taken out of my hands now as the Y11 bubble went down on Friday. Thankfully DS isn't a close contact.

It must be lovely to have the choice. So many families have front line workers and can't mitigate their risk anyway.

Well we took ours out today for the last week and, lo and behold, have just got a letter from the Head saying that the level of staff sickness (not just COVID but mostly) is so high that they're moving to online teaching for the rest of the week.

Ds1 started with a sore throat last night so let's hope we're just locked in with the common cold, not COVID- which is what happened in March.

@EmmaGrundyForPM

Our local.news website has just announced that schools can take Friday 18th as an inset day so many local schools will.close then.

They can take an INSET from next academic year and use it on Friday if they like. I think it's to do with making track and trace easier for head teachers over Xmas. I do not think many will use it as it will leave them short on training next year.