Keeping DCs off school

[NotAKaren]

Anyone else keeping their DCs off school in advance of Christmas. Given Boris's advice to reduce contacts from Friday I am thinking of keeping both DC at home tomorrow and Friday so our contacts are reduced in advance of seeing MIL for Christmas. They are mostly watching films and doing fun quizzes at school and it seems like a big risk mixing with so many in for not a lot of educational benefit right now. I realise that this does not eliminate all risk but right now I feel like every day is like roulette.

Chance would be a nice thing! DH and I are both NHS employees so have to work over Christmas and the run up. The DC will be in school, we will be together as our family of 4 on Christmas Day and DH back at work on Boxing Day. Wont be seeing any parents or siblings - too risky

"Those who have done this are you all staying in completely?"

@Remmy123 yes we are

No we will have walks but we’re rural

@IToldYouIWasFreaky I haven't suggested you don't keep your child off, I have said it's unfair to expect staff to provide work for them. If they are doing a "fun" activity, a quiz for example that isn't easy to put up online, and you do not know that there is a self-isolating pupil in that class, if there isn't the teacher has no need to provide online work so yes you would be giving them extra work.

No, would not consider keeping them off. If school is on, and they’re well, they’re going.

I would have in a flash if we had beloved elderly relatives who wanted to see us. Definitely. They come first without a doubt.
However we don't... So we are playing Russian roulette, the thought of January fills me with fear though.

Of course a quiz is easy to put on line?

Not done in the modern way! Kahoot quiz, pupils log on with their phones and play against eachother.

I was debating this.. not because we're seeing family, but because it'd be shit to have to isolate over Christmas and not even see friends in the park or whatever the hell is allowed then outside of Christmas bubbles. But DD's teacher tested positive and two classes got sent home. Thankfully their isolation ends the day before Christmas, but would have been really crap if it was a few days later.

[quote ItsIgginningtolookalotlikeXmas]@IToldYouIWasFreaky I haven't suggested you don't keep your child off, I have said it's unfair to expect staff to provide work for them. If they are doing a "fun" activity, a quiz for example that isn't easy to put up online, and you do not know that there is a self-isolating pupil in that class, if there isn't the teacher has no need to provide online work so yes you would be giving them extra work.[/quote]
For the second time, I do not expect teachers to do anything in additional to what they are normally doing. I expect DS to do any work that has been set online, as part of his schools normal provision for self isolating pupils. That's it. If teachers don't put anything online, then DS can't do it and of course I wouldn't complain about that.
And no, of course I don't expect fun quizzes to be put online and I appreciate that there may be things that DS misses out on but we agree that it's worth it for him to be able to spend Christmas with his Granny and I appreciate that I am in a fortunate position to be able to make that happen.
But please be reassured, none of his teachers have been impacted by this other than having one less child to teach for two days.

Fair enough, that's not how your first post sounded though, if you tell the school you'll do the online work what happens (ime) is we get an email saying so and so will be off and can we put work up for them.
You are being quite nippy: I get enough of that at work to be honest so will call it a night!

One of my dc finished officially today, I am keeping my other dc off (unofficially) tomorrow and Friday. For me it is not to do with wanting to see vulnerable family members or anything like that but dc are from a split family and, having missed out on having time with their dad on one of their birthdays recently due to having to self isolate as positive case in their class, I was not willing to risk them missing out on their Christmas Day with their dad (seeing him
Boxing Day).Worst case scenario (short of anyone in either household coming down with covid) is that their bubbles burst retrospectively from today which means they would need to isolate until 25/12 but then be free to go to their dad's on 26.

Mine are staying in school until the bitter end, unless I hear otherwise from their schools. I am working all over Christmas (NHS, so not seeing family) so why wouldn't I? They are still doing work so I am glad they are going. Even if my circumstances were different, I wouldn't lock my kids up for 2 weeks so they could have one meal with family - none of my extended family members would want that anyway. School and seeing their friends is really important, my family wouldn't take that away for the sake of one visit! My DC already had 4 weeks inside not long ago, that is quite enough thank you!

I called the school to let them know my two weren't coming in as DD caught it last week when the school has a case of an Covid denier sending her infected child in. Even after the positive she lied to her 80 year old mum and sent her daughter there for babysitting so she could go Christmas shopping by telling her that her kid was off with a cold.

The school closed for a week and the whole area has had a huge spike. The local High has twice lately had to send whole years of pupils home to isolate. This week, there were 8 children attending my DD's class, most of whom are not infected or isolating. My teen's school year had less than 20 attendees. Again, not isolating or infected, just sick of the constant worry. After calling both schools, both said that it was no problem, most kids are staying off now.

Mine (secondary) are at home this week. The whole school is doing blended learning this week anyway as over 40 teachers are off sick (not all Covid but most COVID related).

We are isolating anyway as Dh is waiting for test results but I would have kept them off from Monday anyway as it is rife in their school. We're not meeting anyone but I want them to be able to enjoy the Christmas we are having after such a shitty year without being ill.

I wish we had kept our child off nursery. Now have to isolate until midnight on Xmas day. So thats our Xmas with family buggered.

@treening

I've kept mine off since December 2nd.

You can't be serious?!?!? What on earth for? Have you not had any authorities contacting you? That's way beyond the usual threshold for a safeguarding intervention

Well I was thinking I would - but then dd comes back from her dads with the runs, so she can't go in anyway! Yesterday morning was the last explosion so the 48hr takes us to Friday.
Poor little love looks really rough- really sallow complexion and dark circles.

Seeing as they stopped doing any actual work last week I'm not concerned that she's missing anything, they are just making pom-poms and watching films.

Mine are in. They're so excited about the Christmas party/fare/dinner that the school are putting on I'd feel terrible pulling them out for the tiny chance of them getting the Rony.

My DS (year 9) is at home this week doing remote learning. We were given permission by the school. Since the beginning of September, all teachers have been uploading their lessons every day in case they're needed for isolating students, so he has plenty to do. Saying that, some teachers are uploading optional Christmas activities, which of course DS chooses not to do. From what my DC have told me, KS3 don't tend to do much in the last few days of this term anyway, apart from watching films and doing Christmas themed worksheets.

@Bacter

I called the school to let them know my two weren't coming in as DD caught it last week when the school has a case of an Covid denier sending her infected child in. Even after the positive she lied to her 80 year old mum and sent her daughter there for babysitting so she could go Christmas shopping by telling her that her kid was off with a cold.

@HouchinBawbags Wow.......How do you know this happened?

Her mum was furious when she found out and didn't keep it a secret at all. We all know her.

Wish I had kept mine off. We got a school wide message an hour ago about "confirmed cases" .... more information to follow.