So scared about sending children back to school in January

[SoscaredforJan]

Just that really. I just about survived the stress of this term, knowing that they could bring it home to their vulnerable family. They are only primary but the latest ONS survey shows primary cases shooting up. With everyone mingling at Xmas and cases pretty much back up to what it was pre lockdown 2 I’m petrified.

What will the numbers be like in Jan if we carry on like this? Will there be another lockdown? Will there come a point when they will close schools or make them safer as they just seem to be making them plough on regardless.

The fact that the BBC top headline today is about how Boris doesn't want a lockdown is given me the impression we're in a for a lockdown.

To be honest I quite like the idea of a January lockdown as I do not trust the nation to be sensible for the next fortnight.

I think there’ll be a lockdown, Wales & NI have already announced theirs. We tend to follow suit a few weeks later. But they won’t close schools. It’ll be like November’s lockdown. They can’t close schools, it’s too important for a variety of reasons.

Yeah I’m scared too as school staff !

Yes I'm very concerned, my DC's school ended this term with 8/12 classes in isolation (all went down within the space of 8 days). I'm dreading what it will be like in January after all the mixing.

I think we will have another lockdown, but not sure they'll close schools, I think it'll be a case of schools are open until they don't actually have enough staff to staff them.

Primary school closures won't happen I don't think. It will be secondary schools if any, possibly on a rota system if things get really bad but I think it will be a last resort.

Can you not keep them home if you're worried? Some parents in DS's class have done this recently and the school is supportive.

Ds's Dr has written a letter saying that it would be safer for ds to wait a few weeks before going back after school. He has been off this term on advice from the Dr, and School are keen for him to return to school, but it does seem like the worst time.

Yep Im really anxious. Also anxious about govt plan not to isolate close contacts (wtf!?) But send in each day for testing.

Our primary confirmed it would fine anyone not attending...

Im vulnerable rather than my kids. Its so tricky.

Surely if schools all close, there will be less mixing over next two weeks despite the change to Christmas rules? Most kids will only see parents and v close family - and a lot of businesses close for this period.

We have an authorised absence for the first week back. My husband is CEV and I filled out an exceptional circumstances form. Quoted SAGE about the post Christmas risks and how they suggested school closures, laid out our specific risk factors and just asked. School accepted it with no quibbles.

You Will get your precious lockdown in January. Wales are closing the schools for two weeks in January. England will follow suit once it all comes out.

Schools can and should close. I'm sick of this bullshit rhetoric. Vulnerable children will still be looked after as they have been all along but that's no justification for mass group mixing during a global pandemic.

I am genuinely confused about the fears over Christmas. Between kids not being at school and many adults being at work, aren’t there going to be far fewer “contacts” over the next two weeks? Esp as a lot of people are being sensible and minimising Christmas? Eg my DP would normally come into contact with lots of people over the course of his working day. He’s off for the next two weeks and we’re going to be chilling at home.

@ChristmasTreeFairy5000

You Will get your precious lockdown in January. Wales are closing the schools for two weeks in January. England will follow suit once it all comes out.

No were not closing schools. They stated they wanted them back IN school on 11 but latest the 18. It's up to individual councils. Several have announced the 11th already, several have announced 5th and 6th closed and then back, some straight back, some will decide on 5th and 6th. So it's mixed but certainly not all schools closed in January.

DH usually mixes with 20ish people a day at work. My DD’s are both in bubbles of 30. DS in a bubble of 14. So that’s nearly 100 fewer contacts we’ll have over the next couple of weeks while we’re off school/work/nursery. Same for a lot of people I know.

To be honest I quite like the idea of a January lockdown as I do not trust the nation to be sensible for the next fortnight.

Fucking hell, we've been sensible since March, not got us very far has it. Let's give people a bit of respite eh.

Let’s not. And there is no respite. It’s not WW1 have a Christmas truce and play football. The bloody virus doesn’t know it’s Christmas.

I think my children will be more sick to death in general if myself or my husband dies

@Strawberrypancakes absolutely agree.

@ChristmasTreeFairy5000 schools aren't closing in Wales for 2 weeks, ours has been confirmed back in on the 7th today so not sure where you heard that

Then you should decide to shield How does that work with school? There is no exemption for a immediate family member of a shielding person on school attendance.

Absolutely. And in my immediate circle there are a lot of families with one clinically vulnerable person in them. You dont want half the school off long term.

Making schools safer would be kore logical.

DO NOT SEND THEM BACK.

I tried to take my girls out startbof this term but the school persuaded me to stay. This Tuesday my DD 4 tested positive, yesterday my other daughter started showing symptoms. I’m absolutely terrified. I wish I had gone with my gut and kept them the hell out. We aren’t even in a high risk area. I wish I’d had the sense to do this.

Every night I go to bed I worry I’m going to wake up sick. I’m constantly worrying if this is going to have long term effects on my girls as they just don’t know enough about it yet. I wish I had taken them out I really do. The vaccine is her now, we’ve been so careful and we are so close. We are devastated.

Ps. I’m awake at 4am after back to back nightmares about running round the house not being able to smells or taste anything. I also have underlying conditions so I’m petrified.