Those wanting school open - are you not worried about your DC?

[Hicksville21]

Just that really. Do you not think it’s time to keep our kids home safe until this wave passes?

Letting it run riot in one subsection of the population unchecked was always a dangerous gamble. Its possible that we have this new mutation spreading in the UK because of the situation in schools (I know its not proven but its a not unreasonable hypothesis).

I agree. I'd rather not wait for it to happen again with the vaccine so close. The new variant results in higher viral load, so more opportunities for selection / mutation within the individual, and higher transmission so more opportunities for different strains to meet within an individual host.

Not being at school is having a huge negative effect on my children. And on my ability to work because I have to home school my kids who are not willing/able to do schoolwork on their own. I've had the virus and recovered. DS has had the virus and didn't even feel ill. So, selfish as it may be, I am very keen for schools to go back.

Nope, living in the east of england I've likely just had the new strain, probably caught from my 11 year old who had a snotty nose and watery eyes.

I still wfh, spent 3 days in bed because I just needed sleep and now here I am on day 11 feeling back to normal.

Kids are overwhelming fine!

I want schools back, but I want masks in the classroom (at a minimum- I'd also like smaller class sizes and social distancing - but masks could happen tomorrow whereas the rest has logistical/ financial problems). My DD is perfectly capable of wearing one.

I don't understand people who say they want schools open but aren't pushing for this. If you genuinely want your kids to stay in school then masks is the only chance, I think. Otherwise it WILL be endless isolation after isolation even if rates don't get high enough to close outright. The new variant is clearly much quicker to spread.... (yes and with more people having it the risks of mutation are higher...)

Me neither iloveJKRowling.

Pushing for masks, funding for increased hygiene measures and to cover the inevitable supply staff at the very least.

I don't know. Maybe people can't see further than 'yes my child is due to go back', or 'no they're not how am I going to manage to work?'

Which would be understandable if there hadn't been multiple discussions about the lack of mitigation measures for months and these had only just been thought of. But maybe people don't believe, despite all international evidence to the contrary, that masks help suppress transmission and that schools need better funding?

I do think some people are struggling and can't see beyond today.... but I would guess MOST of the posters on MN don't fall into this category (because they're posting on MN...).

Please, if you want schools open write to your HT and say you want masks. I've done so, fallen on deaf ears so far. Will be doing so again now our community rates are almost 500/100k - in a lot of countries schools automatically close at levels far lower than this.

I still don't think it's safe but I think it might well be masks or no school for DD. Masks prevent high viral load and therefore reduce severity of disease as well as reducing transmission. It should really be a no brainer at this point.

The risks of unabated transmission and very high viral load without masks are far, far higher than any risks (if there are truly any) to learning from mask usage - and I'd bet good money that there will be less time in school for kids where there are no masks in classrooms.

@turnitonagain

A lot of people exaggerate the risks of missing 4 weeks of school in the middle of a mutated viral pandemic because they want their DCs out of the house.

Many low income people are also more affected by COVID, have lost relatives to this virus, and don’t need middle class mums claiming schools must stay open on their children’s behalf.

I think so...its 2-4 months of study over 15-20yrs education strech and its not that one household is lagging... the whole world lags with you.

its not that one household is lagging... the whole world lags with you

Not entirely true - keyworker children still getting face to face teaching and now it’ depends on your postcode so not everyone is getting the same experience

its not that one household is lagging... the whole world lags with you Some children will have a parent at home able to teach them or else pay for online tutoring. Other children like mine will be learning alone or in keyworker places. Everyone doesn't lag together, the gap gets wider out of school.

Unfortunately the gaps do get wider. It’s not all the same effect.

@IloveJKRowling do you mean primary kids too? Because I've seen my 5yo in a mask and she touches it constantly, moves it about, takes it off her nose etc. I suspect it's far worse for her age to wear a mask in terms of virus prevention.

@MumsGoneToIceland

its not that one household is lagging... the whole world lags with you

Not entirely true - keyworker children still getting face to face teaching and now it’ depends on your postcode so not everyone is getting the same experience

I'm not sure that keyworker kids do actually get face teaching, though?

No they don't.
It's not a homeogenous group for a start so you will have children from Nursery to Y6. In our KW group we used to encourage the older ones to do their home learning, helping those who needed it, then help the younger ones do theirs. We would also do fun things like art, colouring, puzzles etc.

I agree not everyone is in the same exact boat but we atleast move forward slow or slower with online teaching.
If teachers fall ill due to their exposure with more kids, then all will halt.

I agree not everyone is in the same exact boat but we atleast move forward slow or slower with online teaching.

Not the way it was done at DS’s school.

please if you want schools open write to your HT and say you want masks

I doubt many HT can enforce this if its against DofE guidance which it currently is (at least in the classroom) all the HT can probably do is say wearing masks for both pupils and teachers in class is allowed and voluntary should you wish to wear them .
At my DS secondary obviously its mandatory in corridors etc but voluntary in classroom for both pupils and teacher, my ds says its about 50/50 across both staff and children

please if you want schools open write to your HT and say you want masks

I want schools to open
I don’t want my children wearing masks
So I won’t be doing that!

I think so...its 2-4 months of study over 15-20yrs education strech and its not that one household is lagging... the whole world lags with you.

There’s been a lot of research in the US about the impact of the long summer holidays - basically, children regress during long periods outside of formal education. And the lag is different for different groups. My kids’ school sent them home with school iPads and moved them straight onto lessons via Zoom; my friend’s son (same school year as my DD) got an email a week with some worksheets. And that’s before we consider those kids who don’t have access to technology. I’ve said it before, but if as a matter of public policy we wanted to widen the gap between the privileged, middle class kids and those with far fewer advantages, closing schools would be the best way to go to widen that inequality.

Please, if you want schools open write to your HT and say you want masks.

I work in SEN and we can't wear masks due to having deaf children who use sign.

I want schools to open
I don’t want my children wearing masks

What do you suggest as protection from transmission in schools, to avoid children's families and school staff becoming ill?

I want schools to open.I don’t want my children wearing masks

It looks like news on mask wearing for schools is coming.

I’ve said it before, but if as a matter of public policy we wanted to widen the gap between the privileged, middle class kids and those with far fewer advantages, closing schools would be the best way to go to widen that inequality.

This is an excellent point. ☹️

Nope. Worried about no education or friends though.

I find this message from a nurse in London very worrying:

twitter.com/bbc5live/status/1345006866829463552?s=20

@NataliaOsipova

I think so...its 2-4 months of study over 15-20yrs education strech and its not that one household is lagging... the whole world lags with you.

There’s been a lot of research in the US about the impact of the long summer holidays - basically, children regress during long periods outside of formal education. And the lag is different for different groups. My kids’ school sent them home with school iPads and moved them straight onto lessons via Zoom; my friend’s son (same school year as my DD) got an email a week with some worksheets. And that’s before we consider those kids who don’t have access to technology. I’ve said it before, but if as a matter of public policy we wanted to widen the gap between the privileged, middle class kids and those with far fewer advantages, closing schools would be the best way to go to widen that inequality.

When was this reseach done?. Has it taken into consideration potential dangerous virus rampant if kids attend schools?. There are major studies which say being social increses life span, would it work now?. Context is important.

Well, I think everyone has their opinions... govt should atleast provide a means to public to go with their choices ( suited to their own lives) and make decissions instead of pitting parents against one another as a result of blanket decissions made by them.