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Original poster

2 months to the vaccine - let parents decide

107 replies

herecomesthsun · 30/12/2020 17:05

We only have 2 months to go (according to the BBC discussion I am listening to now).

The ministers are "very fearful" of the virus being out of control.

We have over 50k cases and 981 deaths today.

Why not give parents the choice about homeschooling while the vaccine is rolled out? (with social services supporting vulnerable children).

That way - parents & children who need schools open can get into schools

  • vulnerable families who need to homeschool can homeschool

-schools are safer as fewer children are in

Fewer people die awaiting the vaccine.

Homeschooling could only be for a few weeks or months and children of responsible parents will be fine.

everybody wins

it is simple?

OP posts:
silverrose56 · 30/12/2020 17:51

I've been thinking this too. I'm in the lucky position that I can homeschool so it could help reduce the numbers in school

Wherediditgo · 30/12/2020 17:54

I agree with you. If I had a school aged child, I would send them in. DS is in preschool and will be going in as normal.
But can’t understand why they wouldn’t let parents who’d rather keep their kids at home for a short while do so.

RoseAndRose · 30/12/2020 17:56

What's your proposal for those who are due to be sitting GCSEs, A levels and other public exams?

Because it ain't so easy to just homeschool for those.

PandemicPavolova · 30/12/2020 17:56

Op I agree, I'm aghast at the appalling news they are giving us, telling us how dangerous this is but at the very same time...

Boris says mixing of household in school is the problem but.. School is safe.

I'm absolutely not sending my primary dc in.
We've got until 18th for secondary dc.

Then I will stretch that for a week.

I wish head teachers would band together an agree not to fine parents.

If enough parents don't send theirs in..

sosotired1 · 30/12/2020 17:58

I have been saying the same thing. Older parents here, one vulnerable (3 issues, not just one) and we have the resources to keep ours home and believe that that is the best solution for our family.

PandemicPavolova · 30/12/2020 17:58

Rose, if they had allowed other years to be taught from home, exam pupils could be spread out in school and adhere to proper social distancing.

StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind · 30/12/2020 17:59

@RoseAndRose

What's your proposal for those who are due to be sitting GCSEs, A levels and other public exams?

Because it ain't so easy to just homeschool for those.

Did you not read the OP?

OP said give the choice about whether to allow homeschooling until the vaccine has been given to a large number of the population. Not closures as per March.

OP I agree completely.

Unspeakably · 30/12/2020 17:59

I totally agree. They did this in June, when years R, 1 and 6 went back. It was optional.

I suppose asking schools to provide work or feedback on work, might end up creating more work for them. So that might be a reason not to do this.

PandemicPalava · 30/12/2020 18:00

It sounds good in theory but the teachers would be stretched checking in with home schoolers and teaching those in school. I do agree with you though, but practically I can see why they haven't considered it

SallyLovesCheese · 30/12/2020 18:04

Would the pupils remain on-roll at their school? Who would then be responsible for their education? I cannot teach and provide home learning at the same time, it's too much work, so something has to give.

RoseAndRose · 30/12/2020 18:05

Let me rephrase that question - how can you offer a realistic, actual achievable choice to parents of DC in exam years?

Who presumably have the same level of infection concerns as parents of other years.

Busygoingblah · 30/12/2020 18:07

What about the 10s of thousands of vulnerable children in the U.K. that don’t meet the threshold for social service involvement? Families can be very needy but be typically supported by schools and health visitors etc. Social services simply don’t have capacity to support the huge amount of vulnerable children in this country.

The children that are in that in between group of being at risk but not being proven to be at risk enough for social services involvement at this point need schools to keep tabs on them to keep them safe. Sadly these children are also unlikely to be sent into school if parents are given the choice not to.

CelestrialWarrior · 30/12/2020 18:12

You do have the choice, take your children out instead of waiting for the Government to ask.

CelestrialWarrior · 30/12/2020 18:13

@RoseAndRose

What's your proposal for those who are due to be sitting GCSEs, A levels and other public exams?

Because it ain't so easy to just homeschool for those.

And that's why she said those who could.
StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind · 30/12/2020 18:14

@Busygoingblah

What about the 10s of thousands of vulnerable children in the U.K. that don’t meet the threshold for social service involvement? Families can be very needy but be typically supported by schools and health visitors etc. Social services simply don’t have capacity to support the huge amount of vulnerable children in this country.

The children that are in that in between group of being at risk but not being proven to be at risk enough for social services involvement at this point need schools to keep tabs on them to keep them safe. Sadly these children are also unlikely to be sent into school if parents are given the choice not to.

It's such a complicated issue, I think it's impossible to deny that.

However, should everyone else have the choice taken away at the moment?

I live with my parents who are mid 60s, and my primary aged DC. This is because I left a horribly abusive marriage, we moved in when I had to sell my home. I had no choice but to try and home school back in March. I sent them back in September, judging it to be the best thing at the time. Now we have the new variant circulating, and hopefully reasonably soon my parents will have the vaccine, why can't I chose to keep my DC home at least until it's clear how bad it is in my tier 4 area, and protect my parents? Why am I not given that choice?

FuzzyPuffling · 30/12/2020 18:15

My daughter is a teacher. Can she choose too?

Popcornriver · 30/12/2020 18:15

They won't give the choice because if they do Boris can't keep stating schools are safe. They're not safe and everyone with a bit of common sense knows they're going to further the spread. Cases and deaths will keep climbing. It means non covid deaths will rise too because there won't be enough staff to treat patients.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 30/12/2020 18:16

I absolutely agree.

SirVixofVixHall · 30/12/2020 18:16

I agree OP, my dc are at home because both me and one dc have auto immune issues and it isn’t clear how this might increase our risk.
It is far from ideal, eldest is doing AS levels this year, but I think it is too risky for them to be in, and the fewer children in school, the safer for the community as a whole. Easier to distance, lower levels of transmission.

Popcornriver · 30/12/2020 18:17

FuzzyPuffling

No she can't unfortunately. But if parents can then schools will be safer for those like your daughter. And those families that don't have a choice.

PerhapsOverlyWorried · 30/12/2020 18:18

Yeah cause social services aren’t stretched to the limits as it is... Hmm

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 30/12/2020 18:20

I suppose asking schools to provide work or feedback on work, might end up creating more work for them.

You think?

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 30/12/2020 18:21

I mean, it's only asking them to double their workload.

Original poster
herecomesthsun · 30/12/2020 18:22

Re vulnerable children - We are talking a short period of time. If there are any concerns, schools could ask children to come in. If these families don't have laptops or broadband or there is not evidence children are doing work, then they could be asked to come in.

Re support from teachers, I would be really happy with the curriculum basically. And a copy of any work going to isolating children. We are able to teach. So quite minimal support. We can mark maths and offer guidance re English etc.

Re exam years, that is difficult and I would be keener for those to go in (but having some members of other years at home would reduce people going into school/ infections in siblings etc). It would make sense for there to be more emphasis on exam years.

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 30/12/2020 18:23

It’s very difficult when there are so many children whose home life is not safe, and yet who are not on social services’ books at this time. I am sure there are parents out there who don’t care much about their child’s education and would be glad of not having to take them in every day. I realise it’s hard to get your head round since most of us here absolutely do not feel this way, but allowing parents to choose would have significant negative repercussions for many children. And I actually agree that parents should ideally be able to say no, my child isn’t coming in, but how to then safeguard those children with borderline neglectful parents who aren’t even known to SS?

I expect elective home education numbers will dramatically increase in the next few weeks but obviously if your child’s school is oversubscribed that’s risky.