Anyone keeping their primary child home next week?

[Helenj1977]

I got slated on our school fb page because I said I was keeping mine home when someone asked.

Surely next week will see the uptake from Christmas mixing. My 13yo won’t be going to school.

Yes I am

Mine are secondary, but if they could go to school they would be.

If school is open, my DC will be there

I think the worst numbers are coming for some parts of the country (mine included) in the first couple of weeks of the schools returning. Areas that had school mixing, Christmas shopping mixing, Christmas mixing and then more school mixing. I don't see how our numbers won't rise to or top the current worst hit. I'm really undecided. Especially since unauthorised absences and fines will likely go ahead.

Yes we are keeping DC off, but won't be telling a lot of people. I know we'll be judged for it, but I just don't think schools will be open for long anyway, so we will keep then off for at least a week and then see what the situation is.

And I don't know why anyone would give you a hard time BTW, by not sending yours it makes it safer for theirs.

I wish I could as the number of cases in her school have been high and it scares me but I work in a secondary school and have to go into work and her Dad is at work as normal therefore no other option but to send her in.

My DD will be going back next week. There have been no cases in the whole school at all so far (of course this could change) & DD learns better in school. So until they close or we have to isolate DD will be going. Plus DH & I are currently wfh so home schooling was a nightmare for us with a toddler too.

We’re in be of the areas where primaries have closed and (although it creates a headache with work), I’m personally quite glad. I’ll be keeping nursery-aged younger sibling at home despite it being open.

no absolutely not, there are no safety measures to stop the spread of this new strain, if DD becomes unwell, can I get her medical help?

I'm getting mine in due to keyworker status, have no concerns.

My primary aged children are going in.

We suspect we all had it in March, although not formally tested.

Plus no one in our house hold us at risk. The school had no cases at all last term and despite being in tier 4, cases in our district are pretty low.

I'm keeping mine off until at least Jan 18th or until cases start dropping in my area or until they shut the schools, whichever happens first.

I'm in a part of SE London where cases are well over 700/100k but for some bizarre reason they have chosen to open the schools in my borough.

As a general principle I really want her to be in school if possible but at the moment its just too risky and it makes absolutely no sense to have an island where primaries are open amid a sea of closures. It's bonkers and I'm not being a part of it.

If you’re keeping them off, what are you telling the school?

I’m torn, we’re tier 4 but not shutting primary. There have been cases from school through the holidays but not that have affected my dc year groups.
I am at home during the week and when I’m at work, dh is here.
It feels like because we can keep them off, we should, to give more space to those families with no choice.
I would happily ensure they did school work at home but appreciate that teachers cannot teach in school and online at the same time. Equally they are well ahead for their ages so I’m not at all worried if they do nothing except read and a few twinkl sheets.
I don’t want to withdraw them completely as once the vaccine roll out gets going and the situation calms down, I firmly believe school is the best for them. I just don’t feel it’s safe right now, and I don’t want to be fined for that.
I have a feeling they may come down with a winter vomiting bug on the 4th. Those buggers can go on for a while 😩

Sending mine back but I wouldn’t judge anyone for a second who didn’t. A lot depends on your individual circumstances - vulnerability, contact with those who are vulnerable, work situation, SEN etc etc. A balancing of those factors means it’s best for us for our DC to go back for others it wouldn’t be the right choice.

We’re in tier for but not super high cases and there have been falls recently.

I do think the government should make it a free choice for parents (no fines!).

I also think all the schools will be closed by the end of the month very sadly

Not sending DD (year 4) in. I'm not happy at all and want to buy some time. I'm in the vilnerable category and currently struggling with my asthma again. Have a review on Tues. DD knows as I've explained to her in adult terms that hospitals are struggling and shes happy to stay off a week. I do think that something will give very soon and they will close anyway.
Going to say she's got a stinking cold. Hate lying, but as I say I'd like to buy some time to see how figures start panning out instead of waiting for Bojo to act too late. Again.

If you’re keeping them off, what are you telling the school?

I'm just going to be honest, we're in a childcare bubble with my parents, they understandably didn't feel comfortable having the children towards the end of winter term, the primary school ended up having 9 out of 12 classes closed.

They feel the same now they are returning..
So this week we can either send them and then be stuffed for childcare and have to tell one of our work places we can't work, OR keep them off for this week so grandparents can have them and see how it goes.

(Underlying conditions / vulnerabilities also present in this situation)

I’ll tell the truth, I’m not comfortable sending her. Their bubble has also grown by about 20 children since December.

I’m unsure too.

It doesn’t feel right sending them but it feels like I have no choice.

@covetingthepreciousthings

If you’re keeping them off, what are you telling the school?

I'm just going to be honest, we're in a childcare bubble with my parents, they understandably didn't feel comfortable having the children towards the end of winter term, the primary school ended up having 9 out of 12 classes closed.

They feel the same now they are returning..
So this week we can either send them and then be stuffed for childcare and have to tell one of our work places we can't work, OR keep them off for this week so grandparents can have them and see how it goes.

(Underlying conditions / vulnerabilities also present in this situation)

I'm in the exact same position.

Send them, and place vulnerable stepdad at risk or don't work. I'm a lone parent so not any other options.

I'm in an area where the primaries are shut and I'm relieved, even though it will be so tough home schooling and wfh.

I wouldn't judge you at all. I think we all have to make our own decisions based on our individual circumstances.

It's so hard for parents right now. There is no easy choice in this at all for us.

I’m honestly tempted to speak with my primary school and get them to authorise it, otherwise I’ll withdraw them permanently until it’s safe to go back.
I feel ridiculously anxious about sending them back. All these things we’ve done to reduce our risk of catching it just go out the window when I’m sending them into school to have contact with 60 others between them plus staff.

Ridiculous isn’t it.

My instinct is to keep my primary DC at home. Class sizes over 31, no social distancing being applied to bubbles because of practicalities.
We have stringently followed the guidance but know of others at our school who haven’t. We’ve made sacrifices, not mixed with family and friends, even before the change in tiers, yet we are expected to return children to school to mix with children who have not followed the guidance.
Teenagers here are mixing as they please. They are not being made to return to school next week so it’s all ok for them because clearly they are the special ones. While we suffer loss of contact with family and our business going under.

I'm sending dd in as she's really looking forward to seeing her friends and teacher again. Tier 4 London so I'm very glad her borough is allowed to keep schools open, cases are high but her bubble has never been sent home, and none of us are cev at home. I'm on furlough so at home, but she thrives at school and needs the social interaction. I expect her school will have to shut eventually but I want to minimise the time that she doesn't have access to education.

Mine is going in and he'll be going in as long as school is open. I'm not worried. We are low risk though and I couldn't care less if others don't want to send their children in, no judgement at all.