Anyone keeping their primary school child off school?

[AutumnOctober]

I'm deeply uncomfortable about sending my 6yo back to school tomorrow to sit with a class of ~30 people who have been socially mixing over Christmas (we all know that there are parents who ignore/dispute/misunderstand the rules etc). Infection is quite clearly going to spread really fast in primary classrooms, and in turn into the community. A classroom is essentially a social gathering and it goes against everything we've been doing to curb the virus.

We have an inset today but DH and I are considering keeping DD off this week and keeping an eye on things. I dont want her to miss school but one week won't make a difference and DH is off work. I just don't want her to go in for a few days after all the Christmas mixing and then bring it home so we cant look after MIL in time for schools to all move back online anyway. I want schools open but think the sooner they close the soiner they will reopen. Our secondary aged child is obviously not in this week.

Or if they stay open mine will go in and we will grit our teeth and cross our fingers, I just resent the risk this week while the govt dithers

I'd feel safer if our local rates were at or below the national average. They're much higher and half the schools in my area have closed.

I think the national average is too high personally...

If the school is open, mine will be in. But none of us are vulnerable nor are we in contact with anyone vulnerable, I appreciate it is different if you are.

But even then, how long will you keep him off for? Two weeks? Six? When case numbers come down? What number of cases would be the right number?

I don’t think the government are dithering. They’re clear primary schools are open, except in those specific London areas, and that secondaries will open on 11th/18th. It will all be kept under review and rightly so.

The waters are being muddied by the teaching unions, local councils and parents choosing to keep their children off but the government is being clear.

@Thepilotlightsgoneout

I don’t think the government are dithering. They’re clear primary schools are open, except in those specific London areas, and that secondaries will open on 11th/18th. It will all be kept under review and rightly so.

The waters are being muddied by the teaching unions, local councils and parents choosing to keep their children off but the government is being clear.

^this

DD sent DGD in to school this morning after struggling with what was best to do. She was called to collect her 5 mins later after a parent complained she heard her cough. DGd has had a cough since October, several negative covid tests (last was Saturday). Several phone calls to doctor, nebulizer trialled for a week and a doctor appointment who said her chest is fine and has diagnosed a habitual cough. School have been informed along the journey. She probably will spend very little time at school until vaccine is rolled out wildley as every time she is sent to school she coughs and is sent back. So looks like it will be home school with no choice.

Shes 5, an only child and hasn't mixed with family over Christmas, gone shopping with her parents and her only trip out has been tge doctor's. At least she will be safe at home, but i do worry about how this will effect her development. Dd cant work now either so its a bit of a worry on that front too.

Mine is not going back (year 6). DH had a long phonecall from the head yesterday and he is supporting our decision.