Is anyone considering keeping their child at home when schools go back?

[Chollok]

Just that really, considering keeping my reception aged DS at home after 8 March for a number of reasons. Wondered if anyone else was doing likewise?

No. No no.... No no no no no no no. And she would walk there herself if I didn't take her !!

God no

Really you need to change your question OP as people are going to assume you mean you feel they're unsafe rather than you are thinking of actually taking them out to home school.

I think only you know your child best. Only you know if you can manage with all of the education and ensuring he has some opportunity to socialise with children his own age, if you can then go for it!

Op my dd came on leaps and bounds last summer when they were off.
Her reading also came on leaps and bounds.
However its the social aspects of school she needs.. She seemed to fit in far better when she went back.
Your circs will be particular to you though and yes, sometimes putting the dc first means not sending them back. Each child has different needs and of course our education system can't fit all the children in the school

Haha, you are being ironic, no?

There a home education board if you are looking for support rather than canvassing the general mood.

No chance my daughter goes in 3 days when I work (nhs) but can't wait for her to return full time and she's sad the days she does go in.

However @Chollok it's important to recognise not all children thrive in schools and if you think homeschooling is a better option longer term, people do that and then they hook up with other families (obviously not just now with covid!! But ordinarily) for group activity

It's not for me but a lady who lives near us home schools her kids

www.gov.uk/home-education

They are Muslim and most of the schools here are Church of England and she didn't want that, everyone has their own reasons

Why? No reason not to send in.

No

Unless you plan on home educating long term then surely the longer you keep him off school the harder it will make the return?

Good god no!

Do you mean temporarily though, due to Covid, or take him out and switch to home schooling permanently? Because they are very different questions.

The only thing that would worry me about a switch to homeschooling for kids at the moment is that even when schools open, there will be loads of restrictions still in place, so the things that good homeschoolers do (meeting up with other homeschool families, museum trips, clubs, sports) are likely to remain unavailable for a while. Which would mean a child spending a lot more time isolated from his / her peers, missing out on social development, and possibly creating or compounding mental health issues.

Nope they have hit peak hate for me and each other. And I’m not so keen on them either.

They need mates and learning and a bit of space to appreciate each other again!

Christ no. Making me feel anxious just thinking of that.

Not for us but I do see the value in home schooling some younger children, 4 is young for school. Many kids do just fine but I don't think it's unusual to struggle and your son might benefit from being home schooled for a year or two

Hell no! My 6yr old is grumpy and angry, he is desperate to be back. I’m losing my shit big time, mental health is screwed. If I’m not homeschooling I’m working and if I’m not working I’m doing nursery run and if I’m not doing nursery run and food shopping and on and on. This is the pits!
My partner is ECV, however I’ve been working in a hospital patient facing, now social distancing, with those who we often don’t know their covid status; have brought covid home twice and myself and partner both vaccinated.
My 3yr old is in nursery also. So no, not keeping my 6yr old home

No. Why would you consider this? Children need educating by people who are qualified to teach, as well as social interaction with their peers and the experience of being at school.

So your question isn't really anything to do with Covid, you are just trying to decide whether to homeschool your child permanently? Most people aren't in a position to do that. Plus homeschooling permanently means you sourcing your own teaching materials, rather than relying on those provided by school - again something that most people aren't in a position to do.

Fuck no.

My twins (age 4) attend a specialist ASD school. I fought all last year to get them in, including two appeals and tribunals. They went for half a term before Christmas. This half term they’ve been for 8 days, 2 day a week rota plus two lots of self isolation. We have been trying to just manage but we are not coping. Just emailed them yesterday to see if they can go in more after half term before things get even worse.

Does your child have additional needs OP? Your posts suggest that they might be struggling to cope at school and may need more support than they get there at the moment? If so I’m sure there are lots of us here who can support you to push for more help

OK I was not expecting such a hostile response! I am not British and in my home country children don't start school til age 7.

I’m on the fence

Homeschooling has been hell (not going through the ins and outs as it will out me) so it would be great to get back to some sort of normality

But I believe that schools being open has played a big part in the second wave being worse than the first

I would feel more comfortable with the schools being off for an extra 3 weeks, having Easter then go back after that. It would give more opportunity for more people to be vaccinated and hopefully get the R rate down some more

No way, I'd send mine back on Monday if it wasn't half term

This isn't hostile. I think you have mistaken the strength of feeling on the matter as a judgement on you own decision. If it works for you and your dc, go for it.

It also is partly to do with covid as I feel concerned about how little data we have on a) transmission in young children and (b) long term effects of covid including long covid.

If he was miserable at home and/or I would not be able to work with him at home long term I would weigh those risks up and send him in. As it is, neither of those apply, hence my post.

DD(5) is going back
DS (8) is going to be homeschooled permanently.
He's got some sensory needs and some problems concentrating and he's very introverted.
School just didn't suit him and its taken lockdown for me to see how behind he was getting and how much better off he is learning from home.
I'm super anxious about it but I know in my heart its the right thing. I feel very lucky to be in a position to give him the opportunity.

Hell no! Im not sure why Boris thinks parents need 2 weeks notice for schools opening i could have mine ready during a commercial break
@Chollok your reasons for keeping your DS home seem reasonable though school doesn't suit every child. If hes happier and you can keep him home then why not