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Original poster

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

275 replies

Chollok · 13/02/2021 17:08

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?

OP posts:
TheMotherMum · 13/02/2021 17:56

I'll keep her off until after Easter purely because settling her back into school for 2 weeks to then have her out again for 2 weeks will play havoc with her routine. But I am hoping it is after Easter at latest for her return otherwise we'll be in the same situation come May half term and by the time she's settled back in it'll be end of the year, so no point.

Hailtomyteeth · 13/02/2021 17:56

OP, I think you're right. Earliest dgd will go back is September, and that will be after her parents review the situation and make an informed assessment of risk.

Original poster
Chollok · 13/02/2021 17:57

I'll keep her off until after Easter purely because settling her back into school for 2 weeks to then have her out again for 2 weeks will play havoc with her routine

Yes, I do also feel that way actually.

OP posts:
SirSamuelVimes · 13/02/2021 17:59

@Chollok

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.
Are they just at home with their immediate family until the age of 7 though? Or are there pre-school / play school / forest school / kindergarten type arrangements?

Worth bearing in mind that the current gov rhetoric is about getting schools back as a priority, getting back to normal etc. So it's unlikely that you will be able to keep your D's off school without formally withdrawing him and losing his place. If the school is full / oversubscribed you may not be able to get him back in when you want to down the line.

Happymum12345 · 13/02/2021 17:59

Of course not. Nobody really cares about teachers, & children spreading covid to their families who haven't been vaccinated yet. Lets get the kids to school and be back where we were in Autumn. Heaven forbid we have to teach our own children!

N4ish · 13/02/2021 18:00

No, both mine going in as soon as it’s possible. I agree with not needing 2 weeks notice before this happens!
Nothing in life is 100% safe. If we wait for zero Covid schools will be closed for years.

Ch3rish · 13/02/2021 18:01

@3littlewords

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 Grin *@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
I thought the two weeks was for the teachers and schools to get ready, is it really for the parents?
Ch3rish · 13/02/2021 18:05

@Happymum12345

Of course not. Nobody really cares about teachers, & children spreading covid to their families who haven't been vaccinated yet. Lets get the kids to school and be back where we were in Autumn. Heaven forbid we have to teach our own children!
Is that a serious post?

Why would you think no one cares about the virus spreading? No one who has any thought for the future of children and the world seriously wants millions of children to not have a full education do they?

TempsPerdu · 13/02/2021 18:05

DD is only 3 so I have no skin in the game yet, but everyone I know with school-aged children will be banging on the door the minute they reopen.

HauntedPencil · 13/02/2021 18:06

@Happymum12345

Of course not. Nobody really cares about teachers, & children spreading covid to their families who haven't been vaccinated yet. Lets get the kids to school and be back where we were in Autumn. Heaven forbid we have to teach our own children!
Of course people could be happy to take the advice of the CMOS rather than some rando from mumsnet
Wherediditgo · 13/02/2021 18:07

@Happymum12345

Of course not. Nobody really cares about teachers, & children spreading covid to their families who haven't been vaccinated yet. Lets get the kids to school and be back where we were in Autumn. Heaven forbid we have to teach our own children!
Biscuit
bonbonours · 13/02/2021 18:07

I understand that a lot of people are desperate to get their kids back to school both for the sake of their own sanity and the kids' well-being. But don't you think if they reopen schools too soon it will just drive another increase in cases and push any return to something like normality even further off again.
I'd prefer an additional month of staying at home now if it meant it allowed case numbers to drop enough that we could be in a much better position by the summer. Reopening anything including schools too early will just prolong the agony and mean more lockdowns or restrictions for longer.

AIMummy · 13/02/2021 18:08

No but I have to admit my DC has also massively improved their learning at home after struggling at school.

LaVitaPuoEsserePiuBella · 13/02/2021 18:09

No, absolutely not. I can't wait for them to go back, and neither can they. This is no childhood, being stuck at home in front of a screen for months on end.

ohfourfoxache · 13/02/2021 18:09

@Ch3rish I think it’s was meant as a bit tongue in cheek. I think for a lot of parents the main objective is, that understandably, to get kids back to school regardless of how it might affect the spread of the virus.

I’m not saying anyone on here has said that AT ALL, but there are a few selfish fuckers I’ve met IRL who don’t have the same priorities as the rest of us

Pipandmum · 13/02/2021 18:10

No. Gcse year and she has mocks and assessments to do! Contrary to belief, she's working as hard as ever.

sanityisamyth · 13/02/2021 18:10

No! I've booked mine into holiday club for half term. Wee both looking forward to it!

ohfourfoxache · 13/02/2021 18:11

*should clarify - most people want to get back safely, a number of people I’ve spoken to recently want to get back regardless of whether it’s safe or not

Australia77 · 13/02/2021 18:12

Absolutely no chance. Even if I was worried, which I am absolutely not, I would put my kids first. They need to be in school, with their friends, doing sport, learning, socialising.

HauntedPencil · 13/02/2021 18:13

I would never have anything to say to anyone that chose to keep their child home for various reasons - but I see no reason for people to refuse to send them en masse when the advice is they can open

I wish people would quit it with the guilt trips. We've been on lockdown months and as and when things open as per the guidelines I've every intention of using them.

NothingIsWrong · 13/02/2021 18:13

Mine are in already and will be very happy to have their friends back with them.

borageforager · 13/02/2021 18:15

I think home education is lovely & a fab thing to do if it suits your family, sounds like you’re really talking more about that?

My kids will go back to school whenever it opens. We’ve home educated before - in fact we realised that my 9 year old has only spent one full year in school what with lockdown disruption/previous home education - but school is right for us at the moment. Rates in my area are 24/100,000 so I’m not worried about transmission either...

Australia77 · 13/02/2021 18:16

@Happymum12345

Oh for god’s sake! Does anything matter other than Covid anymore? Does anyone’s happiness, health or wellbeing matter? I am so so sick of people throwing shit at people that just want other things to be prioritised for once, other than bloody Covid. My kids’ s health and well-being matter as much as people who might get Covid and might get ill. Why don’t they matter as much as others we are all bunkering down to protect? My kids will be back as soon as they can, I will be back at restaurants as soon as we can and I already have overseas holidays booked in anticipation of being able to travel again. I have sacrificed enough now thanks.

Australia77 · 13/02/2021 18:17

@HauntedPencil

Absolutely agree!

borageforager · 13/02/2021 18:17

And I agree bonbonours, I would rather not go back between 8th March & 1st April - when my kids break up for Easter - than have to go through another lockdown again, I would much rather open up schools cautiously than all in one go...