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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:
Notsurewhyimhere80 · 13/02/2021 20:21

@FourTeaFallOut

No. No way. Fuck, no.
This....... My daughter has started with anxiety since schools closed. She was a happy little thing and now is a worried, sometimes sad child. It upsets me so much to see her like this. She needs to be back in school ASAP.
Tangledtresses · 13/02/2021 20:24

No way! They'll both go back to school, as soon as they can

We only have 400 cases per 150,000 people in a huge County Down south

l2b2 · 13/02/2021 20:25

@3littlewords
@Sexnotgender

I know neither vaccine is licensed for under 16s and I know that hospital consultants can justify which of their

Beyondfedupnow · 13/02/2021 20:33

@Sexnotgender how old is your child that has had the vaccine? Mine is 15, CEV and has Down Syndrome, I’m dithering about asking his consultant whether he can have it now or we should carry on hibernating for the next 10 months until he’s 16.

Original poster
Chollok · 13/02/2021 20:33

I simply don't think we have the data yet to be blasé!!

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 13/02/2021 20:34

I’m dithering about asking his consultant whether he can have it now or we should carry on hibernating for the next 10 months until he’s 16.

No harm in asking surely?

Sexnotgender · 13/02/2021 20:34

[quote Beyondfedupnow]@Sexnotgender how old is your child that has had the vaccine? Mine is 15, CEV and has Down Syndrome, I’m dithering about asking his consultant whether he can have it now or we should carry on hibernating for the next 10 months until he’s 16.[/quote]
She’s 17 with serious heart and lung conditions.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 13/02/2021 20:36

No.
I would have done last term as we live with my over 70s parents - but they've now been vaccinated.

WonderLandWoman · 13/02/2021 20:46

No, even though we've had covid circulating around our school since the end of November. Year 6 bubble is currently isolating.

pinkpip100 · 13/02/2021 21:03

To everyone who has said they wouldn't consider keeping their dc off for longer if schools reopen on 8 March (the vast majority on this thread it seems). Are you happy for all schools to open fully with no additional measures in place aside from those that were there last term? If so, I just don't understand why - without additional measures (smaller class sizes, masks, better ventilation) then surely all that will happen is transmission in schools will become rife again? And bubbles will burst, year groups will be sent home, schools will close - and community transmission is likely to increase too. I can't believe this is the outcome anyone wants?

RedcurrantPuff · 13/02/2021 21:06

No.

If mine were at the colouring in and biff and chip stage like yours is I might, but mine are in secondary and need teaching by subject specialists.

Bing12 · 13/02/2021 21:09

Yes, we won’t send without proper mitigation for what is a highly contagious airborne virus. I’m outraged there isn’t mitigation in place right now. Our keyworker and vulnerable children deserve better. It’s discrimination to teachers and children. Nobody knows the long term effects of the virus and everyone should be afforded the same reasonable level of protection.

It feels like he wants herd immunity amongst children. Just throwing them all back in without trying to reduce transmission is criminal.

Bing12 · 13/02/2021 21:10

@pinkpip100

To everyone who has said they wouldn't consider keeping their dc off for longer if schools reopen on 8 March (the vast majority on this thread it seems). Are you happy for all schools to open fully with no additional measures in place aside from those that were there last term? If so, I just don't understand why - without additional measures (smaller class sizes, masks, better ventilation) then surely all that will happen is transmission in schools will become rife again? And bubbles will burst, year groups will be sent home, schools will close - and community transmission is likely to increase too. I can't believe this is the outcome anyone wants?
Exactly this! I just don’t understand why people aren’t screaming for mitigation. Hone schooling is tough and loads of people are juggling so much, I think people’s brains must be overloaded. Meanwhile Johnson is getting away with murder.
FourTeaFallOut · 13/02/2021 21:11

Are you happy for all schools to open fully with no additional measures in place aside from those that were there last term?

Yes.

Bing12 · 13/02/2021 21:11

@Tangledtresses

No way! They'll both go back to school, as soon as they can

We only have 400 cases per 150,000 people in a huge County Down south

That sounds quite a lot?!
BlackeyedSusan · 13/02/2021 21:13

Should have done when DC was little. DC would have done better emotionally. DC is currently in school though now as does better there. Won't bloody work at home. I know someone who homeschooled from the start until their child opted to go to school.

WoodpileHouse · 13/02/2021 21:13

My children would definitely prefer to stay at home. My daughter in particular has been so much happier. I suspect there will not be the option to keep them at hone though.

l2b2 · 13/02/2021 21:17

@Bing12
@pinkpip100

^ I agree.

BogRollBOGOF · 13/02/2021 21:20

@pinkpip100

To everyone who has said they wouldn't consider keeping their dc off for longer if schools reopen on 8 March (the vast majority on this thread it seems). Are you happy for all schools to open fully with no additional measures in place aside from those that were there last term? If so, I just don't understand why - without additional measures (smaller class sizes, masks, better ventilation) then surely all that will happen is transmission in schools will become rife again? And bubbles will burst, year groups will be sent home, schools will close - and community transmission is likely to increase too. I can't believe this is the outcome anyone wants?
The more normal the better. Covid measures impede social skills, learning and communication. My 10yo has ASD so masks are a significant impediment to him "reading" other people. My 7yo has socially struggled and the two-tier system has left him stranded out of his social group and friendless when his friends continued school based learning without him Mar-Jul. Meanwhile his social skills atrophied and he couldn't rebuild his friendships with his shattered level of confidence.

Both are do not cope with home learning and are falling behind. "Blended learning" is a euphemism for further opening up the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged.

"Covid-safe" has damaged my children more than the virus is likely to do to any member of the household.

So yes, I want my children in ASAP and with as few barriers to learning and rebuilding their social skills as is possible.

Our school had 3 year groups miss one week in the autumn term when local rates were considerably higher than they are at present. The virus is not going to surge back to mid-winter levels as spring starts and the respiritory illness season ends anyway. Plus the progress in vaccination.
Schools remained open in November and cases did reduce significantly at that time, despite going into the main season that favours respiritiory illness.

If bubbles close, they're getting no less education than they are stuck at home indefinitely anyway. (Admittedly I'm in a position of not having to worry about emergency childcare)

WoodpileHouse · 13/02/2021 21:21

Lockdown has helped some children's mental health.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-53884401

FourTeaFallOut · 13/02/2021 21:23

Well, they're welcome to be educated at home if it suits their parents.

BogRollBOGOF · 13/02/2021 21:27

If home education suits a child better than state provision, that's fine.
Unfortunately current restrictions impede an active and social home education set up, but there are groups that work together to meet the holistic needs of children.

As disasterous as "home school" is to my children, a proper home education where they get out, socialise and can learn in groups would be far better. Sitting alone at home, trying to keep up with a rigid curriculim is the worst of both worlds.

As much as I need my children back to school, I've no issue with people finding that the school system is not the best way for their children to learn, and making an informed choice to go off-role.

Kolo · 13/02/2021 21:28

Yes. I've seriously considered it. I was considering it for my older son before the pandemic (and the pandemic sort of solved that for me) and now considering it for my younger son. He really struggled going back to school last term. He was really anxious and very upset and hated it. I'm a qualified teacher who doesn't work during school hours anyway, so it is a possibility. Only things that really hold me back are 1) worried he'd miss out on socialisation and 2) worried he'll spend too much time on screens.

pinkpip100 · 13/02/2021 21:29

The more normal the better. Covid measures impede social skills, learning and communication.

@BogRollBOGOF I can appreciate that this may have been the case for your children and I'm sorry to hear they have had such a tough time. But as far as I am aware there is no evidence to support the claim that this statement is true for the majority of children.

FourTeaFallOut · 13/02/2021 21:31

But as far as I am aware there is no evidence to support the claim that this statement is true for the majority of children

Just the children who need it the most.