return to school

[Laughterqueen]

I am keen to hear your views about the return to school on 8th March. My son's father is adamant that it is not safe. He has potentially got the diaphragm of an OAP due to a disability, so is in group 6; as am I. He maintains that we should keep our child at home until 3 weeks after our first vaccinations. Neither of us have a date booked yet, and group 6 is massive, so it obviously could be a couple of months until we get to this stage!

I feel backed into a corner with this. I have reluctantly agreed until Easter, but I am very unhappy about keeping our child home beyond that when all their peers will be back to some kind of normality. Homeschooling has been ok, but the standard of the provision once all the children are back will not remain this good.

I am worried about the impact of this decision on my child's mental health, but I have been told that our child will only see his father by video call if I insist on sending him in. This is probably a bluff, but I know he is serious and terrified.

I'm interested to know if there's anyone else going through this. Or if not, what do you think? Am I wrong?

Both perspectives of course welcome.

Homeschooling has been ok, but the standard of the provision once all the children are back will not remain this good.

No, in fact it will become non-existent once School’s go back fully so you'd need to factor in that you will have to either find your own teaching materials, pay for a tutor or let his education slide for a while.

Since dad is the one who's so keen on this plan, I'm assuming if ds stays at home, he will take on the lion's share of the work both in finding suitable materials and supervising ds?

If the answer to this second question is "no" then send him in .

Given legally you can withdraw your child from school and home educate then legally a parent can choose to do that . If on the other hand a child is kept off school and they and they are able to attend then that will be flagged up as non attendance. I personally feel withdrawing a child and home educating is fine but I think keeping a child off would rightly attract attention as a school would be concerned.

My children have no health issues. My husband and I are healthy too. So school opening doesn't worry me. I definitely think it is the right timing.

However in your circumstances I would keep the kids home until three weeks after vaccinations.

OP. Quite frankly, I would send my child to school and tell my husband he can communicate by video.

However, I would find it impossible to be married to someone who put paranoia about Covid over his child's wellbeing.

Do you keep your child off every flu season until 3 weeks after your jabs? I honestly believe he's being selfish and putting his needs above the needs of your child.

We had kids back as of Monday this week. Six parents in one class chose not to send their children back in, either because they had a sibling in a ks2 class, who aren't back for another 3 weeks) or because they just didn't feel it was safe. Then they requested that the online work continue to be set.
We have the rest of the class in, teaching in person and are not going to be providing it!

Well I suspect that people won’t actually be fined for this. But equally remote provision won’t be provided. So make your choice with that in mind,

If parents are capable of plugging the gap education wise, then while a shame for the child who probably wants to see their friends, it’s not that big a deal.

Our letter from school says no fines will be issued for non attendance.
No remote provision provided though.

I understand where you're coming from.

My DS is 16 and group 6 due to a neuromuscular disorder.

He was actually at college FT on-site learning September to December and cases did reach current levels during that time. But we didn't have this new strain.

I've had mine due to my work but ironically I can book mine in nhs website as his carer anyway right now I find it odd because he's the one medically at risk.

I also wish he could learn from home until after Easter but he also has a very small class and it's just them in the classroom at all times so minimal mixing.

I'm waiting to hear what college plans are and won't prevent him returning if that's what he wants but I won't deny I have concerns.

I'm not sure it helps that I work in a school and so I'm very aware of the realities!

Weigh up the negative impact on your son.

Missing several more weeks of school versus seeing his father on Skype for a few weeks. Which would affect your son's well being more?

I would prioritise school.

How would his father shield himself if your son did return to school? I assume he's an ex and doesn't live with you?

I think if so, then your ds shouldn't be forced to isolate at home for the sake of his dad. There are ways to protect his father whilst still returning to school. Contact via video call wouldn't be that bad.

'OP. Quite frankly, I would send my child to school and tell my husband he can communicate by video'

Yes I'd do the same. I've been a big advocate of following the restrictions as cases were so high, but now the numbers are reassuringly coming right down.

Your ds's father needs to prioritise his son's education and wellbeing.

If you feel it's best keep him off for a while until you have been vaccinated and feel more comfortable there are some really good resources online such as oak academy
Especially since we know with sending them back there will be a rise in cases

@Violetlavenders

Honestly, if you decide to delay your child’s return until after Easter, I don’t think they'll be missing much.

My year 12 would miss an awful lot! And I couldn't possibly teach A level chemistry...

I was talking specifically to the op in her situation.

Our 15 year old and 9 year old have not returned since March last year. We made the decision to homeschool until more was understood about the virus. Initially, we received some home support for our 9 year old. Our 15 year old was immediately removed from the books.

The government like repeating the same mantra about schools being safe and how kids are low risk. There is a website called Long covid kids.org, which provides information about how kids experience little/no symptoms of covid infection, or different to the ones typically listed, then weeks later can suffer awful debilitating health problems due to the immune system overreacting from covid remaining in the body - possibly in the stomach lining. Some experts believe just as many kids are experiencing long covid as adults. Unfortunately this data is not being collected and is often being brushed aside by many GP's and diagnosed as anxiety.

This virus transmits through the air in the same way smoke travels, so how can a classroom full of 30 children (bubbles up to 200 kids allowed) with no ventilation, masks or social distancing be covid safe? It's like playing Russian Roulette each time you send them in to school.

Many Asian countries have protected kids so well. Other countries have offered blended learning, daily/weekly rotation of attendance, social distancing via use of local buildings and PPE worn in schools. Very little is being done here in England. What use is an education without a child's health intact!

My kids have been doing great so far, however I do understand some families have struggled with juggling work and home learning.

@jonahzinny

Our 15 year old and 9 year old have not returned since March last year. We made the decision to homeschool until more was understood about the virus. Initially, we received some home support for our 9 year old. Our 15 year old was immediately removed from the books.

The government like repeating the same mantra about schools being safe and how kids are low risk. There is a website called Long covid kids.org, which provides information about how kids experience little/no symptoms of covid infection, or different to the ones typically listed, then weeks later can suffer awful debilitating health problems due to the immune system overreacting from covid remaining in the body - possibly in the stomach lining. Some experts believe just as many kids are experiencing long covid as adults. Unfortunately this data is not being collected and is often being brushed aside by many GP's and diagnosed as anxiety.

This virus transmits through the air in the same way smoke travels, so how can a classroom full of 30 children (bubbles up to 200 kids allowed) with no ventilation, masks or social distancing be covid safe? It's like playing Russian Roulette each time you send them in to school.

Many Asian countries have protected kids so well. Other countries have offered blended learning, daily/weekly rotation of attendance, social distancing via use of local buildings and PPE worn in schools. Very little is being done here in England. What use is an education without a child's health intact!

My kids have been doing great so far, however I do understand some families have struggled with juggling work and home learning.

I did the same with my year 4 son my other son is suppose to be going in to reception in September and I'm glad I did others at the school I talk to in his year was in and out constantly and having to isolate I know it would of effected his mental health and he would of been so worried about bringing it home I don't know what I am going to do now though I am in two minds I was vaccinated 2 weeks ago so may wait another week then send him back but at the same time since he's been off if things open up I would love to do fun stuff like go museums do you know what you are doing with them are you planning on sending them back or not