School Return in England

[DadAManger]

May I ask whether any other parents are seriously considering keeping their children at home until Easter? I will explain my reasoning lest I am accused of being a bad parent...

1. In November and December my two children (just 13 and just 11) were told to stay isolate for the full two weeks even though schools were "open". This was due to several cases within the school coming to light
2. We look after my mother, who stays with us and who has just had her first AZ jab
3. I have an underlying health condition which means I will be jabbed a little earlier, but not yet (it is likely end of this month just before Easter)
4. I feel that the decision to re-open schools is quite political and was pushed by a group of back-benchers who consistently rush the government. This is the same group that pushed us all to return to physically working in the City back in September (remember that?), before the science caught up with us again

I am not at all anti-Government on the whole and know that we need to get things back to "normal" soon enough, but I would hate for my kids or myself and family to go back, get exposed and then be sent home again until Easter anyway, after a brief spell of a few days/a week back in classroom.

Would value views!

Fining loads of sick people wouldn't be a good look.

No one wants to go there!

Especially not Boris. Because then people might not like him.🥺

[quote MilesJuppIsMyBitch]@SleepingStandingUp no.

I was responding to a post suggesting that people who kept their kids at home don't care about their mental health.

To clarify.[/quote]
Sorry

@TheKeatingFive

Fining loads of sick people wouldn't be a good look.

No one wants to go there!

The problem is the difference between say MilesJupp who's group 4 or even someone group 6 saying they can't risk it, and someone who's not a priority and therefore making their own risk assessment

If you are group 6 and not in an area with low rates and haven't been vaccinated I think it's totally reasonable to contact school and say "Hi ... DC won't be coming back until I've received at least one vaccination. I'm group 6 so this should occur in time for them to be back by start of summer term. Thanks for your understanding". You may or may not receive any support but I think most people would understand your logic.

I think you should do whatever feels right OP.

I will be 2 weeks 5 days post vaccine on the 8th, and on that basis I'm reasonably comfortable about him going back.

If I'd not had the vaccine yet my gut would be to keep him off if possible.

I'm group 6, having my first vaccine on the 10th. Dh is also group 6 and he's already had his. On thats basis school fully understands and our dc will return to school after Easter. In the meantime they are happy to send us work.

I'd suspect it would be different if we didn't have underlying conditions.

I heard that all of your kids had delayed norovirus so surely they can't go back until they are clear of it and feeling better???

Delayed AnythingItIs??

No worries @SleepingStandingUp. I probably wasn't very clear, as I was a bit cross.

The cases in my area are equivalent/lower than early Sept so everything else aside that’s a good comparison of risk for me. Not all areas are the same but maybe check that.

"I would hate for my kids or myself and family to go back, get exposed and then be sent home again until Easter anyway, after a brief spell of a few days/a week back in classroom"

Personally I (and my kids) would infinitely prefer to take the small risk they might go back and then have to come home again, than to just decide to stay at home longer.

I mean, why choose Easter? Why not May half term or the whole rest of the year? There will still be covid knocking around after Easter, there'll still be testing, there'll still be self-isolation.

I think you’re justified in keeping them home until Easter. Will give your family peace of mind and reduce numbers in the classroom for those who do return.

Because she just said her mum is half way through her vaccine schedule and she is group 6 and hasn't had her vaccine yet but should have done by Easter........

I’m sending DD back because DH and I are low risk.

One of DD’s friend’s mum has said they’re not sending their two back before Easter though.

I’m sending mine back because we are low risk, and anyway the numbers here are 13 / 100,000. Doesn’t feel risky at all.

Mine are going back as we are at low risk, but we will be testing regularly and yr7 DD will be wearing a mask in school as per guidelines.

Do what you believe is safe op, just don't expect homeschool lessons etc. And be prepared for a fine just in case.

Many thanks for the replies here all - it really helped inform the discussion my wife and I had on this tonight. Much appreciated!

What is your decision @DadAManger

I'm minded to go the other way, I'm sending mine but will withdraw when cases in school start to rise. The first couple of weeks will be the best, presumably it'll just get worse. Did the same last time.

Hopefully it won't be like last time. Hopefully.

Children have missed a lot of school and need to be prioritised to return. If your mother has only just been vaccinated she's not in the top 4 priority groups and if you aren't expecting yours until the end of the month you are under 50 with no comorbidities. Take precautions in the house eg the kids eat away from your mother but they need to be in sch

You might like to look at the Parents United group on Fb OP. Many on there have kept children at home all year, or are now thinking the same things as you, some for similar reasons.

There are some members who I'd say were a little extreme, but only some. They post good info a lot of the time, and have access to legal advice and even representation if necessary. Don't judge them by one or two posts, there are a range of standpoints in the group.

I'm not concerned when there's currently a 1:1000 prevelence in my neighbourhood. They've already missed far too much school and social interaction.

I don't see that point of waiting until Easter whst happens then?

Cases should be even lower and more people vaccinated.