Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Facemasks when on school premises -outside

91 replies

tinseloatcake · 26/05/2021 22:53

I'm interested in whether schools are generally still expecting parents to do this, or indeed whether schools who have requested this have put an end date - proposed or confirmed.

I'm pretty naffed off with this as an approach. I am happy to wear a face mask when interacting with teachers or in the busy walk through bit for the reception drop off, but I am less than happy to wear a facemask for the 20 mins I am standing outside on my waiting for the bonkers staggered entry for my older children

We had a letter from the director of public health today via the school with latest news and it referenced only wearing facemasks indoors when moving about or in conjested areas. So I politely asked the school when they might review the policy and asked if they could make it more proportionate.

I got a flat no, and September at the earliest for a review. No further explanation.

Is this in the realms of normal?

OP posts:
superduster · 26/05/2021 22:56

Why don't you just wait outside the grounds for the 20 minutes time difference and then you can take the mask off? We have masks on school site and will have until September but no-one is supposed to hang around the site either.

SonnetForSpring · 26/05/2021 22:56

Is this really that much of an issue for you?

speak2me · 26/05/2021 22:57

Our school dropped the masks outside this week, stating as long as we still socially distance (2 metres) from other parents etc. In reality most people are still wearing masks at school drops offs but I expect after half term this wil change .

Sarahsteedman · 26/05/2021 22:58

Unless you have a medical condition which wearing a mask makes worse for you then it's not really an issue is it? It's just a mask!

Biblionerd · 26/05/2021 22:59

We were asking the same thing today, but concluded that if it is thendecuded policy and helps it appear we are creating a safer environment, then we would continue until the school decided otherwise. We aren't losing any sleep over wearing it for an extra 20 mins a day (I also have staggered pick up times). Where is the harm?

CroydianSlip · 26/05/2021 22:59

I forgot mine one morning and got told off by a teacher in the playground (who wasn't wearing a mask), yet we have staggered times, aren't allowed to congregate or chat and there's a moving one way separated system, and our rates locally are pretty much zero. And we are as outside as you can be! There's no covered or narrow areas at all. Bonkers.

SonnetForSpring · 26/05/2021 23:01

God help us. We have no chance of living alongside covid with people moaning about things like this.

Drawcilla · 26/05/2021 23:02

Is it really so hard? Even though we don’t congregate groups naturally huddle together via the gate. It seems like a simple thing to do in the big scheme of thingsz

FrancesHaHa · 26/05/2021 23:05

We had a letter from school last week reminding us that we need to wear face masks at pick up and drop off. Not allowed into school premises including the playground so this applies to being in the street. Not everyone one wears them but majority do

onemouseplace · 26/05/2021 23:05

Our school dropped masks outside when collecting children a few weeks ago. We are still supposed to don them if we are actually speaking to a member of staff.

Redwinestillfine · 26/05/2021 23:05

Our school are still doing it and I am more than happy to support them. I prefer it at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if it became the norm in 'Covid season' in the future....

Original poster
tinseloatcake · 26/05/2021 23:05

Good suggestion about waiting off premises. The problem is that it creates more interaction as I am passing people in both directions. It is 2 10 minute wait rather than a straight 20 iyswim.

To be clear I would rather not wait either. I have a job to go to. I presume they risk assessed the impact of staggered starts on multi sibling families and decided it was ok.

OP posts:
Original poster
tinseloatcake · 26/05/2021 23:06

Interesting comments (mostly! ) , Thanks

OP posts:
musicalfrog · 26/05/2021 23:07

No, we've never been given a green light by the school not to wear them but hardly anyone has since the kids went back before Easter. It's well known that covid doesn't easily transfer outdoors, so it's a rule that does need changing in my eyes. Trying to get to know other parents as a reception mum, it's bloody awkward with masks on, and the little ones have been in school nearly a whole academic year already!

Archiduchesse · 26/05/2021 23:07

Is it really that difficult to wear a mask for twenty minutes?

itoldyouiwasill100 · 26/05/2021 23:08

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

jumpbounce · 26/05/2021 23:13

Seeing as you haven't dropped dead yet from wearing a mask for 20 minutes I think you will manage. School pick ups generally are congested areas with everyone standing talking to each other in close proximity.

jumpbounce · 26/05/2021 23:16

@CroydianSlip

I forgot mine one morning and got told off by a teacher in the playground (who wasn't wearing a mask), yet we have staggered times, aren't allowed to congregate or chat and there's a moving one way separated system, and our rates locally are pretty much zero. And we are as outside as you can be! There's no covered or narrow areas at all. Bonkers.
Is there a correlation between your local rate being zero and the following of the measures in place. I would much rather live in an area with low rates and people following some basic measures than in a free for all with high rates and bubbles bursting left, right and centre. It could just be luck but who knows.
Mistressiggi · 26/05/2021 23:23

As someone who wears one all day at work I can't see wearing it for 20 mins as a hardship worth complaining about.

DumplingsAndStew · 26/05/2021 23:25

"To be clear I would rather not wait either. I have a job to go to. I presume they risk assessed the impact of staggered starts on multi sibling families and decided it was ok."

Am sure it was high on their list of priorities 🙄

AlecTrevelyan006 · 26/05/2021 23:29

No one should have to wear a face covering outdoors. It’s mental.

55378OO8 · 26/05/2021 23:35

We also have to wear them still, even though we are waiting outside the school gates. I don't really care about wearing a mask or not, but really wish they would scrap the staggered finish times!

SonnetForSpring · 26/05/2021 23:38

@AlecTrevelyan006

No one should have to wear a face covering outdoors. It’s mental.
What planet are you living on. It doesn't seem to be the same one I'm on. We are in the middle of a global pandemic. Wearing a mask is a small sacrifice for having freedoms and reducing transmission
SonnetForSpring · 26/05/2021 23:39

Or do you have such a blessed life that those is the worst thing you have to think about??

Piccalino3 · 26/05/2021 23:40

I think it's utterly pointless and annoying and I say this as someone who worked in a mask all day long even before Covid times. However we are all still doing it at our school. I'll be glad when it stops.