Class bubble restrictions

[PearandHoney]

I wasn’t sure whether to post this in education or here.

I realise there’s a lot going on at the moment with Covid but I just feel sad for my child’a current experience of infant school. They’ve been bubbled for almost three weeks and have at least another week to go, taking them up to practically the end of term. This is despite the fact that there are currently no cases of Covid in their class.

During the bubble they:

• have no PE lessons
• have no specialist teaching staff nor small group interventions
• no parent helpers that normally help with reading
• have to eat lunch in the classroom with the TV on
• have a much shorter outdoor playtime which they have to take at 11.30am
• because of staggered drop offs and pick ups, they’re missing 30 minutes of school time each and every day
• teachers are teaching in masks, even for phonics
• and of course, no nativity in front of parents, carol service etc

I just feel it’s all a bit rubbish. I do realise it’s rubbish for others too, especially School staff. But childhood is short and so much of it has been taken up with restrictions, many of which are impacting their education.

Not sure what I’m hoping for by posting this but I suppose I wonder if all schools are the same right now?

@MH1111

I think schools should only pay statutory sick pay. Absence is much higher than the private sector

That would be the same private sector that had 8.5 million people furloughed whilst the public sector continued to work...?

Our school has just had a covid case in one of the infant classes. As a result... all hot dinners are cancelled, the infant trip to visit Father Christmas has been cancelled, the infant AND junior school plays have been cancelled, football, tag rugby and netball club are cancelled..... It is utterly soul destroying.

And yet- the Christmas fayre in our city is in full swing, thousands of people being bussed in from other areas, the funfair is rammed, still couldn't see the high street for people at 9pm last night...

But obviously too dangerous for my 7 year old to play football or eat a hot meal.

2 years ago there were 11 off in one class due to noravirus sweeping through- nothing changed then.

I agree OP- it is totally rubbish.

@winesolveseverything

I’m really sorry. The disparity between life in schools for children, and what adults are able to enjoy is totally unfair. These measures are totally disproportionate on children.

The measures for Covid have always disproportionately affected children more than adults. And it’s a mild illness for them on the whole.

It’s now 2 years of missing birthday parties, Christmas parties, school plays, months and months of sports cancelled, endless isolations for healthy asymptomatic children and for a long time healthy contacts of those children. When most adults have had two if not three vaccinations.

At what point does this stop?

I also feel hugely sorry for those in exam years (again).

The ‘cure’ has become far worse than the disease. Poor kids.

I will never forgive the government for opening pubs (and golf) before schools in 2020.

I think that I have just read on this thread that teachers should be forced to work without masks?
Really?! It's our right to protect ourselves and our families as best we can.

I work in a school and while the restrictions were tight we had no cases but since Sept when the restrictions were reduced we have had sooo many cases. It's awful for the adults working in schools. So many of us have been really ill despite being vaccinated.
I'm not sure what to sat really but over the winter i think we might have to have strict restrictions and in the summer less so snd lots of outdoor events

Because of measures taken, children can have relatively undisrupted education. I think this is way better than disrupted education on and off school some children are experiencing, or school need to move onto remote work because of lack of staff.

[quote PearandHoney]@winesolveseverything

I’m really sorry. The disparity between life in schools for children, and what adults are able to enjoy is totally unfair. These measures are totally disproportionate on children.[/quote]
Because adults can choose who to mix with and where to mix.

Children have to go to school, and teachers have to teach them. The schools have a duty to protect their staff and children as best they can. People seem to be forgetting that unfortunately some people are still dying of covid, and there's no way to be certain who will be the next unlucky one.

@knobblykneesandturnedouttoes
I’m not sure I follow. Lots of adults don’t get to choose who they mix with at work. My husband works in hospitality, he doesn’t get to choose. My brother is a GP and equally doesn’t get to choose who he mixes with at work.

No but they can certainly choose to increase precautions to protect themselves as and when needed.

But I was referring to the earlier poster saying that adults are enjoying a freedom which children aren't. My point was that school in a way is like the equivalent of an adults work. There's no choice in who to mix with, but there's the ability to increase restrictions as and when needed.

Outside of school, children can enjoy the same freedoms that adults can outside of work. So if parents want to take their children to crowded places , or sporting activities, hobbies, Christmas activities, then they're able to. But the school should always be as safe as possible for children and staff. If there's even one vulnerable person in that school, then the restrictions are worth it. (In my opinion)

If a child's education is suffering unduly, speak to the school but I'm sure 'your child's safety comes first' will be the answer.

It’s totally rubbish op. My dd started school in 2019 so is now in year 2 and has never had a proper school year. We have never seen her in an assembly or school play (and they don’t do one after yr2). She’s not been on a single school trip. She’s never played with her own sibling in a different year group. They have not adjusted ‘age expected’ results in any way and she is missing assemblies and play times to revise phonics and maths as she is behind. It’s absolute crap and I am seriously considering deferring my third summer born DC in the hope they have a more ‘normal’ school experience.

Btw I am not saying the restrictions were not required in some way - but it is crap and we are allowed to feel sad about it