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Original poster

Are you keeping your kids off school yet?

117 replies

mistletoemolly · 05/12/2021 09:22

Dc school has had a huge number of cases recently. Almost half the class are off either positive or awaiting results.

Had a PCR test over the weekend (as all parents have been advised were advised to do so on Friday) and we are negative. Precautions have been taken in school with bubbles and deep cleaning. But quite a lot of parents are still saying that they aren't sending their kids back next week even if they are negative because they don't want to ruin Christmas.

My thoughts are that dc have missed enough school already this year but I feel sad they'll be going into an almost empty class. Is anyone else keeping them off at this stage?

OP posts:
containsnuts · 05/12/2021 10:19

Are they really getting quality education with all that disruption and half the class off?

Sirzy · 05/12/2021 10:19

Ds will be in school unless he has to isolate for some reason.

Christmas is one day and if you can’t make it special without going out and about and seeing loads of people then that’s quite sad really. Yes plans may need to change but it’s not the end of the world.

Wakemeuuuup · 05/12/2021 10:21

I'm very tempted as meant to be travelling to see family as soon as they break up. Unfortunately they are at a point in their education that every lesson counts

TheVanguardSix · 05/12/2021 10:22

Half of DS's classmates are positive. They all had to be sent home last week. It's back to school tomorrow, but I may give it a miss. It's not like covid disappeared from the classroom as soon as the kids went home on Wednesday. DS is negative but may end up positive by tomorrow. I'll be testing a second time before I send him back to school.
It's a tough call to make, to be honest.
But I really don't fancy covid myself right now.

ComeAllYeFaithful · 05/12/2021 10:24

My DC currently has covid. I wouldn’t have removed them if they didn’t though. The class has several off with it now.

bigred22 · 05/12/2021 10:26

Imagine telling your boss you've just decided to not come in because you're worried that COVID will ruin your Christmas Confused
It's no different than keeping your kids off is it, and surely education is more important than going to winter wonderland for a couple or the panto- especially after the last 2 years!

HestersSamplerofCarrots · 05/12/2021 10:33

Broad-brush keeping kids off so “Christmas isn’t ruined”? No.

If covid was running rampant through the class, then possibly.

DeeperDownTheRabbitHole · 05/12/2021 10:34

No and not even tempted. Children test 2 x week, wear masks in communal spaces and have the windows open all the time in class. In our school anyway. Within a school of 1300 pupils we are averaging 5 cases per year. Our Head Master gives us regular updates and lets Parents know if changes to practice are needed. All the children we know who have had Covid had no problem with it. It seems 2 days feeling a bit rough and then back to feeling fine, even the vulnerable pupils. Though they still have to isolate for 10 days post infection. Provisions are in place for home learning for these pupils. If you remember last year when children were accused of being the super spreaders without evidence, this would mean most of them are carrying antibodies anyway. I have round no evidence from my consistent searching of reinfection to those who carry 'natural immunity' from a Covid infection. If anyone has a link to studies or evidence I would love to read it? However reinfection post vaccination is an issue although it seems it still doesn't cause too much of a problem for most. With most vulnerable already jabbed, I don't see any reason to interrupt education more it already has.

AngelinaFibres · 05/12/2021 10:35

Good to keep Christmas in perspective for adults and children. Every year there are thousands of people whose Christmas will be different because they have lost a loved one in the previous year. I am sure they would take having a small Christmas, a delayed Christmas, a cancelled Christmas if it meant their loved one could be there. But they can't and never will be able to again. The thing that matters is seeing the people you love at some point over the festive period if you can. Having a day that resembles a Christmas advert is nice but it's not the end of the world if it doesn't happen.The fact that you can hope to hear the voices of your loved ones ,even if it's down the phone, or see their faces,even if only on Skype is worth more than a Disney Christmas that causes enormous stress to achieve.

Panacotta · 05/12/2021 10:37

God no!!

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 05/12/2021 10:41

What does keeping them off achieve really? They'll just catch it as soon as they go back.

I think some people think they can dodge this thing completely which is just nuts . That kind of thinking is just fuelling anxiety in children and adults.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 05/12/2021 10:45

Not until the last week - dc are going in this week. Only keeping them home because we hope to fly to USA for Christmas with family and to me, that’s more important but for a normal home Christmas I wouldn’t.

Shergill15 · 05/12/2021 10:48

I won't be. DD is in year 2 so hasn't had a full year of school yet. She missed 2 days week before last whilst we waited for PCR results (negative thankfully) so I really don't want her to miss any more school unless there is literally no other choice

glitterelf · 05/12/2021 10:49

As our school has cases and as they don't seem to be installing extra mitigation's ( currently none except at picks ups and drop offs ) yes I am thinking about it. Not because I'm worried about catching covid but I'm worried about the financial implications should we not be able to work. The schools are winding down now anyway as it's the last two weeks. I'm really not that bothered about Christmas and after last year had already planned a small Christmas.

motherrunner · 05/12/2021 11:05

Nope as 1. I’m a teacher so they have to go in (can’t imagine my employer or parents of pupils I teach being happy I’m staying at home) 2. Unless you’re planning on full on isolation for the run up to Xmas there’s always a risk 3. Xmas is what you make it

I also wouldn’t be happy if my pupils are staying at home - every lesson counts at from Yrs 10-13. We have ‘fun day’ on the day we break up but up to then it’s teaching as usual. I wonder if these parents will be expecting remote work set?

NeedAHoliday2021 · 05/12/2021 11:17

Dd1 is secondary and currently low cases so she’s actually going in. Primary is a different experience with lots of cases!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 05/12/2021 11:22

I won't keep mine off at any stage.

Wizzbangfizz · 05/12/2021 11:23

I won't keep mine off at any stage, would you keep them off of there was norovirus or a nasty bug going around?

Waxonwaxoff0 · 05/12/2021 11:26

Do these parents that keep their kids off not have jobs? It's our busiest time of year at work, I'd get the sack if I tried to take time off now.

JuneOsborne · 05/12/2021 11:30

I love the way people aren't really reading the op and saying things like...

'you do realise' 'what are you going to do about'

Op is sending her kids to school! But she is worried that she'll be in a minority because the local chatter suggests other parents aren't sending them in...

JuneOsborne · 05/12/2021 11:31

X post @Waxonwaxoff0 read it!

TheVanguardSix · 05/12/2021 11:31

I think you just have to keep it in perspective. If cases in school are low, it's a no-brainer. Low risk. Keep them in school.
But if, as in my own case, the class itself is being taken down by covid, you have no choice really.

FrancescaContini · 05/12/2021 11:32

@VikingOnTheFridge

Fuck no.
Ditto
VikingOnTheFridge · 05/12/2021 11:50

@JuneOsborne

I love the way people aren't really reading the op and saying things like...

'you do realise' 'what are you going to do about'

Op is sending her kids to school! But she is worried that she'll be in a minority because the local chatter suggests other parents aren't sending them in...

Honestly that would be even more of an incentive for me to send mine in. Lower ratios, fewer contacts, what's not to like?!
Original poster
mistletoemolly · 05/12/2021 11:54

Yes to be clear, and as I said in my OP I am sending my dc as they've already had enough time off. I never had any intention of keeping mine off. But it's a shame that it will be such a small, quiet class so close to Christmas. Although the less kids the less chance of infection I guess.

OP posts:
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