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Original poster

Are you keeping your kids off school?

132 replies

ThievesTemple · 12/12/2021 20:50

Anyone doing this? Interested to hear if anyone considering this given high infection rates this close to Christmas.

OP posts:
bert3400 · 12/12/2021 23:05

I'm thinking about keeping mine off, as we are flying back to the UK for Christmas and I desperately want to see my mum and dad, but we all need to be negative to get on that plane and I'm more nervous now than ever before.

Original poster
ThievesTemple · 12/12/2021 23:18

@Largethighsbadeyes

I am for the last week. Terminally ill parent and it may be his last Christmas. We will be staying away from people as much as possible in those 10 days.

We are doing what's right for our family and others will not agree with it, I understand that.

Very sorry to hear and would 100% do the same as you Flowers

I’m so torn. I obviously don’t want them to miss vital learning. They have had a lot of cover teachers so not sure that will be the case. Both of their mental health improved during lockdown which I know is not the norm, so have no concerns on that front.
My booster is booked after Christmas but will try a walk in this week to hopefully get it quicker. My husband is immunosuppressed so that’s my worry and also hoping for grandparents to visit and stay with us over Christmas.

I will probably let them go tomorrow and then think again, wish it wasn’t so difficult.

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 12/12/2021 23:35

Thinking about it for the coming week. One third of omicron cases will be within primary school settings. I want to protect Christmas and DS as the data coming out of SA regarding younger people if of concern IMO (though obviously not definitive but enough to give me a wobble)

CeeceeBloomingdale · 12/12/2021 23:41

No, they've missed enough teaching with lockdowns

Original poster
ThievesTemple · 12/12/2021 23:48

Wish they’d change the rule about households isolating if they have a positive case. As it stands, parents send their children in, only for them to test positive a few days later, it’s a shambles!

Not strictly blaming parents as I understand it’s government policy. I still wouldn’t do it though, especially on the run up to Christmas, but that’s what will be happening.

OP posts:
ThreeFeetTall · 13/12/2021 00:01

We are, although hadn't been planning to, as all other members of household are close contacts of a confirmed case so have to isolate (I think??) and so keeping younger child off nursery. Going to keep primary age child home too as if we end up having caught it then he will too, from us. And going to see 2 x vulnerable grandparents over Christmas. Am wondering if I will get fined for child not attending their class party/early finish week.

Nowayoutonlydown · 13/12/2021 00:03

I would have but DD got a positive lateral flow this evening. No symptoms to fingers crossed that it's negative and she can be in by Wednesday

Libelula21 · 13/12/2021 00:07

I’m hoping to put my son into pre-school until Tuesday, and then pull him out.
It’s too new a variant to have any data re Long Covid, I don’t want to risk it.

Pieceofpurplesky · 13/12/2021 00:11

For me the big issue is sick kids in school (I am a teacher). The amount of kids with symptoms in school is crazy (we have about 120/1000 off). Parents need to be testing their kids - but they seem reluctant to do so. It's not a perfect test but even if it picks up some - last week I know of 5 kids who were sent home and all had positive tests.

julieca · 13/12/2021 00:23

@CeeceeBloomingdale but as it gets nearer to Xmas, they do less actual real learning.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 13/12/2021 05:56

God, no. Wouldn't pull him out for any reason.

liveforsummer · 13/12/2021 05:57

Lots of people here keeping their dc off this week after the new rules came in that household contacts need to isolate. No one wants to spend nearly 2 weeks in the run up to Xmas in isolation

liveforsummer · 13/12/2021 05:59

@2toastornot2toast

Just to add noone in primary schools will be done much this week so all the comments about learning and importance of school is invalid. Socially I understand.
I agree with this - dc both have covid now and are out for the rest of the term. Dd2 is devastated as she's missing loads of fun. Little to no learning will be taking place this week. There's so much fun stuff on that school had to send home a timetable
YukoandHiro · 13/12/2021 05:59

No, my daughter has already had I think nine days off since September- she's had awful illnesses back to back, plus quite a few days awaiting PCR results.
She has another fever yesterday evening so off for another PCR today.
She's only in reception and age 4 but im so worried the school are going to be in touch about absence. It's all authorised and she has loads of GP appts about it to review her asthma medication, but it's just so much time off.
So no, I'd never keep her off just in case

motherrunner · 13/12/2021 06:04

This time last week I would have said no but it’s just awful at school at the moment. My children will be going in (two teacher parents) but I wouldn’t judge anyone for keeping their children at home. I’m tying my best to keep teaching but other classes are being supervised by a anyone who is free, including our data manager. Those pupils may as well just be at home with BBC Bitesize!

SuPerDoPer · 13/12/2021 06:10

No. They have an inset day on Friday so just 4 days left and lots of parties, Xmas lunch, Xmas jumpers etc which they will really enjoy.

I understand why people would if they have a flight to catch or a very vulnerable family member at home but there's no way I'd make my kids miss all the fun of school in the lead up to Xmas just to protect lunch with with Grandma a week later.

I've got a really bad cold at the moment and am doing daily LFTs as I don't want to spread it around.

HelenaJustina · 13/12/2021 06:17

No, but I expect a fair few at the primary I work in will. They will be the same parents who kicked off about the closures, complained about remote learning, claimed to be key workers, whose children already have attendance percentages in the 60s and who refuse to wear masks on the school site.

noscoobydoodle · 13/12/2021 06:17

We are all down with covid here but my kids would have been going in- they are gutted to be missing out on the fun stuff on the last days of term. They were/are all in childcare (nursery/holiday club) right up to Xmas Eve though as we are both working so we were always running the gauntlet of a quiet Christmas alone at home again (with turkey for 16 that I have already ordered lol!)

cliffdiver · 13/12/2021 06:17

No.

But I'm a teacher and I anticipate a lot of children will be off this week.

Frustratingly, there's the mindset that 'they do nothing in the last week'.

Not true. This week, the children in my class will be starting new maths learning, a new sound in phonics and we'll be writing an extended piece of writing.

HelenaJustina · 13/12/2021 06:18

@motherrunner sorry you are getting hammered at the moment. We had our outbreak in November and it was some of the hardest three weeks so far.

mellongoose · 13/12/2021 06:18

I thought the PM announced that it would be daily testing for contacts from this week and not isolation. Did I get that wrong?

Anyway mine is going to school. Loves her friends and her teachers. I hope the Gov supports schools to stay open in the NY. It's too important for children. Should be a top priority.

mellongoose · 13/12/2021 06:21

@motherrunner

This time last week I would have said no but it’s just awful at school at the moment. My children will be going in (two teacher parents) but I wouldn’t judge anyone for keeping their children at home. I’m tying my best to keep teaching but other classes are being supervised by a anyone who is free, including our data manager. Those pupils may as well just be at home with BBC Bitesize!
There's loads of Gov back up funding for supply teachers for schools. Might be difficult to find the staff, though, I appreciate.
liveforsummer · 13/12/2021 06:25

I thought the PM announced that it would be daily testing for contacts from this week and not isolation. Did I get that wrong?

Depends where you are. I'm in Scotland and currently having to isolate as dc have covid

motherrunner · 13/12/2021 06:30

@HelenaJustina Up until now it’s been manageable. Pupils in and out all the time but it’s the staffing currently. Here’s hoping can make it to Christmas standing!

@mellongoose There isn’t a never ending supply pool. We would need at least 5 in our school alone. At my school we just have our 10% mandated PPA so mainscale staff can’t cover lessons. That just leaves our 2 cover supervisors, 3 learning mentors, SLT (but they also teach) and admin staff to cover.

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 13/12/2021 06:31

There are literally no supplies to be had at the moment. We had a booked supply go off sick and the agency had no one to replace them so we had to combine classes and borrowed TAs from other classes.

I love being with my class but I am LFTing every day and awaiting a non symptomatic PCR for a research group. I didn't go to our staff drinks last week because I am desperate to see family this holiday.

Teaching is always putting on a show and acting a role but this does take it to an extreme. I will not blame my class parents for whatever decisions they make and just get on with it.
My aim is to survive till Friday.