Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

Are you still sending your kids to school?

145 replies

hollygoflightly · 15/12/2021 19:41

My primary school kids have got two more days of school. It's a lovely, fun time of year, but realistically they're not going to be learning much between now and Friday afternoon. Staff and pupils are starting to drop like flies. I'm in two minds whether to send them in or keep them home and try and save Christmas! Obviously if they already have covid then we're screwed, but we would still get a bit of a new year...anyone else feeling similar?

OP posts:
Largethighsbadeyes · 15/12/2021 20:21

@INeedNewShoes

Those of you not sending your DC in for the last couple of days, what are you telling the school?
The truth.

Keeping him off to limit contact/chances of having to isolate over Christmas as my dad has advanced cancer so this could be his last Christmas.

I sorted out some work for him today and his teacher has kindly said he will provide some for rest of week and early next week. Were due to break up on 22nd.

LittleBabyCheeses · 15/12/2021 20:22

Yes, because I have to go to work. Didn’t realise so many people were able to pull their kids out at a moments notice!

Howmanysleepsnow · 15/12/2021 20:22

I’m sending mine in. 3 out of 4 have had covid in the last 2.5 months anyway, and 20 out of the other DS’s class of 26 had it at the end of November so I’m hoping they’re safe.
2 are in GCSE years so need to not miss more than they have to, and the 2 in primary need to get back into the routine of going to school and staying there (my 9yo has complained of headache/ tummy ache/ sore throat in the last 2 weeks and insisted school call me. I’ve been calling down, examining him and giving calpol if needed, but he’s never been sick enough to bring home, he’s just not accustomed to having to stay in school any more)
Plus they’re so excited about the end of term stuff it’d be a shame to make them miss out!

Londonwriter · 15/12/2021 20:22

@INeedNewShoes

Those of you not sending your DC in for the last couple of days, what are you telling the school?
We haven’t decided yet.

We were planning to keep our DS in school until tomorrow when term finishes. This morning, we got an email to say there’d been a rising number of staff/student cases across the school and they were implementing contingency plans. We have childcare at home for our younger son and I’m self-employed, so decided to pull out my DS to (hopefully) stop him getting infected.

LittleBabyCheeses · 15/12/2021 20:22

We don’t have a single case at our school at the moment though, so they’d be going in even if I didn’t have to work.

Ifartglitterybaubles · 15/12/2021 20:23

I told them the truth and even if it wasn't authorised I would happily pay any fines.

glitterelf · 15/12/2021 20:23

@INeedNewShoes

Those of you not sending your DC in for the last couple of days, what are you telling the school?
I've already told them not to expect DD in January my DH is CEV his health is more important than sending my child to school to mix with loads of kids who've been mixing all over the holidays.
Ohdofuckoffcovid · 15/12/2021 20:23

Yes, we have recently had covid sonot overly worried about getting it. Plus unless we cancel everything whats the point? Also, Dcs have had a lot of time off sick this term

PlugUgly1980 · 15/12/2021 20:24

Yes because they'd be gutted to miss all the end of term activities which have been planned. We are WFH so they could be at home with us, but at 5 and 7 they'd be bored all day whilst we're on calls. If we have to isolate at Christmas then so be it.

thedarkling · 15/12/2021 20:24

School hasn't given us the option. To be honest I think herd immunity may have been achieved, only a couple of them haven't had it.

Abitlost2 · 15/12/2021 20:26

@LittleBabyCheeses I am always wondering this too tbh.. I am in Ireland and schools were shut for two days last week because of a storm. Slight wind and had zero weather problems..I think theyll be shut down next week in Ireland..

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 15/12/2021 20:30

Yes because I teach other people’s kids

Abitlost2 · 15/12/2021 20:30

I have to work and can't get over peoples blase attitude to schools constantly closing here. In ireland schools were closed for months with no provision at all for students with sn or key workers. Some of my family are hcp and couldnt work!! But all around me I hear ppl completley unbothered by frequent closures..

Abitlost2 · 15/12/2021 20:31

I just assume they must have older kids and are able to work, they have good support networks are kids are parked in front of screens all day..

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 15/12/2021 20:33

Yes, because I work in a school that I have to keep going to.

Tabbacus · 15/12/2021 20:36

Poor children, already had so much of their education disrupted and people want to willingly keep them off!

catgirl1976 · 15/12/2021 20:37

No. School sent DS (10 years old) home today because he felt a bit sick. He's fine but we may as well keep him off now.

PatchworkElmer · 15/12/2021 20:37

Yes. His education is important and he deserves to have fun with his friends.

Londonwriter · 15/12/2021 20:38

@Abitlost2

I just assume they must have older kids and are able to work, they have good support networks are kids are parked in front of screens all day..
I have a cyclical fever syndrome, which means I’m self-employed and have to organise my work around unpredictable disease flares. My mum lives 200 miles away and visits regularly. My DPIL take my two DS some weekends and also subsidise a part-time nanny to help me stay in work.

As such, I can pull my older DS out of school at no notice, and the consequences of him being out of school for a day or two aren’t too serious. Either I look after him and DS2 myself, and I do my work later (as I would with a flare), or he spends the day with the nanny. However, the consequences of me, my DM and DPIL getting omicron are potentially pretty bad - especially if I have a really bad flare and can’t look after either DS.

furbabymama87 · 15/12/2021 20:38

Mine are going in, missed enough already and they're enjoying the fun activities they're doing in school.

sausagepastapot · 15/12/2021 20:45

Yes, of course Confused

worriedatthemoment · 15/12/2021 20:45

Kept my ds off as he has a cold , had covid couple months ago so can't test him but figured if even just a cold no one wants that over xmas
College won't be happy as attendance is down as had 10 days in October for covid , but none of it can be helped

santabetterwashhishands · 15/12/2021 20:46

Mine are staying home but only because one is poorly and the other was sick once so now has to follow the 48 hour rule

Kingsmede · 15/12/2021 20:50

Attendance data has certainly dropped this week. 77% for secondary in my LA, less for primary and dropping daily. Some schools only have half of their children in.

Fallagain · 15/12/2021 20:55

Yes, they need to socialise. The risk from covid will be worse in January.