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

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:
fluffyegg · 15/12/2021 22:14

@Waxonwaxoff0

Nope. DS is in school until the 23rd and will be going in.

I hope those who don't want to send their kids in aren't the ones moaning if they close schools in January.

Yep this
Suffolkcatlady · 15/12/2021 22:16

Only one left at school now - 6th form and nothing going on as teachers have a training session and no lessons on the last half day. So not going in. Not really worth the risk if not much is happening!

shas19 · 15/12/2021 22:17

2 positive cases in ds class. One being the teacher, I'm 36 weeks pregnant so have taken him out today. If I wasn't heavily pregnant I'd of kept him in but for the sake of a day and a half I'd rather not risk it.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 15/12/2021 22:20

I'm sending mine in but I can completely see why some are pulling them out now too. It really does just depend on your family circumstances & I can't see many schools that wouldn't authorise the absences.

Ifartglitterybaubles I hope you have an enjoyable Christmas with your FIL.

PriamFarrl · 15/12/2021 22:23

Just to point out that we are very much teaching this week. We will be teaching as normal in year 1 until Friday lunch time.
They have missed so much, and it’s easier to teach and keep to a routine.

DoubleDeckerSwimmer · 15/12/2021 22:23

@hollygoflightly

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?
Why do people say this "not learning much" stuff every holiday. We will be working and learning until Friday afternoon. In fact, in English we will be finishing over the next two days a piece of work the children have spent a month getting ready for and are really proud of and excited by.

By all means, do what you need to do for your family, but please don't pretend that it is all glitter and Christmas films until Friday afternoon.

NothingIsWrong · 15/12/2021 22:23

I'm genuinely astounded at how many people can keep their kids at home just like that.

Mine will be going in to the last day and will probably need at least part time keyworker provision if that becomes a thing again next term.

Jenjenn · 15/12/2021 22:24

Yes. I am resigned to getting covid in the next few weeks/months now. If we have to isolate over Christmas so be it.

catwithflowers · 15/12/2021 22:25

@Ifartglitterybaubles

No. I've pulled my 3 out yesterday. We asked for a leave of absence so we could isolate for 10 days so that my terminally Ill FIL can spend his last Christmas with us. We lost my mum and sister during the first wave and my MIL last new years eve, there's no way he's spending Christmas at home, alone. Thankfully both schools authorised the rest of this week.

So sorry to read your post 😢. I hope your FIL has a happy and peaceful last Christmas with you and your family x

HerbertChops · 15/12/2021 22:30

No point. DS1 has covid and broke up from home schooling today, DS2 had covid in October and breaks up Friday lunchtime. Dh and I had covid March 2020 and are both double jabbed and haven’t caught it from either boy so don’t care anymore. We’re covided out in our house.

kessiebird · 15/12/2021 22:32

Yes. Three out of four of us had Covid at end of Oct and I strongly suspect DD also had it but she admits she didn't put the swab up her nose. I felt ill at the test centre and didn't notice. She likely had it then too. Just got a negative PCR test for her today which is definitely a cold. So I think we are fairly protected and DD in particular would be gutted to miss nativity and party.

Seahawk80 · 15/12/2021 22:33

I'm 38 weeks pregnant and having a c section next week. DS breaks up on Friday, I don't want him to miss the fun end of term things but am worried. There are no known cases in his year which is in a bubble. He's going tomorrow but not Friday as it's a half day and his teacher off sick - not covid - and I feel like for me it's the right balance between risk and benefit. If I wasn't pregnant I'd send him in until the end of term. Everyone has their own reasons but I think it's important for life to be as normal as possible for kids.

Nevermakeit · 15/12/2021 22:33

Am in exactly same place. And my kids have never missed a day of school for any other reason than illness (very rare).
But we are taking them out for the last 1.5 days of term this week, as we are supposed to be going skiing over Xmas and I don't want that to be ruined. There were lots of tears tonight, but I don't want the family holiday to be ruined for the sake of a few hours of eating sweets and watching Home Alone in class.

Hamjamwich · 15/12/2021 22:40

DS's school don't finish until Wednesday 22nd. He's fit and well and staying in school until then

Original poster
hollygoflightly · 15/12/2021 22:41

@DoubleDeckerSwimmer one child watched a film today. The other spent some time creating a Christmas card. I'm sure they're still doing work, but it's definitely not at the same level that it is in a normal week. They and the school have worked crazy hard all term, this is no disrespect to the teachers. I wouldn't even be considering it weren't for the fact if one of us gets covid, my MIL will be spending Xmas alone and I lose the chance to see my 90-something year old grandmother.

OP posts:
Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 15/12/2021 22:45

If I had beloved older relatives we really wanted for see at Xmas it would have been no question for me at all to keep dc out.

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 15/12/2021 22:46

Teacher's are stuck on the front line (along with many other workers) and I'm sure they appreciate parents keeping some of dc back.

Largethighsbadeyes · 15/12/2021 22:47

@ZoBo123

I am guessing that those who can just pull your children out of school won't be needing the key worker provision if the schools shut again.
Entitled to it but won't need it. Didn't use it last time

I find it very interesting on these threads that the parents who choose to remove their children from school for a few days are assumed to be the ones who will kick off if schools close, or will be using key worker placements etc.

We are just people doing what we feel is right for our circumstances

DoubleShotEspresso · 15/12/2021 22:49

I'm very much of the thinking that children belong in school but tomorrow is last day. If there had been a single further day week though it'd be a no from me- this is hugely concerning now. Considering what to do in January- all feels so familiar infuriatingly.

DoubleShotEspresso · 15/12/2021 22:54

Day or week *

Pinkandpink · 15/12/2021 23:14

My two are going back on Monday, till they break up. We have all been ill in our house with covid. So they have both missed two weeks of school as it is. Anyway I need to go back to work as I don’t have the luxury of wfh

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 15/12/2021 23:26

Hell yes!

Atla · 16/12/2021 00:13

DD has tonsillitis so is off. Ds's will be going into school until they finish on the 22nd. If there is another lockdown they will have to go into school under keyworker provision.

I really pray that schools can stay open, even if everything else locks down. Lockdown had huge impact on ds1's mental health, and I'd prefer even part time school to no school at all.

Tahaniisfine · 16/12/2021 01:23

Mine are due in till next Thursday but I don’t think we’ll last till then. They’d be as happy at home as school if anything they were always happier at home so it makes the decision hard for me in opposite ways to others.

All children are different.

Although I do worry about families that say their children need school for normality…8 mean what?! My friend is being investigated by Ss for home schooling her child hit parents who literally say my child is not happy at home get a pass.

Tahaniisfine · 16/12/2021 01:25

@Hamjamwich

DS's school don't finish until Wednesday 22nd. He's fit and well and staying in school until then
I hope his classmates and their families are fit and well too