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Original poster

Delaying sending DC back to school due to covid - thoughts?

270 replies

bubblesaway · 03/01/2022 19:31

Just that really. Thinking of not sending DC (4) back to school this week and waiting until we know more about the data re Omicron post Christmas. Not sure if I can legally do it but as she's under 5 and only in reception thinking it may be okay but also not sure if I should. Wondering if any other people thinking of doing the same.?

OP posts:
rainrainraincamedowndowndown · 04/01/2022 07:51

I would keep the dc home, in Op's case. Dc is still so young, few days/weeks off school until we know more about what is going on at school won't cause long term damage.

tootyfruitypickle · 04/01/2022 07:58

My teen had covid in October and is still suffering the asthma flare up it caused - but she's still going in despite not having had the vaccine yet. School is so important - she needs it. I definitely wouldn't keep a 4 year old off. We will all get it, it's a bit crap but why make it more crap by missing school

herecomesthsun · 04/01/2022 07:59

Basically, a couple of weeks off school at age 4 will have zilch difference on development, in all likelihood.

For a family with any vulnerable people in it, not unreasonable to have a couple of weeks off at the peak of this surge (and in fact families should be supported if they want to do this and not fined etc).

My own kids are slightly older and keen to go back to school, so back they will go. Although we are variously CEV and immunosuppressed we really have had every booster & vaccine we possibly could and so it's reasonable to go with what the kids want.

But if they wanted to stay home right now, for a couple of weeks I'd support that too. I think there are good arguments both ways.

Twizbe · 04/01/2022 08:01

[quote Covidworries]@twizbe

Even if school is just some random adult overseeing colouring in the hall?[/quote]
Yes because my son was diagnosed as a selective mute at the age of 3, during lockdown 1.

Not socialising outside of our family really delayed his treatment.

He was just learning to use public toilets when they all closed. He's been terrified of them ever since. He's only just started to feel comfortable enough at school to use the toilet at school.

Being at school for him is about building his confidence and reducing his anxiety. Today he can talk freely at school and use the loo. I fear a prolonged absence from school would set him back to square one. 2 weeks has been long enough I think

whymewhyme · 04/01/2022 08:04

I'd send him in, theres no escaping it. My child missed most of pre school, half of reception due to the numerous lock downs and he is very behind now because of all the time they missed he is now needing extra support in the class room.

Onehotmessiah · 04/01/2022 08:12

@Foolsrule

We did last year and then Boris closed the schools after a day so we were vindicated (still went down as unauthorized though 🙄). If they’re little, I’d be tempted as they don’t have to be in school anyway.
This is true in that you won’t get fined, but if your attendance drops below 85% the council can claw back funding from your school and so DD could be at risk of losing her place. (Depends A LOT on the state of the individual school’s budget)
Busybee5000 · 04/01/2022 08:21

@bubblesaway

I'd keep her and myself away from people for three weeks as I think things will have moved on by then. We'll be in the heart of the post Christmas wave this week and it is just possible schools get closed next week anyway. We don't yet know the impact of long covid or covid in general on young people. It means I could help other members of the family who are having to otherwise isolate because of age and health issues.
How is it just possible schools will be closed next week? It’d be quick work given we’re not in any kind of lockdown already. Maybe some classes will switch due to staff shortage but given most primary school children don’t test, I’d say most kids will turn up to school, unlike secondary classes which will probably be short of numbers for a while.
Nomoreporridge872 · 04/01/2022 08:25

So you’re sacrificing her education and socialisation because you’re worried about what? What additional information are you going to have in 3 weeks about the long term effects of covid that will make you more comfortable sending her in?

whitedahlias · 04/01/2022 08:26

Definitely not.

They've had Covid, as has 90% of the class and the poor teacher.

And their risk from Covid is less than other things, like meningitis, traffic accident, micro plastics etc.

gg12346 · 04/01/2022 08:32

@Covidworries So please ask your cardiologist please and take his advise .

Potatodrivers · 04/01/2022 08:33

No. There really is no point. If you're going to catch it, you're going to catch it. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you do. Unless you lock yourself and your family in a clean room for the rest of your life, you can't hide from it forever.

Original poster
bubblesaway · 04/01/2022 08:46

I don't understand the attitude of 'just go in as we're all going to get Covid'. If it's snowing people stay at home so they don't have a road accident. With the attitude of 'just get it, we're all going to get it at some point' - we might as well have gone for herd immunity back in 2020.

The school shut for two days before Christmas for those that wanted to stay at home. Some went in. That didn't ruin DC's education. Waiting three days to see if hospitlisations go up doesn't seem daft. I wish the school would write to give us some clarity.

OP posts:
Potatodrivers · 04/01/2022 08:51

If it was snowing forever more then we would have to learn to live with it. Covid is going nowhere

MarshaBradyo · 04/01/2022 08:52

I can’t understand your rationale op

What will you do if what you’re watching for does happen?

Switch to homeschool and isolate dc and people in household for how long?

Outwiththenorm · 04/01/2022 08:59

DH is very worried about sending our DS, age 3, back next week, too so I get it. He's especially worried about long covid in children, even if very rare. Does anyone have any links to data on this, reassuring or otherwise?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 04/01/2022 09:02

@bubblesaway

I don't understand the attitude of 'just go in as we're all going to get Covid'. If it's snowing people stay at home so they don't have a road accident. With the attitude of 'just get it, we're all going to get it at some point' - we might as well have gone for herd immunity back in 2020.

The school shut for two days before Christmas for those that wanted to stay at home. Some went in. That didn't ruin DC's education. Waiting three days to see if hospitlisations go up doesn't seem daft. I wish the school would write to give us some clarity.

What seems daft is this 3 day time period you’ve set. You are also very naive to how much kids learn in reception- if there were say a third of parents like you in the class that would mean 10 children off- 10 children who will need catching up. Taking away the time from the other children etc. I suggest anxious, borderline irrational parents just home school for the foreseeable, let those that value school send their children.
Dontforgetyourbrolly · 04/01/2022 09:05

@bubblesaway what a silly analogy - do you think people stay home for 6 months in Moscow or Calgary because it snows ?

HelenaJustina · 04/01/2022 09:09

Absolutely not, they have missed too much already. It’s so important for their academic, social and emotional well-being.
I have 4DC across 2 schools and work in a school, it’s the best/safest place for most children to be.

HelenaJustina · 04/01/2022 09:11

The Government guidance to schools is very clear, attendance is mandatory and parental anxiety is not a reason to authorise a child’s absence. Your school won’t/shouldn’t give any message which differs significantly from that.

HelenaJustina · 04/01/2022 09:14

[quote Covidworries]@twizbe

Even if school is just some random adult overseeing colouring in the hall?[/quote]
Some random adult?! Do you honestly think schools allow random adults to supervise children? Have you heard of Safer Recruitment processes? DBS checks? Barred list checks?

Nidan2Sandan · 04/01/2022 09:16

@bubblesaway

I don't understand the attitude of 'just go in as we're all going to get Covid'. If it's snowing people stay at home so they don't have a road accident. With the attitude of 'just get it, we're all going to get it at some point' - we might as well have gone for herd immunity back in 2020.

The school shut for two days before Christmas for those that wanted to stay at home. Some went in. That didn't ruin DC's education. Waiting three days to see if hospitlisations go up doesn't seem daft. I wish the school would write to give us some clarity.

And if hospitalisations do go up in 3 days, what then? We wont know long term effects until, well, a long time has passed (the clue is in the term "long term") so will you keep her off another 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, 3 years?

The covid virus itself is going nowhere. We will have it forever. I imagine in 5 years time we will have winters where it spreads and puts the NHS in trouble, just as the NHS has been for almost every winter of the last 15 years or so.

What will you do then? People are ridiculing you because are you're being irrational. You dont have a clue, you already admitted the data likely doesnt show the full picture so why are you waiting on data you wouldnt believe anyway???

@Covidworries your privilege is that you can avoid shops because other people put themselves out there to pick, pack and deliver your shopping. Imagine if online food shopping didnt exist. I get your concerns about your CV child, but dont conflate your ability to "stay safe" with that of the hundreds of people who are out there every day doing their jobs so that you can hide at home.

I get really annoyed by people who spout about not even going into shops as if it's some kind of selfless, holier than though act when the truth is it is total 100% privilege only of the wealthy, and/or the wfh people. It doesnt somehow make you better than others as you're doing the nation a favour by not leaving home to spread some "awful" virus Hmm

Covidworries · 04/01/2022 09:17

@twizbe

In your situation i would watch carefully then because the risk of new unknown adults and chamge of rountines at school could also be detrimental.
If school staff in each day are known and general school routine continues then yes school is most likely the best place for your child but if the rountines and staff chamge that may make school very difficult for him for a very long time

Blubells · 04/01/2022 09:19

If it's snowing people stay at home

That's because the UK is so unprepared for clearing snow off the train lines and roads, so people cannot get through into work.

In many countries it snows all winter and people actually don't need to stay at home!!

Covidworries · 04/01/2022 09:23

@helenajustina

This is literally what the government have suggested in the contingency plan. Whenni say random adukt i mean non teaching (so admin, caretaker, governor, lunchtime staff), most of whom will likely be largely unknown to the children and not be trained in classroom management, delivering the curriculum etc

MarshaBradyo · 04/01/2022 09:26

@HelenaJustina

The Government guidance to schools is very clear, attendance is mandatory and parental anxiety is not a reason to authorise a child’s absence. Your school won’t/shouldn’t give any message which differs significantly from that.
When anxiety drives a need to use snow storms as a reason to keep dc off school I can see why

Not commenting on dc who are at extra risk