Taking my kid out of school

[Alexes1010]

Hello Mums,
So my first kid stated Reception in September and I am thinking of taking her out for a month or two until maybe like the US, 5yr olds can get the vaccine, but don't know if it's something that will be allowed without a fine.
She came home after the first week of school this yr with a fever and tested positive for covid. Omicron seems to be targeting kids and the schools are not doing anything much to prevent infections.
No one knows the repercussions of repeated COVID19 infections in these age groups and I am just at wits end.
Everyday there's a text that a child has tested positive in the school. Today two of her class teachers have tested positive. Any advice will be appreciated.

Honestly we don't know what damage repeated periods of isolation will do to our young children. I know your child won't be isolating, but they will not be seeing their friends or accessing learning.

Now your child has had it, she is unlikely to get it again for a while, so in a way she is safest now. Also your particular school is having it's peak. It will settle down soon in your school.

It's scary seeing our children ill, but I don't think this is the right response.

Also we don't know if they ever will approve vaccines for 5yos, so you could be waiting a long time, especially if you waited for 2 doses.

It could be months/years of even never before the vaccines are approved for 5 year olds.
If you remove your child for anything longer than a couple of weeks then school will have to take them off roll and you will lose your place.
If you child is happy at school then this is not a sensible choice.

What’s the alternative

Homeschool for how long and how isolated?

Are you planning on completely isolating your family? Because otherwise you can get it from anywhere.

That would be a ridiculous thing to do, and your child would miss out on too much.

I think the negatives will definitely outweigh the benefits of doing this

I think more children are ending up seriously ill (although I dont think this is because Omicron is intrinsically more dangerous and from memory from the data thread the ratio of serious cases/hospitalisation is the same as other variants it just the sheer numbers of cases means it is higher. It is particularly for the under 5s)

And I agree reinfection is possible and no one knows the longer term repercussions of this. Or indeed the longer term repercussions of having the vaccine. It is equally unknown.

But OP with respect I think what is known and can be seen would be the effect it would have on your daughter removing her from school, because I think it is at the moment on balance not that likely under 12s will get the vaccine. And certainly not within a month or two. You will be removing her from school (and potentially not getting your place back) causing her isolation and anxiety for a set of unknowns - particularly given she has already had it at least once.

Here I think although you are right to be concerned keeping her in school is the best option. Removing her I think will be harmful.

Schools aren’t doing much… well what are you expecting with no extra funding and staff dropping like flies? I was the only one in my department without covid last week and the supplies they got in left after each day of meeting many of the classes

Some people on this thread clearly don't realise that home education is a thing. Lots of us do it. School is opt-in in this country.

OP you can withdraw her but you'll lose the school place. If you want to withdraw her you just need to write the school a letter to say you've decided to electively home educate her, and they'll take her off roll.

@Yumperwumpee

Some people on this thread clearly don't realise that home education is a thing. Lots of us do it. School is opt-in in this country.

OP you can withdraw her but you'll lose the school place. If you want to withdraw her you just need to write the school a letter to say you've decided to electively home educate her, and they'll take her off roll.

This isn't about home education though. It's about a parent wanting to keep their child off so they don't catch covid, despite them having just had covid. Home education has its place, it this is not it.

This isn't about home education though. It's about a parent wanting to keep their child off so they don't catch covid, despite them having just had covid. Home education has its place, it this is not it.

Lots of people have chosen to home educate for that reason though. It was part (only part) of why I withdrew my son. It doesn't mean he sits indoors all day. He still sees other children

But it was only part - which is significant. Home Education is a very valid educational choice but is one which needs a mid to long term plan for. And proper planning and implementation.

Taking a child out of school for a short period of time (1-2 months) is home schooling

Lots of people have chosen to home educate for that reason though. It was part (only part) of why I withdrew my son. It doesn't mean he sits indoors all day. He still sees other children

I never said anything about seeing/not seeing other children so I'm not sure why the raised eyebrow?

Home education isn't the place for a child who's parent wants to stop them catching a virus they have already had. OP has expressed no interest in HE, which needs to be a considered and balanced decision. OP just wants to keep the kid off for a couple of months.

I’d be more concerned about the repercussions of pulling a child out of school and away from socialising!
You may need help with your anxiety Op

To be fair, I do agree with you that withdrawing a child solely due to covid isn't a great idea. Covid is here for the foreseeable future and they don't seem to be in any hurry to vaccinate primary children, so it would definitely be more than a couple of months. So the parent needs to be sure they are happy to home educate long term.

Also remember vaccines only offer a limited time of protection- do you expect to vaccinate a primary school child every 6 months? At some point it will just be the vulnerable offered a yearly jab- you’re essentially then thinking of withdrawing your child for their entire school life

At some point it will just be the vulnerable offered a yearly jab

Mmm no I don't think so, I think everyone will be offered one annually.

@Yumperwumpee

At some point it will just be the vulnerable offered a yearly jab

Mmm no I don't think so, I think everyone will be offered one annually.

I doubt it if omicron is anything to go by- who’s going to keep paying for all of this- it will be surely like the flu jab, free to vulnerable and you can put a tenner or so for your own

It is very likely that you will lose your child’s place in their school, and the education welfare officer will have to be involved as the school will have a duty to refer you. I think you’ll have to decide whether you want to remove your child from school and home educate until such time that you are less anxious about COVID.

Schools are doing what they can to stop the spread but it’s like trying to keep water in a sieve - it’s just not possible. What is it that you expect them to do?