Some of our young people are half way through their degrees (2019/20 intake): lockdowns on repeat, light at the end of the tunnel with vaccinations (?) and the legacy of COVID-19

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose is all I can say!

TBQH I would override the ideology if I felt it would really help but both DC are very independent read stubborn and have been entirely unreceptive to the idea of being tutored or helped. I have brushed up my maths big time to help DD but she won't accept any help.

DD (and DS when he was at Uni) asked for proof reading sometimes but no actual input on content (not that we would have been able to give that anyway!!).

On Bitcoin - FCA has now banned retail trading. The only way in now if you were not already a customer in UK is investing in a US fund (we are doing it that way)

For those at their uni houses, what are plans for Easter? Seems they’re allowed to travel but recommends LFTs before travelling and when returning. Not entirely clear whether that can use free LFTs from Uni for both ends of the journey or should use locally available testing before heading back after Easter

As DD has labs next week she will have had 2 tests, and OH and I will have had our first vaccinations. Also DD needs to come home for the sake of her mental health. She is finding this year very hard.

DS is coming home. As well as he gets on with his housemates he will be ready for a change of scenery, given that they have had no social life at all outside the house this term (last term he was working in a pub so had social contact there too). I don't imagine it matters where they get their testing done, LFTs are very accessible these days (anyone with children or family members at school - pupils or staff - can pick up a load from their local testing centre). The best thing is to do 2 tests a few days apart - the tests aren't very accurate but doing it twice increases the chances of picking up an asymptomiatic infection. I will send DS a couple, and then he can do 2 more before he goes back.

DD coming home, will test before she gets here. We have family break booked (UK) during the Easter hols so just keeping everything crossed that it can happen!

@blametheparents. My DS has also invested his student loan in bitcoins and crypto currency and they seem to be doing ok. My concern is that he is enjoying trading far more than online studies. He tells me he will make us rich 💵

@MrKlaw there’s no real limit on getting tests any more, I’m going to encourage DD to get a drive through PCR before she goes back again

DS is coming home for Easter.
He had covid back in October, but he will still take a LFT before he comes home. He sees fewer people than DD does at school though so she’s our biggest risk as a family really.

I picked up 2 packets of LFTs from the local test centre yesterday which equates to 14 tests. Anyone with a child at school is entitled to pick them up to do at home. DD has got to do two more tests at school and then we’ll start using the home ones. I didn’t have to give any proof at all, just said I had a child at school and the tests were handed over.

@RampantIvy

As DD has labs next week she will have had 2 tests, and OH and I will have had our first vaccinations. Also DD needs to come home for the sake of her mental health. She is finding this year very hard.

Mine is now home too - she was initially so happy to be back, but it was very tough. I keep hearing about students who are really struggling mentally.

That’s reassuring. Are they self reporting (like a pregnancy test)?

I go past our local LFT centre on my daily walks so I wonder if I can pick some up - council website says you have to book so maybe not. But then again we’ll have some in the house as my daughter will be testing at home from next week

@MrKlaw
At our local test centre you can only pick tests up at certain times. At other times it is just for people doing the tests there.
You administer the test yourself and read the results and there are also instructions about how to report the results to the NHS

Anyone can get them if they have family in school or working in a school. You do not have to prove this. You can also order them on line to be delivered (you tick a box to say you have family at school) but you only get 7 if you do that - it's supposed to be for people who can't get to a testing centre.

I’d just book a PCR test and tick yes I’ve got symptoms rather than rely on the LFT

I'm sure ds has no intention of coming home. He's happy where he is. Dh and I will meet him somewhere and go for a walk one day after 31st when we are allowed.

All of DD's household are going home. It would be very detrimental for her mental health to stay behind on her own.

These new regulations may be of interest Education

(Student Support) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

"These Regulations amend the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1986).

Regulation 3(2) amends provisions relating to categories of students entitled to loans for living costs and long courses loans for the quarters ending on 30th June 2021 and 31st August 2021. The amendments provide that full-time students attending designated courses who were paid the London or outside London rates of loan in the quarter ending on 31st March 2021 will not be treated as falling into category A, and paid the parental home rate, unless they request to be paid at that rate. Regulation 3(3) makes equivalent amendments in relation to loans for living costs for students attending designated part-time courses. "

It is obviously about the complex point that some loans in London are bigger than for where students live with parents during lock down.

It does seem like centuries ago, rather than less than 18 months, that there was a crackdown on those who were claiming the living-away, but whose home address was 'suspiciously close' to their university.

A year ago today DD's university switched to online-only teaching and told students to leave campus if possible. DD came home 3 days later. A year...

I know. It seems mad that a year later we are in this situation. I can't even think about all that has been missed.

DS seems to have found a house for next year and it is really nice. I was expecting something much less. I hope that they get their act together and sort it out.

@ZZTopGuitarSolo, your DD's university were quick off the mark, weren't they?

@simbobs that's good news re your son finding a house for next year.

DD's university was one of the last universities to suspend F2F teaching. I remember sitting having a coffee with friends on this day last year talking about it. At that point none of our DC's universities had cancelled F2F teaching, then it suddenly escalated.

DD rang me on the 16th, and I collected her on the 19th. Her university had told the students that if they emptied their rooms by the end of March we wouldn't be liable for any further halls fees. So we took absolutely everything. I feel sorry for those who couldn't and who had their belongings thrown away by some university halls.

On the plus side they were home for Mother's day, though I remember wishing that they didn't have to be.

@simbobs yes first Mother's Day this year ds1 won't be home. It's my birthday next week too. I wonder whether ds1 will acknowledge either.

I will be spending my mothers day driving my DS back to Nottingham. He has been back a week and is desperate to get back. I doubt whether I will see him much before term ends in June, but I live in hope.