Schools reopening - Right to decide as a parent

[DocMia]

Boris Johnson : Parents should have the right whether to send their children back to school in September. - Sign the Petition! chng.it/N76dqb4y via @UKChange

@Bupkis

Have seen your posts before.

I'm sorry coming here upsets you. I feel your posts are important as it helps explain why some parents are so worried. In your case fines are ethically wrong. Whether the government chooses to go down that route doesn't change the fact they are morally indefensible.

Have you ever considered asking somewhere like Children's Legal Centre for advice? They make a small charge I think.

I genuinely despair for England at times, such a policy mess.

@Bupkis - sorry that you're in this situation. We are too, and it's very stressful. Just wanted to offer a bit of solidarity.

@Danglingmod

I'm wondering if posters think that all extremely clinically vulnerable students should just deregister and give up their school place stat or whether the govt should be persuaded to make allowances for them rather than force them back to school?

I know that our students with cancer diagnoses and heart conditions will be facing this exact dilemma (or their parents will) and I absolutely don't mind spending extra time catching them up where possible (as, obviously, we do I'm normal times).

In that instance you follow the usual route.

Consultant writes child isn't well enough for school and after 15 days absence or if ansense will be over 15 days they go onto alternative education (hospital school or tutors or whatever)

Again - the system is already in place

@Bupkis

Ah ok *@sirfredfredgeorge*

Do you know. I just wish there would be some consideration for just how hard this is.

I have a child with a very rare condition, his paed deemed him very high risk due to a combination of scarred lungs, previous pneumonias, asthma, chronic gastric problems and a hole in the heart. He has learning disabilities and behavioural issues which means he will struggle with social distancing and hygeine. His bowel issues means he needs help with toileting. As his genetic condition is very rare, he has had unpredictable reactions to viruses and infections in the past. We have had several stays in hospital with Drs scratching their heads, wondering why sats aren't coming up...wondering why heart rate is so high...wondering what causes the bleeding lesions he gets in his inflamed stomach lining.

The last communication from paeds was to shield until the shielding was paused. We haven't heard anything further.

I have spoken to school, they tell us that without a letter specifying he needs to stay off, then we will be fined if he doesn't come in.

I just feel incredibly worried about it all. I shouldn't come on here really, it just makes me feel upset that people are so dismissive of those of us who have, imo, fairly legitimate worries.

Contact your consultants PA.

Ask for consult over the phone.

Read the policy I stated above above what la should provide for children too ill to attend school.

You know yourself you have to fight but it isn't a straight either or black and white situation.

@RedDeadQueen
I'm sorry you're in this situation too. I know we aren't the only ones..I hope we find a way of navigating our way through.

@labyrinthloafer - Thankyou. I left Mumsnet at the beginning of the lockdown after being a regular poster for about 14 years, I just found it was making me feel anxious when there were so many unknowns, and people here can be pretty black and white.
I came back for a specific thread with a name change and have ended up getting sucked back in!

@itsgettingweird I have already left a message with ds's consultant, who as I say, we spoke to mid July, we have spoken to the school and emailed the LEA. There was little in the way of remote learning organised for the children in the special needs resource base, and I made a lot of effort to document the work ds did and email evidence to the school, as well as organising his annual review, doing all the paperwork and his transition review and hosting the meetings on Teams, I also ensured he had regular CAMHS input and SALT stuff sent to us. I have put so much effort into trying to ensure that this situation has not been detrimental to ds and his sisters...it just feels like a kick in the teeth that now we just get....'send in or be fined, or you could de register if you want...'

www.change.org/p/prime-minister-boris-johnson-pm-withdraw-warning-to-fine-parents-of-school-children-for-not-attending-in-september/c

There are two questions here, which are often being conflated. 1) Should all parents should have the choice to keep their children at home in September without the need to deregister? 2) Should families with extremely clinically vulnerable children, parents or guardians be allowed to make this choice without the added burden of fines or deregistration? Personally, I strongly feel that all families shouldn't be given the choice. School should be compulsory for the vast majority unless they decide to deregister. I also feel that those in very clinically vulnerable positions should be dealt with compassionately with no need for fines or deregistration if they decide to keep children at home. These families should have regular dialogue with their schools and medical consultants to aid the transition back to school.

This petition has already been set up by a campaign group and has over 2000 signatures

@Teatotally

That’s great 😀 thank you 🙏

No problem, DocMia. Their Twitter thread is interesting too.

Bup what did consultant say in July? If it's too unwell for school and you have that documented you won't be fined.
I know the system is crap (I also have a ds with genetic condition) but just because the government is spouting one size fits all and school is saying the same doesn't mean for individual cases they are right.

It's like the whole local policy Vs sendcop when doing the ehcp. Just because they tell you something - don't make it legal true