Unhappy about primary schools re opening

[Bitterglitter]

Is anyone else unhappy about primary schools being re opened as part of the lockdown easing measures?

I keep thinking about the kids who have underlying health conditions that aren't yet diagnosed.

My DS1 (5) was diagnosed with a benign heart murmur in feb this year. It was only picked up because he has a lot of follow up Paediatric appointments because he was premature. I don't even know if it's an issue as far as covid19 goes. But what about all the kids out there with undiagnosed asthma, diabetes etc?

Primary age kids can't and won't maintain social distance. And they will act as super spreaders too. Doesn't matter how well their parents maintain distance if all these kids are mixing it up in schools.

It just seems crazy when so many parents can continue working from home. Am I being hysterical?

Not all key workers are frontline. Ours are health visitors, social workers or work in mental health.

Sometimes I wonder how the media has so much power to influence us but then I see things like this and realise it's just so so easy for them. One headline, one little article about a rumour, and you have multiple threads on here of people worrying.

Totally agree with this. I think the media has been very irresponsible in the way it has whipped up peoples anxiety. I don't have paid for TV subscriptions so generally only watch the main 5 and there have been several nights where the TV scheduling has had some documentary, news report etc regarding Covid19 and its devastating effects across all the channels at exactly the same time so its not even like you can switch over to find something more lighthearted to distract yourself.

We can't keep every school in the country closed because of a small % or vulnerable/shielding children - in these instances the parent will need to weigh up the risk of sending the child to school versus keeping them home. Bearing in mind that the virus is likely to be around for months maybe years to come.....

I'm happy to send my DD back part time for a few weeks before year one.

What is going to happen in September? Surely if normal life has resumed school wise etc then this winter will be horrendous. Everytime the kids get a cold or fever we will be scared!

We planned closing at 2 days notice! if your school had only two days notice then they had their head in the sand for at least a week before it was announced.
Most schools I know had their plans in place before it was announced because it was fairly clear it was likely to happen.

On the basis that the people I know who have more knowledge about this than me have stated the earliest they will consider sending their children back is September, I think I will take their advice.
I am in a fairly easy situation that I am still working, dh is wfh and the children are teens, so don't need looking after, so I do have the luxury to do this without worry though.

I think the 'social bubble' concept could be helpful in primaries. Ie you accept that there's no chance of the children in Year 1 Daisy Class social distancing from their teacher or from each other, but you do everything you can to reduce the amount they mix with others. So you change lunch seating so they sit in classes (or move to a packed lunch model so they picnic as a class outside or eat in classrooms), you don't have assemblies, you don't have inter-class sports and school plays, you stagger break times as cleverly as possible to reduce mixing outside and in corridors, you reduce contact between staff during lunch time, etc. Much harder in secondaries when kids learn in different sets and mive from classroom to classroom every lesson.

No @heidipi - don’t be disingenuous, that’s not what I saying.

Some sense of perspective is needed. There are risks that people accept every day without thinking about them. Covid, will to an extent, have to become a similar inbuilt risk.

Bear in mind the Swedish schools aren’t shut.

@andantino i like this concept!

I work in a small school (just over 60 children). We were open throughout the Easter holidays for keyworker childcare and have been open for 8 to 10 keyworker children for the last 2 weeks. The children have a very full online work schedule so they are using laptops.

We have ZERO distancing in place. The children are encouraged to wash their hands but that is it. We have to sit next to them to help with work, we are with them at playtimes when they play closely together and we are with them at lunch when they sit together.

Some of the small number of staff who are in are bringing their own children (from other schools) in so that they have the company of other children!

For me it feels like we're so careful in our home life - I only shop once a week, we only go out for a walk once a day and we maintain 2m distance if we see anyone, my children are at home while I'm at school etc etc. BUT I'm at risk every time I go to work (every week day) due to zero distancing.

DS won't go on because he's extremely vulnerable and so DD can't.

Just keep your child at home if going to school may pose any risks. I'm sure they'll be understanding.

3 have 3 teachers - 2 are shielding and due to the layout of my classroom being a thoroughfare it means realistically I envisage only 3 children will fit in. Having ensured they are 2m away from my whiteboard, IWB, laptop, the doors (necessary for access to staff toilets, children's toilets, kitchen, cleaning cupboard and the front door).

Snap @Land0r

I get the impression Greenpop just doesn't want to return to work.
It really makes no odds if its now or in the mythical September.
There will be minimal social distancing in schools, that is obvious. So if you are uncomfortable with that I suggest looking for another job? Or just crack on with the one you have when the government decides

You don't have to send them back. My kids will be developing a temperature. I pulled them out of school before the schools closed as well. There was all kind of scaremongering on here that my kids would lose their school places. Nothing happened.

OP put your kid and family first. The government won't. The government wants us all to get back to work for the sake of the economy. I don't agree that is the best thing, but even if it was it does not mean it is the best thing for your family. Put them first.

I AM at work! I haven’t stopped.

We have ZERO distancing in place. The children are encouraged to wash their hands but that is it. We have to sit next to them to help with work, we are with them at playtimes when they play closely together and we are with them at lunch when they sit together.

Where as our school is doing all the can to help maintain distance between the children, unless they are siblings. They have their own desks, activities and zones of the playground. It's not perfect, but we're trying.

I get the impression Greenpop just doesn't want to return to work.

They are still at work.

Stop children putting things in their mouth.
Hmm, again, easier said than done. We have at least 2 children in our class who are pencil chewers. I spent most of last year on their cases about it but it didn’t stop them. They don’t mean to, they just do it absentmindedly.
We also watched children wash their hands, then on the way back from the sink, wipe their noses with the backs of their hands, or put their fingers up their noses. Kids are pretty disgusting!

The reality is that the behaviour of small children does not work with social distancing. If people are happy to accept that, then great. But I just need to think we need to make sure we are not kidding ourselves that children will go back, be socially distant, and yet education will continue as normal. It just won’t work like that.
Again, there will be fewer staff in than normal. Which means fewer people to supervise the children and stop them putting their fingers in their noses or licking their friends!

@ivfgottostaypositive And what about vulnerable school staff and parents? Or don't they matter?

Look at what a mess the government has made of this whole thing. Anyone who trusts what the government says is naive. You have to look at the facts and decide for yourself what is safe to do. And if I was a vulnerable teacher I would be suddenly ill the day I had to return to work.

I work for an online school. We are seeing a big rise in numbers because of concerns like the op's; amongst other reasons. There are other options available to people.

@Greysparkles I think vulnerable teachers should just ring in sick. In even a few weeks time it will be clear whether infections are increasing or not. I would aim to be off for 3 weeks before making a decision about whether to return. Any GP would sign you off sick with anxiety anyway.

Stop children putting things in their mouth.
Hmm, again, easier said than done. We have at least 2 children in our class who are pencil chewers. I spent most of last year on their cases about it but it didn’t stop them. They don’t mean to, they just do it absentmindedly.
We also watched children wash their hands, then on the way back from the sink, wipe their noses with the backs of their hands, or put their fingers up their noses. Kids are pretty disgusting!

In which case the bubble theory that a PP mentioned whereby children are socially distanced within their own class bubble ie no mixing with other teachers/classes, each class has their own playtime, they have packed lunches in their own respective classrooms etc would be the way forward.

I do find it bizzare.
I would have thought the most sensible thing would be allow slightly more mixing... Esp over summer and see what happens!

It's not gone away, daily death totals are horrific! There is no cure, nothing to ease suffering....

I work for an online school. We are seeing a big rise in numbers because of concerns like the op's; amongst other reasons. There are other options available to people.

How would an online school work long term for a 5 year old? I would worry about the lack of socilaisation opportunities.

Well, they do say that primary children do not fall victim to the virus as easily as adults. Does anyone know if this is the case, scientifically speaking?