My school wants to know tomorrow if my RC is going back 1st June

[ShutUpaYourFace]

I'm torn. My head says send him back, heart says not yet.
I was going to wait until nearer the time to make my decision but the school needs to know numbers which is fair enough.
I know the virus is with us for the long haul.
I know the school will implement the guidelines where possible. I know my child needs to go back, but my child is 4 he's ok at home. He will be mixing with 15 other children plus staff that's 17 plus different households. It won't be like normal, he was often tearful going, I wonder if sending him will be more harmful, he maybe with a different teacher, not with his usual friends.
I already work and have worked through except when my ds had a nasty chest infection going into lockdown so I had to isolate with him. Partner is furloughed not for childcare reasons. He delivers booze to pubs/bars so no chance of him returning until bars and restaurants re-open. So I'm thinking to leave ds with dp until mid June to see how things pan out.
I think writing this I have made my decision but interested to know WWYD?

Letseatgrandma

I find that post from the school in very bad taste. It is deliberately being controversial as they obviously don't want to open.

I am not teacher bashing at all, but purely emotive posts by the schools is just wrong.

@Letseatgrandma I've just looked at that school's facebook page and the photo is just to try to scare parents into keeping children home.
There is no need for them to have removed all the toys and suggest they are going to keep Reception children 2m apart at desks.
It's the same as that silly photo up thread with children in squares in the playground - they're set up for shock effect, and not how schools will actually operate!

I don't know why empty classrooms is such a "terrible" or sad thing. Some schools of thought actually say less clutter is better for learning.

Teachers and parents can explain the change calmly and rationally to children.

My daughter has been going to dance and drama classes in empty village halls since she was a preschooler. None of them look at the empty hall and feel sad or scared. They have the most fabulous wonderful time with just their imaginations and the enthusiasm of their teachers.

Greyishdays a RC is a reception child. 4-5 years old. I watched the update today and I'm not at all convinced on safety. Are they really the most important age to go back? Some countries don't start schooling until age 5/6. My child legally doesn't have to attend until this Sep so I decided not to reply to the school on Friday regarding return on 1st June. I'm still undecided, but certainly swaying to not sending him. It won't be the same as before and for my child I feel this will be damaging. Looking at the bare classroom, is this really the schooling they deserve? I know they have to go back sometime and things won't the be same, but this really is heartbreaking. Children that age cannot understand social distancing. They will be mixing with 14 other children, how do I know those children and their parents are being responsible outside of school, They could be mixing with anyone. I can't see the situation improving, in fact when I was out today, people acting like normal, taking their children into the shops it was so busy, I think it's going to get worse before getting better. They should have locked down one more week. Just one, it could have made all the difference. Now we are faced with lots of different opinions from those in the know. I just want my child safe. I want him at school but safe. So fed up with all this, I'm just going to decide nearer the time.

@Norestformrz you cannot possibly say that. There has been very little uptake from the "known" vulnerable families for starters. Secondly there will be families who hadn't been identified previously but relied on school as solace or who are now vulnerable because of the awful pressures of lockdown. There have been a horrible horrible number of DV deaths since lockdown began.

School haven't made a single call to me or my child so how would they possibly know whether we are ok or not?

Abusive isn't visible. It doesn't stick to a certain social group or type of person. And lockdown will have made it 10x worse.

Please don't let pictures of bare classrooms manipulate you! My daughter loves her classes in empty village halls.

Plus there is no need for classrooms to be bare - they will still have plenty of toys and resources, they won't be confined to desks 2m apart.

Up the wolves I'd be prepared to wait as long as it takes rather than risk my child's life how about you?

Plus there is no need for classrooms to be bare - they will still have plenty of toys and resources, there won't be as schools have been advised to remove them

@Norestformrz that might be forever though! The virus is endemic now. Certainly the risk is unlikely to change in the next year.

And are you suggesting the key worker children and vulnerable children attending now are risking their lives?

And what about parents wanting to send their children back or they will lose their jobs. Or because their spouse is abusive. Or because they are struggling with mental health or ill health? Are you really saying that to them?

@Norestformrz where is the guidance that schools must remove all toys?
Things like soft toys and dressing up that can't be easily cleaned, sure. No reason not to have other things though, things like playdough and water play in individual trays. Or are you imagining all nurseries will be totally bare too?

It was sent out to schools

@nevertwerknaked I completely agree. I keep thinking about schools such as this one: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/527a5c22-9809-11e9-8301-b80bc8da9024?wgu=270525_54264_1561990325284_029b931baa&wgexpiry=1569766325&utm_source=planit&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content=22278

I found this upsetting reading last year as I worked in a very similar setting.

I'd keep him home. It's simply not worth the risk or the confusion to him when he can't play like before or may be split from friends or may have a different teacher.

Keep him off and cherish the time

And once again. My daughter has a glorious 3 hours at stage school every week without a picture on the wall . 4 bare walls and an empty floor. Just energy and enthusiasm from the teachers and the glorious imagination of children.

@Norestformrz can you link to it? It wasn't in any of the DfE guidance I've read yet.

I think everyone needs to realise we have to learn to live along side this virus it may not burn itself out and even if it does it could be quite a while. Chances are very low risk for children of this age anyway

It really depends whether you want safe settings Cary we know the virus can survive for 2-3 days on wood, plastic, metal ...play dough would only be safe if each child had their own piece (binned after use) and there was no cross contamination so what do you suggest?

@norestformrz what is the risk to my child's life? Less than one percent, if they even catch it.

We need to look at this as a society. What is the societal risk of not reopening schools in terms of child mental health, abuse, loss of education, further hampering social mobility etc. I used to feed the kids in my class breakfast out of my own bloody money.

It isn't about my child. I can keep her home. I should have the option to do so, as should anyone else who makes that decision for their family. As should the OP. But we should weigh the risks and benefits for society as a whole. We owe it to the children who need them.

Exactly @upthewolves and my 65 year old mum walks through an estate like that every day on her walk between the train station and her work at the hospital. She has done for years. Every week since lockdown she has called me upset about what is happening for those children. Little boys strolling around with drug addicts was the latest thing that upset her. She's calling the police but of course what she sees is a drop in the ocean compared to what is happening behind closed doors.

But it is not just on those estates. It took me months to get help to escape my abusive ex because no one wanted to hear what I was trying to tell them because on the surface we are so "middle class".

Still now I can tell so many people don't believe how scary it was.

And I know previously fairly wealthy families where both parents have lost all their income now.

And I know families breaking under the strain of both parents working from home while they also try and educate their children.

So let's not pretend that the choice is a dichotomous one between an empty classroom and happy days baking bread on a big house with mummy.

Also, fretting about playdoh and soft toys absolutely meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Just more noise. Some kids just desperately need kind, trusted adults and an opportunity to learn.

@Norestformrz what do your propose as the alternative then? Because it could be years (if it ever happens) before the virus is eradicated.

I am so glad to see you writing this
@upthewolves

I am so worried for so many children who are so very vulnerable right now.

@nevertwerknaked I can well imagine. I honestly think some people have no idea what goes on in some areas of this country. I think this applies to a lot of (particularly young) teachers who have had the opportunity to gain an education and a career and never set foot in such a place. It isn't about fucking playdoh.