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?

@Norestformrz fake news and not helpful when people are trying to make a difficult decision.
That same photo has popped up on my Facebook 3 times this week. Apparently there is a school in the uk, Finland and France that looks totally the same and is attended by the same children

"Just don't have it!" That's the point ...schools are having to remove things like dressing up clothes and play dough to reduce risks of infection so classrooms won't be the same as they were before lockdown and those on this thread criticising photographs of empty classrooms need to consider the logistics of keeping children safe

It's not fake news ...are you Trump?

So where is the school, according to my news feed, it's in 3 countries!
I'm a primary school teacher, there's no way a school would sit children inside chalked squares with no resources or activities.

Trump? No a female leftie, so your judgement is a little off there

I'm thankful that I don't have a child this age but if I did I would not put them at risk and I've advised family members with young children not to either.

Bullying you mean.

I know what is the right thing for my child - well I will once I understand how the school plan to implement it.

But I must admit I am wobbling. Not because I am worried about safety, not even because I am worried about the experience my child may have- i have total faith in the school.

Bit societal pressure. People trying to bully others into keeping their children off school. I do understand teachers have genuine concerns and they need to be respected and addressed.

But other parents? I mainly think they don't want to send their child, so if they won't do it they don't want anyone else to be able to too.

My local primary, where my children went, is a 3 form entry so potentially 270 children back in with R Yr1 and Yr2. I can't see how things like staggered playtime would work as if you are splitting the classes to make 15 children there would be 18 groups needing playtime. The don't have multiple play areas, just one big playground.

"Bullying you mean." No advising of medical opinion so they can make informed choices not those based on government misinformation

Schools teach children about reliable sources ...your Facebook feed isn't one

I agree. Unfortunately a large number of people don't realise this or don't care and information shared on social media has huge influence on parents. My own fg page is awash with dystopian nightmare classrooms atm, in fact one was just a cgi mock up of an empty, dark room with single desks in asking if I would be happy to send my 5 year old there. And who had it been reshared by? Teachers! A large number of the comments underneath were also from apparent teachers. It's a sort of campaign of fear. And it means the real concrete reasoning is lost which is very scary for parents to be honest.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/lockdown-france-eased-teachers-paint-social-distancing-a4439546.html

https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/14/heartbreaking-pictures-show-french-children-social-distancing-playground-12704240/

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/dining-with-dummies-renowned-restaurant-adds-mannequins-for-social-distancing/an-idea-of-social-distancing/slideshow/75755948.cms

https://www.france24.com/en/20200512-french-teachers-anxious-as-schools-gradually-reopen-after-covid-19-lockdown

@Norestformrz I'm not using my Facebook feed to teach either my own or other people's children. Obviously.

I was merely curious as to why the same photo has been used to describe the way schools are running in the uk, Finland and France?
That's some commute for those children, hopping between 3 countries to get their post corona education. And remarkable how similar the school building is in those different countries....
@Norestformrz May I politely suggest you stop educating yourself via Facebook?

Not sure why my post is in bold but hopefully you'll get the message and stop scaring people that are already scared enough...

I have read the research and the risk to my child & family.

I have determined its a risk that we can live with and the benefits of him being in school is greater.

I have an elder child at home for now so it's not childcare .

I do understand that others would come to a different opinion.

Even the experts don't agree. For anything you find ti say keep schools closed, i am sure I can find something else saying open them.

And they are all playing games. Unions, government etc.

@norestformrz None of those are in the UK though? We have different (more sensible?!) guidelines? And as I have already asked, if that's 'safe' why aren't the keyworkers children being educated that way/ in that environment?

I think teachers/schools are sharing these pictures because they are trying to counter the narrative of 'I'm sending my child back because they need some normality'. There won't be anything 'normal' about school for a while. I'm sure that they will do their best. But it will be childcare, not school as we know it. And that's ok, if everyone understands that.

I'm not sending mine back because I'm shielding. But if I wasn't, I probably wouldn't either. I don't need it for childcare and we're coping (mostly ). I'd rather leave the places for vulnerable kids, parents who are struggling mentally and those who need it for childcare so they can work. The fewer that go in, the better the chance that all who need it can have a space. Having said that, I know from friends who work in schools that very few of the vulnerable families have taken up the spaces that they've already been offered. I don't know what we do about that

We wont be sending ours.

@batsango that's a sensible explanation. I don't know of any parents who expect normality during a global pandemic though and as a parent it's a bit patronising when you hold valid concerns about vulnerable sections of society, or even about your own child, and you get teachers sharing shock pictures saying "you think you want kids back in school to you? Look at this! This one's even worse look at this! We are doing to traumatise children!' Some kids are already traumatised.

@batsegundo apologies

I know what a reception child is, thanks. But it doe isn’t get shortened to RC. Just say four year old then? Mumsnet doesn't need any more (made up) abbreviations. I thought it was a medical condition.

*Doesn’t

Bat and that's why we need to speak to our individual schools.

I think its horrid what some of these schools are sharing. They are trying to manipulate parents. Its unprofessional and quite frankly wrong to do it in this way.

That said parents do need to understand how they will manage it. But these discussions should happen through official communication channels - not Facebook or local press.

I would not send my child back to one of the schools discouraging pupils from attending. I would probably start trying to find a new school for them.

My reception child is closer to 6 than 4.........

The OPs is four though.

We've decided not to send our 5 year old back. There are several factors why we've taken this decision. We also have a 7 year old. If he was able to go back too then I think we'd go for it, but we don't want to break our 'bubble' for the sake of sending back only the one child. I am also working from home and I know that if the 7yr old is alone he'll be very bored and want more attention than I can give. Having them both home is actually easier as they are company for each other. I know the virus isn't going to go away, but this works best for our family for now. I'd rather send them both back together.