Fines for not sending children to school after reopening

[jojo1717]

The education minister has announced today that parents who do not send their children back to school when it start again in September will be fined, unless there is a local spike. Do you agree? Do you trust they will have a strategy to detect and contain local spikes? Or to you think there'll be a second wave by then anyway? Or a complete distinction of the virus? Or do you have any other thoughts on this?

I completely agree, if the schools are open, then the children need to be in as per normal, for all the normal reasons children need to be in school.

Well yes. If schools are open then children need to be in school. If you want to Keep your child at home you are welcome to de-reg them and honeschool permanently.

Whilst the school I am Chair of Governors at has seen more than 75% of pupils return in the reception, year 1 and year 6 groups, the school is also aware that we have a small cohort of pupils (and parents) who still have massive mental and social issues around returning to school. They need to be addressed on an individual basis by the school leadership team, social services and other outside services after 1st September, so any blanket decision to fine parents will be counter-productive. It needs to be left as no fines for say the month of September and then a period of time where headteachers make an individual decision on whether a fine is appropriate before say on the 1st November we return to fines for pupils not being in school.
The DfE need to recognise the level of mental and social issues that are going to come to the fore from 1st September and act sensibly over this.

After my children have been thrown under the bus by the government and their school during this crisis by not providing an education for 4 months, I would find it very hypocritical if we got fined for us not sending them to school after this summer (for whatever reason).

Some parents would have extremely valid concerns.

1. It sounds like nhs are planning for an October wave

2 no quarantine from some countries. Fine they might? Be less infected but still crammed on planes etc even with other uk people and then back to school next day 3 no SD is no protection for vulnerable parents or children 4 some live with GP 5 ridiculous bubbles of 240 6 primary 30 bubbles. But sharing toilets with minimum of 1 other bubble 7 pick up drop off would be impossible for these numbers. Even 1 class is 60 people walking in minimum more like several more including siblings 8 many kids will have older/younger siblings in nursery or preschool or secondary school 9 some kids would not comply with a bud going up their nose 10 -not shutting down bubbles until postive - trust gov/nhs to keep on top of these coming back quickly

• 25% false negative
• some parents wont do them or get lost in the post

11 parents send kids in when they are ill

There are probably many secondary parents over 50.
Such lax rules mean many kids probably cant see their over 70 gp for several months

Matt Hancocks statement last night re Leicester
"We’ve decided that from tomorrow [Tuesday], non-essential retail will have to close and, as children have been particularly impacted by this outbreak, schools will also need to close from Thursday, staying open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers as they did throughout."

I think most of the teachers and TAs are going to be very ill with COVID (they aren't allowed PPE despite being in an enclosed space for many hours with many people, those in primary care also often need to perform sone intimate care) so there will be lots of bubble closures and there will be lots of bubble closures due to positive tests in the autumn and winter.
I don't think they will be in school very much.
Children get the virus and pass it on to their teachers, TAs, office staff, canteen staff etc. Luckily for the children they aren't usually affected but all the adults in the school are going to be hard hit.

Do you think they will try to make exceptions for children who live with grandparents or other people who are shielding? Or will the government stick with "one size fits all"?