Masks banned for children at dc's primary school - teachers, can the head do this?

[PCatwalk]

She says no masks for children at all without a medical reason and a doctor's note

She says the Dfe are v clear about masks in primary - but I think it's an arbitrary rule based on age, not physiology . My Y6 dd is as tall as me and so are a couple of her friends!

Incorrectly worn masks are dangerous. More of the virus can be found on the outside than inside after a few hours of wear, so if (when!) kids fiddle with them, put them on their desks, leave them in the hallways etc they'll end up being more of a potential spreading risk.

If a child is coughing they are good protection - but in that case the child should be going home anyway.

OK. I'm going to bite. What on earth does her height have to do with anything??? I missed the "taller people are at increased risk" memo, did I?

They could put on a religious covering that did the same thing.

@Moondust001

OK. I'm going to bite. What on earth does her height have to do with anything??? I missed the "taller people are at increased risk" memo, did I?

Have a little think about it. She’s tall, started her periods a year and a half ago and has the same build as some adults. Would you still say she is at a lower risk because she’s a child? She might be by law, but physiologically speaking I doubt that’s the case.

@CallmeAngelina

I've read of teachers on here saying their Heads won't allow masks/PPE and I've always wondered how that would stand up in court, if it came to it. Surely they can't "ban" them??? Regardless of one's personal feelings about them, imagine if someone caught the virus, and it transpired that they/those around them had been prevented from taking what many consider to be a viable precaution.

These are my thoughts exactly. Last term, a fair few BAME children turned up for the last day transition wearing masks. Is she really able to guarantee their safety without extra precautions? I really think she is setting herself up for some unnecessary battles.

Would you still say she is at a lower risk because she’s a child? She might be by law, but physiologically speaking I doubt that’s the case

The law doesn't say she is lower risk because she is a child. The law is completely silent on the subject. The available scientific evidence says that your daughter is at lower risk because she is a child. That is why the WHO does not see any need for masks for children below the age of 12. Indeed, they only endorsed the use of masks by older children within the last fortnight.

There have been over 40,000 deaths from Covid-19 in the UK. Only 10 of the victims were under 19 and all of them had pre-existing health conditions.

The risk to your daughter is vanishingly small.

Good, masks have no place in schools.

Covid 19 has no place in schools.

Of mask wearing helps with this then so be it.

Key stage 2 children are expected to follow an ambitious curriculum and various other rules it seems ridiculous to suggest masks can not be worn properly.

Oh grow up.

If not of.

That was obviously to viniandbrie. Another ThemforUs stooge, I expect. And yes, I deliberately put those the wrong way round. Absolutely no thought or care for any adult in schools.

I did read an article that height could be a surprising factor - something to do wiring aresols and more research was needed.
It is quite an arbitrary cut off between primary and secondary.

Personally if a child wears a mask I really honesty can't see it being stopped.

Ofcourse you could have multiple clean masks and instruct your children how to wear them and have a secure bag for them to put the used masks in.

Teachers will need masks.

I think children who can wear them should. Obviously there may be some exceptions but it is ridiculous not to wear masks with a respiratory disease like Covid -19.

Delete wiring it was in work.

I am having issues with auto correct. Apologies. Hopefully my post makes sense but if not then just ignore it

"A large new studyy from South Korea offers an answer: Children younger than 10 transmit to others much less often than adults do, but the risk is not zero. And those between the ages of 10_ and 19 can spread the virus at least as well as adults do."

Ballsy headteacher.

Children in all probability do transmit COVID.

But cloth masks likely don’t stop them from doing so, as was pointed by several people on this thread. This is basically a new superstition that people are using to calm down their nerves. Wearing a cloth mask for prolonged period in a closed classroom is useless (because it gets wet and because the kids would touch and touch and touch it and then touch their maskless friends). Government made it mandatory for secondary to calm people down after doing nothing (like introducing small bubbles or effective masks for teachers or outside learning or adjusting school buildings) to actually diminish the possible spread.

This doesn’t mean that you should give in to hysteria and put a useless and extremely uncomfortable piece of cloth over your primary schooler mouth. If you are actually worried (and have a medical reason) just don’t send them to school.

But a child would not wear just one mask - they would change the masks.

Also they are not uncomfortable

You can make comfortable cotton masks for your children.

Had one child in class with a mask today. Was very relieved when the deputy head told them to remove it until hometime. Couldn’t hear a word they were saying or use lip reading to help work it out. Would really hinder their learning if worn in class at all times. May as well close schools again if it is necessary for all to wear masks at all times.

That's a fairly defeatist attitude imo. There are many countries where this is the norm and no one bats an eyelid.

Our area has just gone on to the national watchlist, right before term starts on Monday.Not the best position to be in.

Our primary has said no masks in school. I'm glad because DD has hearing loss and needs to lipread. She is not the only person who needs to see the whole face at school. Perhaps OP's school also has children in this situation.

There are some countries where masks are worn in primary schools. I don't think there are many. As far as I can see, most countries in Europe are not using masks in primary schools.

The WHO does not recommend masks for children under 12.

Research shows that primary school children transmit the virus significantly less than secondary school children and adults.

Some experts such as Professor Russell Viner believe that getting younger children to wear masks could actually increase the spread of the virus as they would be more worried about the mask and would touch their faces more.

Hear hear @prh47bridge

"Research shows that primary school children transmit the virus significantly less than secondary school children and adults." Actually current research shows Children younger than 10 transmit to others much less often than adults do, but the risk is not zero. And those between the ages of 10 and 19 can spread the virus at least as well as adults do.

And a new study https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/children-often-carry-more-coronavirus-than-adults-study-67785 is challenging the idea that younger children are less susceptible to COVID

I didn't say the risk was zero. It isn't. And yes, our understanding of the virus is evolving all the time. Nonetheless, it remains the case that WHO does not recommend masks for children under 12 and some experts believe use of masks in primary schools would increase the spread, not reduce it. It is possible, of course, that they are all wrong.