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Original poster

What to do??

29 replies

Mummybear26 · 08/12/2020 20:43

Hey everyone, I know there’s mixed views on this at the moment and not here to cause a ruckus just looking for general opinions....
Christmas bubbles have been chosen and my grandparents have chosen to be with me and my dc. They both are extremely vulnerable and been fighting cancer 😞 now would you stop your child going to school on Friday until January? I want to keep them safe and want 10 days isolation to make sure it’s definitely safe for them.myself and my youngest ds are also vulnerable... What would you do?
You can’t put a price on health of those you love so I’m not bothered about getting a fine just genuinely looking for other parent opinions on what they would do? Or are going to do?
Thanks in advance everyone! 🌲 😷

OP posts:
August20 · 08/12/2020 20:46

You will get mixed opinion but yes I would keep them off. They're only in primary school.

I would not be able to easily forgive myself if my family passed it on to vulnerable relatives.

Original poster
Mummybear26 · 08/12/2020 20:53

This is what I’m thinking, phoning the school Monday morning and explaining the reasons behind this decision! It’s been a totally crap year as it is atleast Christmas could be joyful without something going wrong, they don’t go to shops or anything as they are not comfortable doing so, I get them online weekly shopping so this year to spend 5 days with them all covid/ cold/ flu free would really make us happy. I know some people agree others don’t because it could end up causing another lockdown with people being silly. If I don’t go out from Sunday until 23rd we would be safe for us within the Christmas bubble?

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GetTheGoodLookingGuy · 08/12/2020 21:36

I'm a TA and we really won't be doing anything much (not even in Y6 where we have SATs in the summer) in that last week. I think we're doing "normal" work until Tuesday lunchtime, and then it's cards and craft and quizzes and maths games and party and film.

I expect most schools will be similar, so they won't be missing much (except all the fun stuff, which they might be sad about, but if it's a choice between fun stuff and school and seeing grandparents...)

AIMD · 08/12/2020 21:38

If your worried about a vulnerable person the. Yes keep them off. They’ll be fine it’s only a week.

BefuddledPerson · 08/12/2020 21:42

I wouldn't do this (bubbles) at all personally, but if I were then I would keep them off for the last week.

I would have no educational concern about a single missed week even in secondary.

ArtieFufkinPolymerRecords · 08/12/2020 21:46

Are you planning on none of you leaving the house until after Christmas?

Smartiepants79 · 08/12/2020 21:46

You must do what you think is best for your family. All I would say is don’t expect school to agree with or support your choice. It will be an unauthorised absence.
Also, no one can guarantee you’ll be ‘safe’ in your COVID bubble. Germs come from all over the place, accidents happen, food poisoning etc etc.....
Your children will not miss much academically no, so if it makes you feel better......

FluffyPJs · 08/12/2020 21:55

They might not miss anything academic but they may well miss all of the Christmas fun stuff. We are having the party, mini fair, etc all towards the end of next week. The beginning of the week we will be making cards and calendars etc. It would be such a shame for them to miss all of that, especially as they won't be able to see their friends over the holiday or maybe do the usual christmassy stuff due to whatever tier you are in. I do understand about the wanting to isolate for as long as possible. I have the same issue but will be working until the 18th so am hoping a week will be enough.

BefuddledPerson · 08/12/2020 21:59

I really don't think missing a fair is the end of the world. Its only school, it'll be there next year.

Ki0612 · 08/12/2020 22:01

I'm in Scotland, so we are teaching til 23rd in my LA. So I'll be doing normal work as long as possible as they are still playing catch up, so I'd prefer parents didn't do this.... However, you could lose a week at any point due to illness and safety of your family is more important so completely understand parents making this decision.

winterspiced · 08/12/2020 22:02

I would be doing it if my ds was still at primary. Can't do it now he is secondary because he has assessments he doesn't want to miss.

Original poster
Mummybear26 · 08/12/2020 22:09

Thanks for all your posts they are appreciated! School has sent a letter home saying cards need to go to school on Monday so they can be put in “isolation” for 72 hours, unfortunately no Christmas mini party or anything at my sons school as we are an academy so school has no funding unless us parents pay for each individual thing. They done Christmas cinema night last week and that was it until 17/18 Christmas dinner which my son doesn’t eat and Christmas jumper day.. that’s all the school have planned for the last week. No once I collect my shopping Saturday I will be staying in until the 23rd when I will travel to there’s to become our bubble for Christmas. I don’t expect the school to agree or support me in my choice but as I said above you can’t put a price on someone’s health. Also a risk but I’m fearful of this covid 😞

OP posts:
superking · 08/12/2020 22:13

For me it's an easy decision - my children will be going to school both for the sake of their education and because the last week before the Christmas holidays is so much fun for them - exchanging (quarantined!) cards with their friends, Christmas jumper day, Christmas lunch etc. In a year where they have missed out on so much socialisation I don't think it would be fair to them to keep them home.

Having said that, we don't have anyone especially vulnerable in our Christmas bubble, so I'm aware that makes it a much easier decision. But even if we did, I would personally prioritise that last week in school over seeing vulnerable relatives at Christmas and would postpone a "Christmas" celebration for a few months now that the vaccination programme has started. Or I would make clear that my children would be going to school and that it was up to family members to make their own decision about whether they wanted to meet.

I do understand that it is a very difficult and personal decision and there are some circumstances (terminal illness, mental health) where the balance would probably sway the other way for me too.

Original poster
Mummybear26 · 08/12/2020 22:13

Just want to add We are signed up to google classroom and other educational sites done by the school, once my son has completed any work online he submits it to his teacher who gives feedback. So even if there is no work set next week I will still be making sure he is reading, writing, maths and his spellings are being done. I won’t just give a extra week and take it for granted he will still be doing school work at home until the school actually closes. Plus Christmas activities i have brought for them to do. X

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummybear26 · 08/12/2020 22:19

Ds is a bah humbug until he realises Santa is on his way 😂 we have lots of educational things to be getting on with. It’s been such a hard year for everyone and the socialising for Children aswell as lack of education hasn’t done them any favours. To see my grandparents over Christmas will be my main priority aswell as keeping them safe. My youngest is only 2 but they grow so quick they’ve missed him growing up, they don’t understand FaceTime or anything so it’s been really hard for everyone. I just want best of both worlds but that’s impossible atm let alone having to help Santa out aswell ! X

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Original poster
Mummybear26 · 09/12/2020 19:49

So school has just sent a email saying as of tomorrow the whole school will be shut due to covid cases leading to staff shortages?! So does the whole school need to isolate? Will I get a separate email if ds is a close contact?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummybear26 · 09/12/2020 19:50

Don’t have any plans on going anywhere other than shopping Sunday and to walk my dog!

OP posts:
springlike · 09/12/2020 20:05

@Mummybear26 I think if your child had to isolate you would be told. If it's just down to staff shortages then your child wouldn't have to isolate. That's how it works at our school.

AIMD · 09/12/2020 20:08

Our school closed in September for similar reasons. Anyone who was a contact was informed and had to self isolate, everyone else was just odd school because they didn’t have enough staff to keep it open (and also had a knee jerk panic I think) and didn’t need to isolate.

AnnieKennyfanclub · 09/12/2020 20:11

We are doing exactly this.. I am being completely honest with the school and if they don’t authorise the absence I don’t really care. Off the record the teachers are pretty supportive in our circumstances, but I don’t want to potentially cause worry to others who may think we are isolating due to symptoms.

I am sad that the DCs will miss some of the Christmas activities but they will have those next year, but maybe not their grandmother...

Soontobe60 · 09/12/2020 20:17

The teachers wont be providing online work unless the class is isolating. They will be in school with the children who turn up.
If I were you, I’d have a quiet Christmas at home but make New Year the time to visit relatives.

Original poster
Mummybear26 · 09/12/2020 20:47

That’s was yesterday’s idea but today plans have totally changed and the school has closed due to staff shortages? I haven’t heard anything else just a standard email? Will copy and paste below x

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Original poster
Mummybear26 · 09/12/2020 20:51

Dear Parent,

We have been advised by Public Health England that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the school. We cannot provide further details of the individual who tested positive for privacy and data protection reasons, but rest assured, a full risk assessment has taken place with Public Health England to identify close contacts.
Unfortunately, the role of the confirmed case and associated contacts, means that we are unable to keep the school open due to shortage of staff, we will be in touch with the next steps.
Kind regards

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummybear26 · 09/12/2020 20:53

I haven’t heard anything more from the school, I’m not sure where this leaves me or where I stand walking my dog and doing my last shop. Thought it was too good to be true! No school closures or bubbles down up until now arghh.

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Howmanysleepsnow · 09/12/2020 21:03

That means you don’t have to isolate but school is shut for 14 days. Couldn’t have worked out better!
(3 out of my 4dc have had similar at different schools. If you were isolating they’d call to tell you- we’ve had the call 5 times!)