Do you think Senior School children will have to wear face masks?

[BrandNewShinyThings]

Because I honestly don't know how I am going to get my 11yr old to school if that's the case. He absolutely cannot stand being too hot - I'm already stressing about the compulsory tank top and blazer - he just won't cope in a mask all day. No official medical reason, he had severe eczema when younger and still has very sensitive skin but no longer seen by the doctor as we manage it with emollients and antihistamines. This is a potential nightmare for so many children.
By the way I am 100% for supporting teachers and keeping them as safe as possible, I think teachers are being treated appallingly. But I am coming at this from the child's perspective.

[BrandNewShinyThings]

@Frlrlrubert

Guidance we sent to parents states masks in school are optional at the moment. It's worded as 'govt says you don't have to, but you can if you want'.

But guidance from above is obviously subject to change over the next 7 weeks.

Yes that's my question really, will they become mandatory in September. I'm asking the unknown though, I know that, just worried about how DS will cope.

[BlueChampagne]

How about a face shield, OP, rather than a close fitting mask?

[Clutterbugsmum]

Our High school have sent out an email yesterday to say that masks will not be worn in school.

[MarshaBradyo]

I doubt it at this stage

[AhBallix]

I'm a bit worried about this too as DS(12) has sensory issues (undiagnosed ADHD - process was interrupted by the pandemic). I am completely in favour of people wearing masks and definitely want teachers to feel safe. But I know there will be great wailing and gnashing of teeth if DS has to wear one. And possibly very high pitched sounds only dogs can hear! I also know he is a very thoughtful person and will want other people to be safe, but his issues are out of his control.

He is also happy to sit around in his pants morning, noon and night

[BrieAndChilli]

Having just work a mask to the supermarket (we are in wales so not mandatory here) I can’t imagine having to wear one constantly for 6-7 hours!! It was horrible and made me feel like I couldn’t breathe properly and was all hot and sweaty. Was a relief to take it off when we got to the car.
So I can’t imagine teenagers wearing them constantly throughout a whole school day!
Paper ones might be cooler but will cost a bomb to buy enough disposable ones for everyone (I have 3 kids) and are awful for the environment.

[ChicCroissant]

Full uniform and no masks in my DD's school - if your child wants to wear a mask there is a possibility, but they will be asked to remove it if it becomes a distraction in lessons.

Well that's the guidance this week anyway, who knows by September I can't keep up with it at the moment. I am getting the general impression that DD's school want to keep things as close to their usual style as possible, which I agree with.

[BrandNewShinyThings]

I wouldn't want to be the poor teachers trying to enforce it, Yr 7s might be more compliant but by Yr11....

[BrandNewShinyThings]

They did send an email saying full uniform, no mention of face masks. They are at least giving the Yr 7s a full day without any other year groups in as they've missed all the usual transition visits.

[UmbrellaHat]

How on earth will they hear the teacher if s/he is wearing a mask and vice versa. Totally unworkable in classroom. Loads of kids will claim exemption. They won't be able to afford disposable and other face coverings will get increasingly exotic -another distraction. If the Gvt mandates it will be the final conversation they have lost the plot.

[Meredusoleil]

As a teacher in a primary school and parent of a soon to be Year 7 child, I sincerely hope they won't be compulsory! I'm already struggling with the idea I've got to start wearing one in shops starting from my birthday of all days 🙄

I wouldn't mind wearing a visor. But no idea how to get one of them? Dd1 will hopefully not be needing to wear one at all as won't be on public transport. That's the only time 11+ year olds need to wear them as far as I know.

[Redcrayons]

My DCs school have said they are optional for kids, though strongly encouraged.
Teachers will all be wearing visors.

I suppose the school would have to provide them if they are mandatory.

[MarshaBradyo]

Redcrayons are you England state school or other?

[Redcrayons]

Yep, England state school.

[MarshaBradyo]

Does the school pay for the visors?

I think it’s a good solution, wish other schools would do the same.

[Frlrlrubert]

I know masks can be uncomfortable at first, but you do get used to them I promise (sensory differences obviously excepted).

I did a decade in industry were they were required and wore one all day every day - the first couple of weeks were horrible, but after that is was fine. Well, until we switched to the rubber half masks, they were rank, and then positive pressure respirators which dry your eyes out, again not too bad once you'd adjusted.

[mumsneedwine]

We have been provided with masks and visits by school - I'm a teacher. Students wearing one is optional at the moment. I think it will become mandatory very quickly as schools are germ breeding grounds at the best of times. Love the 'well ventilated room' joke - windows open an inch and no outside doors to list rooms. Usually by now they are mini saunas.

[mumsneedwine]

Visors not visits. Spellcheck not used to the word yet - it will be v soon

[Redcrayons]

@MarshaBradyo I don’t know. We had an online parents evening where they outlined the plan.
I assume the school would pay, although I’ve only ever worked private sector and I’ve never been expected to buy my own equipment. I realise that’s not the case for schools.

[MarshaBradyo]

Sounds good. It’s bugging me that the DfE guidance has meant visors have been disallowed by heads in some schools.

[PettsWoodParadise]

I don’t think there is a right answer any more. You do one thing to prevent something and it causes something else.

I am concerned that my DD’s immune system will not develop as it should. Of course this goes to the bottom of the pile of allowable concerns at the moment, as has my concern over DH’s lack of cancer treatment meaning it is now far more severe and very worrying.

The majority of the population should be exposed to bugs and germs to some degree. Not being exposed risks otherwise healthy children having a weaker immune system or even worse (see research on lack of illness as a child contributing to childhood leukaemia). DD would have been on her third cold of the year by now but only had a mild one at the start of the year. The proposal to wear masks in schools isn’t as simple as keeping the Coronavirus away, it is far more complex than that.

Wearing the same mask all day also negates the benefits as touching the outside and then putting back on can help the spread of the virus, so do we send our children in with a pile of masks and plastic bags to put them in? It simply isn’t practical.

[BrandNewShinyThings]

@PettsWoodParadise so sorry to hear about your DH's cancer treatment, that is such an awful consequence of this virus.
I agree with you about immunity and also I hadn't thought about needing a new mask each time, if kids are taking them off to eat and drink at break times and lunch times, that's 2 masks they will need to take in plus the one they are wearing, I cannot see how families are going to afford 15 masks a week per child

[BrandNewShinyThings]

Never mind the massive pile of used masks building up, and how do we dispose of them safely??

[PettsWoodParadise]

Thanks for the flowers @BrandNewShinyThings.

Yes piling up used masks is not good.

There is often in our government and institutions a prevalence of ‘we’ve got to be seen to be doing something’ but that something isn’t always the right solution. Sometimes it is the best out of a bad bunch of solutions and debate, facts and research can inform us.

[Bmidreams]

But at the same time if a student or teacher gets covid, we'll be looking at shut downs constantly.