Mumsnet users share their thoughts on the return to school with INEOS

[LucyBMumsnet]

This sponsored discussion is now closed. Thank you to everyone who posted on the thread.

Up and down the country, parents are polishing school shoes and getting school bags ready in preparation for sending their children back to school. For many, the return to school this year is likely to result in mixed feelings: whether that’s relief that you no longer need to home educate or anxiety about what it might mean. With this in mind, INEOS want to hear more about your thoughts and feelings about sending your children back to school.

Here’s what INEOS have to say: “Going back to school in 2020 is going to be a bit different - with more emphasis on hygiene, social distancing and keeping safe. INEOS Hygienics Sanitiser contains 75% high purity hospital grade ethanol and kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. It has given confidence to thousands of frontline medical staff and care providers, and now offers that same level of protection to you and your family, at home, travelling to and from school and beyond. INEOS would love to hear your thoughts on your children returning to school.*”

How do you feel about sending your children back to school? Do you feel differently now that they've returned? Are you looking forward to getting back into the school routine? Has adapting been easy so far? Perhaps you’re feeling sad about spending less time with your children? Or excited about having time to yourself again? Is this the first year that hand sanitiser has made your list of essential back to school supplies? How are your children managing now they've returned?

Whether you’re feeling excited, relieved or slightly apprehensive, share on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

*Use sanitisers carefully. Always read the label and product information before use.

I'm really pleased they'll be going back to school. They need the social interaction and to be taught by their brilliant teachers (not by me whilst also trying to do my own job from home).

And yes I will enjoy a bit of time to myself once they go back, we've been together all day every day since March so the break will do us all good.

It will be strange sending them off with hand sanitizer and a mask (for the secondary school one) though!

I'm looking forward to them going back and the routine but I'm worried about disruption making settling in and catching up even more difficult. Mine younger two are very prone to fevevr with any cold and as soon as one has a fever all have to be kept at home until we test negative.

For my daughter (only child) it is absolutely the right thing to do and I have no hesitations at all. I will still see her more than normal due to shortened hours at childcare after school and fewer busy weekends following Covid. She will thrive.

My only concerns are possible bubble closures/suspected cases anywhere/other disruptions and delays which will affect her wellbeing and my ability to work. I need to work to clear the mortgage each month. We will follow the rules though!

I can’t wait for mine to go back to school- their mental health has definitely suffered from not seeing other children, and although they’re not visibly unhappy the lift they get from seeing friends is clear.

Oh my gosh other humans are going to see his horrendous lockdown hair cut (given by me!)

Worried, unsure what the right decision is as it's made harder due to me being immunocomprimised, my older two are worried about bringing germs home despite me trying to reassure them

At the moment my family and I are considering the kids staying with my parents at first while we see how things are, the kids don't know this yet. My parents aren't in any of the more at risk categories and usually help me out anyway

I'm looking f forward to it with trepidation, my son is autistic and returning to his school in June caused lots of issues due to all the changes.

I'm hoping that things will be a bit more normal when he returns as he will be back to some of the more usual stuff such as swimming and the gym.

Delighted kids are going back and happy with the preparation their schools have made. I have been working away from home for most of covid while my husband was at home with the children (while working full time remotely) so it’s not about getting out of the house for me although it may be for him. I’d be ok with both of them wearing masks although they are primary age so don’t need to.

I’m very worried. I’ve bought sanitizer bottle that go on you belt and wipes. I’m worried my kids won’t use them. My kids are excited to see their friends.

I can't wait for my son to go back. He's very excited. Obviously slightly worried but I think it will be fine

My boys have gone to school throughout the lockdown as I work on the frontline.My parents were insolating so I relied on the Schools heavily.For me personally, the Schools handled the situation really well and took every safety precaution which reassured me

Glad they are going back. However worried about transmission and whether going back to school means for seeing grandparents.

I'm delighted my DCs will be back in school with their friends and have no worries about them. DD (primary) has been attending since March anyway as I'm a Keyworker, but she has really missed her friends, who weren't there. DS (secondary) has not been to school since March, I could have sent him but chose not to as I thought he'd be OK at home. He has missed all aspects of school and needs to get back for his mental and physical well-being. I wil send DS with his own sanitiser. DD would just lose it if I sent her with some!

Although understandably a bit apprehensive we are looking forward to the return to school. However I am concerned that they are still going to miss a lot as any sign of illness and we have been told to keep them at home.

I'm feeling slightly scared as my 5 yr old has ADHD so touches everything in sight from toys he gets out but doesn't play with to touching other kids for no reason and I'm worried he's not going to be able to social distance at his age and he can't wash his hands every 3 minutes ! But on the other hand it's been a LONG lockdown and 6 wks holidays and I've not had more than 30 minutes to myself (and that was while I was shopping) so I'll be glad not to hear "mum can you .... Can I have.... Or mum I'm bored" repeated every few minutes by my 5 kids aged 5-12 yrs !! my brain needs a rest and I can't wait to just sit down with a cup of tea (that doesn't go cold) on the kids 1st day back and do absolutely Nothing all day and be SUPER lazy

My son is starting college.

They have excellent plans to keep them as safe as can be but the experience will be different. No hanging out in canteen or clubs etc.

But we want education to remain open so we have to sacrifice some of that stuff for the greater good.

We use sanitiser properly. However he won't touch anything!

The realism is that schools have been underfunded and getting more and more overcrowded for years. This has highlighted it to people who were generally unaware.

I agree schools must open. Our children deserve the best education that can be provided.

Let's hope those thousands of HT across the nations who have sent hours trying to make them safe are thanked and respected and our children can continue their education as undisrupted as possible.

I'm looking forward to them going back to school, we all need it. They have missed their friends, the routine, the learning. I've missed being able to focus on one thing at a time as opposed to being pulled in 100 way a trying to be mum, teacher, cleaner, employee etc all at the same time!
I know our school will do all they can do ensure it is safe and we've got hand sanitiser at the ready!

Mine are all desperate to go back. They each have a pouch with masks and sanitiser and will be cycling, not taking the bus. I’m fully expecting their return to be cut short when DS gets his usual autumn cough but the school is well set up for remote learning and has good plans in place.

He is very pleased, and knows what he should do re the mask wearing and hand washing - me I'm worried there will be another local outbreak and we will be back to square one with the home tutoring - and this will affect him badly (we are in a local lockdown area due to the number of verified infections - West Yorkshire). It's an unknown quantity and I hope the school handle it well.

Mine are desperate to go back, but could really do without the guidance changes that come out last minute. None of this mask/rota/bubble info that came out on Friday is stuff that couldnt have been released back when it was promised on 11 Aug.
As it is, the teachers are now making changes to policy that could have been done weeks ago. Gov.uk hasn't been the shining light.

It feels a bit surreal. I want them to go back, I just hope it goes well. I think it may be more disruptive if they ask go back full time and then school/bubbles have to close.
I don't blame the schools at all, but I don't think all back full time is the best way.

I'm a little apprehensive about sending children back to school but understand they really need to go back.
I feel we have all missed routing and the DC are getting very used to me being around so will be nice for someone else to coach/discipline them.
I feel sad about spending less time with them, and question whether we have made the best of our unexpected time together. Very confident and trust our school to do the best they can with the children, they are very organised with how things are going to work and got strict hygiene policies in place.

Really looking forward to the kids going back to school and seeing their friends. The nonsense that was home learning was incredibly stressful while trying to WFH and I won't be taking that on again should the schools shut again.

My son is more than ready to go back. He’s twelve so understands why he needs to wear a mask. I understand people’s reservations but for our family our son could really do with going back to school.

I'm pleased in many ways. My daughter needs both the social and the structure of school. I'm scared about the school bus, which massively increases her risk. Suspect we will be in and out of lockdown this year.