I am in the category extremely vulnerable of Covid and I’m 28 with 2 young children who are in school - primary school I’m also in a tier 4 area the clinically vulnerable have been told to shield however I don’t know where I stand they haven’t addressed for people like me who are extremely vulnerable and have young children at school whether I can keep them off and that be ok with the school but without say so from the government the school will highly unlikely be ok with it. I’m very scared especially because of this new strain. I know my respiratory team would say keep them off school as would my cardiac team but the school will need to have authorised absence. I understand the school but I feel let down by the government for them not thinking about this not all people who are clinically vulnerable are elderly or middle age with children grown up.
Covid and sending children back to sc... - Lung Conditions C...
Covid and sending children back to school although I’m clinically vulnerable and 28
I think that the teachers union are trying to persuade the Government to keep schools closed for at least another two weeks. I’ve no idea if this will happen but if not, you need to speak to the school and even put your concerns in writing as you are extremely vulnerable. Do you have a Government letter?
I hope you can remain safe and keep your children at home if that’s what is necessary. Xxx
Yes I have a government letter I think your right I will send a email and see what they come back with and where I stand. It’s all very worrying I’m also worried about my 2 children catching it although they say it doesn’t effect them much some children it has and you just never know. Thanks for your reply xxx
It’s not whether it affects the children, the danger lies in the fact that they can ‘buzz’, i.e. be contagious and pass it on to you. They may only be infections (or buzz), for a day or so and without any symptoms to show, but during that time you are put at risk.
I strongly believe that it is the school children and the school environment itself who are the spreaders of this virus. The authorities argue how bad it is to keep children away from school yet in the next breath they worry about the NHS been inundated with Covid cases.
Many children are home schooled and it would do them no harm and in fact they may well get a better education from doing so. This is most popular in the US. We home schooled our child and she went to University a year early (age 17), got a Masters in Maths and Physics in 4 years at only 21 years old and has a wonderful career....all from being home schooled. The school set the curriculum and it was faxed to our home.
A perfect solution to this pandemic now we have computers, smart phones and tablets which didn’t exist in our daughters day.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about. Keep the kids at home, protect the NHS, protect lives.
That's all well and good and well done your daughter, but not every family has suitable computers or internet access. Add to that the number of people who can not or will not put in the serious effort required to home school and you have a recipe for disaster. Our own grandchildren are lucky enough to have both the facilities and the parents to make home schooling a sensible alternative but when they eventually went back to school they went into a well prepared Covid safe environment to resume their 'proper' education. Keep the kids at school for as long as is scientifically safe and they will benefit in the long term. Send your kids back to school and stop worrying about things you cannot influence.
Unfortunately I have to disagree. You say that not every family has suitable computers or internet access. As I explained previously, we had neither because they didn’t exist
in the early 90’s. We only had a Fax machine....no computers. Not only that, we were 4,102 miles away from the school! I can’t thank the UK State school system enough for supplying our daughter with the GCSE curriculum to follow. And follow it she did through discipline instilled by her parents as well as herself, because she wanted to learn because she wanted a future for herself.
If the school is safe and Covid free then you are lucky, but ask yourself ‘how can you be sure anything be Covid free’?
No offence intended - your daughter was clearly very lucky to have parents who were prepared to work so hard for her. My point was, and is, that not every child has the same opportunities that you afforded your daughter and that the only way to balance out the inequality is through professional teaching in a school environment. As for "but ask yourself ‘how can you be sure anything be Covid free’?"- you can't, but life goes on. In my relatively small circle of friends there are two people who have not set foot outside their house since this all started last March, one of whom will not allow anyone into her house and still leaves any post delivered to her on the floor inside the door for two days before opening it!
Hi Sgt-Pepper,
I completely understand your comments regarding the difference between parents who can afford to
dedicate their time to their family and those who can’t. I guess we were fortunate, but in being able to do so, (I was a stay at home mum as was my own mother), we had to go without other luxuries and things which other children were able to have, but it didn’t do any of us any harm....in fact I think it made us value things differently, especially relationships and family.
I also have a couple of friends who will not venture outside of the home and one couple, just like your friend, leaves their mail on the door mat for 2 days! There’s clearly a lot of this happening and I’m glad you pointed that out.
Best wishes, T57
Thanks - best wishes!
You’ve obviously been very committed to your daughter’s education and home schooling. Congratulations on such amazing results, you deserve to feel really proud.Unfortunately, home schooling is not for everyone and for a variety of reasons. As Sgt_Pepper remarks, lack of digital resources can be a particular drawback. Some parents don’t have capability while others don’t have the commitment. Logistical reasons can be a real issue. My brother had 5 children in a 2 bedroom house. Although they are all grown now, there would have been no way to educate the boys with different educational needs in the space they had available.
Can you imagine a father out working a mum trying to cook, clean and educate whilst trying to prevent WW3 breaking out in the living room? In my opinion, it’s a very time consuming difficult thing to do if you have more than one child.
As for the little darlings spreading disease, of course they will, symptom or symptoms! One of the reasons why fewer children were reported as being infected with Covid19, is because fewer children were tested and even fewer were included in research studies. Scientists are now saying that the new variant of SarsCov2 can affect more children... is that because more children are being tested? Perhaps these young supercharged immune systems can fight off this deadly virus. However, it’s the transmission of the virus that concerns us most.
Personally, I would keep the schools closed but I don’t have a suitable solution for education nor for poverty and the children who depend on school meals.
If you are prepared to home school your children to the best of your ability, then I would suggest writing to the education department including a copy of your vulnerability letter, asking for an exception to be made in your case.
Unfortunately, school is more than the 3 R’s, it encompasses much more such as social interaction, developing sensory perception and learning from peers.
Hi Mauschen,
As I explained in my reply above....in our day we did not have the digital resources which you refer to because they didn’t exist, so they did not enable our daughters home schooling but the fax machine was a must! Sadly no one needs them nowadays.
I can fully understand the remarks you make about your brothers family and his 5 children living in a 2 bedroom house, but surely that cannot be the norm.
Whilst my husband worked, I cleaned, cooked, educated and interacted with my family so I can fully imagine what it is like for your brother’s wife...but that is what goes with family life.
During the same time I was also caring for an elderly parent. Money was not plentiful either, but that didn’t make any difference to me because I knew I had to do the best that I could for my child and my parents given the circumstances.
My parents had been committed to my education (as well as with my brothers education), back in the 1950’s. They went without themselves to make sure we had the best education that they could afford and I followed suit and did the same for our daughter, which meant going without luxuries, but not without showing love.
We all have life choices to make, be it how many children we can afford to feed, clothe and educate, as well as how many holidays we can take per 10 years or which kind of car we drive.
The State cannot be responsible for our decisions. We make these decisions ourselves. Thank goodness for democracy.
But we should always consider others in the choices we make and nowhere is that more vital than during this pandemic. I still believe it’s best
to keep the children away from school in order to protect others at this time.
Hi,I wasn’t negatively criticising you, simply pointing out the reality for some people.
My brother is an academic and the two bedroom house was owned by him, he simply couldn’t afford a bigger house at that time. You ask if that was the norm, yes it was and still is for many families in the U.K. He was very lucky to have a garden for his family of 7. Others are not so lucky and live in flats without balconies or access to open spaces.
It’s not about dedication, commitment or choice during this pandemic. For some, there is no choice! They are bound by law to remain in their homes, they are told to educate their children online even if they don’t have the digital resources or capability
. I appreciate that you educated your daughter at a time when the digital era was not the norm ... but now it is and the teachers follow the curriculum online to keep the children on target for their exams. Remember, each child will be at a different level!
Obviously, in the 1950’s, there wasn’t the curtailing difficulties associated with SarsCov2. It’s not only about providing an education . It’s about keeping our children and vulnerable adults safe.
The governments are making rash decisions without consideration of those with special circumstances . Home schooled children are denied the opportunity to socially interact and working parents are in a quandary about what is best for their children.
If our education and health systems were adequately funded, perhaps it would be easier to incorporate the needs of individuals instead of making blanket decisions which cause further anxiety to people in vulnerable situations.
You could try calling the blf helpline office hours 03000 030555 the may have latest advice and understand your predicament. Good luck. P x
Hi Beckijo,
I think it is very unlikely that schools will open during the next few weeks. The government is already backtracking on this and have made a complete mess of the situation.
As much as my children have missed enough as have millions of children but I think until we get this new strain under control schools should remain shut or parents should have rights to whether they want to send them. Thanks for your reply xxx
I totally agree. Its an outrage that they have to go back in the present state of affairs.
We are in Scotland and kids not due back physically until 18th but I’m already really worried about sending my son. We have been doing everything we can to keep my husband safe and then expected to send my son to school with understandably little social distancing. Was managing before, son came straight in showered and clothes into washing machine, but with this new strain I’m just so scared.
Bless you it’s a horrid situation to be in - constant worry isn’t it. I think they should let us parent have a right in saying whether our children will go back depending on individual families circumstances and the school can check to make sure the parents are being honest with there reasons. I hope your husband stays well and you and your family all the best. Thanks for your reply xx
Becki-Jo? not THE Becki-Jo? Seriously though I know a lot of people have this worry and am not surprised at all. Imagine keeping yourself safe, but having to send your children out to potentially catch the virus and bring it back to you. Without doubt 'they' have thought about this and don't have the answer to it either. I am hoping that the children don't go back into school next week I think it would be foolish. Best of luck xx
Dear BeckijoI have just seen your post and without a shadow of doubt I would keep your children off school until such time as you feel safe to send them back. I am sure the school will completely understand your concern especially as you are vulnerable. If your children have access to online facilities there are lots of access to educational & fun learning programmes. In between that you can make it fun with your children by walking to the local park and learning about nature etc. I saw a statement on line whereby someone stated that what is a few months of a child’s life without school rather than the best part of fifty years or more without there parent, it’s just not worth it. I have kept my child off since October and the school have organised online lessons, it is at the discretion of the headteacher but you are so vulnerable to this awful virus, it’s not worth taking any slight bit of risk. Wishing you all the best.
Hello. Ludicrous that you are placed in this situation.. You have more than enough to worry about. Do what you think is best for your safety. Govt have done nothing to support schools eg extra space, extra staff, reg tests, rota's, blended learning, ventilation systemsLet school know why you are keeping your children at home & above all look after yourself. Take care! Xx
I 100% agree with you!! I’ve spend enough time away from my children in hospital I don’t want to be away with something I could easily avoid catching if I don’t send them to school but I have son who has autism and adhd so I feel awful for him he struggles with change a lot and really enjoys going to school feel like Im going round in circles! Thanks for your kind reply. Xx
Ah...so difficult.I worked in a special school & understand the difficulties children with autism experience with the lack of structure or routine. Hopefully the school will be fully supportive of you & should be able to offer constructive advice.Good luck!x
My daughter teaches primary school and is extremely worried about this. She says that she does not feel safe .She is extremely worried that she may put me in danger and also my youngest daughter who is sheilding too.My youngest has Crohn's disease. The unions are telling them not to go in but my daughter is a very conscientious teacher and feels torn both ways. I just wish someone would make a clear decision!
Bless her I can imagine she is I think a lot of teachers feel the same but feel they have no choice but to carry on working. I’ve been in hospital a lot recently with a bad infection in my right lung and I’m on antibiotics all of the time I don’t feel like I’ll have a fair chance against beating the virus because I don’t feel that well in myself which is scaring me a lot more and I’ve been very ill in the past from the common cold so again this is scary me to death. Thanks for your reply I wish your daughter well & all of your family xx
Hi, As suggested by Tempo57 , homeschooling is the answer to your predicament. Nothing to be afraid off at all, you can send your children back to school once the epidemic is over and you have had your full vaccination.
Very important you MUST write to the headmaster/s saying you wish your children be removed from the school register which they cannot refuse to do, you are then not liable to any truancy sanctions.
The law says that children must receive an adequate education, at school or otherwise. The term adequate education has been defined by the High Court as preparing children for adulthood. There is no requirement to follow any school curriculum at all and elective learning is a perfectly acceptable method.
We homeschooled our son for 5 years successfully, so successfully that when he returned to school for his secondary education they had to re-stream him up a couple of years. He achieved seven GCSEs.
There are many websites to to help you:
duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=UK...
Absolutely 2greys, I was about to answer in the very same vein as yours but as usual you have explained it in your very eloquent and informative manner!
We homeschooled our youngest daughter because she had a speech disorder and wasn't getting the appropriate access to services through the school and to cut to the chase we removed her from school because of this and the fact she was knowingly being bullied because of her speech. I chased the speech therapy up, to this day I don't know why the school couldn't do it, but we carried it out thoroughly on a daily basis as well as homeschooling. We reinstated her back into a new school just opening, and she then went from strength to strength ending up getting a degree at University.
The problem is parents on the whole have been brainwashed into thinking their children have to go to school and this is compulsory when this is blatantly untrue. You have to take the steps that you have described and there is nothing illegal about taking those actions whatsoever. As was quoted to me by the homeschooling organisations years ago - 'education is compulsory, school is not'. The only thing I would add though, is that if one takes this action one must be prepared to do the work.
Yes I totally agree with you about Gov/Education authorities promoting, what is a myth or lies by omission, that school is compulsory.
Yes there is work involved, although we found that the Internet made teaching a lot easier, as well as purchased software. My son took to it like a duck to water in fact he actually taught himself to read, by the age of three he could read and comprehend a newspaper. The reason we took him out of school was because of intense bullying from feral kids including spitting and assaults at his childminder who used to collect him from school. Sharon had to give up working, so there was also financial costs to homeschooling him. All water under the bridge now with no regrets.
Oh yes, tell me about the financial costs, but I find with most things you have to put your money where your mouth is! I do think though people do have to think very carefully about taking a step like this. It shouldn't be a spur of the moment thing, it takes a lot of commitment, time and effort and you also have to consider how the child is going to react to you as a teacher and not mum or dad. It was when the lines became somewhat blurred over these functions and she became less attentive to me as her teacher that we decided to think about reinstating her into school and luckily she adapted very well in a new school environment where her needs were met for as long as she needed it. As you say, water under the bridge and all that but never regretted, but I do think it depends on the child as to whether this is going to work on a long term basis.
We are in tier 4. Our son received an email from their sons primary school last night saying they are staying closed for 2 weeks. Our daughter works in a school in the north of England. She has been told the powers that be are having an emergency meeting today and she will then know if her primary school will open on Tuesday.The decision may well be made for you. Xx Moy
Hi Beckijo its disgusting how they are treating people all I can say is my daughter has only just text me tonight and said she is not sending My grandaughter to school she believes it’s to dangerous for her and from what I can make out a lot of the teachers don’t want the children to go back to school my daughter has just text me again and said loads of schools are now shutting of there own back please please be careful write them a letter explaining how vulnerable you are but DONT SEND THEM I hope you don’t mind me saying this I am clinically extremely vulnerable but am 74 with no children to worry about hope you can sort this love SUESAL 🐾🐾💛💛🐕🐕🥰🥰
Your children’s school will be understanding to your families vulnerability, the letter from that you have from your medical team should be support enough. Laptops and iPads have been rolled out at some schools already with more starting this week. All schools in tier 4 are open for keyworker and vulnerable children from tomorrow, schools have been contacting families since last Wednesday.
Hi Beckijo, don’t send your kids in to school. I have bronch and 3 kids under 11 and mine definitely aren’t going. The government are in total denial about this spreading in schools when every parent I speak to has seen multiple cases at their local schools with the situation getting worse and worse as winter has gone on.
My wife works in the school kitchen at the school my kids go to and caught covid back in November - luckily as soon as we found out I had another property I could go to to isolate in and tested negative. Had I have caught this then who knows what could have happened to me.
The home schooling situation is less than ideal but as previous posts have alluded to the mental cost of losing a parent to covid is worse than a month or more of home schooling and not seeing their peers. I know it’s hard and some parents who are not vulnerable Are up in arms but less face it there are a lot of folk out there that just can’t be asked with teaching their kids.
I know this doesn’t apply to everyone and if your doing it on your own with 3 kids and u have to work or you have no iPad/laptop etc then the situation is more difficult, but let’s put it in perspective back in the war kids were uprooted from whole families and sent to the country to live with strangers so not seeing their mates or teachers for a few weeks is no biggie in the grand scheme of their lives.
the hospitals now are overflowing and still mr incompetent boris on the tv this morning saying if your kids school is open send them. Totally out of touch with what is going on as usual and then in the next breath he says more restrictions are possibly on their way.
My guess is by end of the week the usual hashed statement will be rushed together after political pressure and it will be full lockdown for the whole country or tier 5 where the schools are all closed and my prediction is we will be in this situation till mid feb at the earliest. Stay safe and hold on to your seats ...
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