Should I send my Y11 daughter back to school?

[Spooks58]

I am getting really anxious about my daughter returning to school on 11 January (in a year group of c240 kids). My husband was diagnosed with Cirrhosis last June and has had HE, ascites and varices. He's doing much better but is obviously very vulnerable to Covid. I had pneumonia ten years ago and our daughter had spinal surgery for scoliosis in 2017. As this new variant seems to be affecting the young and is highly infectious, shouldn't all schools be closing for at least a month? As it's GCSE year it's a really tough decision and I'd like to know what others would do in our situation. Thanks.

[Laura009]

I think by law if the school is allowed to be open all children must attend. I don't know whether masks have to be worn now but l would think they should be. Anything can change for the better or worse in a week regarding covid as we see constantly in the news so its possible the governmment may need to close them. So l would wait til closer to the time and see how the land lies then. If the school does reopen on the 11th and she has to return l would insist she wears a good quality mask not just a feeble face covering.Still such a worrying time .... come on guys give us our vaccines !!

Best wishes.

Laura x

[Spooks58 in reply to Laura009]

Thanks X

[Laura009 in reply to Spooks58]

Ive just discovered our local schools are not forcing kids to go to school if the parents decide against it and there are no fines. Like l said, rules are changing all the time 🤷🏻‍♀️ Only glad mine are past school age, l wouldn't want to ne making the decision. You just have to do what feels right for you and your family.

L xx

[Hidden]

Hello,

This is such a worrying and confusing time. We do try to update our website as often as possible so you may want to have a look through it , one particular section will interest you in the Questions and answers:

britishlivertrust.org.uk/ne...

'People who are living with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable do not need to follow shielding guidance themselves but do need to follow guidance on social distancing which can be found here:gov.uk/government/publicati...

This means pupils and student who are living with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable should continue to attend school.'

The following website may also be useful:

gov.uk/coronavirus/educatio...

regards

[CocoChannel]

Most people would be surprised/shocked by the amount of work schools are doing to support learning at home. It was chaos in lockdown 1, but things are better now. Your daughter’s school will/should be prepared for year 11 kids studying via online learning. Speak to the school on Monday and explain your situation.

[Spooks58]

Thanks, I feel so sorry for the Head and the teachers as they're in an impossible position at the moment. I will contact them on Monday.

[Edwen_]

Hi Spooks 58.

I would be very surprised if any school opens during the Next few weeks. Maybe for vulnerable learners etc. but not for the general population. I’m a teacher and have been following the union advice along with the scientific advice. The government have made a total mess of the Start of the Spring term and will do a U-Turn. I would focus on online learning and make sure that your daughter is up to speed with that.

Good luck!

[Adelou]

The media are not helping the situation at all as they seem to want to blame teachers and schools for the rise in cases - when in fact many of the cases in schools are not linked - we have to do our own track & trace to work out who needs to isolate which is why sometimes whole year groups are sent home, students are bringing it in from outside of school, we have had parents send their kids to school when they have tested positive or someone else in the family has & we have even had parents refuse to get their child tested when we have given them a testing kit to take home with them (can't say the same for all secondary schools as each school is different)

Schools have procedures in place, regular hand washing, hands to be sanitised on entry into classrooms, staggered arrival/leaving times, breaks, designated outdoor areas & some schools have sectioned their schools off into different bubble areas for each year group

I have to have 3 versions of the same lesson ready to teach - I have the normal face to face lesson, an online version with additional resources for those who have internet & computer access & paper based versions of everything, so.etomes I am teaching face to face & remotely at the same time.

My husband had his liver transplant in 2018 & yes the fear or bringing it home to him scares the life out of me - but so far I hiaven't. I treat everyone around me as if they have the virus & don't get too close - it's really difficult to do, but my students are aware of my husband's liver transplant & have come to respect my new boundaries, I also shower each night when I get home from school & the clothes that I wear are clean each day. So far it has stopped it knocking on my door.

It's the carelessness if others that is keeping it going - wearing masks with their noses out, meeting up in groups or people, no social distancing & a general ignorance for the rules & advice we have been given.

But yes get in touch with the school and share your concerns, at the end if the day we are here to support as well as teach & they will be able to plan & advise you on the best action to take - it's keyworker & vunerable children from the 4th, yr11 & 13 students from the 11th as they are final exam year groups & then years 7-10 from the 18th - but who knows what might happen today.

[Nictesla]

In my opinion NO children should be sent to school during this crisis.They may be fine but could easerly be carriers of the virus. I would never send my kids to school If I had any, they learn nothing of any value, just lies and indoctrination.