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Received a letter today saying my daughter is eligible to return to school on 2nd June. She's 5 and letter says it's not compulsory. I need to reply by the 22nd to confirm if she wants a place.
Dilema. Should I let her go back and expose her to potentially catching covid?
Do I shield her a little longer and see if we have a 2nd spike?
Do I start getting things back to normal and think " were all going to get it so get on with it"
Obviously only you and her mother can answer that.Quote:
Originally Posted by caytonmiller
Mine are no longer school age but can you tell me why it’s more worrying now When it seems to be declining than when it was at the start of covid-19?
Just wondering.
Is a virus less likely to be infectious when it is in decline?Quote:
Originally Posted by millertop
Or is it in decline due to the isolation, but if isolation is broken before the virus is eradicated, is it just as infectious as it was on the first wave, but just waiting for more hosts to pass it around again?
Good pointsQuote:
Originally Posted by ragingpup
What do you think lies behind the government making it optional? I dont want to be political just curious. Surely its either safe or not. Or are they shifting responsibility to parents?Quote:
Originally Posted by caytonmiller
Real tough call for parents btw.
Guess much of this depends on you and your missus's risk aversion. Only you guys can make the decision. We have 7 year old and will be facing the same decision soon after I imagine unless all goes breasts uppards.Quote:
Originally Posted by caytonmiller
The risks to children from Covid appear to be very, very small but not non existent. However, they may be carriers and pass it around amongst themselves and into their parent's families. We still don't seem to really know how this virus acts with children as carriers.
I would imagine that if you are young ish, healthy and don't mind the enhanced risk of contracting Covid, plus you keep isolating from other risk people, it keeps the risk factor down. But the worry for society, having already seen how quickly the virus spread from nothing just a few months ago, is that if we start putting children and people together and cause a 2nd wave we go back to square one, and months of lock down, dead economy etc.
Think the next 2 weeks before kids go back are crucial, to see if the easing of kickdown here and in other countries has a negative impact on infection rates. Maybe decide then? But good luck whatever you decide. The hardest thing for me is the lack of social interaction for my kid with others. Not so concerned about the education side
Well here's my thoughts, but not advice as such.
Mrs Grist teaches in a primary school. She's been doing a mixture of going in, working from home and taking early holidays (by request of head teacher)
When she's in the "classes" are mixed ages and no curriculum stuff is taught. It's mainly been glorified child minding for the kids of essential workers. There's been some abuse of that arrangement but that's a separate topic. Due to good weather the kids have mainly been playing outside for long periods.
For safeguarding purposes when one of the younger kids wants the toilet a staff member goes with them. This means the other staff member (they work in pairs) stays with the kids.
At that age kids are naturally social animals that gather in groups, only kids that are on an autistic spectrum (or similar) want to work or play in isolation. Remember here that kids are also "little germ magnets" who might not show symptoms but when at home are in close proximity to one or more parents that in some cases actually work in the NHS in wards with corona patients.
The staff at the school are worried about this but there's no real way to break the chain of possible infection.
Whilst the staff can wear gloves they obviously can't wear masks and visors.
Now that "back to school" has been put forward the Headteacher has been assessing how social distancing can continue. Such is the size of the school each classroom can accommodate about half of its normal number of kids if the 2m rule is applied. One to one teaching (or even looking over the kids shoulder) is impossible.
Toilet arrangements, cleaning and school dinners (most get a free one) is equally nigh on impossible to do by social distancing.
The idea of the youngest year and oldest year kids going back looks workable on paper, however the "kids in between" those age groups are still attending if their parents work in essential services.
So it's back to mixed age group classes with no core curriculum being taught, ie it will be "childminding" until the summer holiday break starts.
To answer your original question, if I was in your position I would keep the kids at home (providing you can provide some learning stuff and reasonable social contact). In my opinion (remember I'm often wrong) I think there will be a second spike and I think there will be some teachers being infected.
Well that's my ten-pennorth make of it as you will.
Good Post GristyQuote:
Originally Posted by Grist_To_The_Mill
Thanks Grist. Interesting.
I think that is definitely one of the points in some going back, childminding but then there is the older ones that need the education for their exams .
Why is she asked to take holidays ? Is it just up to school because I know one in Donny hasn’t put that forward yet.
At the end of the day if the government medical advisers think it’s safe then it’s down to the parents if they think it’s safe for their child, everyone will have their reasons I’m sure and every child is different