Keeping children off school

[Fruitloop]

At the moment we're keeping both of ours off school, because Ms Loop looks after the youngest, my work has us all working from home for the foreseeable future, and the school's a bit crap anyway. However, since it seems to be BoJo's plan that all us plebs get it over with, recovering or dying as chance dictates, the school is still open and presumably we won't be able to claim that they're sick for weeks on end.

I know that some of the other parents are unhappy, one who is a doctor was saying that she wished they'd just go ahead and shut it already. I also appreciate that we're in quite a fortunate situation, in that I can do what I do from pretty much anywhere, and there are two of us free to look after the little scumbags. But are parents gonna be compelled to send children into school knowing that they might get sick and bring it home with them? The youngest one (who's at nursery at the moment) is already prone to pneumonia and has been hospitalized twice with it in the last year, so whilst it's usually not serious in small people, the last time was utterly terrifying and we're not keen to spin the wheel again if we can possibly avoid it.

What do urbanites think? What are people doing at the moment?

 

[Smangus]

If one is high risk and prone to chest illness then prob better to isolate them, but I am not a doctor . in general kids may be lower risk but they can still act as carriers of the virus so the school will be a big risk I would have thought. If you can I'd work at home etc but also seek medical advice on it from your GP/Hospital about the risk to the youngest, that would give you a comeback to the school depending on what they say. Good luck

 

[JimW]

Could you tell the school you suspect contact with someone who has it so you're self-isolating?

 

[Fruitloop]

I think that's the plan initially, or since they've stopped bothering with contact tracing just say they've got a fever or a cough (or I have). But it seems like the schools could stay open for months.

 

[Fruitloop]

It just seems like such a mental plan. Schools are complete disease factories at the best of times, and even if the disease seems mild in children initially no-one has any idea what the long-term effects could be.

 

[Thora]

My youngest has developed a cough today so is off preschool, and I guess will be for next week.

 

[Sweet FA]

We (Primary) have been told we're staying open but to expect a drop in pupil and staff numbers from next week.

"If you cough, you're off"

 

[bendeus]

Took ours out today and don't intend sending them back for a while. Just doesn't feel worth the risk. We, like everyone else, have elderly relatives, who will be increasingly reliant on us as the delay plan begins to bite, and vulnerable friends who won't be in a good place if they catch it. Add to that that mini Bendy Jr. is asthmatic and appears to catch everything going even at the best of times and it was a no-brainer for us.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Mine are mostly panicking about the possible impact on their GCSE and A-level exams in May, if school closures do end up happening. They don't want to be off school (for the first time ever).

 

[Fruitloop]

Cool bendeus, nice to know that we're not the only ones.

Mine were initially a bit woeful about missing various things like a school play, but now that they've realized it involves doing online French courses while eating Cheerios in their pants they seem to be reconciled.

 

[Fruitloop]

What are people telling the school? bendeus? Ours is totally crazy about attendance.

 

[Thora]

What are people telling the school? bendeus? Ours is totally crazy about attendance.

Say they have a cough or temperature and you have to stay off anyway.

 

[bendeus]

What are people telling the school? bendeus? Ours is totally crazy about attendance.

It's a primary so not so obsessed. Today we told them they had mild colds but next week I think we're just going to tell them that we think government measures are inadequate and that we consider keeping them in school a risk to them and to those around them. I very much doubt that we're the only ones

 

[Thora]

So 2 year old definitely has a barky cough and is sounding hoarse so no pre-school next week. I have two symptomless primary age children too, should I keep them off?

 

[LDC]

So 2 year old definitely has a barky cough and is sounding hoarse so no pre-school next week. I have two symptomless primary age children too, should I keep them off?

Go to the 111 website and check with that, don't ask on here.

 

[StoneRoad]

I just hope that children kept off school, either as above (by parent choice / potential symptoms) or because the powers-that-be finally decide it lock down schools, are kept at home and not allowed to wander the streets and shopping malls. That would really be far worse ...

 

[Thora]

Go to the 111 website and check with that, don't ask on here.

I can't see any information about this online. It's impossible to keep a 2 year old 2 metres away from other family members.

 

[Fruitloop]

I just hope that children kept off school, either as above (by parent choice / potential symptoms) or because the powers-that-be finally decide it lock down schools, are kept at home and not allowed to wander the streets and shopping malls. That would really be far worse ...

Well, mine are 3, 8 and 10, so I can pretty much guarantee that that will be the case.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

People worrying about bogroll shortages ain’t seen nothing until three million teenage boys are confined to their rooms for 14 days with only a computer for company...

 

[Cid]

What are people telling the school? bendeus? Ours is totally crazy about attendance.

I don't have kids, but I'd have thought asking your GP for a note, on the basis that youngest is in an at risk category and that the other two could infect them would work.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

BB2’s school says you must keep your spawn away if they have the slightest sniffle, but it will be marked down as unauthorised absence. Which makes sod all difference to the kid, but does affect the school’s Ofsted. Why that then?

 

[campanula]

Daughter has kept grand-daughter at home and is right militant- stating that she has no faith in govt directives to keep us safe . I think it's fair enough. I have been fed up with people being blase and complacent - going around thinking they are young and healthy and don't see why they should stop doing anything (many of the same types who are buying every bloody packet of couscous and pasta)...without giving the slightest thought that they are helping to spread it around to other people who are much more compromised. Trying not to feel despair at social selfishness.

 

[weepiper]

Mine are mostly panicking about the possible impact on their GCSE and A-level exams in May, if school closures do end up happening. They don't want to be off school (for the first time ever).

Same here, only Scottish Highers. My daughter is anxious about what will happen. My nephew is worried they're going to be cancelled and he's going to end up with the marks from his prelims, which he totally bollocksed up and which might not be good enough for him to get into sixth year.

 

[clicker]

Same here, only Scottish Highers. My daughter is anxious about what will happen. My nephew is worried they're going to be cancelled and he's going to end up with the marks from his prelims, which he totally bollocksed up and which might not be good enough for him to get into sixth year.

It's been mentioned down here that if gcses can't go ahead, they'll use their mock marks instead. I can't see that happening. In effect they'd be missing out on 3 months revision time. They may possibly be given the choice of using their mock mark or taking it in September (just picked random month). Then again that'd make uni applications unfair for those choosing to postpone until September. Hoping common sense will prevail.

 

[bendeus]

It's a primary so not so obsessed. Today we told them they had mild colds but next week I think we're just going to tell them that we think government measures are inadequate and that we consider keeping them in school a risk to them and to those around them. I very much doubt that we're the only ones

On second thoughts and with the latest developments in mind I think I'm going to tell them that I'm unwilling for my children to be utilised by the government as a managed virus pool/vector for some fruitloop, national-scale epidemiological experiment and that the state can keep their rank fucking claws right off them

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Same here, only Scottish Highers. My daughter is anxious about what will happen. My nephew is worried they're going to be cancelled and he's going to end up with the marks from his prelims, which he totally bollocksed up and which might not be good enough for him to get into sixth year.

BB1 is the same, she did well in the mocks except in three subjects, one of which she wants to do at A level and has been working like crazy at since January. Would be a real shame if that happens.

 

[LDC]

I can't see any information about this online. It's impossible to keep a 2 year old 2 metres away from other family members.

Shut doors, lock them if needed? I know that is hard, but this is incredibly serious.

 

[girasol]

I can't see any information about this online. It's impossible to keep a 2 year old 2 metres away from other family members.

I remember reading or hearing somewhere that, soon, whole families will be asked to quarantine if one member of family is sick, but I'm not even sure if it was sick with an unconfirmed or confirmed case. But I don't think they are officially asking for that yet?

 

[Thora]

Shut doors, lock them if needed? I know that is hard, but this is incredibly serious.

Are you saying I should lock my 2 year old on their own in a room

 

[Thora]

I remember reading or hearing somewhere that, soon, whole families will be asked to quarantine if one member of family is sick, but I'm not even sure if it was sick with an unconfirmed or confirmed case. But I don't think they are officially asking for that yet?

No, the advice about what to do if a child is ill is very vague. But we’re going to all isolate anyway, I can’t see any other practical solution.