Children Returning To School

[naomi24]

On seeing the news reports of small children returning to school yesterday, was anyone else uncomfortable with it? The social distancing rules they’re obliged to follow through the whole school day can’t make for a psychologically healthy environment for them. I couldn’t help feeling that they’d be better off being allowed to play with their friends and just getting on with school as it usually is - or staying home until such time as they can do that. I wouldn’t be happy sending a child to school in those circumstances.

[Zacs-Master]

Children are adaptable. Small children need social interaction as well as education. Having said that, If I had a child/children at infant school stage I'd be thinking twice about sending them back.

[woofgang]

apparently the science so far learned from having the children of keyworkers at school is that not only are children less likely to catch Covid or to catch it badly, they are less likely to transmit it to adults. I have no kids so have no decsion to make but as I have said before I have internet friends who have sent their kids back, have nothing but praise for the schools and the kids are happy. Its not the same but my niece's children, now teenagers, have lived between Dubai and Kent since they were a toddler and a babe in arms. Two very different lives with different freedoms and restrictions. all along they have accepted both situations as quite normal. I think that most children are resilient provided the situations are kind and stable.

[bednobs]

and at last she went back today!

[woofgang]

some of my friends littlies are back and loving it.

[bednobs]

she was so excited this morning (despite all the restrictions and new policies she'll have to follow)
I am excited to have some space to work uninterrupted for a bit, but it sure is quiet here

[pixie374]

It does seem to be a bit of an experiment. When they are really young, they are learning social skills more than academic ones, so... other than for necessary childcare, I would avoid it myself for now.

[fiction-factory]

Although the main reason is that some children are losing out significantly or are at too much risk through being at home. But another factor has to be that schools need to try out social distancing procedures- new layouts, one way systems, staggered start/break times, smaller class sizes, more outdoor lessons, encourage handwashing and following instructions- since it is pretty likely that even in September we won't be able to return to normality. By trying things out now it will help inform the planning of how schools should look in September. Most universities seem to be planning for many courses to be online until at least Christmas so they don't see us returning to normality any time soon, and I think schools will need to be organised very differently next year too

[Ken4155]

I would really understand it more if it were the older kids returning to complete their exams.
I've said before that if the school building is a large one, social distancing can be quite easily achieved. Not so the smaller school premises.
Of course, during periods of fine weather, the kids will probably spend quite a lot of time outdoors. But this is England!
Finally, with the scientists more or less split down the middle as regards the safety aspects of a return to school, I don't think i'd be sending mine back had this virus happened when they were kids.

[bednobs]

her dad is a keyworker, and while I am not, the school classed her as vulnerable so were able to take her

[fiction-factory]

Ken- I'm not sure the scientists are split if by that you mean more than 50% are against it.
The government's critics have been saying we need to learn from other countries. Well other countries in Europe have done it with some success. Denmark, Germany, France for example. Wales are surprisingly opening schools for all age groups, although it will be staggered and delayed to late June

[woofgang]

pixie, I think that may be the point of getting them back; so that they can learn the basic group social skills that will be needed for when they start to do the academic stuff? I remember when I was 16 which is omg 50 ish years ago. Primary schools were full of allowing children freedom of thought and behaviour and my O level English lit teacher (Miss Collins, a great teacher) came into our class looking exhausted. We asked her if she was ok? She was also a form mistress for the 11 year olds who had just started with us and she said that they came to school not knowing basic stuff like listening to the teacher, being quiet and staying in their seats, doing as they were asked in terms of lining up to go to assembly or lunch...all the basics of attending school classes. She said it took her most of the first term to instill these basics because they seemed not to be taught at primary any more. These were not children from "bad" schools or who had developmental delay or any kind of problem that would account for it...it just was not the fashion to teach it at primary. I am guessing that that is at least part of the reason for getting the littlies back now.

[Ken4155]

I had read somewhere, ff, that 56% of the scientists regard it as safe to return given the necessary safety measures are in place. Still leaves 44% that don't believe this to be the case. The SAGE committee as a whole recommended delaying the re-opening for another 2 weeks.
Of course, scientists will disagree on most things - it is in the nature of the subject - but in order to get the economy moving, the Government (any Government, really) will cherry-pick the scientific advice that best accommodates this, provided there is enough of it to hand.

[pixie374]

Yes, it could be woof, it just seems a bit unnatural to expect young children to stay away from each other. We'll see, I guess...

[fiction-factory]

It is, pixie- but I've seen plenty of groups of kids (different households) playing in paddling pools, on beaches and chasing each other around outside school, and lots of teenagers sitting in groups on benches/walls or in cars

[fiction-factory]

^ so I'm not sure they are at any more risk at school where at least they are being supervised

[pixie374]

I'm sure they are, ff. I'm thinking of the playtimes, chasing, handclapping games, skipping, football, even just chatting and making friends. Will they be able to do all that normal stuff, still?

[pixie374]

No, I don't think the health risks are such a problem at that age, more the social side.

[bednobs]

my daughter is in a "bubble" of 13 at school. They have staggered arrival/leaving times, and staggered breaks with the other bubbles. She is 8 and is perfectly able to understand to not touch/hug other people. In all honesty, it's no more "unnatural" to her that having to stay home with us for the last 10 weeks, or not being able to see her grandparents. The school sent a letter to the returning pupils outlining their expectations of their behaviour, which she sensibly read twice, asked me a couple of questions about then absorbed. I didn't take her in today, but i'll report back later how it went

[pixie374]

I hope she has had a great time, bednobs. I was thinking more of the younger ones, really. Everybody will do what they think is best. I'm just glad I'm not in a position now to need to decide.

[weecalf]

Children returning to school and the political mob returning to parliament at same time .Children wanting to learn and them others will never learn .