Life during lockdown

I am the parent of a 13 year old boy.  He has stopped exercising and stays at home most days despite my encouragement to get him outside.  He spends almost his whole life in his room.  He is no different to many of his friends.  A 16 year old girl from his primary school committed suicide during lock down as she was so depressed about her future.  

I read today that fewer 24 people a day in London are catching Covid 19.  We have built a massive hospital (Nightingale) which thankfully has not been needed.  We put the O2 centre on full alert as a temporary morgue (not needed thankfully).  The virus is highly infectious but not deadly to those who are not obese, elderly or have underlying health conditions.  Anyone in this demographic will of course need to isolate and social distance until it is safe for them not to.  However, it is vital that all London schools open on June 1st.  

Why can't my 13 year old son attend school when the risk is clearly gone?  For him to put uniform on and get back to normality just for 6 weeks before the Summer holidays start on the 17th July?  I think it is vital that all secondary school children who do not have health issues go back to school.  

The response to Covid 19 is a massive over reaction and you are ruining the prospects and mental health of a whole generation.  My son said to his friend the other day, "we are basically f***ed."  They are worried there will be no jobs or opportunities if the UK is allowed to sink into a deep recession.  Schools opening in London would be a clear sign that they do have a future. 

Just reading these comments, it is terrifying to see the fear that the media has created.  

Common sense shows it is safe to open London.  I have sent a note on this to the Major and look forward to a response. 

The government should re-open libraries and boost funding so that they can offer more access to computers with broadband and on site support to assist people in both learning how to use computers as well as how to accomplish tasks.  Libraries should also offer more room for students to study outside of home. This could be a safe space for children who live in overcrowded homes.   Also I don't understand what teachers are doing right now.  While the BBC and others are providing websites it has been left to parents to review all the available resources and try to create a curriculum around them - and then teach their children!  The use of technology by my daughters school has been woeful and seems to be aimed at making the teachers lives easier instead of truly helping parents and children.  The result is that families are expected to not only have a internet device to access lessons but particular types of deices - for example the main website platform in use by our school doesn't work on mobile phones.  We are also expected to have printers in order print out work, and then scanners or phone cameras in order to get finished worked back to the teacher.   It's very disappointing. 

I only have a small baby, but I will note be sending the baby into any nursery or preschool unless the vaccine is available for the public. My partner is a high-risk category (letter from NHS), so we are shielding. We used to foster but we will not be accepting any child into foster care because we are too worried that they would get infected at schools. In March I heard numerous reports from other mums, that some secondary schools had outbreaks of Covid-19 (mostly from families who went skiing to Italy) and because community testing stopped early March, those students with symptoms were not eligible for testing (only people in the hospital got tested). Now headteachers were not open with parents and did not tell them that they had suspected case, I know of a family whose kids got it at school and then passed in on to a grandparent who then died. For me, it is appalling that headteachers were not honest with parents. If there is a suspected case, parents deserve to know. Also without readily available testing, the schools were in a horrible position - because they did not have confirmed case, they had to stay open. The way government handled this was appalling and Department of Education is a big joke (although it is fun reading comments under their post on Facebook) let's just say teachers and headteachers are proper angry. I used to be a teacher, if I were a teacher now, I would contact my union and definitely do not return to school in June. Especially pregnant teachers must be protected and not exposed to the virus!!! Also older teachers with underlying health condition (there was a report of 61yrs old headteacher who died of Covid-19). I also know of a teacher in Lewisham, who in beg March caught  Covid-19, was not tested and his school stayed open. 

Hi. This website doing excellent work for children education. everyday live lessons on team app with professional teachers.

 https://ahmadiyya.uk/talim/online-classes/   

 I wonder if our school can follow this , do everyday live lessons . follow school timetable . live contact with students, then our kids can study in safe environment and no worries that when school will open. I am so scared to sending my children to school in this situation.  there is no guaranty when my child will come back home , he wil not bring virus with him. so online schooling is the best option at the moment.  

Government need to consider childcare funding for nurseries and for parents.  If nurseries are forced to take fewer children then some may be forced to close. In our area nurseries had an 18 month waiting list before the crisis so any closures would put immense pressure on meeting demsnd.  If fees increase then our nursery would not be affordable as both my husband and I have been forced to take a pay cut. In addition, government need to remember that parents use wrap around childcare in order to manage a working day.

I feel that the government needs to financially support early years providers - I believe that they should have already been doing this. If our daughter's nursery closes due to lack of funding either my husband or I would have to give up our jobs. We can't work and look after a two year old. Early years childcare provision is absolutely essential for parents to be able to work and the government has been relying on parents paying for these costs when it benefits all of society- not least the children. 

My children aged 14 and 16 were attending "outstanding" London schools. They had 100 % and good records of punctuality. I am a keyworker and continuing to work but my husband is a non-keyworker just an ordinary tax-paying morgage-paying ful-time person, so working from home now. Since the school closures, my children are bored and listless, moody and non-communicaive. We cannot get them out of bed until the afternoon. They cannot get to sleep until after mid night. They do a bit of work from computors but this is without enthusiasm. My youngest son will not leave the house on most days and especially will not go without me and only with lots of encouragement. He is comfort eating biscuits and breakfast cereal. I asked the school for help and they phoned and said not to worry this was a typical situation during this current situation. The teacher spoke to him too. For a couple of days he cheered up a bit but now back to the same sorry state. I think that my older son will definitely need to repeat year 12 but not sure if this will be allowed even if he can be persuaded to agree. I have no correspondence, thus far, from the SEN support co ordinator despite flagging up concerns even before the school closures. I would like the schools to call them or zoom them once per day but once a week would be a start at least. Then back to school as soon as possible even just for an afternoon a week as right now they are lost souls. What about asking them to log daily exercise at least that would be start? Then should could be held to account for at least encouraging and motivating one a day exercise. What happened to the public health obesity crisis? What about the public health mental health crisis for children and young people? School needs to open as soon as possible in my opinion. If they need advice on how to apply social distancing and good hygiene then there is lots of good practice examples already available. Come on please.

My son hasn't attended school since the schools shut in March. He is 16 and is the first year of Sixth Form. He did well in his GCSE's but since school shut he hasn't been studying and has become even more disengaged and uninterested with school work. Sadly, I am not up to teaching A levels - especially for the subjects I never took at A level myself! Unfortunately, I feel he will need to repeat Year 12 as it would be pointless for him to start back in September so far behind. I also feel it will be pointless for him to be expected to sit exams in May 2021 and do badly in them. The communication I got from the school was that a lot of A level is self study anyway!! Very frustrating! I say, if that is really the case, why have 16-18 year olds attend school and pay teachers to teach them in the first place? 

As a single parent of two boys with a range of needs its very very hard. There has been no provision for children or young adults with sen. Oh yes you can do this and access that but have you tried? Are you living with meltdowns the self harming, the bruises you get from trying to stop them hurting themselves. You can't work but you don't get any extra support and when you go shopping the looks from other people of disgust. 

Going out once a day is hard as the youngest doesn't really understand about social distancing.  Constantly reminding.  Then there is homework. 

We have good days not every day is a good day. Trying to stick with a routine has not been easy.  You want the truth lock down is essential just wish it was dealt with sooner and better. More provision made government local councils have let us all down in so many ways. We the ordinary people still don't matter 

Trainee teacher, early 60s, son, daughter 16, 18.

1. National TV teach-in - great idea, just like Open University!  Would provide variety, take some pressure off laptops, wi-fi access etc.  Presumably new channels can be set up very quickly. So much material out there that sourcing programs wouldn't be a problem.  E.g. just choose the best of the web. 

2. Common national lessons would be a great idea anyway:  move teacher time away from preparing duplicate lessons towards providing more effective teaching / marking / feedback / motivation to students / etc.

3. The web is a victim of own success - so much material, difficult to pick through to find the best.  Pressure on machine time, wi-fi access, etc. - all count against less affluent families.

4. The government should do x y z - clearly difficult, eg PPE stockpiling.  The govt is there to lead, not do everything for everybody.  So hospitals should have had their own stockpiling provisions in place.  Similarly local initiatives are what's needed for students.

5. Most / all schools will be doing their utmost to keep students engaged, even year 11 = GCSE.  BUT few year 11s are engaging.  That's where parents need to motivate their own children, with help and guidance from schools.  It is hard, I know!  (son still in bed at 11 am, whose fault is that?!! - mostly mine!)

6. Exercise - critical for fitness, mental health.  Students need an hour a day, just walking or running will do.  ?use Life360 or similar app. to keep tabs on them?

7. Screen time - if children melt under the pressure from school, do let school know - they will appreciate the feedback! and will cut back I am sure

8. Online lessons - counter-intuitively, online lessons are a success - e.g. far less opportunity for disruptors to disrupt.  Some pupils  report better than live lessons!

Thanks.

As my son is "in school" from home now, he has to be online on his chrome book from 8:40am to 3:20pm (some days till 5pm). When he finishes, he gives himself some due mental rest and then has to do his homework, online of course. In some instances, he complained of a feeling of vomit due to much screen time. As he is obviously too tired at the end of the day, I take him out with a face mask for a boring walk around our area just once during the week end. He does minimal workout indoors and before the lockout started he had already vitamin D deficiency. Despite all this, I fear catching the virus and I wouldn't like for my son to re-attend his crowded school unless we're told that the danger has gone for good (New Zealand style, so to say). 

What upsets me the most- (working from) home, we are not pretending that we are working. We are working, try sitting there taking a conference call or getting doing of piece of work around forecast of loss of earnings across the particular facility you run with a child screaming who's nearly 2 years old. How do you explain to him that he can't see his friends or his grandparents or anyone but mummy and daddy how do you explain that to them?

They should be support from workplaces from local government from local councils to support those working parents who have children under the age of 5. Yes there's all these online resources but there are also studies linking online resources and TV time with children it really is a lose-lose situation. I have been personally encouraged to take time off in leave so I can support my family and look after my child that is not acceptable they should be extra provision  to support someone like me. discussing on this group I think will be irrelevant because unfortunately I don't think our voices will be heard. I saw a petition yesterday calling for parents to have their maternity leave extended that baffles me as to why there is even a petition there should be a petition to give its resources to parents with children under the age of 5 to be able to support them. I appreciate there is additional support for those who are currently on benefits whose life haven't been interrupted or disrupted by the covid-19 other than they have to look after their children more. I am appreciative of covid-19 in the sense of I have bonded my little bit more and spend little bit more time with him but to balance this and working and all the other things are expected as a new mum or a mum it is overwhelming and under supported. Whether my views are controversial or whether I'll get backlash that's for me to to deal with but at the moment they are my opinions.

I currently work in a school and both my daughters are attending school. Which has been excellent as especially continuing routine is essential in kids with ASD. I would rather schools stay closed as long as practically necessary but I certainly appreciate the difficulty in logistics and practicality. I wish all parents balancing work/home school/cleaning/cooking the very best and sending positive vibes. You are all amazing and every little bit you are doing (however small) is incredible! You should all be proud of your achievements, I know I am! Best of luck!

My son who was supposed to be doing GCSEs now has been left purposeless. His school have not been able to motivate him back to studying and it feels like his year have  been dropped whilst the year below and above are now the priority. Learning shouldn't just be about passing exams as the end goal. They are giving a bad message to children about the purpose of learning if it is mostly valued as being for passing exams. My year 7 child is spending hours everyday in front of a laptop doing her set work  She is diligently learning but ends up  grumpy and has a headache at the end of the day. It isn't  a healthy way for children to.learn  for long periods on their own  on laptops Maybe its ok for some of the time but certainly not a whole day on their own. I'm working from home so its not easy to keep monitoring what they are doing or not doing as I am preoccupied with my work.  This set up is  not sustainable indefinitely as it is now. I appreciate it's been set up as a response to the current situation, but isn't a healthy way for children to learn for their bodies or minds.

An education channel with teaching programs for core subjects like Maths,  English and science should be launched based on national curriculum. Different times for different years can help children keep in touch with their educational. 
Support from their schools in organising classes via zoom. Almost everyone has access to mobile phone and tablets or laptops and can use these to access zoom classes. 
Uploading videos on you tube can help too. 
There is a lot that can be done if the intent is there. 
Our children shouldn't need to suffer if policy makers act fast and implement ways to educate kids. 

I have 3 children (2 at primary and 1 at secondary). All 3 are having work set (and the eldest is having it marked as normal). Overall, what the schools are doing is great (though needs input from me to guide the younger 2).

My greatest concern is for my child in year 5 (and I realise all year 5 are in the same boat). With so much unknown about when they will return to school, how can we be expected to make informed choices for potential secondary schools if we can't visit them. For some grammar schools, registration opens very soon and in the grand scheme of things October isn't that far away. Some useful information about the secondary school application process for Sept 2021 entry would be reassuring.