Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Will you send kids back?
NO, it’s too dangerous for our boy
Michelle Irwin, 44, from Hull, East Yorks, works in a children’s home and has a four-year-old son, Stanley, who is in Reception.
She said: “I think it’s too risky to send the kids back. It’s scary that adults and children can carry this virus without symptoms, and I’d worry about teachers getting it.
“When they stopped school in March, Stanley was able to sit on the carpet with his friends and hold their hands while they sang nursery rhymes, and that’s what school should be about. I don’t think he will understand the changes.”
NO, my little girl is high-risk
Former palliative care worker Laura Hawthorn, 34, from Stalham, Norfolk, has a five-year-old daughter, Amelia, who suffers from the rare kidney disease nephrotic syndrome, which puts her at greater risk of catching infections.
Laura said: “Just about every parent in the country needs a break right now but, to me, safety comes first and I think the children will be too close to each other at school.
“If we are patient, we can possibly save more lives. I think the Government is moving way too quickly when it comes to schooling.”
YES, but if I hear it’s unsafe, she’s out
PR consultant Emily Cleary, 42, from Buckinghamshire, has a son in Year 2 and a daughter in Reception. The family’s decision to send her daughter back to school has been hard. But she said: “We have weighed everything up and she will return on June 1, subject to anything changing in the meantime.
“She’s returning because we believe that some sort of school routine will benefit her mental health. The second I hear anything that suggests she’s not safe, she will be straight home again and that will be that.”
YES, our daughter needs her friends
Brad Hyett, 40, CEO of a company called Phos is from Gerrards Cross, Bucks.
He hopes his four-year-old daughter Ruby will return to nursery soon.
He said: “Ruby needs interaction with other children – there’s only so much my wife and I can teach her and she’s itching to see her friends and teachers face to face.
“We strongly feel that the benefits of sending Ruby to school significantly outweigh any risk.
“And we don’t think we’re putting our health – or Ruby’s – in jeopardy.”
YES, we’re happy with measures in place
Stay-at-home mum Siobhan Patterson, from Rutland, East Mids, says she is going to send her five-year-old daughter Florence back to Year One classes and her two-year-old girl
Olivia back to pre-school.
She said: “Where we live in Rutland has so few cases that we are comfortable to send our five-year-old daughter back.
“We feel that the measures the school are putting in place will keep her as safe as possible.
“I’ve enjoyed homeschooling, but I can’t replicate the school environment.”
YES, but it’s a very personal choice
Management consultant Claire Holt, 43, from Woking, Surrey, plans to send five-year-old son Rocky back to Reception and twins Axel and Hunter back to pre-school. She said: “It’s a very personal choice. Having weighed up the risks, we will be sending our boys back to school/ pre-school because we are self-employed.
“Trying to run our respective businesses while looking after three small children has been almost impossible.
“We are very grateful to our school and preschool for making it happen.”