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Woman Refuses To Send Son, Five, Back To School After Lockdown

Woman Refuses To Send Son, Five, Back To School After Lockdown

She’s not happy with him being ‘used as a guinea pig’.

Joanna Freedman

Joanna Freedman

There are certainly mixed feelings about children being sent back to school in June, after weeks of being home schooled, and taken care of by parents alone.

But one mum, Jemma Thompson, 33, has said she will not be sending her five-year-old, Oliver, back to school when the government reduce coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Reception pupil Oliver has always had perfect attendance at school, but Jemma says she refuses to let him be used as a "guinea pig".

Jemma says son Oliver won't be a 'guinea pig' (
Caters)

"I am all for kick-starting the economy but not for the price of my son - I think the older children who understand what social distancing is should return first," she said.

"Oliver knows there is a virus that can make you poorly and knows you must wash your hands a lot - but he isn't going to understand why he can't play with his friends and act as normal at school.

"I am terrified of getting it - they say I should be OK as I am 33 and have no underlying health problems but you can never be sure.

Oliver has always had perfect attendance (
Caters)

"I will always put our health first and if that means staying off school for even longer then so be it.

"Everyone has different opinions, if things haven't drastically improved by June or even September then I won't be sending him."

Jemma's comments come after 34,796 people have currently died of coronavirus in the UK, from at least 243,000 recorded cases of the virus.

She said she was shocked to hear reception and year one children would be heading back. She explained: "All younger pupils want to do is play - they won't understand the two metre rule.

"Four and five years old have always got their fingers in their mouths and nose then touching things.

"Or falling over which will not be good when the teacher is unable to comfort them when they are upset.

"I think it is totally pointless and unnecessary. It is year six pupils who should be back first as their education is more important - they have SATS and will want to say goodbye to their friends before starting secondary school.

"They also have the capability to social distance doing this. Younger pupils can always catch up on their education but the older ones can't."

Jemma worries about Oliver being able to socially distance (
Caters)

The government's decision was made after the science proved that children are less likely to suffer from severe coronavirus symptoms.

However, there have been very rare instances where children and young people have reacted badly to the disease.

New research has found that children who contract the virus are sometimes later presenting with a coronavirus related "inflammatory syndrome".

The Health Service Journal warned: "There is a growing concern that a [COVID-19] related inflammatory syndrome is emerging in children in the UK, or that there may be another, as yet unidentified, infectious pathogen associated with these cases."

The characteristics of the syndrome are believed to be "overlapping features of toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki Disease" with symptoms including cardiac inflammation, stomach pain and gastrointestinal issues.

Jemma said she is putting her family first (
Caters)

Despite this, It is still believed that the children affected by this, and COVID-19 in general, are a very small percentage.

Speaking at the government coronavirus briefing last week, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson described the "cautious phased return" on June 1st as "vital" for children.

He stated: "The first years of school are pivotal for children to develop social and behavioural skills, and the basics that are going to have a huge baring on how well they do in their life.

"There are some who would like to delay the wider opening of schools, but there is a consequence of this.

"The longer that schools are closed the more children miss out".

Featured Image Credit: Caters

Topics: Children, Life News, News, School, Real, Coronavirus, Parenting