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Covid

Are parents and kids being left in the lurch?

24 replies

TossaCointoYerWitcher · 11/06/2020 13:41

Apologies for the melodramatic title, however I'm beginning to feel at the end of my tether now. I got the following from our school today:

I got a letter from my school today advising us that the Govwernment said they "should open for more children ‘if they are able to do so’" and that because of the social distance requirements they are now full. In other words, even if you're in Reception, Y1 or Y6, if you haven't gone back you can't - they're not even able to take back all the pupils in these years!

In fact, they go on to say they can't even promise to provide education for any further kids of key workers as "spaces are becoming limited".

I'm sympathetic to the school - obviously they feel they;re doing the best they can and things are beyond their control - but AIBU to feel parents and kids are being left in the lurch whilst the Powers-That-Be - the Government and schools - stay stuck in a stalemate, looking at each other effectively saying "don't look at me, Guv!"

The issue isn't whether my kids should or shouldn't go back as much as it is we as parents - especially those who are working - are being left in confusing, no-win situation and being told to essentially like it or lump it.

I could tolerate the confusion over when kids would be starting back - but to have a situation where schools can't even provide spaces for key workers anymore and the answers we get are: Schools: "blame the Government", Government: "blame the schools"... it just feels like we're being thrown under a bus. Sad

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ItsInTheShed · 11/06/2020 13:48

Yes and it’s not getting sorted anytime soon

Clear message is ‘look after your own kids, home school’

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frozendaisy · 11/06/2020 13:48

Our lower school (which is years reception - y4) have only taken reception, Y1 and keyworker children and have said the same thing. If distancing is still in place in September the only way I can imagine all children getting an education will be in shifts.

I really don't think anything different will be announced before end of summer term. Can only hope that from now to September that something is worked out for all. Presuming if parents have to cover some school time that employers will be strongly requested to accommodate flexible working hours.

In the end it will be the parent's or the employer's problem. This is IF all children aren't back in September.

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CoronaStoner · 11/06/2020 13:52

why didn't you put your child in when they first opened up? You've probably lost your place as a result.

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TossaCointoYerWitcher · 11/06/2020 13:58

Our lower school (which is years reception - y4) have only taken reception, Y1 and keyworker children and have said the same thing.

See, the thing is, I could accept if our school had - from the outset - said that they would take back Reception and Y1 but not Y6 because of capacity. It's this sudden shifting of goalposts that's annoyed me - that if you were a parent of a child in one of these years or was a key worker who, until now, had been home schooling then, actually now spaces are full and you'll have to homeschool until... well, it sounds like January 2021!

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TossaCointoYerWitcher · 11/06/2020 14:00

why didn't you put your child in when they first opened up? You've probably lost your place as a result.

I did. This doesn't affect me personally, I can adapt. But I know plenty who can't. Secondly, *we weren't actually told there were liited spaces" until suddenly, they'd run out.

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TossaCointoYerWitcher · 11/06/2020 14:00

*limited

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greathat · 11/06/2020 14:06

It's not the schools fault. There is a need for social distancing to protect the safety of children, their families and staff. The government set the parameters for the return. Teaching unions are campaigning to help families affected. neu.org.uk/media/10911/view?link_id=1

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Kitcat122 · 11/06/2020 14:11

Our school is full. Parents were asked if they wanted their children back (R, yr1, y6). Any additional places were then offered to vulnerable families.

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Italiandreams · 11/06/2020 14:15

The things is lots of schools did surveys, put provision on with the information they had, then parents had more pressure to return to work so needed a place. It’s no ones faults but staff and classrooms can’t be found from thin air. It’s frustrating all round. Key workers should take priority, that is clear in the guidance.

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KimberleySakamoto · 11/06/2020 14:15

[quote greathat]It's not the schools fault. There is a need for social distancing to protect the safety of children, their families and staff. The government set the parameters for the return. Teaching unions are campaigning to help families affected. neu.org.uk/media/10911/view?link_id=1[/quote]
The Unions' list is rot. All families are affected where two parents work full time and also have young children, not just families who fit the 'disadvantaged' profile.

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DomDoesWotHeWants · 11/06/2020 14:15

Why are you blaming the school? The government wrote the guidelines. Blame them.

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BogRollBOGOF · 11/06/2020 14:25

I have a y4 and a y2. My y4 has SENs that were diagnosed too recently for us to even inititate an EHCP. No EHCP= not vulnerable. This is a 9yo who can barely write a gramatical sentence and has to concentrate really hard to write his short name accurately (but is otherwise very sharp and intelligent). I possibly could have appealed to the school, but the provision is not focused on education, and with his autism, the change of routine, absence of close friends and different structures don't really solve the education issues, exacerbate his social issues and DS2 who is more lonely would struggle more. Oddly it's DS2 who would benefit more by diversifying his social contact beyond a sibling with SNs and then I could concentrate more on educating DS1 and get more structure in our lives.

The school is full and all hands on deck to accommodate yN, yR, y1, y6 and KW.

DS1 needs school to learn effectively, but that's working with his peers with established relationships and not what is on offer.

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Trainersmum · 11/06/2020 14:26

Yes we are imho.

Everything else is slowly opening up and adapting but schools seems to be in limbo. YES I k is that they have stayed open for key workers, I know that they've opened up to more year groups. This isn't about blaming schools.

But there needs to be a definitive plan now for September.

I've written to my MP today, not that it will do any good.

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Oblomov20 · 11/06/2020 14:27

No seriously. This covid distancing is getting on my nerves.

I have done the rules to the T up till now. I always obey the rules.

Dh has been at work. He's a manager of a big essential site, ie, gas, water, electricity.

I've been at home doing 2 part time jobs, with 2 x ds's.

Our local council / borough only has 223 deaths, nearly all aged 70+.
I know that's bad, but that many people would have died anyway, of natural causes in a normal year.

My internet group of 15 people, all know 100+ people. And their mums and dads know 100+ people. 2000+ people. No ones even had it. Let alone died.

I'm beyond furious that Ds2, who is year 6 and entitled to be in school, isn't in school.
Apparently they've been inundated with key workers children and there just isn't enough room.

I saw A mum today from my old postnatal group. Her son Is at school four days a week now.

My 2 other friends have kids at school 3 days a week nearby.

It's all very well, when it started back in March, emergency measures of sending spreadsheets to kids. No zoom calls at our school. No feedback on work done. It's poor. This is a top school!

but what exactly have the fucking government and the schools been planning for the last 10 weeks ?

why didn't they just get six Portakabins and put them on the school grounds of every single school and try and get every single school kid back in ?

They built a bloody hospital in a few weeks.

I am fucking furious that Ds2 isn't in school now.

now I think about it I'm really really cross.

Covid?
I'm fucking DONE.

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KrakowDawn · 11/06/2020 14:34

This isn't schools' fault, this is the government's fault- they wrote the guidelines, they have underfunded schools chronically, they have failed to observe that increases in birth rate will require increased provision for those children five years down the line, they allowed schools to sell off their outdoor spaces where now they could actually have placed temporary classrooms, they have failed to take a strong lead in the resolution of the issue- billions were thrown at businesses to furlough staff rather than lay them off, to build the nightingale hospitals- where is the help for education?

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slothbucket · 11/06/2020 14:35

Why on earth would you think schools are to blame?

Government said limit class sizes to 15 so we did. That means there's only room for half the children , and that's if there's NO members of staff shielding. If you've got shielding teachers and small classrooms then fewer than half can attend.

Of course there is a limit on numbers and no it's not the school's fault.

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KrakowDawn · 11/06/2020 14:36

@Oblomov20 There are over 24000 schools in England alone. Do you think there are 150,000 portakabins standing around in warehouses somewhere waiting to be deployed? Hmm assuming there was even room for them...

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Oblomov20 · 11/06/2020 14:45

No Dawn.
No Bucket.

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JudithGrimes · 11/06/2020 14:53

@Oblomov20


No seriously. This covid distancing is getting on my nerves.

I have done the rules to the T up till now. I always obey the rules.

Dh has been at work. He's a manager of a big essential site, ie, gas, water, electricity.

I've been at home doing 2 part time jobs, with 2 x ds's.

Our local council / borough only has 223 deaths, nearly all aged 70+.
I know that's bad, but that many people would have died anyway, of natural causes in a normal year.

My internet group of 15 people, all know 100+ people. And their mums and dads know 100+ people. 2000+ people. No ones even had it. Let alone died.

I'm beyond furious that Ds2, who is year 6 and entitled to be in school, isn't in school.
Apparently they've been inundated with key workers children and there just isn't enough room.

I saw A mum today from my old postnatal group. Her son Is at school four days a week now.

My 2 other friends have kids at school 3 days a week nearby.

It's all very well, when it started back in March, emergency measures of sending spreadsheets to kids. No zoom calls at our school. No feedback on work done. It's poor. This is a top school!

but what exactly have the fucking government and the schools been planning for the last 10 weeks ?

why didn't they just get six Portakabins and put them on the school grounds of every single school and try and get every single school kid back in ?

They built a bloody hospital in a few weeks.

I am fucking furious that Ds2 isn't in school now.

now I think about it I'm really really cross.

Covid?
I'm fucking DONE.

I agree with everything you said, the only issue is that unless the government provides some funding schools do not have the money for 6 port-a-cabins.
We had to order some for work and they cost tens of thousands even before you factor in the cost of getting them electrical supplies.
The three that we got for work which are very basic cost £125,000 just for the actual cabin and being wired into the electricity
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Oblomov20 · 11/06/2020 15:05

The Government. And the schools. Would have had all kids back by now. If it had been planned properly.

Extra staff. Porta- cabins. Etc.
They built a hospital in London, nightingale.

How come long term plans haven't already been made. And implemented? For getting our kids back?

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Oblomov20 · 11/06/2020 15:08

Oh come on. Stop being so pedantic.
Porta cabins was just an example. I'm sure some policies could have been suggested. To get at least more kids back to school.

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Keepdistance · 11/06/2020 15:13

They should never have set yr6 back as no SATs and curriculum done.
So i can see why actually schools arent prioritising them just for social reasons. Yr 5 or 4 would have made more sense.

Why does noone start a fundraising for the portacabins?
The 100 year old raised millions.

Even if schools that can reduce to 15 a class can do that it would help.

Bubbles of siblings so ks1 or ks2 might help reduces spread. With ks2 up to maybe yr 5.

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DomDoesWotHeWants · 11/06/2020 15:16

@Oblomov20

The Government. And the schools. Would have had all kids back by now. If it had been planned properly.

Extra staff. Porta- cabins. Etc.
They built a hospital in London, nightingale.

How come long term plans haven't already been made. And implemented? For getting our kids back?

Because Johnson keep changing his mind and altering the rules. More than 40 times.

Write to him.
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okiedokieme · 11/06/2020 17:01

Schools are trying! I got a call today (work for a church) from a school asking about hall hire and square footage - they could accommodate a further 45 kids that way. The council is currently offering to help with costs but the school buildings don't have elastic walls hence needing more premises. 85% of the school is eligible to return (R, 1,2, keyworkers, vulnerable) as very low income area, most kids are esl.

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