Critical workers list is huge

[HappyNewYear2021]

Just received an email from secondary school about which children can attend. The critical worker list they will accept is huge:

• Health and social care
• Education and childcare
• Key public services
• Public safety and national security
• Local and national government
• Food and other necessary goods
• Transport
• Utilities, communication and financial services

I have a feeling school with be pretty busy anyway on the 5th when ours go back!

They've removed journalists from the list.

This pleases me. The mummy bloggers were trying to convince us they were essential workers during lockdown 1.

The key worker list is completely skewed! Medical secretary - keyworker - kids amused at school and able to do job. Project manager for multi million pound new hospital - not keyworker - stuck with kids and still expected to do job 🙄

No everybody didn’t manage last time.

My Dh works in financial infrastructure from home and we’ll be taking up places for our teens this time. I’m a key worker. We didn’t during lockdown and it was a disaster. 2 ended up with it having a big impact on mental health. 1 ended up hospitalised, both are now under CAMHs. We have reached the end of taking time off to support said teens.Losing our jobs particularly dh’s won’t help anybody, our dc or the tax office. Dh can not work from home and supervise the mental health of teens- drag them out on walks, get them off screens, make them eat, get them out of their rooms socialising etc. He tried and it has taken its toll on his job( patience is waning), I’ve been moved within mine.Both our dc are starting to do really well and we can’t risk a relapse.

This time a mental health need is listed under the vulnerable. We qualify with both jobs and the vulnerability issue so we have taken up our places with bells on. We should have last time.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-55468632

We aren’t alone.

We are both key workers. Ours are going in but only part time as we can manage the other times. I’d encourage people to think carefully about what is both good for their child, their family, the staff and society as a whole. Some people will suffer/allow their kids suffer hugely when they could/should have sought help (in this case a place), others will get a place who have no need for one. Either extreme isn’t good. Weigh it carefully but don’t swing to either extreme would be my advice.

@NameChangeforArmageddon21

I work part time around my nursing degree at a well known fast food restaurant, received guidance today stating I'm a critical worker under food category and that no one would be furloughed. Yes people, fries are essential to running this country. Not sure the schools would agree but never mind

Take away staff qualified last time as key workers as did taxi drivers.

I'm a keyworker (midwife).

Not sure if dh is classed as one, works in construction.

However, if ours opens to 2 keyworkers only it'll be me taking unpaid time off as he far out earns me. Luckily I work with a fab team so bet we'll sort between ourselves re cover and making sure our patients are seen.

Medical secretary - keyworker - kids amused at school and able to do job

I used to be a medical secretary and there were several parts of the job I wouldn't be able to do at home, there's a lot more to it than just bashing out letters and doing a bit of typing.

Same list as before.

My ds can attend college as I work in education.

He's not though! Why o it him at risk and he's clinically vulnerable anyway (not extremely but neuro disease)

@Almostslimjim

A lot of people very vocal about lockdown (on other threads) seem to have no idea how many people actually have to leave the house to go to work.

A lot also appear incapable of understanding how some people can work from home but not have the (primary and below) age kids in the house unless there is another adult to supervise - psychologists asking people if they have made plans for their suicide, discharge coordinators talking wit distressed family members about their now severally unwell relative etc. Critical stuff, and not for little ears or appropriate for little ones to interrupt, yet can safely be done from home.

Quite. I have a toddler and I’m a teacher so theoretically my child should be allowed in to childcare. However my childminder last time refused to take her if either my husband or I were working at home, which we were (I didn’t have to do any keyworker care as my school had hardly any keyworker kids). I wasn’t able to offer my classes any live lessons as it’s not practical with a toddler to take care of, and I couldn’t rely on her naps being at the right time. No doubt some of the parents were on here complaining about the provision. They were certainly complaining to my head teacher. Obviously not as serious as your examples, but still quite impossible to do while parenting too.

I’m in Scotland, ours is separated into three categories plus it’s got to be both parent keyworkers only. I’m gobsmacked at the amount of jobs that are keyworkers, they definitely need to scale the list down as some of the jobs shouldn’t be keyworker status. Also it needs to be checked thoroughly as if there is a sahp in the family, the child shouldn’t be going to school. I personally think it should only be frontline key workers who should get this status as the list is ridiculous, the schools will be busier than ever with that list!

@FoxyTheFox

Medical secretary - keyworker - kids amused at school and able to do job

I used to be a medical secretary and there were several parts of the job I wouldn't be able to do at home, there's a lot more to it than just bashing out letters and doing a bit of typing.

I’m aware there’s a lot more too it. I was just using it as an example.

The Gov want a new hospital to be built but can’t facilitate the professional staff to do it. I was the Project Manager in question in my post and it was an utter clusterfuck with two KS1 kids at home last lockdown.

Lockdown is ludicrous.

Here in Scotland it’s made very clear that it will just be babysitting the kids while they do their online learning and no actual teaching. Also not to be used on days off etc if you get a place. My lower end of high school child won’t be going in (and didn’t go to keyworker school in first lockdown either) I expect the high schools to be pretty much empty. His old primary school however which has masses of NHS etc patents may well be quite busy.
Up here it’s currently just until the 18th so far but I would be very surprised if it’s not extended.

Lockdown is ludicrous.

True that

Hi all was wondering if you could help.. I work for a large educational publisher.. in customer service dealing with all uk schools- order schools text books etc and providing online support for the online resources they use for home learning- would this be covered as a critical worker? Sole parent and can't work from home.

@carryme

Hi all was wondering if you could help.. I work for a large educational publisher.. in customer service dealing with all uk schools- order schools text books etc and providing online support for the online resources they use for home learning- would this be covered as a critical worker? Sole parent and can't work from home.

No idea. Contact the head.

For secondary schools I doubt they will get many at all.
Last time ours said they would take any critical/key workers' children, vulnerable children and said if you feel your child would be better in, then please speak to us and we'll take them if at all possible.

Like to know how many took up the offer?
Less than 20-that's less than 1%.

@Witchend

For secondary schools I doubt they will get many at all. Last time ours said they would take any critical/key workers' children, vulnerable children and said if you feel your child would be better in, then please speak to us and we'll take them if at all possible.

Like to know how many took up the offer?
Less than 20-that's less than 1%.

One of my secondary schools has over 70 in that's 10%. Much higher number of students that last time. The at home offer last time was dreadful so perhaps parents are concerned similar will occur (email once a week with suggestions to do). However, this time there is a full day mapped out so much better organised.

I am not sure how many the other much larger school had in.

DC's school is refusing places to all key workers unless they are NHS. Seems a bit harsh, but we can manage so I'm not taking issue with it.