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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think these parents should not be able to send their kids to school

171 replies

Dubdubdubtub · 20/03/2020 19:59

Dad works in a takeaway
Mum does not work. No disabilities
They are sending their child to school as the dad is a key worker and this has been accepted.

To think this is not on and a lot of kids will be sent to school that actually don’t need to be there

OP posts:
cabbageking · 20/03/2020 21:14

A child is classed as vulnerable in other areas separate to the parents occupation. Other parents would not be privy to this info and might assume it is job related.

QueenArseClangers · 20/03/2020 21:15

I’m classed as a key worker (can’t work from home as I deal with the deceased) and so is DH.
We’re not sending our DC in as DH’s reduced his hours (so absolutely skint) and juggling childcare between us.
Sending our SC into an already stretched school is the last thing we want to do.

itsamadmadworld · 20/03/2020 21:16

I work in a nursery so am a key worker but my partner is home and we've closed so won't be sending her into her setting.
Today we had a parent say their partner is a key worker can we open for their child. No was the answer (we aren't opening for anyone as there isn't enough children with both parents as key workers). Another does night shifts only with a partner at home during the day but wanted us to take their child.
Some people are taking the piss a bit and not understanding that just because you qualify doesn't mean you should send your child in, the advice is to do what's best for their safety and if it's possible to keep them home that's the best thing.

Reginabambina · 20/03/2020 21:16

All the advice we’ve had has been to the effect that children would only be allowed in if one/both parents were key workers and it was absolutely necessary (as in no one else to look after them like a nanny/both parents working with no option to manage childcare around shifts/single parent with no option to work from home etc). Both are private though so maybe state schools are treating this differently?

Mummyshark2018 · 20/03/2020 21:17

Anybody who thinks that sending their kids into school without a real and genuine need is deluded. I speak as an nhs key worker. I would do anything not to have to send my dc in as I want to keep my dc at home, safe and away from other dc as much as possible. This service is for people who really have no option, not piss takers. That just increases the risk, for no necessary reason. We need to be making sure the kids of key workers are protected as much as possible.

Everyexitisanentrance · 20/03/2020 21:17

Our head has just sent a letter to parents saying do not send your child in unless you have written permission from him. He will be at the gate! The staff used to think he was a bit of a softie but these past couple of weeks he has battled with some parents and won every time. He wants to protect the school community and look after children and staff. No member of staff is allowed to discuss predicted grades with pupils or parents and all communication goes through him. One parent was shouting at him in reception and that person is now banned from school premises until he receives a written apology. So proud of my headmaster now

carlotta43 · 20/03/2020 21:20

On the other side of the coin, there are people who are key workers, and who have no choice but to send their children into school next week, but who wish they didn't have to; some of them would love to be able to keep themselves and their children safe at home.

3teens2cats · 20/03/2020 21:22

We (a small nursery) also found that all of our parents initially said they could manage to keep their children at home but once the list was announced suddenly they have no alternative but to send them in. I totally understand that parents don't want to loose income but this is about protecting health and essential services not incomes. I really think it should have stated both parents should have to qualify.

PepePig · 20/03/2020 21:23

Honestly, in this pandemic, it's really just highlighted how there's two kinds of people in the world:

The people who plod on the best they can, move heaven and earth to make things work, accept any help they can get graciously and try to help others when they can. Who aren't selfish.

Those who actively look to pass the buck onto someone else. Don't want to look after kids. Don't want to self isolate. Don't want to chip in and help others less fortunate. Just want to take-take-take. All the food in the shops. All the help designed for others. Never giving anything back. Doing any favours. Just complaining because some measures don't apply to them and it's unfair.

On one hand, it's lovely seeing so many decent people. On the other, it's bloody depressing that there's so many pathetic leeches in our society.

Spacecudet · 20/03/2020 21:23

My school has almost no key worker children, the children we are looking after are vulnerable. The worry is without school they will be severely neglected. Not enough food, little or no interaction etc. I have children who will have to go to school so I can look after these children. I am happy to do so, more than anything I want to keep these children safe.

zombieapocalypseisnigh · 20/03/2020 21:23

Our school is being really hard core about it last I checked. As they should be since I'm going in to cover some of the childcare needs over the next few weeks.

I've been really cross hearing that parents are trying to weasel their children in, even though I know full well they can manage to look after there own children. They just don't want to.

I'm a Key worker due to my school role; my DH is not. So we will manage our children at home, even when I'm at school. As people should be doing.

BillywigSting · 20/03/2020 21:23

Im a key worker and so is dp (I'm a hca, he's a scientist in the supply chain for medicine).

We are keeping ds at home, because I'm part time I'm down to weekends only. Dp is 9-5 but can't wfh as he needs to be in the lab.

The grandparents are all vulnerable (various lung diseases and front line nhs between them).

People not taking this seriously are seriously starting to piss me off.

Maryann1975 · 20/03/2020 21:24

@Stinkycatbreath in my county, the Local Authority has sent out a survey to every childcare setting asking if we are staying open and if we are in a position to take in extra children during this time. The majority of childminders I know have a space, we have all lost dc becasue their parents are not key workers and would be thrilled to be offered another key worker child to fill a space.

It might be worth a phone call to the Local Authority to see what they advise, when did you speak to the childminders? It might be they’ve Now had time to speak to parents and they have a space after all. I know some of my friends are still waiting for parents to make a decision about what to do, so don’t give up completely.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 20/03/2020 21:25

I really don't want to send my child into school but I will be on a rota for being in my school so either send him to his own school or take him with me to mine. Hopefully DH will be able to take some time off to reduce the time he's there. I definitely would rather he wasn't around other children.

At the mo we are self-isolating for another 1.5 weeks, so maybe everything would have changed again by then.

Gruffalosandbuffalos · 20/03/2020 21:25

Takeaways are not essential food and so he shouldn’t be a key worker.

itispersonal · 20/03/2020 21:27

This is the same with my sons school. Key workers who work part time thinking it is an automatic green light to send their children to school full time. No you selfish twits. It is emergency care. One was even aghast that the head was asking parents for the days/ times they would need the childcare. When their partner has 2 school days off a week and they are part time! Also another key worker saying their partner is working from home but will send their child to school.
Our school is near fire station and ambulance station so a lot of emergency key worker parents as well as the extended key worker list, so over subscribed.
Think there needs to be a hierarchy -
Very vulnerable kids -
Both key workers
Nhs Key worker
Key worker

I'm saying some very vulnerable as know foster children who are in long term placements have been told by their social workers they must go to school while other family members are not.

Redglitter · 20/03/2020 21:28

That's ridiculous especially since at least one Scottish local authority are not counting Police Officers as key workers at the moment

stuffedpeppers · 20/03/2020 21:28

I am a single parent frontline health worker and was told both parents had to qualify.

Ex is overseas in a non key worker role

Healthyandhappy · 20/03/2020 21:29

They arent providing education its play so what's point stay at home and do the work books

cabbageking · 20/03/2020 21:30

We have also selected the qualifying children. Everyone else has been told school is closed. Any one not on the list will be refused entry. Looking at @15 children from Monday and @25 the following week. A couple only work part time and their children will be allowed in only on those days.

Macaroni46 · 20/03/2020 21:31

She's hardly a SAHM if she won't look after her kids. She's a lazy fucker. Why should I risk my health and my family's because of selfish people like that?

BendingSpoons · 20/03/2020 21:36

I'm a key worker (NHS). DH will have to juggle his work as needed. I'm irritated by all my (female) colleagues stressing about sorting school/nursery childcare because none of their (non key worker) partners can do childcare. They keep saying 'it's my only option'. However I guess as a PP said, when employers know this is a option they expect you to take it.

FreakStar · 20/03/2020 21:36

More than 25% of my school will be attending next week!

All I see on the news is how schools are closed! What a Joke- all the staff will be in including cleaners, lunchtime staff, caretaker etc.

aupresdemonarbre · 20/03/2020 21:36

"a lot of kids will be sent to school that actually don’t need to be there"

Err tbh I don't think there are a lot of takeaway workers with spouses living off an enormous inheritance who also don't enjoy taking care of their kids. Not a fan of the government, but I reckon I can forgive them not taking into account this group when drafting these measures.

Barbie222 · 20/03/2020 21:36

Hear hear @PepePig.

There will be a wake up call for these people when lockdown is announced.