to think it's not fair only key workers can get a school place now have to go back into work?

[mywayhighway]

Work are wanting us back in the office. It's been hard enough home schooling whilst wfh, soon we will be in an impossible situation. We are valuable members of society too, paying taxes so why can only key workers send their dc to school?

All kids should have the opportunity to be back in school. There is no excuse or reason for schools not being fully open.

I wonder if some people going back to work could work out with friends to take it in turns looking after each other's kids? Maybe come up with some ideas around this - or find a childminder who would look after kids who are a bit older? I know during school holidays you usually have to pay for childcare or take leave, grandparents etc. It might be a thought for local communities to try to get together and organise something.

@whatshappeninginthisworld NO-ONE chose to work through an unprecedented pandemic, no-one chose to put their own lives and families at risk because the protective equipment they need isn’t available. No-one chose to deny care to patients because they were not allowed to provide it, or watch people die alone because they can’t have visitors etc. Nurses did not chose to do this!

I’m in London and my Husband is a key worker. My daughter yr 3 and son in the school Nursery are back 3 days a week due to my daughter’s anxiety she was getting bad during lockdown and being back has really helped her. I’m not a key worker so probably shouldn’t be using it but they offered and were actively asking others last week to come forward as they have space.

It’s a rubbish situation and not fair on those who can’t use it. I wish they would just open the schools back up.

But how? People can’t even spend time with family yet, otherwise it would be a lot easier for those who can rely on grandparents or sisters etc. Childminders cannot work yet can they?

Surely you realise this isn't a matter of "it's not fair"...that sounds incredibly childish.

Your employer will be well aware we're in the midst of a global pandemic and that a very small number of children are in school at the moment.

It's not like you're deliberately not able to work. Discuss it with your manager and/or HR. They need to be flexible at a time like this.

1. We don't have the space or the capacity. Primaries in particular don't, as they now have 3 year groups plus key worker/vulnerable children

2). Even if schools can offer a place, the majority can not offer wraparound care, so unless you work from 9am til 3pm you won't have full childcare

3. School is not childcare.

I’m a key worker, my dh is not. School said both parents have to be keyworkers to use the school place. I earn more so he had to stop working to look after them (self employed so no furlough payment either)
Lots of this whole situation is not fair

@LesbianMummies well sorry but I don't agree with you. In case of a war ( just an example) the nurses/doctors can say : oh sorry I didn't sign up for this?!

It's exactly the same thing.

Nobody wanted a pandemic. It's a first for all of us.

I do believe that now it's time to return to some normality and we need to get back to work so we can survive so this country can recover etc.

With summer term coming up and schools would be closed normally whatbwoudm you do then. Your anger is misplaced. You need childcare open and or parents who can look after them.

@whatshappeninginthisworld Working in the NHS isn’t and shouldn’t be a war. No nurse entered the profession expecting to put their life at risk, be left unprotected and see their colleagues die in huge numbers. I have colleagues who should be shielding right now but they are risking their own lives to save others, in most other professions people would have refused to work if not provided with the correct protective equipment. Saying nurses signed up for this excuses the fact the government have failed them hugely and left them as lambs to the slaughter.

Bluebell

Parental leave is a legal entitlement, however you have to take it in fortnightly chunks at least, so if you’ve had the odd few days, it was probably unpaid leave.

Parental leave is allocated per child - about 16 weeks a year or something? It’s unpaid of course. T

[quote whatshappeninginthisworld]@KeepYourDistance2m

I know the difference and there's no need for insults. Just because you don't agree with me point of view.
a nurse chose this career path and she/he knew they will be the front line if it came to it. Just like soldiers chose to fight for their country. Nobody forced them to choose this career path.

We all choose our career paths however all jobs are important not just the ones that the government decides are important.

I think I'll quit my job and go and work at Tesco just to feel entitled. [/quote]
Aye, because we all saw the bloody pandemic coming eh

[quote whatshappeninginthisworld]@LesbianMummies well sorry but I don't agree with you. In case of a war ( just an example) the nurses/doctors can say : oh sorry I didn't sign up for this?!

It's exactly the same thing.

Nobody wanted a pandemic. It's a first for all of us.

I do believe that now it's time to return to some normality and we need to get back to work so we can survive so this country can recover etc.

[/quote]
Did the employees of ASDA and Tesco sign up to their jobs knowing that they would have to take on this risk?

Did you get to keep yourself and your family safe at home during the peak?

Dual key worker family. Can’t continue to manage the juggle. Kids have been totally neglected. They are going back next week and I’m fully expecting one of the schools to try and turn us away.

Oh gosh sorry but it seems to me that we are now divided into being vital or non-vital to the society

This bloody hell. Surely as we try to recover our economy all jobs are now essential? Especially as many of the key worker roles rely on tax revenues coming in (and I don't mean that nastily - just a statement of fact as my job too is funded by tax payers).

Yes all jobs should be protected, but until school guidance changes (and this is up to the government not schools), there aren’t any more school places. So there has to be prioritisation.

At my school we can’t think about bringing back any more year groups until we can stop providing key worker and vulnerable places. I’m really interested to see when the government decides that this switch can happen.

@LesbianMummies I think you misunderstood me. I never said anything about the lack of ppe in the NHS. This is not about that.
Is about the fact that whether you like it or not they swore an oath to save and protect lives including in case of war/pandemic etc.

I'm sorry there was a lack of ppe and that the gov has fucked up big time. The government has failed the doctors and nurses. It's obvious.

@whatshappeninginthisworld Please point to me where the oath mentions a pandemic? The fact remains saying nurses signed up for this makes them sound like willing participants in having their lives endangered.

@countessfrog

Sorry I'm genuinely being thick (too much wine)

I've had authorised unpaid leave for the 3 days my child was symptomatic and awaiting swab results

I've applied in advance for a few days authorised unpaid leave for summer holidays. Whatever it's called, it's unpaid authorised leave? Or can I get paid parental leave do you think?

Yes they should have been prioritised but now we NEED to get back to work.
If the furlough scheme hadn't been in place many would have requested a place for their child.

Let's see what happens when people will be made redundant because they couldn't return to work because their child was not a priority for the school/preschool.

Let's see how many will say: oh I understand and I will comply. I will end up on the streets but I'm doing it for the greater good.

@CountessFrog

Bluebell

Parental leave is a legal entitlement, however you have to take it in fortnightly chunks at least, so if you’ve had the odd few days, it was probably unpaid leave.

Parental leave is allocated per child - about 16 weeks a year or something? It’s unpaid of course. T

Parental leave is acquired at 1 week per year per child up until they are 18. You can take up to 4 weeks per year but you have to take a full working week so no odd days. It's unpaid and 4 weeks in the current situation is a drop in the ocean.