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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In September will the kids who have done homelearning have to sit bored at school while works repeated for the ones that haven't. Or will they start there new' year ' work as normal. Either way it's

538 replies

947EliseChalotte · 05/07/2020 11:31

It's not fair either way. The bright kids who have done their homelearning will be held back while it's repeated for the ones which were unable too .....or if it's a new year start with work as normal the ones who didn't do homelearning will have missed work and won't understand. So either is unfair to either groups. So what are the plans for education for September? Repeating work missed from march or new work from sept? Which group will be disavantsged the ones who have done work or haven't ?

OP posts:
FlamingoAndJohn · 05/07/2020 18:08

Can I also point out that some of the chosen ones were there because they have social services or other agencies involved in their home lives. One child we had in lives in a single room in a refuge with his mum and baby brother.

But yes, lets carry on being jealous of them shall we.

GhostTypeEevee · 05/07/2020 18:13

I'm not surprised about the bitching around key worker children. I've seen strange sentiments building for a while amongst some people. I've seen Facebook comments from parents who don't want their children in a bubble with a child whose parents are A and E doctors as they are 'dangerous'

ResumetonormalASAP · 05/07/2020 18:13

At our local school the 'chosen ones' as someone point it (what a stupid way to describe kw children) were not taught. They were looked after so that their parents could work in supermarkets, care homes, hospitals, emptying bins, etc etc.

No child at our school has been taught since March by their teacher. They were all sent a weekly email of suggestions of tv progammes and websites. Some of their parents would have followed this, some would have home schooled using their own knowledge etc and some may have been sat on gamng devices or put in front of the tv...others might have been taught life skills, cooking, gardening etc.

All very different, as they were before the school closed to most children and childminded the kw children. There are always differences in ability etc etc

MinnieMousse · 05/07/2020 18:15

In primary classes we are used to differentiation for different abilities. To clarify a few points though, it is no longer considered best practice to have set ability groupings nor to have 3 or 4 separate activities going on. Just because you don't see or hear about these in the classroom, doesn't mean there isn't differentiation going on.

RedOasis · 05/07/2020 18:16

Even if every child had done the work kids learn at different rates. So some kids will be a bit faster some a bit slower at learning and comprehending new things. So I think your original question is a bit of a non question cos either way the kids still have to go over things they might understand but others don’t. The teacher will manage the kids learning. No one will be left behind and no one who can take a challenge will be left not learning. 🙂

onceuponatimer · 05/07/2020 18:20

@formerbabe

Yes I'm aware it is not a normal school experience but I've heard from the parents of the chosen ones that they've been loving school right now. At least they get some interaction with their peers...better than the situation with the banned children who may not have seen another child for months.
Some really unpleasant posts about key worker's children.

The key worker's children are not following the curriculum anyway/ having classes taught in the usual way. The same work is being sent to those learning at home.

We all know that the situation is very challenging for many, devastating for some. Many have been unwell or even lost loved ones, many have lost their jobs/ worry about redundancy or have had reduced income. Don't make this all about you and spend your time bitching about key worker's children. Find some perspective and help your child as best you can in the same way that most parents are.

Karenista · 05/07/2020 18:24

Kids are grouped on ability in primary. Their teacher will assess them and group them accordingly.

formerbabe · 05/07/2020 18:31

The key worker's children are not following the curriculum anyway/ having classes taught in the usual way. The same work is being sent to those learning at home

Yes I know that. My dc is refusing to do it. She'd do it at school. She has spent the last few months feeling lonely and isolated.

I have no issues with genuine key workers but there's plenty who are stretching the truth or couples where one is a key worker and the other is a sahp. It's pure discrimination.

formerbabe · 05/07/2020 18:32

And the school has the cheek to send out a newsletter with all the fun activities that they're doing in school. Needless to say, I don't show that to my dc.

formerbabe · 05/07/2020 18:33

So we’ve gone from clapping for NHS and keyworkers to bitching about them and their kids

I never clapped anyway. Not bothered about nhs workers kids getting a school place...It's the stretching of the truth that pisses me off...people working in IT or a key worker with a sahp.

Hercwasonaroll · 05/07/2020 18:40

So former your issue is with the keyworker piss takers and not the school.

Beawillalwaysbetopdog · 05/07/2020 18:41

It's pure discrimination.

With current SD guidelines schools can only take a limited number of children. It makes sense that those who are vulnerable, or whose parents work in jobs that are essential for something approaching normal life were prioritised.

formerbabe · 05/07/2020 18:45

It makes sense that those who are vulnerable, or whose parents work in jobs that are essential for something approaching normal life were prioritised

Yes that does make sense but if one parent is a key worker and the other is a sahp, how can it be right their dc gets a place?

mbosnz · 05/07/2020 18:48

Do you think that possibly worrying that someone might be getting something you don't get and that you really don't think they ought to have it, is possibly not terribly constructive, or good for either you or your daughter?

It's not something you can control. It's a waste of mental energy.

Maybe organising for your daughter to meet up with a couple of friends to have a socially distanced play in the park might be better for both of you? And having another go at getting her to engage in the work that is provided? If she doesn't, she's going to be the one that feels the pain, it's no skin off anybody else's nose. Except possibly yours.

PumpkinPie2016 · 05/07/2020 18:55

I teach secondary science and I have had work from children right across the ability range.

I hold a leadership position in my faculty so a lot of my work lately has been curriculum planning for September. The work set during lockdown has been consolidation and one off projects. So, no one has missed new content.

When we are preparing to teach a topic, we will assess what the children know, as we do anyway, and then build from there, differentiating as appropriate.

There will no doubt be things children have forgotten-there always is after summer but we will take them from their starting point and work with them to help them progress.

Please be assured that a huge amount of work is currently going into planning for the next academic year.

formerbabe · 05/07/2020 18:56

Do you think that possibly worrying that someone might be getting something you don't get and that you really don't think they ought to have it, is possibly not terribly constructive, or good for either you or your daughter?

I don't mention any of this to my dd. When she feels upset, I actually lie and tell her all her friends are feeling the same and are in the same situation. Obviously they aren't but...

I save my moaning for here and my poor dh

SmileEachDay · 05/07/2020 18:58

It's pure discrimination

No it isn’t.

Again, what would you rather happen?

a) everyone in, no closure, community spread

Or

b) full closure, no vulnerable or KW children in.

FrippEnos · 05/07/2020 18:59

Sittingontheveranda

I’d love if they had longer days to catch up.

I already know the kids that will need to catch up in my subject.
I already know that some of their parents won't allow them to stay after school.
I already know that as well as extra after school hours, I will have to miss lunch for those whose parents won't allow them to come after school.
I already know that some of these children won't bother to turn up at lunch either.
I will then phone, email and push the information up through the school systems.

Some kids will run ahead, some will catch up some will struggle but will do their best, and others won't do very well at all.

This will be across all abilities, and it may surprise you to know that those that are the most likely to fail are often the brightest as they will incorrectly believe that there is always time to catch up.

Scarlett1251 · 05/07/2020 19:02

I’m worried about this, my daughter wasn’t challenged at school before lockdown, she is academically bright (high functioning autism) but was starting to be disruptive because of the pitch of the lessons. She has been keeping up with her work so I dread to think what it will be like when she goes back. The school is not interested in challenging the brighter children and extending their learning, they don’t even have differentiated work :(

formerbabe · 05/07/2020 19:02

Again, what would you rather happen?

a) everyone in, no closure, community spread

Or

b) full closure, no vulnerable or KW children in

I'll choose

C. Vulnerable children and kw children where both parents are key workers working outside of the home...not one sahp and another who works in IT or some other stretching of the truth

Or

Some sort of rota system so all children get some time in the school before the summer.

mbosnz · 05/07/2020 19:03

I do wonder if your daughter might be picking up on it. The vast majority of her friends, and their parents are feeling the same and are in the same situation. We ain't none of us special, and you're not being 'discriminated' against, specifically, the schools are following Government directives as to who they can admit, within the guidelines, and it's a hard and thankless job for them, with the piss-poor guidance and consultation they've been given.

There's always people that manage to take the piss, whether it's benefits, pandemic education, whatever. It's not actually taking anything from you at this moment, or your daughter, more than the vast majority of children and parents having to manage in the exact same situation.

And if daughter wants to throw a strop and not do the work because 'it's not fair', well that's her choice. She's the one who might feel a bit silly when they do go back though, and those that did engage and just get on with it, are possibly a little bit further ahead. It's certainly not going to get her back to school any faster.

FlamingoAndJohn · 05/07/2020 19:03

@formerbabe

The key worker's children are not following the curriculum anyway/ having classes taught in the usual way. The same work is being sent to those learning at home

Yes I know that. My dc is refusing to do it. She'd do it at school. She has spent the last few months feeling lonely and isolated.

I have no issues with genuine key workers but there's plenty who are stretching the truth or couples where one is a key worker and the other is a sahp. It's pure discrimination.

Oh piss of with your discrimination.
FlamingoAndJohn · 05/07/2020 19:05

@formerbabe

So we’ve gone from clapping for NHS and keyworkers to bitching about them and their kids

I never clapped anyway. Not bothered about nhs workers kids getting a school place...It's the stretching of the truth that pisses me off...people working in IT or a key worker with a sahp.

People working in IT?

Have you not been placing any online orders through this? Do you have any idea how over stretched many of the supermarket websites have been. Just because you don’t see or understand what some people do doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a place.

UserErrorMessage · 05/07/2020 19:06

It's already feeling that way and my kids are doing A level. The classes they've had in June/July have all been revision from pre covid, so far their verdict has been it's a waste of time - the kids need to be taught the new stuff they've been trying to teach themselves. Shit show is the only way to describe it.

SmileEachDay · 05/07/2020 19:08

Vulnerable children and kw children where both parents are key workers working outside of the home...not one sahp and another who works in IT or some other stretching of the truth

That’s what my school have done and my son’s school. I’m a teacher and a single parent - I’ve had him at home whilst I’ve been teaching from home.

Some IT roles absolutely are essential- running the national grid, telephone/internet service, power services, traffic management...without many IT jobs, the country would grind to a halt.

I do agree that the govt KW list was probably too extensive- but actually our group has been 98% vulnerable kids.