So parents now have 5 days to...

[Tanaria]

... find appropriate childcare?

The announcement that secondaries are not going back until w/b 11th with exam classes and w/b 18th for all other years, together with the very vague "some" primaries will be shut in high-infection areas.

Given that most of us have been plunged into Tier 4, how will we actually find out whether our children can go back to school?

I think there will be a lot more keyworker children in than last time. We didn’t take a place (both FT keyworkers) because I can WFH and DH could in lockdown 1 (and we believed it was only three weeks!). This time, had we been in the list, we’d have taken our space. I cannot do any more of working until 1am to make up the hours lost to childcare (DH and I tag teamed last time and then both made up the hours in the evening). And as DSs are 4 and 8, leaving them for long periods entirely unsupervised isn’t really an option. God I feel for people caught up in this.

"have to give you leave". 😂 Naive, disingenuous or just plain stupid?

@IndecentFeminist

"have to give you leave". 😂 Naive, disingenuous or just plain stupid?

I know! Who on earth works somewhere with unlimited leave that they can take anytime?!

@Bourbonic

If you have primary aged kids in one of the delayed areas then fine.

It's not fine though. That's the whole point of the thread. People have a few days to sort this out because their children are not going back as expected. You talked about not understanding the confusion, OP isn't confused.

And some school staff don’t know what they will be doing in 5 days.... not just parents affected

This was foreseeable

In which case, parents should have know to make a contingency plan?

We’re in Scotland so we’re told just before Christmas that school opening would be delayed. I had already spoken with my boss about a week before to find out if he was happy for me to either extend my Christmas leave, or would he still be ok with knowing there would be some times during the day I wouldn’t be available. He’s happy with the latter and knows things might change.

And before there is a pile on, I know not everyone can work from home or has an understanding boss, but the point is, we all saw it coming, didn’t we?

Does anyone have a recommendation for an online tutor? I'd feel better being lax on the homeschooling if the basics were covered somewhere.

DC’s private school is in Greenwich, with all the messing about before Christmas about whether they would close early or not, our HT e mailed parents to say they would remain open as they do not have to follow LA guidance. Whether it’s different in relation to DfE guidance I’m not sure. It’s academic now, as Greenwich isn’t on the list. It will be interesting to see what happens if Greenwich subsequently does get put on the list. I would imagine the HT and Governors would make the decision based on the number of cases in the school at the time.

Just seen that my Yr6 DS will be off until the 18th at least! He’s delighted but I’m pretty upset about it as he’s spending most of the day vegging as he proclaims it too cold to go out and exercise and the utter stress of making him come out for a walk isn’t worth it .

He’s already had Covid so I was pondering asking the school if they’ll take him in (with the key worker DC).

From my WhatsApp messages this evening it looks like many are going to be relying on grandparents or the goodwill of non working friends to cover primary childcare.

@loulouljh

I organise childcare (grandparents sports club, friends) for the holidays or work from home. I would not leave a 12 year old all day. A few hours yes. Not all day. I am not sure its even legal???

It's legally allowed in almost all cases.

No we didn’t. We’ve been told all along they will keep schools open. I found out via social media our primary school is going to stay closed. I won’t know from school until 5pm if I can get a key worker place and then it’s a bank holiday on Friday! I’m meant to be in work Monday morning - where is my 5 year old meant to go?! I can’t speak to anyone at work on Friday to try and get emergency leave! It’s a nightmare - and I’m not blaming school at all. They’re doing their best

Our secondary told us that non exam
Years would have online lessons for the first week back before the holidays and seemed to imply this was what they have been told with testing once back at school. So all that seems to have changed today for us is it will be an extra week. We can’t have been the only school to have this info pre-holidays?

And seeing it coming doesn't actually make it easier when you have no options

@ThinkAboutItTomorrow

Does anyone have a recommendation for an online tutor? I'd feel better being lax on the homeschooling if the basics were covered somewhere.
for two weeks for a primary age child! You really need to chill out a bit and spend the money on some extra books for your child, and wine for yourself!
I am confident your child’s GCSE results with not be in slightest bit affected.

@edwinbearI would presume private schools will find it hard not to follow govt guidance, I’m frankly amazed at your head teacher’s assertion. I would presume asking staff to work and exposing all teachers in contravention of govt guidance would be in breach of their insurance and probably potentially on hook for a health and safety breach if anyone catches covid!

Exam years in secondary schools go back the week after. All other years will have online lessons and then return the next week.

But I don't think that's true? I asked this on another thread, as it really wasn't clear from GW's speech, and people seem to think it means schools will be closed, no on-line lessons. In which case, it's really hard to leave 11/12/13 yr olds home alone all day with nothing to structure the day other than spending time on social media, and all the risks that entails.

As a side note, I’m beginning to wonder if my mother broke a whole load of laws when I was a kid: from Y5 upwards i stayed home alone if ill. Videos (late 90s), lunch and her work phone number left, instructions not to open the door or touch the oven. I’m a July birthday so I guess I’d have been 9 when it started?

I always assumed I’d do the same for DD once she hits maybe secondary age....it’s clearly no longer acceptable, so good job I found out now!

What about vulnerable children? Key worker children? Are they being allowed back? I assume not.
Also I missed the announcement are nurseries open or not?

What about vulnerable children? Key worker children? Are they being allowed back?

Yes, yes they are.

I assume not.

Why do you assume not? Why not get yourself informed by reading the information rather then making incorrect assumptions?

My Y10 DD has a BTEC exam on 11th will she be back in? I can only see infor for Y11/13

@allineedisaholiday I saw that a private nursery said they were open which is what I based my assumption on.

Private nurseries, ie not in a school setting and childminders remain open, even in those tier 4 areas where primary schools will shut until at least 18 January.

See bottom of page 2 of this previously cited document re nurseries and child minders.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948580/Contingency_framework_implementation_guidance.pdf

I'm sorry yankee. Next time I have a screaming teething baby in my arms and my autistic daughter sobbing her eyes out I will search for the information instead of asking on here and getting a quick answer!!