One key worker, child should stay home

[Areyouactuallyseriousrightnow]

Not sure if there has already been a thread but AIBU to think that if only one parent is key worker and other is WFH, child should be staying home as school provision is for key workers who cannot complete their important role if they have to look after child at home, not so that the other parent can continue with work without interruption?

My partner is a key worker, but I don’t consider us eligible as I am home and therefore technically can be with the children.

YABU- if there’s one key worker take that opportunity to send the child in.
YANBU- if there’s another parent at home, child should stay home.

I’m a Keyworker that works from home hut a single parent and so my child doesn’t get a space. Are you sure yours would under your circumstances?

I hope you get a space. X

Our school will only take a child if both parents are key workers anyway!

No OP let's not take advantage during a pandemic. I'm a single parent keyworker I don't send mine in.

Your child should stay at home if possible.
However there will be folk who say that if only one parent is a key worker then the child qualifies.
If both parents are key workers then the child qualifies for a place at school. If a single parent is a key worker then that child qualifies.
If one parent is a key worker and the other parent is a stay at home parent or works from home then the child should also stay at home.
Otherwise the school would be full of children and not be closed, against guidelines.

Our school is apparently allowing families with only one key worker (out of two) it doesn’t seem right to me as it’s the other parent benefitting essentially.

WFH doesn’t mean available for childcare. Who’s going to do the work?

I’m not sure what your AIBU is tbh, you seem happy that you can work and care for your child. Lucky you. Where I am both parents need to be key workers, I’m the key worker in our house and work part time. My DH is full time but not a key worker so no school place for us, so I’m having to take time off from my “important role” because my husband has exhausted all flexibility from his employer last time round.

I wfh 2 days a week, on the phone. How do i look after children while on calls?

Our school now only takes vulnerable kids or kids with 2 networker parents after parents really took the piss during the 1st lockdown.

One teacher and one worker who will have to go out to work (engineering). Surely our DC would still be able to go.

Problem is many crucial keyworkers are the family's lower earner so might end up forced (by their need to pay mortgage/bills) to be the one who stays at home...

No one size fits all answer.

If you have an alternative that allows your family to cope, don't send them in. If not sending them will cause you major problems and school will permit, send them.

If SEN/vulnerable discuss with school, considering best interests of all concerned/balance of risks.

There has to be some nuance, I'm a key worker who can work from home & is p/t. I wouldn't expect the same rules for me as a key worker who is working f/t out of the home.

@Jellycatspyjamas that’s why I’m asking, because my view was that the WFH parent in a one key worker couple is no worse off than other ‘no key worker’ couples so shouldn’t send child in as it’s not the point of the provision, but I didn’t consider that in some circumstances the key worker will be affected if the other parent can’t get any further flexibility.

Ffs why oh why can the government not give clear guidance!!!

It should be two key workers only unless you are a single parent and only then if you can’t wfh. Why can’t they say this? It’s unacceptable for the rest of us who are just muddling along and in danger of losing our jobs.

Oh for gods sake not this again. Its different for each school anyway depending on how many key worker parents there are.

If your school is accepting kids with one keyworker parent then who gives a fuck what anyone else thinks anyway.

I can’t be the only one who know parents who have an alternative but are sending in anyway!!

I’m a key worker, even though I work from home.

Husband already told that he can’t take any unpaid or paid leave until Easter.

Therefore if my children can’t go to school I will have to quit my job to look after them.

Like lots of women I work part time and therefore am the lower earner.

@randomsabreuse we are in exactly this position. I work part time in community nursing as the hours fit around school drop off/pick up. DH is an agricultural engineer and so is classed as a key worker anyway but wasn’t for the first 6 weeks of the first lockdown, thankfully he got furloughed that time but wouldn’t be this time if key worker criteria hasn’t changed. He makes a lot more money than I do and pretty much runs the household, so it would have been me giving up work.

When I explained this and my worries during the first lockdown though I was called selfish for not expecting my DH to give up his work to look after the children, never mind if it meant losing our house or not having enough for the essentials

Why does it bother you? If the school are happy to take them how does it impact you if they use the school provision available to them. You don’t know their circumstances and the reasons for their decisions.

My husband is a keyworkers.
Last time around I was not a keyworker and could not work, so I stopped my business.
This time around I am a keyworker. I will still gladly keep my children off on the days I don’t work or have alternative childcare, but I agree. I’ve seen far too many parents send their kids to school during the last lockdown when they had a SAHP or parents who were able to work from home.

The problem arises when the key worker is the lower earner in the house and then the higher earner will need go to work.

I don’t know a single person with parent at home not working who is sending in anyway.

Last time nationally only 2% of children were in school.

Compared to the estimated 20% prediction.

So no one did it last time either

@Dishwashersaurous my DH is exactly the same, it would be unpaid leave, no one can take unpaid leave indefinitely. But be careful saying that because there are certain posters who think we should all just put ourselves into poverty because, you know, covid

I think people should do whatever they need to do to cope, as long as the school are happy with it.