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.

[quote CakeQueen87]@Fembot123
Do you think 50% of children in school is acceptable then?[/quote]
My sons primary allows just one Keyworker and at most there are 5 kids out of 30 in each class, some classes have no kids. You can’t just apply a blanket rule, each school is different. The legislation should be there for Headteachers to apply the 2 Keyworker rule if necessary not just as standard.

I don’t know where this arbitrary 50% figure is coming feom

That's good to hear Fembot...but it is a third of children who are attending at our local primary.

Probability states that covid will be brought into schools with every 69 pupils who attend (or 30 in London), so what will happen is class bubbles will close and you know who is really harmed by that- critical workers without anyone to care for their child at home. And vulnerable children. The very (and only) people who the school is supposed to be open for.
So everyone who sees themselves as an exception, taking a place who doesn’t absolutely need it, is putting those who genuinely have no alternative, at risk, and potentially preventing them from doing their critical jobs, whole point of this bloody exercise.

I honestly don’t see how people can do that. Child of project manager brings covid into school, bubble closes, single mum nurse or doctor or teacher or whatever now likely cannot work and/or gets sick.

And It’s avoidable. Keep your child at home if you don’t absolutely need a place.

*60 not 69!

Both myself and hubby are key workers but both work from hone, we send our children to school. My job entails confidential phone calls and meetings and my husbands job is too secret level and he can't be around anyone whilst having his meetings. Sometimes our meetings overlap and so we really need the children at school. Work from home isn't pop on occasionally and entertain the children in between!

Actually more than that, I've just calculated it properly - actually nearer 40%.

@Userfgs

That's good to hear Fembot...but it is a third of children who are attending at our local primary.

That’s why I said each school is different.

I agree that it would be interesting to see some actual figures on how many children are in school: the 50% comes from my own experience and from what I'm reading online. It would be reassuring to hear that it's not this bad everywhere

No. We are both key workers here, but we do not consider ourselves critical, we keep ours at home.

I’m telling you it’s not.

@iusedtohavechickens Well the thread is non key worker at home which isn’t the case for you.
But also don’t be patronising, absolutely everyone who WFH knows what it entails.

Two non key workers, both WFH - share the childcare and home schooling

Two key workers - obvs send them in if you are comfortable as otherwise can't do job

One key worker - WFH parent has to do all home school and also try to work, unlike homes with two WFH where it can be shared

As Pp said key workers might be the less well paid parent so would be likely to compromise own job to help share the load even though they can't really.

I would say however that families with one key worker parent are similar to single parent families, but tbh if desired I think single parents should be allowed to send kids in part time too.

To add to figures, there were around 10 children in yr group (3 class in take) for DD and about 8 for DS, so no where near 50%.

@AG1981 none of these are easy decisions obviously, but the fact is if we don’t draw a line and say only those without childcare at home get a place, schools fill up, increasing risk for all, but most unfairly for those who really really need it.

I do accept the point that this isn’t the case in all schools, and I guess in schools where attendance is extremely low there can be more flexibility as risk is much lower.

The guidance changed yesterday and now includes if you don't have enough lap tops at home or no peace and quiet for child to study and/or no broadband.

I would much prefer we just re-opened schools well before half term as the current situation is inconsistent and unfair on children and working parents.

I too work on confidential stuff. I literally cannot have anyone in the room or hearing distance when I work. Even on the hottest days if someone is in the garden I have to close the window and that kind of thing. I make sure no one can see my screen and papers are all shredded.

@NCstaythefuckathome yes I agree it's very tricky. And I think the list of key worker jobs needs looking at. But if eg key worker is secondary school teacher WFH and other parent has higher paying job, if kid goes in quality of remote learning for kids provided by teacher goes downhill fast as of course they need higher paid partner to be able to do job in order to pay mortgage and consequently do some of the childcare despite having FT key worker position. Guessing parents of said secondary kids would probably not be too happy with that...

On the other hand I did hear that a local parent who worked at Costa had a key worker place and was somewhat

I'm so fed up with these judgemental threads.
You do you.
What if you work from home but have a vulnerable child? Is that allowed? Or do we need the approval from mumsnet??

*if kid doesn't go in quality of learning provision goes down.....

@Silenceisgolden20 I agree with you. And also a lot more children are now vulnerable than were in March 2020...because of the pandemic and effect on mental health and family situations. This is the elephant in the room in terms of why the numbers are up IMO, at least partly!

@Xenia - it’s doesn’t matter what the legislation say if the school don’t have enough staff they can’t take more children in school. Teachers are teaching their classes remotely and those actually in school are being supervised by TA’s. Many schools have staff off sick or shielding and have faced cuts to their TA headcount.

@Silenceisgolden20
I take it that your child has a place in school? Well mine doesn't and I feel that it is absolutely my right as a parent to question why 50% of her class are being allowed to attend school and receive an actual education from an actual teacher, whilst my daughter receives a couple of twinkle worksheets that take her about 15 minutes to complete. It is horrendously unfair and god knows how long this will go on for.
I also feel it is my right as a British citizen to question how it can possibly be safe for so many children to be in school with a virus that is completely out of control.

[quote Parker231]@Xenia - it’s doesn’t matter what the legislation say if the school don’t have enough staff they can’t take more children in school. Teachers are teaching their classes remotely and those actually in school are being supervised by TA’s. Many schools have staff off sick or shielding and have faced cuts to their TA headcount.[/quote]
Not just TA’s

If you are sending your children to school, the bubble burst, they were sent home and you would still be able to work from home around your kids being there then you shouldn’t be sending your kids, key worker or not. vulnerable kids aside of course.

Of course it is your right as 'a British Citizen '
But dont have a go at me. Have a go at the school. Have a go at the system. Have a go at the government.
My child has a disability that affected their mental health massively last lockdown and no education was achieved. Not one single bit. And that's on top of the day to day stuff. They are far too old for 'twinkle sheets', they're GCSE level.
So yeah as a keyworker and a place was offered, I accepted. It is still a huge battle to get them in.
We all have our own battles, we all have our own stresses.
You do you and I'll do me.
What I'm saying is these threads that become judgemental and turning on each other do not help one bit.
I don't need to justify to anyone, mumsnet or in life, why my child has a place. I didn't invent Covid.
I dont really give a crap what others think.