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.

Schools are only open to those in greatest need. Key workers do critical jobs and need schools to be open. If you don’t like that, take it up with politicians, not parents. Most pupils are staying at home and you are posting misinformation about children being super spreaders and parents ‘taking the piss’ when you have no idea of their personal circumstances

Most pupils are staying at home

Only just 'most' pupils in a lot of schools it appears.

I am considering resigning over this issue, on safety grounds. I work in a primary school where we have over 50% of children in, with more children coming in all the time. What's the point of having a so-called lockdown if most children are NOT at home?

As well as being unsafe for staff it is incredibly unfair to the children who are staying at home - particularly as they are likely to be in that situation for longer.

@blackwych

I am considering resigning over this issue, on safety grounds. I work in a primary school where we have over 50% of children in, with more children coming in all the time. What's the point of having a so-called lockdown if most children are NOT at home?

As well as being unsafe for staff it is incredibly unfair to the children who are staying at home - particularly as they are likely to be in that situation for longer.

If resigning is an option you're in a very privileged position and it's a bit harsh to be judging parents who aren't able to afford to do this.

@egfd2557 please find me anywhere that anyone has said children are superspreaders. Yes I believe some parents are taking the piss, so I’m giving my opinion, because, mumsnet. It’s based on the anecdotal evidence around me, and the fact I don’t personally believe that the explosion in pupil numbers is all driven by people who absolutely need it.

Key workers who have a non-KW at home, such as my family, are not (by and large) in the greatest need as they have childcare, however unpalatable this is and I know it is. Those who have no childcare need the places most and need as few other children at school as possible.

Nobody is saying any of this is easy. It’s not, its a terrible situation. difficult decisions have to be made by all of us.

*I am considering resigning over this issue, on safety grounds. I work in a primary school where we have over 50% of children in, with more children coming in all the time. What's the point of having a so-called lockdown if most children are NOT at home?

As well as being unsafe for staff it is incredibly unfair to the children who are staying at home - particularly as they are likely to be in that situation for longer.*

This. 100% This.

We could quite easily use the keyworker card. But we don't. We considered it would be taking up a valuable space when actually these spaces don't seem all that valuable because they are seemingly readily available at our local school. And now I'm beginning to think...if a load of other people can't put themselves through the hoops we're jumping then why should we (and yes there are definitely people whose children should be at school). Except, I want to potentially protect my children and vulnerable people in the wider community who might need to access a hospital bed.

@egfd2557 - Schools are only open to those in greatest need. Key workers do critical jobs and need schools to be open. If you don’t like that, take it up with politicians.

You clearly know very little about what is happening in schools this week. And clearly know little about the vast expanse of roles now covered by the ‘key worker’ list. Hence the mad rush to school gates.
And yes...politicians, unions and head teachers, have all been trying to sort out this unprecedented sense of entitlement this week, with LAs issuing advice to restrict places where they can. So don’t you worry...people have complained, and something is being done. Cocky attitudes of indifference like yours, are just what this country needs.

I'm a key worker, DH is not however currently out of the country - I work from home, however luckily DS pretty much manages his home schooling... Youngest DS... Well we muddle along however in an ideal world being under 2 he wouldn't be playing alone (in the same room of course) while I take conference calls and do quick nappy changes/snacks etc between... However I work on the basis he is safe and supervised. DGP has him part of the week thankfully. I could send oldest to school and was offered a place but chose not to.

DF sends both to school for a full week yet works 12 hours a week at home... Because in her words she can.

Another DF however with a child of 6 has had her son 'questioned' in school as to what his parents do (she is KW his Father is not) however seperated and not always 100% reliable therefore she needs him in school.

I voted yanbu but if you can get away with it it would be better for dc and better for you if they got some time in school. No way of getting a key worker space at my school unless both parents are key workers.

“That's exactly the problem really isn't it. So many people don't give a crap about anyone apart from themselves.”

Top of the list of said people are our government ministers who haven’t even bothered to make it compulsory for employers to give unpaid leave for childcare. Then there are numerous employers whose solution to issues with childcare is to give everyone in their organisation key worker letters on a very tenuous basis. I really wish everyone would stop having a go at individuals when it’s a systemic issue and it’s utterly unreasonable to suggest people should keep kids at home when they don’t have to even if at the expense of their jobs. I say this as an accountant who isn’t a key worker or married to a key worker who has a 4 & a 6 year old at home for the next 6 weeks while we work. Thankfully we have parents who can help and we can both exclusively wfh so minimise any risk to them. It’s a shitty situation but it will get better.

@Watermelon999

Our school did zoom type classes with the home and school children together.

Obviously you could see who was in school.

The next day school emailed to say that they had received emails from cross parents stating that some of the children in school had parents who were not key workers and were working or furloughed at home.

I can see both sides of this

School is liable here - consent not sought from parents of those in school clearly, live lessons should never happen with the rest of the class especially if they can be seen - this is a massive safeguarding issue and should seriously be passed on.

I do agree that government could be doing much more to support parents (or force employers to) so that we can all better look after our children at home . We’ve all just been left to get on with it.

But that being what it is, what are we going to do, say, right well fuck that then, I’m taking what I’m entitled to, or decide for ourselves if it’s the right thing to do based on the shit situation we are all in.

@redpencil77 - School is liable here - consent not sought from parents of those in school clearly, live lessons should never happen with the rest of the class especially if they can be seen - this is a massive safeguarding issue and should seriously be passed on“

Good lord - please stop talking tosh

@blackwych

I am considering resigning over this issue, on safety grounds. I work in a primary school where we have over 50% of children in, with more children coming in all the time. What's the point of having a so-called lockdown if most children are NOT at home?

As well as being unsafe for staff it is incredibly unfair to the children who are staying at home - particularly as they are likely to be in that situation for longer.

Don't resign - why should you fall on your sword? Ask for your school's risk assessment for staff - they are your employer and as such have a duty of care to you to keep you safe. How are they doing this? In this instance contact your union / schoom rep to check your SLT's response is reasonable enougb to keep you safe.

The next day school emailed to say that they had received emails from cross parents stating that some of the children in school had parents who were not key workers and were working or furloughed at home.

Those cross parents wouldn’t have know who was in school due to vulnerability though, and would have no right to know. Aside from having SEN, that vulnerable list would include children in foster care and who have been adopted which parents watching a Zoom lesson would have no way of knowing.

Actually it is a significant safeguarding issue, I’d be deeply unhappy if parents or carers could watch my children while in class from a Zoom lesson - there are very real safety concerns for some children in that situation.

[quote Schoolmummmy]@redpencil77 - School is liable here - consent not sought from parents of those in school clearly, live lessons should never happen with the rest of the class especially if they can be seen - this is a massive safeguarding issue and should seriously be passed on“

Good lord - please stop talking tosh[/quote]
Oh my god you clearly know nothing. They could be videoed by any one with access to that live stream. You are clearly not a teacher nor know nothing about education. That video could be stored, altered, the children could be identified as to which class they are in...you stupid fool. If it's broadcast it's out of the school's control. GDPR? Ever heard of that?
schoolsweek.co.uk/coronavirus-teachers-warned-against-live-streaming-lessons/
This is just one of many.

[quote Schoolmummmy]@egfd2557 - Schools are only open to those in greatest need. Key workers do critical jobs and need schools to be open. If you don’t like that, take it up with politicians.

You clearly know very little about what is happening in schools this week. And clearly know little about the vast expanse of roles now covered by the ‘key worker’ list. Hence the mad rush to school gates.
And yes...politicians, unions and head teachers, have all been trying to sort out this unprecedented sense of entitlement this week, with LAs issuing advice to restrict places where they can. So don’t you worry...people have complained, and something is being done. Cocky attitudes of indifference like yours, are just what this country needs.[/quote]
I know what is going on in schools yes because I’m a parent of a school aged child. A personal attack on me isn’t going to change the fact that schools having 30% of children in attendance is going to make little difference to the spread of the pandemic. If parents don’t feel they can keep their child at home then more support needs to be provided so that those on low incomes in critical jobs can manage. Hysteria and shouting at strangers on the internet discredits any point you are trying to make about other people ‘flouting the rules’. Stop shouting and start actually listening with some empathy and you might sound a bit more persuasive

As a parent, you need to know the school your child/ren attend is unsafe as regards to keeping children safe in education. Perhaps you need to get educated yourself before you shout that something's tosh. People who have to trust schools with their children may not be aware that to broadcast pupils in a class over Google Classroom, Teams etc is a safeguarding issue as Jellycatspyjamas also points out.

“School is liable here - consent not sought from parents of those in school clearly, live lessons should never happen with the rest of the class especially if they can be seen - this is a massive safeguarding issue and should seriously be passed on.”

How is it different from seeing all of the other pupils sitting on their devices being streamed in from home? Parents no where near them as they are having to work in a different room?

High school did this too for isolating students before lockdown. They live streamed into the lesson from home.

I presume parents who are not happy, or vulnerable kids will opt out, as school should know about them.

I am a key worker, I work on covid wards as a healthcare assistant. My husband earns so much more than me. He really can’t supervise the children and work - his work is very pressured and he already works crazy hours.

I love my job and want to be a nurse. My options are: stop working anything but minimal shifts and supervise my children’s education, send the children to school three days a week, or my husband jeopardises his much higher paying job and provides the majority of supervision. It annoys me that these are my options but he just can’t do it unless it’s an emergency.

What do you think I should do? Please bear in mind that the hospital I work in desperately needs staff.

@redpencil77 - I know far more about GDPR than you think. And yes, you are talking tosh. But that’s ok...you’ve read an article that highlights the potential issues with live lessons. And suddenly you’re a world expert. Schools have widely adopted some form of videoed interactive lessons in this county, and others I know. Are other counties taking a more cautious approach??
They do everything they can to make them safe. Agreements on home learning were duly issued at the start of term, as they would. They are following appropriate guidelines. My daughter has had all her lessons live this week...as have many of her friends in other schools. Trying to defend the issue on this thread with some other deflective nonsense just doesn’t help.

@EmmetEmma

I am a key worker, I work on covid wards as a healthcare assistant. My husband earns so much more than me. He really can’t supervise the children and work - his work is very pressured and he already works crazy hours.

I love my job and want to be a nurse. My options are: stop working anything but minimal shifts and supervise my children’s education, send the children to school three days a week, or my husband jeopardises his much higher paying job and provides the majority of supervision. It annoys me that these are my options but he just can’t do it unless it’s an emergency.

What do you think I should do? Please bear in mind that the hospital I work in desperately needs staff.

I’m in a similar situation to you and also nhs.

I work 3 days and had volunteered to help vaccinating on one or 2 of my days off, but that was before schools closed.

My dh earns 4x my salary, and is home based. He can do a bit with dc 7 but not a lot. We need his salary but can manage without mine.

It is a quandary. I have resigned myself to doing bare minimum hours, no vaccinations and helping dc with school work instead on days off!

[quote Schoolmummmy]@redpencil77 - I know far more about GDPR than you think. And yes, you are talking tosh. But that’s ok...you’ve read an article that highlights the potential issues with live lessons. And suddenly you’re a world expert. Schools have widely adopted some form of videoed interactive lessons in this county, and others I know. Are other counties taking a more cautious approach??
They do everything they can to make them safe. Agreements on home learning were duly issued at the start of term, as they would. They are following appropriate guidelines. My daughter has had all her lessons live this week...as have many of her friends in other schools. Trying to defend the issue on this thread with some other deflective nonsense just doesn’t help.[/quote]
Not one article, scores of them. If you won't listen it's your lookout, the law is there to protect all children. If schools are doing it, they are liable. Clearly not conversant in KCSIE. DfE KCSIE September 2020

"4. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of
this guidance as:
• protecting children from maltreatment;
• preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development;"

This is then fed into the schools' own policies. Did you give consent for your children to be filmed in a live lesson that was sent out of the school's hands? If not, the school are liable.

No-one can make you listen. Let's hope no-one has thought to use these images and videos of children for nefarious purposes. If you aren't bothered and are "fine with it" that's up you I suppose but not very responsible.

@Manteo
If resigning is an option you're in a very privileged position and it's a bit harsh to be judging parents who aren't able to afford to do this.

I don't think you know anything about whether I am privileged or not. My choice is between just scraping by on one salary and possibly not being able to work again due to lack of a reference (I am very aware that I would be letting down my HT and colleagues) or risking death for me or my clinically vulnerable partner.