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 think both parents should be keyworkers to get a lockdown school place. Not fair otherwise

Its nothing to do with fair, its the practical reality of keeping critical services going.

If you want the large numbers of low paid, largely female, critical workers to turn up and keep hospitals, care homes, schools and food distribution working then they need to be able to do the work.

In that case us medical staff who don't earn enough to pay the bills will take unpaid leave from work so we can do childcare therefore allowing our higher earning (non key) partners to continue working and keep a roof over our heads.

If the other non key worker parent is working at home then they will have to manage their jobs and the children. Yes, it’s hard but it’s necessary. It’s different if the other parent can’t work at home but I clearly said if the other parent is not a key worker and is working at home then the child shouldn’t get a space at school. We should all have an issue with the SAHPs etc who have a partner who is a key worker and sending their child to school.

Also in regards to the single parent being a keyworker it seems to suggest that if there is any other adult in the household then no space should be offered.

So if mum is a keyworker who happens to live with her boyfriend who's WFH, he's supposed to look after the kids? I wonder how well that would go down with someone's employer.

(boyfriend not being the children's father I mean in the above scenario).

Yes, important to point out public sector don't get furlough as well- as someone else pointed out, that's because the work needs to get done.

Also, you don't know what's going on at home, with MH issues, other health or caring issues, sibling problems or SEND. We're both critical workers so will get a place (although our school only requires one carer to be a CW). DC1 has SENCO involvement although that's not known by anyone except us and teachers. When we were discussing other issues just before xmas, the SENCO specifically said they'd like DC in if they closed. Would some random person know that? No.

A lot of people seem very sure people are 'taking the piss' rather than respecting the school's decision making and understanding of the families they work with.

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze if one parent is SAHP, without shadow of a doubt, schools should not be used for keyworkers to work.

But if you think for a single second, we are going to risk DP's job (that pays almost 4 times what I earn each month) and have me to go into work while he juggles children and wfh, you are insane. I'll take unpaid leave so he can continue uninterrupted and our mortgage is paid.

Meanwhile, the NHS will be another experienced staff member down and no sign of a replacement before the pandemic is over

On the Gov guidance on critical workers Xenia's linked to above it doesn't specify whether to get a place it needs to be both parents who are critical workers to get a school place?

I interpret it as only one parent needs to be a critical worker.

The guidance to schools last time clearly stated one key worker parent. Imagine it does this time too.

But if you think for a single second, we are going to risk DP's job (that pays almost 4 times what I earn each month) and have me to go into work while he juggles children and wfh, you are insane. I'll take unpaid leave so he can continue uninterrupted and our mortgage is paid.

I didn’t say that did I. But to be fair, I have 2 friends who are not classed as key workers. The nature of the blokes work is that he can’t do it from home regularly. The woman can work from home and earns more. She will be juggling the kids schooling and her job and has no option because neither are classed as keyworkers so it’s not just keyworkers who have to cope. You’re arguing with the wrong person, I’m very sympathetic to anyone coping with young kids and working. I did say if the other parent is working from home but I presume you missed that bit. I just know too many people who took the piss last time and we should all have a problem with those people.

Did the government specify two key worker parents during the first lockdown? I’m struggling to remember. I know they’re not giving a number now.

At my school during Lockdown 1, I know that parents had to apply, and provide proof of employment plus proof of days worked.

Essentially the way my head did it, was to automatically grant a place each day to children on the child protection plan (and a few we knew were vulnerable) and children with an EHCP.

Next was all children with two Key Worker parents in the house - all given the days they needed. This is where working days were wanted (parents were having to bring in contracts and letters from their managers if necessary).

Then she started to analyse those with one key worker parent and slot in who she could based on staff and ratios etc. She prioritised children with a medical / emergency service parents I believe and looked at individual cases, even if she could only give a day or two a week. I think she did it as fair as she could. Really tricky. I think there’s to many “what ifs” to put a blanket answer on this one.

Schools usually work out their own priorities based upon the space and supervision available and how many children they can accommodate as a result.

Some schools can take all children of key workers. Some only households with a single key-worker parent or 2 key workers.

Key workers who work shifts would often also get priority if spaces are scarce. You don't want to be doing a nightshirt if you've had no day rest because noisy children are home.

If the other non key worker parent is working at home then they will have to manage their jobs and the children. Yes, it’s hard but it’s necessary.

Families will make the decisions which are best for them on a personal level, whether you like it or not. Even if that means the key worker resigning or taking leave.

furlough covers wages 80% up to £30k per annum - for many this is not covering their wages and it also costs the business
Far better than UC which is all that you get if you lost your job entirely due to COVID

Families will make the decisions which are best for them on a personal level, whether you like it or not. Even if that means the key worker resigning or taking leave.

I’m sure some the ones who have a non keyworker parent at home will do what suits them even if it’s to the detriment of others. That makes them selfish but who cares eh?

It's not selfish to refuse to neglect your children.

Our school has also been very clear that if you should be available to 'adequately facilitate engagement with the curriculum' which includes supervising some online teaching and ensuring work is done in set periods. The curriculum has not been suspended this time, schools have their remote offer more developed- the ask from home learning is going to be much more difficult to manage. If you have older primary this is probably a bit easier but KS1?!

It will also depend on schools- depending on where they are, staff ages and vulnerabilities etc etc, schools will have different capacities to deal with CW kids. Ours was desperate to get more in last time...

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze

Families will make the decisions which are best for them on a personal level, whether you like it or not. Even if that means the key worker resigning or taking leave.

I’m sure some the ones who have a non keyworker parent at home will do what suits them even if it’s to the detriment of others. That makes them selfish but who cares eh?

You can't expect people to prioritise a lower paid KW job over their partners high earning, bill paying job if it's going to potentially end in them losing it and being unable to house and provider for their family no one would in that situation!

Can schools set their own criteria, my school is saying 2 key workers

Why is it any of your business? Wind your neck in, no two families have the same needs and it’s not your business any which way they decide to do things.

Just trying to understand why everyone is so bothered about whether it’s one or 2 key workers?

Surely it depends on the rules the school set?

I am a key worker and dh is working at home. Last time we didn’t send dc in, but we’re able to do very little work with him (primary age). This time I may use the place.

It surprised me how many of his friends ended up back in school - not just those with health plans- but others who were struggling. Most of dcs friends ended up back in with no key worker parents. We struggled through and the thought of doing it again is not nice. This time I will not hesitate to use the place if offered.

Having a parent who is a key worker shouldn't be an automatic ticket for a child to attend Educare. Surely the point of closing schools is to stop kids mixing. If half the school are turning up everyday anyway, you might as well have the school properly open. Therefore you want as few kids in school as possible, but at the same time ensuring keyworkers can still do their jobs.
In my opinion, children should only be cared for in school during closures if:

• A single parent is a keyworker
• Both parents are keyworkers
• One parent is a keyworker but works nights / shifts that require them to sleep in the daytime which is difficult with children home.
• There are social reasons (SEN, difficult home life etc)

You can't expect people to prioritise a lower paid KW job over their partners high earning, bill paying job if it's going to potentially end in them losing it and being unable to house and provider for their family confused no one would in that situation!

If they are working at home, they’ll cope. Seriously, I have loads of family in this situation. It’s not easy, kids appear on zoom calls etc but that’s life at the moment. Plenty of non keyworkers people are having to do it. Our friend had to do his job from home, look after a 2 year old, homeschool 2 primary aged children and deal with a puppy... he was stressed but coped.

I’m really interested in what jobs people do that they can WFH and provide childcare simultaneously for extended periods of time. I don’t know if it’s to do with me, or my job, or my child but I am not able to do this.