So many keyworker/vulnerable children at school this week!

[Crazyoldmaurice]

All I've seen on mumsnet for the past month is people yelling into the void that unless we close schools to all that the numbers will just keep going up and up. And unless schools close lockdown is essentially like trying to brush your teeth whilst simultaneously eating a bag of wotsits.

I live in SW London in a very affluent area with the average house price at 750k+

Out of the 75 of my daughters year group, 48 or more will be at school tomorrow and for the rest of the week. I'm assuming most of these kids are going to be classed as children to critical workers due to the demographic.

I've seen on other threads others reporting very high rates of those at school in previous lockdowns and predicted for this one too.

If kids are causing so much of the spread I just dont get how having such high numbers still at school is going to help to drastically slow it down!

Seems like this might be the way the gov gets around closing schools, but not actually closing schools.

That’s seems very odd we live around the same area and ours barely have enough numbers to attempt to open.

How do you know this?

How do you even know this info?

Also there is meant to be a limit they can take ours said requesting a place via the form does not mean you will get a place.

What about the other year groups? Even if they have half the children in overall then it will make a huge difference to the spread.

Nationally.only about 2% of kids were in last time, and numbers were fairly low at our school last time, even though they only needed one parent who was a key worker. I know that some eligible parents kept the kids home but really struggled (e.g. social workers trying to talk with people in crisis in between supervising home learning) so will be sending in this time.

Your 50% sounds shocking though, and presumably means a lot of people taking the piss, and so unfair for the rest of us trying to struggle on, and for our kids who get a crappy quality of care and teaching.

We have had a email 186 places have been applied for critical worker places and over 50 vulnerable it’s over 80% of the whole school! The email said they will need to work to lower that number but don’t know how they will maybe stricter criteria for critical positions ?

48 out of 75?!! Wow!!!! That is ridiculous, the poor teachers having to put themselves at risk and go in

2 threads?

Some schools act as hubs if the number is too large in smaller schools. My secondary school is a hub as we are very close to a major hospital, we are expected to take children covering all school ages from reception to Yr 11, from our school, other local ones and any medical/hospital staff should they be called into the hospital in an emergency regardless of where they live in the County, all groups kept separate of course. So far we haven't been asked to cover such a situation but there are backup plans in place.

Because I went to book my daughters place on the booking system for this week (which is usually used for morning/after school club payment, but has been modded) and this afternoon there were 48 spaces... I got side tracked with work and went to do it an hour ago and there are zero places left for Weds Thurs and Fri, and most of next week too.

I then looked to the next week and on Monday 18th there were 5 spaces... an hour later they are all gone too!

Our school is putting in the rule that both parents/carers must be critical workers (excluding single parents of course) to keep numbers in school down.

I don't think there should be any limit or cap, except for where there are not enough teachers or TAs to supervise. If there's that many keyworker and vulnerable children then that's how many should be in school.

We only got told how to book on the system on the confirmation email saying we had a space.

And yes, I made 2 threads because on this one I'm pondering how on earth this will actually impact on dropping the rising figures...

Well, presumably school have looked at their risk assessments and calculated that a safest limit is 48 students. I don't think that's a bad thing? They've made as much space as it is safe to do so.

@FrankRattlesnake

Apparently this isn't enforcable by law and only 1 person according to gov needs to be a keyworker.

Ive had to mute the school mums
Wattsapp group as i am getting so angry about the people sending their kids in. I'll provide a few examples.

Parent 1 One secondary school teacher, parents 2 self employed beautician who cannot work during lockdown and so will be at home and fully available to their only child-demanding a place.

Parent 1 accountant whose boss is not supportive of homeworking. Parent 2 a homeworking accountant who cant hack the juggling. They took places last time and olan to again.

Another couple-no idea what parent 1 does but they usually do it from home (not Nhs) Parent 2 also a permanent homeworker in part time Hr role. Also planning in taking a place.

We have one keyworker parent and one not. The one not will juggle it all whilst working full time from home.
Hr role.

48 out of 75?!! Wow!!!! That is ridiculous, the poor teachers having to put themselves at risk and go in

Presumably just like the parents who will continue to work key worker roles?

Op you say 48 spaces offered, is that just for the year group? I ask as most schools are doing it across year groups not per year group?

@FrankRattlesnake

Our school is putting in the rule that both parents/carers must be critical workers (excluding single parents of course) to keep numbers in school down.

I think this is the only sensible way to do it, tbh (and I'm saying this as a keyworker with a DH who isn't, so no school places for our DC).

This is what our local schools have done. Only when both parents are keyworkers, or a single parent is a keyworker, do DC get a space.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

The 48 number is just the preset number the system uses as previously it was 48 max for aftershool club so is likely carried over when they modded it for this use. I know for a fact over 48 people were emailed with approval and given instructions how to book as when I went to book myself there was no more spaces left.

@Crazyoldmaurice

And yes, I made 2 threads because on this one I'm pondering how on earth this will actually impact on dropping the rising figures...

A much lower percentage of secondary students will be in school.

@Crazyoldmaurice if you desperately need the place ask your school about hub schools. It was certainly a back up plan during the first lockdown - whether it is now I don't know, obviously not as good for your daughter though as she'll be cared for by unfamiliar people in an unfamiliar venue.

Just because you live in an affluent area, doesn't mean some children aren't vulnerable.