To say KW places are for the patients/clients/pupils...

[drspouse]

And vulnerable child places are for the child
And can the rest of you all give your heads a mega sized wobble re "we've all had it so hard" and "why should you get to send your child when I've had to walk up Snowdon on my bare feet with my child on my back".
My DS is in a PRU which is fully open (following all staff testing negative, all will be having weekly tests).
My DH is a KW and is WFH but his colleagues need him to keep the databases running to keep the government's money being paid into people's accounts. Your neighbour who is a nurse needs to be there for her patients.

The Mumsnetter you're telling to pull her socks up has 30 year 7s on the other end of Zoom and her DC's KW place is for those year 7s to get an education. Not so she can have a cup of tea in peace.

The family at the end of the road whose children are in, 3 of them have EHCPs that the school has fought for to get extra resources. The other two are teenage carers for their mum who has MH problems.

You don't know why a vulnerable child needs a place. You may find it hard to WFH and you may feel that your job is more essential than some but that's probably something to take up with the Government definition of KW. Our local bakery owner has sent her child during lockdown. The bakery is a foundation of the local community and was delivering to self-isolating/shielding families. Yet other HTs have poo-poohed the idea of bakers needing KW places.

And if your DC's school is refusing places to anyone with only one KW parent (but the other is working), anyone with a KW WFH (remember they are WFH with patients, including those with mental illness, or children, including those that may disclose something), then they need to get their act together. Hopefully the Governors or the LEA can help.

If you feel nervous sending your DC who has a KW place, or if you have a vulnerable child place but they actually learn better at home, that's an entirely other matter, and I'm very familiar with families in the latter position.

dons flameproof underwear
gets ready to go to her F2F physio appointment and hopes that her physio's DCs haven't been refused a KW place

YANBU.

yanbu

What’s the difference between a family with one keyworker (maybe at home) and parent one wfh and a single parent family wfh? I really don’t understand the argument there, if anything it will be more difficult for the single parent.
If all families who meet the criteria for vulnerable or one keyworker who can be wfh take the spaces there will be huge numbers attending schools which is not good for anyone. Our school are restricting and I have some sympathy

I’m in one of the groups you say should get a place so no axe to grind!

Thanks for this OP 😊 No one entirely knows someone else's situation and now is not the time to judge. Hopefully it may open some people's eyes to others struggles.
I had children in school over 1st lock down as a keyworker but was mainly wfh but I just couldn't do my job and take care of young children safely. I offered to go on unpaid leave as I was concerned about the safety and was pushed to get them into school but I'm sure I was judged by others 🤷‍♀️

@BungleandGeorge the KW place isn't for the single parent/KW parent to work in peace. It's for the clients/pupils/patients of the KW parent to have their service/education/electricity/benefits payment/bank services delivered safely and securely.
And that includes without being interrupted by a small child during confidential calls.

If too many people use the School spaces, we will end up with classes of 20/25/30 again and social distancing will not be possible. One of two things will happen

1. Covid will spread rapidly and bubbles will closed down-meaning no Kw care can be provided for NHS staff.
2. Workers in schools will invoke section 44 again as their working environment is not safe.

Vulnerable child places are for the child

Key worker places are there to allow the parent to work. There's nothing fundamentally more deserving about a child because of their parents career choice.

Great thread. YANBU

YANBU

Agree. I’m not working but sent my DD who has SEN but no EHCP, although school believes she should have one. Therefore she doesn’t qualify for a place. However schools are allowed to apply judgement and decided to offer to SEN kids like her. I declined a place for my other SEN child as their needs are better met at home.

Friend who works with schools was unimpressed with my child having a place. She doesn’t have kids and hasn’t met mine often. No one truly knows how hard it is for anyone else, particularly for the kids with additional needs who have suffered more because of the current situation.

If too many people use the School spaces, we will end up with classes of 20/25/30 again and social distancing will not be possible.

That would mean that every child in a school was a KW child or a vulnerable child. Is that likely?
I don't remember any schools having this in May/June. Do you know of any?

In fact, specialist schools are fully open - where they don't normally have the possibility for social distancing, they still don't (so that would be primary, and those with severe needs - some secondary SEN pupils will cope). They are relying on regular testing (and TBF smaller class sizes) to remain open.

[quote drspouse]@BungleandGeorge the KW place isn't for the single parent/KW parent to work in peace. It's for the clients/pupils/patients of the KW parent to have their service/education/electricity/benefits payment/bank services delivered safely and securely.
And that includes without being interrupted by a small child during confidential calls.[/quote]
Yes that’s fine but what’s the difference between a parent working at home as a single parent and one working from home as a couple if neither are key workers? There isn’t a difference in any way is there, even if you don’t consider the issues of being a single parent. 1 non key worker, working from home in both cases

Most key worker and vulnerable children did not attend school in may/ June despite being eligible. If you admit everyone eligible I can believe that’s easily the majority of children

That would mean that every child in a school was a KW child or a vulnerable child. Is that likely?

Have you seen the latest list of "key workers"? Every fucker and their dog is on it.

I have and no, they aren't.

If schools ARE becoming too full that's the time to rethink, and that's for teachers/the government, not moaners who see next door sending their children to school.

YANBU just wish common sense was more common OP! I think schools are and continue to offer support where it is needed the most and I am grateful they do.

Not all Special schools are open - my DD's is only open to children who are not safe at home.

I completely agree.
Although, the critical worker list is much bigger than last time.
Me and DH weren't classed as key workers during the first lockdown but are this time. The nature of my job is completely different at this time of year so I'm pleased it's changed.

I'm hoping we get a place for DS otherwise I'm really not sure how I'll be able to continue to work. We've still not been told and I'm starting to get a bit stressed.

YANBU

@BungleandGeorge for individual families, not much, for society, it means many critical workers won't work as much or at all. That's the case here as my children can't have a space. I took the full load last time to allow my husband to work full time (police) and not prepared to sacrifice my salary or career again so he's doing his bit and is staying home one day a week and not working. If lots of families do similar there will be a significant reduction in critical workers actually working.

Agree @ZoeTurtle Apparently I am a key worker I wfh and always have done. Absolutely zero need for me to send my kids in but I imagine there are others that would because they can.

@tisonlymeagain

Agree *@ZoeTurtle* Apparently I am a key worker I wfh and always have done. Absolutely zero need for me to send my kids in but I imagine there are others that would because they can.

Or because they need. It's great that you can work effectively from home and either support your dc learning or they are at an age where they are self led.

Some people who WFH can only do it effectively with the children elsewhere. Not everyone in this position will be able to access a KW space. But some will.

Is this a thread about school refusing a place to a child with only one KW parent?

I work supplying the public sector, I’m annoyed with the admin people claiming key worker school places because they work for the police, or ambulance service, when they are office staff who can and do work from home.