Are schools providing out of hours cover for key workers?

[nanagerry]

Just wondering whether breakfast clubs and after-school provision will be offered for children of key workers during this lock down as 9-3 isn't going to be enough for most

Yes. Because unlike the rest of us they don't have families or any other responsibilities, so they can sit in schools for 12+hour shifts providing day care.

Sadly the above is true of attitude towards teachers and the reality for some teachers. DSis has had the week over Christmas off, her only 2+day break since last March. She is EYFS teacher/coordinator in a rual school hub and has been in school, driving round some very remote houses delivering work, food, care etc as well as working rota in the classroom.

But fuck it. It's her job... and 9 - 3 isn't going to be enough for most!

Well I don’t see how it’s possible! I’m Early Years staff, we have kids too! It’s a nightmare for everyone but we have to be realistic about what is possible.

Not where I am, no. I think this is the point at which employers really have to show some flexibility themselves.

not at my DC's school.
and yes, 9-3.30 doesn't cover a a shift, but I can do a good stint and then write up notes at home, so better than nothing. last time DH tried to do 7am-3pm as much as possible so I could do 9.15-5.15.

Breakfast clubs and after school clubs aren’t provided by teachers though. After school clubs are often a separate business entirely and breakfast clubs are usually run by specific support staff as an additional job with an additional wage.

Maybe it depends case by case whether their staff are available/able to run them.

Breakfast clubs and after school clubs aren’t provided by teachers though. They have been in many areas. When those separate businesses couldn't get staff, permits, insurances etc. many schools/hubs decided that the nature of their area meant they should try and cover the hours. DSis has now got an outside company back in... or should that now be had ? But all of the staff across her hub have pulled very long hours and not had m/any breaks in order to keep the kids of key workers in school since last March.

Our school is running both breakfast club and after school club for keyworker children. You have to pay for it though.

Not here, dd can attend from 8:30 to 2:30. In my opinion it's another reason that keyworkers who are abke to work from home should be able to send their children to school, as it allows me half a day to fully focus on work

They’re not here but they need to!

Most wraparound care is provided by private companies on school premises.

What’s the point opening school to keyworkers if wraparound care stays shut? All the nurses, doctors, paramedics, care assistants (and others vital to keeping people alive during the pandemic) can’t work if school is only open 9-3! Healthcare doesn’t fit neatly into school hours, if your shift is 8am-7pm your patients don’t stop needing you before 9am and after 3pm.

Not providing wraparound care to keyworkers is idiotic!

Our school doesnt provide breakfast club or afterschools. It's a private company off site

And yes it’s fine if you’re a keyworker working from home but not if you’re frontline and are needed on site for shifts!

They are here. In all honesty most key workers can't work school hours only, so if schools were only opening from 9-3:30 for key workers only, they might as well not open.

Not where I am, no. I think this is the point at which employers really have to show some flexibility themselves.

I can’t see how the NHS in particular can show any flexibility at this point without letting a lot of people die?

I thought schools were there to provide an education, not child care outside of school hours. Perhaps teachers could be forced to work 24 hour shifts, I'm sure they don't have or deserve their own life or children.

Don't most hospitals have schoolrooms for long term school-aged patients? Could these be utilised for wraparound? Private companies that go into schools can't run at a loss for the few key worker children that need it.

We aren't. Too hard to manage around bubbles etc.

Not here and they didn’t last time as there were not enough children in school for the club to run. This time there seem to be more children but they can’t mix the bubbles.

This is where it becomes difficult not to mix as people use friends and family for childcare support. I really don’t see how people can do it without relying on others if you are out of the home all day?

But what did you usually do? Can’t you do the same unless it is a wraparound which isn’t opening

our school is for key worker children

We've just received an email saying they will provide cover from 8am-5pm and we have to provide packed lunch and afternoon snack. Normally it's 7:45am-6pm with food included.

I can’t see how the NHS in particular can show any flexibility at this point without letting a lot of people die?

Exactly!

NHS workers need wraparound care so they can look after their patients. Many shifts are 7am-6pm or earlies and lates. The wards have to be staffed outside of school hours.

How do you expect us to work nights caring for ill patients, get home at 7:40am, do school run at 9am, have 4 hours sleep then get dressed to pick up kids, feed them, and be back at work for the next night shift?!

This is a massive pandemic and wraparound care needs to be a priority for healthcare staff.

And there’s no point having it on the hospital grounds as lots of staff commute!

Wraparound care is still available for key worker/vulnerable children. If your usual one isn't open it might be worth contacting your council to find out who is offering care.

We are still providing it.

There's a lot of uppity teachers on this thread It's a fair question, completely reasonable to ask.

OP, our school is providing its full wraparound provision to keyworker children. I'm guessing it varies from school to school.

I hate this ridiculous argument that you see on Mumsnet that "school isn't childcare." It might be the case that school is for education but out in the real world there's a significant chunk of the economy (that funds schools), along with public service provision, that is reliant on the fact that school provides childcare, whether teachers like it or not.

We also offered care for children whose usual provision had closed - we kept a lot of those children once everything reopened too as we'd been reliable.