When we went into the first lockdown our secondary Headteacher meticulously checked with all parents whether there was absolutely no childcare at home and that they were key workers etc. As a result we had a small number in attendance all throughout those months.
We currently have FAR more students in school than previously and this even increased from Monday to today. It turns out that she has been getting staff to phone parents to remind them that under the new conditions only ONE parent needs to be a keyworker and that they can send their children in even if they have childcare at home. Today there are students right up to Year 11 who have a parent at home but who are in school. We expect even more tomorrow as a result of these calls. She has made a big deal of not only highlighting that only one parent needs to be a key worker but actively encouraging all parents where only one is a key worker/child has SEN/Safeguarding EVEN IF THEY DON'T NEED TO to come to school. It's absolute madness. Is any other school experiencing this as staff are really worried. We expect numbers to continue to rise as these calls continue to be made.
AIBU to think this is insane - especially as the briefing that is on as we speak is about how children are spreading the new strain and despite having the testing kits delivered yesterday not ONE member of staff or student has yet to be tested?