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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

KW families means both parents

93 replies

Showers3 · 05/01/2021 21:24

AIBU to think if you’re going to take a KW place at a school, either you should be a KW who is a single parent or both parents should be KWs?

OP posts:
rolliy · 05/01/2021 22:58

I’m not sure why anyone’s surprised if many people won’t choose perceived moral rectitude over potentially ruining themselves financially and risking their children’s home and security.

It's a mystery isnt it.

BabyYodasDad · 05/01/2021 23:04

Can we at least agree that if one parent is a KW and one doesn't work at all, then the non working parent should look after their children at home instead of sending them in and using these KW places?

sassbott · 05/01/2021 23:08

Nope @BabyYodasDad. Depends on the situation in the house and the family.
Do the children have special needs?
Are there mental health issues the non working parent is suffering from?
Is the non working parent literate and able to help children with their homework?

Original poster
Showers3 · 05/01/2021 23:08

Thanks to those of you who have made constructive comments - I actually think on reflection that I was actually being a bit judgmental and I can see that in some cases, it is fair for one KW families to take the provision on offer. Thanks for taking the time to respond. I was only actually interested in the vote results initially - I had no intention of getting into my own circumstances, but your comments have made me think. Thank you.

As for the other commenters - 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 05/01/2021 23:10

@Hilly17

You’ve obviously come on here because a martyr always needs an audience.
Yep! And the faux surprise that this isn't the first thread about this topic!! Hmm
Amithetoxicone · 05/01/2021 23:14

People are taking the piss. We are both KW under the rules and have jobs which require 9-5 meetings and concentrated work but haven’t taken a place because we can both work from home. There are 16 children going to school tomorrow in one of my kids classes including someone who works three days sending their kids full time, someone who works from
Home in IT and freely admits they can spend the day doing what they want if their kid isn’t there, and someone who works in a key worker capacity one day a month. How people expect this to ever get better I don’t know. The places should be there for people who can not do their jobs from home, or for people who can not possibly work if they have kids there.

BabyYodasDad · 05/01/2021 23:15

@sassbott

Nope *@BabyYodasDad*. Depends on the situation in the house and the family. Do the children have special needs? Are there mental health issues the non working parent is suffering from? Is the non working parent literate and able to help children with their homework?
No, none of the above. They just don't fancy the grind of persuading two children to sit down and work at home every day Confused
CardinalCat · 05/01/2021 23:18

In some parts of the uk (Wales, Scotland) the rule is that both parents (assuming there are two parents sharing care) must be KW and that neither can undertake their role by working from home. The policy driver is to minimise the number of children going into school or nursery (nurseries are shut in Scotland as well as schools) and it's hard to argue with that. However the reality is that grandparents (often elderly and in the at-risk categories that we are in the race to vaccinate) are now having to step in to provide care for those children to allow the non KW parent to do their job (since it is completely impossible to work from home alone with small children)- thereby driving a coach and horses through the whole damn thing. There is no easy or correct answer to this IMO.

Thatusernamewastaken · 05/01/2021 23:22

There are a lot of people gaming the system and sending their kids in when they don’t need to but because they want to. DP and I would fall under keyworkers but we aren’t sending in as numbers in class are already high and everyone sending their kids in somewhat defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?

rolliy · 05/01/2021 23:23

There are 16 children going to school tomorrow in one of my kids classes including someone who works three days sending their kids full time

Some schools want f/t regardless of how many days the parents work.

rolliy · 05/01/2021 23:27

Can we at least agree that if one parent is a KW and one doesn't work at all, then the non working parent should look after their children at home instead of sending them in and using these KW places?

In most cases I would say yes however there are grey areas. I know a family in this position who have a place because the parent who doesn't work can't actually cope.

rolliy · 05/01/2021 23:27

because of mental health issues.

Jetatyeovilaerodrome · 05/01/2021 23:28

Oh my god, how many threads on this subject?!!!

Ellieboolou33 · 05/01/2021 23:36

Ffs, I'm a key worker and husband can't work from home, if he doesn't work our mortgage won't get paid, should I give up my job I've worked in for 13 years as it's "not fair" that my children got a school place?

So much spite on these things threads lately!

happystone · 05/01/2021 23:36

When a bubble burst all kids home. I think it should just be nhs workers.

happystone · 05/01/2021 23:38

The more kids that are in a class group the more it spreads that’s why schools are closed. If your a key worker or not we all have bills. Keep it to nhs then they have child care.

rolliy · 05/01/2021 23:39

When a bubble burst all kids home. I think it should just be nhs workers.

How does that work in the real world?

rolliy · 05/01/2021 23:40

What about food deliveries? school support staff who will be doing testing? bus/tube drivers?

Ellieboolou33 · 05/01/2021 23:40

@happystone

The more kids that are in a class group the more it spreads that’s why schools are closed. If your a key worker or not we all have bills. Keep it to nhs then they have child care.
🤣 yes, just tell the police, firefighters etc to stay at home 🙄
rolliy · 05/01/2021 23:44

Not essential @Ellieboolou33

rolliy · 05/01/2021 23:44

😆

happystone · 05/01/2021 23:46

I don’t think police firefighters can get a place because penny can’t possibly look after her own children her mh

Shadeelane · 05/01/2021 23:48

@Amithetoxicone

People are taking the piss. We are both KW under the rules and have jobs which require 9-5 meetings and concentrated work but haven’t taken a place because we can both work from home. There are 16 children going to school tomorrow in one of my kids classes including someone who works three days sending their kids full time, someone who works from Home in IT and freely admits they can spend the day doing what they want if their kid isn’t there, and someone who works in a key worker capacity one day a month. How people expect this to ever get better I don’t know. The places should be there for people who can not do their jobs from home, or for people who can not possibly work if they have kids there.
As a TA this just makes me despair😩. I know of schools with classes as large as 20. We're going into schools, many of us risking our long term health to look after children of critical workers so they can keep the country going. School closures are to limit spread and prevent an NHS meltdown - why can't people see that? If people continue to be selfish, everyone's sacrifices will have been for nothing. Please, if you're taking the piss have a word and re-think so school staff can safely look after those that genuinely need it and help reduce spread in the communities.

Oh and to the so called martyrs... thank you, thank you, thank youSmile

happystone · 05/01/2021 23:48

In the real world when nhs staff can’t go in to work because bubble has burst and they need to stay home to look after there children.

happystone · 05/01/2021 23:50

People need to get a grip look after you own kids ffs

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