KW families means both parents

[Showers3]

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?

Them people will complain when schools are off longer . Not having the common sense to realise a class of 30 Keyworker children spreading

Maybe you should see if you can get a place. Judging by your comments you could do with more education.

In Wales only one parent needs to be a key worker to qualify. Welsh Government have clarified this is the law gov.wales/identifying-children-critical-workers-guidance?fbclid=IwAR1AgGj2TaKvhPoVT9Z8Heg6Oo7e5TQonx9vgmrsZepqg5klHChtK-swH1Q

Whatever the rule is, you shouldn't be sending kids in to school if one of you is WFH. We are in a pandemic remember and schoolkids are vectors of transmission. Given the high prevalence of the virus atm kids are quite likely to bring it home to you and yours.

The government very clearly state ANY parent a keyworker is eligible. Take it up with them if you’re not happy. I’ve chosen not to send mine despite being eligible as we don’t think it’s safe and luckily are in the position to be able to take unpaid leave. Those that can’t have no judgement from me for using something they are legally entitled to.

If the aim is to keep keyworkers at work, then the rule has to be for families with either parent who is a keyworker. Otherwise all the poor paid keyworkers will be at home while their better paid partners work.

BooksAreNotEssentialInWales yes I saw that clarification by Welsh Gov. However our school have nevertheless specified that BOTH parents must be critical workers for the child to have a place. Some schools simply wouldn't be able to cover if all children with one critical worker parent attended. And classes may be close to normal fullness too.

@rolliy

I think she wanted people to feel bad...

Agreed.

Both KW in this house and put child is not at school (well he is only 8 months) so I have no horse in this race. Just don't get why people need to be quite so judgemental of others. You have no idea about other people's personal circumstances. Worry about your own garden

Yep. That’s what I spend my free time doing - making people feel bad. ....Then I go to work and save their lives! 🙄

If you feel bad that’s your lookout. Nothing to do with me.

If the school has space, you're both working, your children are young or struggle to work at home for various reasons, and you want to send them - I absolutely would, and don't think anyone should judge them for it.

Better that than parents - or children - suffering from poor MH, exhaustion, relationship break up etc

Both our schools (secondary aand primary) have this rule and I agree with it fully. If you let in kids with 1 keyworker parent you may as well open the schools up so all kids can get their proper education.

Its about reducing contacts as much as possible. I WFH, non-key worker and a single parent and I wouldn't consider sending my DC in even if I was entitled to a place.

This has been done 800 million times.

I see you’ve taken on the point about how keyworkers are frequently the lower earners in a family.

I have a friend in this position. She’s a nurse working on Covid wards. He’s a solicitor. She’s by far the lower earner. By your reasoning they shouldn’t take a school place, which would mean one of them would need to quit their jobs or take unpaid leave. Which one should take unpaid leave? Clearly the nurse. That will result in much lower financial loss to their household. Her local hospital’s just declared a critical incident because of the sheer number of Covid patients, but I’m sure no one will miss her.

It's not as simple as that tho I am a KW but partner is not and cannot work from home. I can wfh at times but not taking constant calls with young children and ensure their safety. But according to you they shouldn't be in school.

My friend’s husband is not a keyworker but can’t work from home, while she is a keyworker who can work from home - however she can’t work with children around as she is in meetings about and with sex offenders. I know people love blanket rules for “fairness’“ sake, but it just doesn’t work

@Buddytheelf85

This has been done 800 million times.

I see you’ve taken on the point about how keyworkers are frequently the lower earners in a family.

I have a friend in this position. She’s a nurse working on Covid wards. He’s a solicitor. She’s by far the lower earner. By your reasoning they shouldn’t take a school place, which would mean one of them would need to quit their jobs or take unpaid leave. Which one should take unpaid leave? Clearly the nurse. That will result in much lower financial loss to their household. Her local hospital’s just declared a critical incident because of the sheer number of Covid patients, but I’m sure no one will miss her.

We are in very similar position. DH outearns me by nearly 4 fold but I am front line and hospital is also critical incident due to being at capacity. His role is also KW but not as critical to society as my role, can done from home, requires focus cannot be done with children around. Fortunately we are still nursery age and all open but if childcare was not an option, economics dictate who will take unpaid leave. If I quit tomorrow, I would be walking into a job when this eases. He, on the other hand, would not.

If childcare want to impose rules that both parents have to work out of the house, we will do what we need to in order to protect our livelihood

If childcare want to impose rules that both parents have to work out of the house, we will do what we need to in order to protect our livelihood

Of course, why wouldn’t you? Keyworkers are making enough sacrifices, we can’t also expect them to heroically sacrifice the lion’s share of their household income just so they don’t use a school place.

And I hadn’t even thought of the employability aspect, but obviously you are right - it makes much more sense for the healthcare worker to be the one to quit their job in that situation because they’ll always walk into another one. Whereas private sector non-keyworker jobs will be much harder to hold onto and much harder to come by in this economic climate. Clearly you have to protect the higher earner.

DS's dad is an essential worker. I'm not. We are divorced. I cannot do my job from home, it isn't possible and I've been refused furlough as we are very busy. We have been offered a school place based on DS's dad being a key worker and me also having to work out of the home. I have accepted as otherwise I will lose my job and not be able to pay my mortgage and bills. Judge away.

@Comtesse

No need to be a martyr OP. If the place is a available, then taking it up is just fine. I don’t think they will give you a medal for keeping your kids at home...

No but it's not very helpful for keeping the spread of Covid down is it which is the whole point of closing schools.

I feel so sorry for the many teachers who were hoping to have a safer working environment but are still teaching high numbers of key workers kids. I really don't understand why they don't seem as stressed with the situation as before. Key worker kids are not magically immune to Covid!!

I also feel sorry for kids at home who have full time working parents who aren't able to be supported with their homeschooling.