To think that high levels of children being sent to school are the beginnings of lockdown resistance from the working age population

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

I keep hearing widespread reports of high levels of children being sent to school under key worker provision. In the first lockdown many people did what they could to keep children at home, and employers tolerated this, but this time almost everyone I know even vaguely connected with a key worker occupation has been given a letter from their employer and told they must get their children to school. In almost all cases the parents are happy about this.

AIBU to think that this is the beginnings of resistance from younger people at continued school closures & lockdowns, when the statistics continue to be clear that few people under 50 who are not CEV are getting severely I'll with Covid?

YABU - no, people are supportive of school closures & wider lockdowns
YANBU - yes, younger people are becoming less tolerant of school closures/wider lockdowns

If you have a mortgage you need BOTH parents working to pay it- that’s the normal scenario. Not like in the past where one persons wage covered food, the mortgage and the bills.

You can’t stay at home to look after your kids, it’s a luxury for the rich or a struggle for the poor- that’s it! Nothing in between.

Money = keeping your home and having food.

There are quite alot more children in school at my dds school as well but the head and teachers have repeatedly said they will be supervised only and will join in with the remote lessons with their classes so they're not having a normal day. More normal than those at home obviously but nowhere near what they're used to

Who is to blame for the high numbers of children being given a place?

Our school first offered places where both are key workers, or if a single parent family, one key worker, and as there was still space, offered places where one parent was a key worker.

I wouldn't blame the parents though - it's up to the school.

@gingerbiscuits, that’s dreadful , is that a big increase from the last proper lockdown? It’s typical of this whole pandemic, if the rules are not watertight people will find a way to abuse it and that’s exactly what’s happening. Our school has said both parents must be key workers. In my senior daughters year group of 120 there are 7 children in, my youngest in primary has a class of 27 children, there are 3 in. The rules need to be tighter or all children may as well be in.

@gingerbiscuits

genuine question, are you raging generally or at someone in particular?

FWIW I think that if parents fit the criteria and can't juggle work and childcare then they are perfectly reasonable to take up a place at school where one is available.

Agree with you OP

Working parents and employees have had enough. All the teachers going on about risk to them (when the majority of them are in the low risk category anyway) and most of them will still be required to go in and mix with kids in numbers similar to what they had before anyway 🤷‍♀️

@Heartlantern2

If you have a mortgage you need BOTH parents working to pay it- that’s the normal scenario. Not like in the past where one persons wage covered food, the mortgage and the bills.

You can’t stay at home to look after your kids, it’s a luxury for the rich or a struggle for the poor- that’s it! Nothing in between.

Money = keeping your home and having food.

I couldn't disagree more tbh. This might be true for some but stop generalising. One min income here, managed to pay 2 mortgages, no luxury, no struggle.

I work in a primary school as support staff. My headteacher has encouraged parents as much as she can to send kids, we’ve had 60 in and expecting more than a hundred by Friday. I think its absolutely ridiculous. I don’t feel safe, neither do others. We aren’t given option to work from home whilst teachers are. Even a rota would be fine. Particularly as Shes encouraging them in for all sorts of reasons. Its ridiculous.

Tbh I’m shocked at the fact nearly half the kids in my sons primary class are in. 2 kids have both parents who are key workers. The rest have at least one of the parents wfh. So half the class are sat there with their class teacher the other half have worksheets and a 30 min catch up with the teacher.

If both parents are key workers fine. If not the kid should be at home. You would think key workers children are the most likely to catch the virus off the parents who are out working. This needs tightening up rapidly so both parents need to be key workers

These idiots will be the first to moan that their child is sent in isolation for 2 weeks, or when the school actually shut down.

There has been situations when things got so bad ONE school stayed opened for critical workers, and parents had to ferry the kids miles away to access it.

I bet parents who are taking the piss are the same ones who do not respect isolation anyway, and will carry on taking the kids outside.

@Ihatefish

Tbh I’m shocked at the fact nearly half the kids in my sons primary class are in. 2 kids have both parents who are key workers. The rest have at least one of the parents wfh. So half the class are sat there with their class teacher the other half have worksheets and a 30 min catch up with the teacher.

If both parents are key workers fine. If not the kid should be at home. You would think key workers children are the most likely to catch the virus off the parents who are out working. This needs tightening up rapidly so both parents need to be key workers

Why should kids be at home if only one parent is a KW? The other parent may have to go out to work or be otherwise unable to provide childcare and supervise education.

Government guidance also stipulates only one parent need be a KW.

The fear of losing my job is stronger than the fear of being called selfish on Mumsnet.

Quite right @Manteo

You're a bit delusional if you think your DC are better off educationally at school right now, they won't be doing a normal school day, it's just childcare as it was in the 1st lockdown, only with staff that are a lot less enthusiastic about being around your germy kids.

Nope. The curriculum is not suspended this time so it will not be just childcare for the KW kids. The KW kids will be working through the same remote learning packs as the kids at home. But the difference is that kids are way more compliant about doing work when a teacher (as opposed to a parent) is telling them to do it, they are in a room with other kids working away (=peer pressure) and they are in a classroom not a home filled with toys and games and TVs and fun stuff. Yes, I think people should keep their kids off if possible, but I can see why many parents are tempted to bend the rules.

@Iknowwhatudidlastsummer

These idiots will be the first to moan that their child is sent in isolation for 2 weeks, or when the school actually shut down.

There has been situations when things got so bad ONE school stayed opened for critical workers, and parents had to ferry the kids miles away to access it.

I bet parents who are taking the piss are the same ones who do not respect isolation anyway, and will carry on taking the kids outside.

Are children not allowed outside anymore? Can't say I'd heard that rule.

I think it is good that parents have an element of choice.

Some parents (single parents or 2 parents working) can't put food on the table without their primary age children being supervised.

CEV parents have desperately wanted to homeschool children till they get the vaccine and I hope this is what will happen.

CEV support staff and teachers - if they want to be able to work from home (not all do) then they should be able to.

Better as many people at home as possible really.

The government could make the rules stricter if they want to/ need to.

But I don't think working parents sending children in is any sort of a rebellion?

Some parents wfh cannot home school at the same time. If you are dealing with external calls etc you can’t supervise a young child. And please don’t use the phase that schools are not childcare. Schools are expected to be open 39 weeks a year. The other 13 weeks are covered by parents splitting leave (most non teachers get 5 weeks leave), using holiday clubs or parents. None of that might be available at this time. Therefore wfh parents might send their kids in. My company has had enough of parents supposedly wfh with kids around. We were flexible first time around but it cannot continue.

@Kokeshi123

You're a bit delusional if you think your DC are better off educationally at school right now, they won't be doing a normal school day, it's just childcare as it was in the 1st lockdown, only with staff that are a lot less enthusiastic about being around your germy kids.

Nope. The curriculum is not suspended this time so it will not be just childcare for the KW kids. The KW kids will be working through the same remote learning packs as the kids at home. But the difference is that kids are way more compliant about doing work when a teacher (as opposed to a parent) is telling them to do it, they are in a room with other kids working away (=peer pressure) and they are in a classroom not a home filled with toys and games and TVs and fun stuff. Yes, I think people should keep their kids off if possible, but I can see why many parents are tempted to bend the rules.

Yep. My DD was telling name about a science experiment they did yesterday, we've been told teachers won't send reading books home but they will be reading them to teachers in school, they will be doing the same worksheets/workbooks as the kids at home but supervised by a teacher. we've also been told to bring PE kits/trainers/wellies in as they will be doing PE outside.

@Manteo

The fear of losing my job is stronger than the fear of being called selfish on Mumsnet.

Exactly this.

@Nicknamegoeshere

We're by no means mortgage free. We live in rented, can't afford to buy. I'm on mat leave but under normal circumstances both OH and I are key workers (both low wage) full time. I'm currently on mat leave with three kids at home, including a seven month-old. Both older kids have additional needs. My OH can't WFH as no spare space here whatsoever. He also still has to do visits to poorly people as part of his job. Would I send my kids to school? Absolutely not. They are my responsibility.

But if you were NOT on maternity leave what would you do?

I agree kids are parents responsibility but if parents have to work then they have to work. I get 5 weeks AL what am I meant to do? Again I will not lose the roof over my head because some privileged people on MN say I should not send my kids in.

vaguely connected with a key worker occupation

There is a legal definition of what a key worker is. And, frankly, it is ridiculous. The government's own data shows around 40% of workers are in key worker groups - www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/articles/coronavirusandkeyworkersintheuk/2020-05-15#how-many-key-workers-are-in-your-area

It includes things like "media". So, yes, a random person spell checking a scientific journal or something is technically a key worker. Or how about everyone in "financial services"? Or anyone in IT? It's ridiculous.

Manteo

Are children not allowed outside anymore? Can't say I'd heard that rule.

not when they are sent into isolation, no

@BubblyBarbara

vaguely connected with a key worker occupation

There is a legal definition of what a key worker is. And, frankly, it is ridiculous. The government's own data shows around 40% of workers are in key worker groups - www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/articles/coronavirusandkeyworkersintheuk/2020-05-15#how-many-key-workers-are-in-your-area

It includes things like "media". So, yes, a random person spell checking a scientific journal or something is technically a key worker. Or how about everyone in "financial services"? Or anyone in IT? It's ridiculous.

Once again, this is something to take up with the government, not with individuals who are taking up places they are entitled to.

Some parents wfh cannot home school at the same time.

funnily enough, none "key workers" seem to manage somehow...
and the longer people take the piss, the longer the mess last for everybody

it's a sign of selfishness/stupidity. People are fighting against rules intended to save them and making things worse for themselves by stretching out the lockdowns and other restrictions.

They they will whine "not another lockdown?"