Is the world and their dog key workers!!!

[anxiouscrazymum]

So I am not a key worker, I work 3 days a week and have 2 KS1 children.
I am having to adapt my hours around my children's school work and will just have to run myself ragged over the next few months like many others!
AIBU to think that some parents are taking the P@@s and using Key worker benefits to be bloody lazy.
Why are the allowed to send children 5 days if they only work 2/3?
Why are they allowed to send in if their partner is furloughed or working from home?
Why are they allowed to send children in of the just work weekends in a supermarket normally?
We have 14 out of 30 children in my DS class at school, they have the class teacher with them and also have each other.
I feel my children are being penalised and will miss out on school and social interaction all because I am not a key worker:
If there were less children in, the teacher would be able to undertake zoom classes and online interactions. Because of the number of children in we just get set daily tasks!
Sorry for my rant AIBU x

Some fucker is sitting in Government rubbing his hands with glee at his idea of creating a situation in which the public turn bitter and angry towards one another.

Stops them uniting against him.

[quote blackwych]@Persianparadise
I feel sorry for the teachers as I bet lots of them don’t feel very safe with their classes nearly at full capacity.

Exactly. I was so relieved when the government announced schools were closing, but actually so many children are in that it's barely any safer. I expect there will be further guidance / pushback from the teaching unions.[/quote]
I really hope the teaching unions realise what's happening and take action otherwise. Teachers are still in an unsafe environment.

Schools aren't closed at all, they're just excluding 40% or so students from getting an education.

I don't blame people for trying to access as close as possible to a normal education for their kids. I don't blame the schools for trying to keep the numbers up if they have the teachers available - a lot less catching up to do later on down the line. As usual in this frickin disaster I blame the government for leaving it all to the last minute, not giving proper guidance to schools and failing to control the pandemic. We're back to curtain twitching. It's a far cry from clapping for keyworkers, now we're bitching about them.

*Yabu, in that key workers do need childcare

Yes but so does non keyworkers working from home too. They have no choice either but to clock on at 9am. They still need to look after Their kids.*

This ^^^ is exactly it. It IS possible to wfh and look after kids even if your job is 'key'. Thousands upon thousands of us are doing it. Our employers still expect us to deliver. It's crap and the kids get a raw deal and you work til late and before they wake up. But you can literally do it. Even if you are a 'big job' dad who has to make zoom calls. The KW places are for people to go out to work. This has got completely and utterly lost in the comms.

@Ellieboolou33

Here we go again.

It's not fair that I had to work during the pandemic, I couldn't get furlough. I would have loved 80% pay to stay at home.

It's not fair that thousands have lost their lives, their jobs, education, businesses, sanity.

It's not fair that we are locked down when it is the vulnerable and elderly who are most at risk.

It's not fair that some people have no access to public funds despite paying taxes, whilst others abuse the benefit system.

It's not fair when I hear people moaning about not seeing their mum / dad for months on end, when I'll never see mine again as they are dead.

The whole pandemic is not fair.

Exactly is everyone not bored of this shit yet ? It’s always someone to blame , the furlough, etc . Today it’s the parents for shock horror sending their dc because they have to work . I’m not sure how teachers seam to know that parents are sat on their arse watching Netflix but the majority are working and juggling children. And for what’s it worth I don’t think teachers think this I just think it’s 1 or 2 small minded individuals who clearly aren’t as busy as they say . Let’s move on .

YANBU but with ks1 children I wouldn't bother doing the set tasks from the teacher that is just putting yourself under too much stress. Reading and watching educational tv is enough. Try and get outdoors with them on your days off and enjoy the rest of the time.

I remember being in Morrison's and seeing a sign saying pls wait here until a key worker becomes available. On the fag kiosk.
Total bollocks.

Today 16:53 Whatsalot897

But as a key worker I work weekends so have to do shopping etc on week days so it’s safer for my children to be in school those days then dragged round a shop

Your having a fucking laugh are you? Do what everyone else does buy online. You should be embarrassed for yourself

@Hotcuppatea

So much jealousy around this issue.

Isn’t there just.

It's almost like it's a wide variety of jobs that keep society going...

*If they can only have XX children safely then that overrides the DfE broad statement.

They have to look at a wide range fo factors including building, available staffing and local risk.

Supposedly but...

• Risk assessments not yet updated from last term and therefore don't include the new strains of the virus ( more contagious)
• Limit on the number of children in a bubble is no longer in DfE guidance so space irrelevant as 30 children can be in one room
• Key worker classification increased
• Vulnerable child definition broadened. ( child who cannot access a device, the internet or one who hasn't a quiet space to work...Ht checks that...how?)

How many bloody threads do we need on this subject.

Yes the critical worker list is longer this time.

No you are not selfish for taking up a school place if you need to even though people on MN will tell you that you are.

Yes it's hard work if you aren't considered a key worker but still have to work and juggle childcare/homeschooling. I've been there - it's utterly shit. I didn't begrudge others who could send their children to school though.

Seriously, the vitriol I've seen aimed at people sending their child to school so they can work is disgusting. It seems people aren't allowed to do anything that makes their life easier/less stressful because we're in a pandemic don't you know*

* before anyone jumps on this comment I know we're in a global pandemic and I know it's serious but we shouldn't be castigating parents for trying to do what's best for their family.

It is people's civic responsibility to keep their children at home if they can.

Where people ae key workers and cannot keep them at home then of course they should get a place but far too many people are taking advantage of the systems and the definition is too broad.

Schools will end up either closing due to staff and children getting ill or having to impose their own rules (like both parents must be key workers) which may impact on people who then don't wualify but genuinely need the place

Suddenly there's alot of keyworkers this time round so I can't get the days I've asked. I work in children services. I have a bee in my bonnet today about it. Some of the childrens parents aren't key workers/vulnerable etc

Both my DH and I are keyworkers, however my DH is vulnerable so I cant have three DC going to three different schools as it places him at risk. I order my food online but that is because it is easy as my DH gets priority slots. The youngests school was closed early due to covid amongst the DC and staff in Decemeber. With the new strain we are keeping the DC at home. Yes , it is awful, i have to ensure i wear my headset to ensure confidentiality is maintained, my DC do wander in but I have a background on, i do have to home school my youngest when I have the time and help with the zoom lessons. Employers need to be supportive of anyone having there DC at home, keyworkers or not...they need to give a bit of flex to allow people to manage this nightmare

I think the the key worker list is a lot more stricter this time round. I don't understand why people are complaining? I work for the NHS but because I'm not frontline I don't get a space for my child. I'm not begrudging the other who may work in the supermarket etc. I'm just thankful the childcare bubbles are still allowed

As a keyworker but not needing childcare myself, I can assure the OP that several KWs are being asked to work additional shifts or come in at odd hours with little notice. This would be a legitimate reason to have 5/5 on-site schooling.

@poorbuthappy

I remember being in Morrison's and seeing a sign saying pls wait here until a key worker becomes available. On the fag kiosk. Total bollocks.

Why aren’t shop workers key workers in your opinion?? Have they not worked through this with all members of the public in their place of work?? Have they not helped keep the country going by working?

DP is a primary school teacher. Out of a class of 29, 19 are still going in.

Government criteria says that only one parent needs to be a key worker, even if the other doesn't work or works from home. Yesterday one kid told him his dad does admin for the prison service form home. Mum, dad and the family dog were all at the gate to collect him at the end of the day.

Schools should absolutely be there for the children of key workers and vulnerable children, but I agree some parents are taking the piss. Not only does sending your child in even though one parent is around at home to look after them put the teachers and school staff at risk, it also makes it more risky for the children who have two key worker parents or one single parent who is a key worker. They're having to sit in a classroom with 20 other kids instead of 3 or 4.

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and while trying not to worry about things that haven't happened yet, it is a concern that my partner could miss the birth of our baby (if he gets it or is having to isolate when I go into labour) to provide free childcare for people that don't absolutely need to have their kids at school.

Nothing the schools can do about it thorough. If the kids meet the criteria set by the government, there will always be some people that take advantage.

I had to send an email saying what I did and what hours I worked to be assessed for a place. I WFH the majority of the week (full time job) but need to be available to go into the office 1 day a week because we can't do all of our job at home. They're only going, and I only applied for that 1 day.

The problem is that what will happen is either too many children in will mean that the R rate isn't reduced enough and numbers keep rising.
The children in school will be more likely to be in close contact with a positive case, so have to isolate at short notice, meaning people who really are key workers needing the children in will have a difficult situation. Those who are playing the system, it will make less difference for them as if they have a sahp then the other parent won't have to stop work.

Alternatively, the may put in some legalisation to state who exactly can be in school and the child who doesn't meet the criteria but whom the school knows really will benefit from being in school for different reasons, they'll have to turn away.

It's selfish.

There are people who are project managing COVID clinical trials who are home schooling their kids fgs. I’m sorry, but I think sending your kids into school when you are perfectly capable of keeping them at home is disgusting. Has this pandemic taught people nothing? Think about the impacted of actions on others. Do your bloody bit fgs.

Key working provision is not designed to provide education, it’s just for childcare so those who have to work out of the home in key positions can do so. That doesn’t include zoom calls at home.

@HamishDent

There are people who are project managing COVID clinical trials who are home schooling their kids fgs. I’m sorry, but I think sending your kids into school when you are perfectly capable of keeping them at home is disgusting. Has this pandemic taught people nothing? Think about the impacted of actions on others. Do your bloody bit fgs.

Key working provision is not designed to provide education, it’s just for childcare so those who have to work out of the home in key positions can do so. That doesn’t include zoom calls at home.

So doctors who are doing phone consultations at home should lose their keyworker status and have to keep their kids entertained whilst on phone calls with patients should they?

I didn’t send my kid to a hub last time and that was fine, it was hard but it was fine. This time she’s after starting school and I’ve made the decision that she’s going in from tomorrow. I could keep her at home but based on experiences last time, and circumstances this time, it’s the best decision for us. I’m a key worker working from home most of the time and I’ve got the square root of fuck all done the last few days, and I think I’ve made the right decision. Most of us are just weighing it up and making what we think and hope is the right decision, rather than trying to take the piss or wave it in peoples faces, which is what you’d imagine we’re doing judging by this thread.

Also the insinuation above that people sending their kids to school haven’t been ‘doing their bit’ is insulting as fuck