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

17 out of 30 are in, in my dd's class- my dd being one of them. 16 in my DH class. We didn't send our dd last time as DH and I were both working from work part time and from home part time and we juggled between us. But this time I am in every day reduced hours but still each day and my husband is basically doing exactly his normal job and trying to set work for the 17 kids not in school. I think a lot of work places have insisted that staff come in and are being less accommodating. Every primary school in my area is 50-80% full. I know 100% that some parents are taking advantage but I also know how incredibly stressful it was WFH and home schooling so I don't blame parents I blame the govts crappy criteria. I currently have a 20+ students in school not VC who are in year 10 and 11. In some cases parents have told me (dad and honestly it is always dad) is at home not working/furloughed but don't want to argue with their child to do the work because it's not there job to. I do realise that this is a handful of parents but it is honestly very frustrating. I would have rather kept school open with some additional covid procedures we have had very few cases and non since October half term.

FGS Kazzhoward, that’s not what I’m saying and you know it, I’m talking about people who are taking the piss, not those who are actual key workers.

@HamishDent

FGS Kazzhoward, that’s not what I’m saying and you know it, I’m talking about people who are taking the piss, not those who are actual key workers.

But loads of people here are assuming everyone is taking the piss, when in reality, many of them will have real, genuine, reasons why they can't work from home with their kids needing entertainment, supervision or tuition at the same time.

@McCanne

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

It depends if you had a legitimate reason for doing so. If you didn’t then no, you weren’t doing your bit. You can twist what I said all you like, but there are people who are taking advantage of the system when they don’t have to and it’s those people, I’m referring to.

@DailyScribbles

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

@SueEllenMishke
we shouldn't be castigating parents for trying to do what's best for their family

If everyone only does what is best for their family with regard to school places we will never get out of this pandemic. It's actually best for my family if I don't go and teach all the newly-minted keyworker children tomorrow, and actually that is what I am considering. Why should I risk my children losing a parent in order to babysit children who don't really NEED to be in school?

One of my team has requested spaces for his two children even though he is working from home and our jobs are extremely flexible. (His wife works in a hospital but not HCP).

I tried to point out that the spaces weren't meant for families like theirs but he is adamant he is too important to work and homeschool.

I'm apparently a key worker but there is no way I would take up a place when it's not really needed.

I agree . I have worked as normal , outside the home since March . Physically impossible to work from home in my industry . Am not classified as a key worker by the Government guidlines Though as it’s not directly related to the Covid “effort”

So as per the last lockdown I have to juggle childcare With parents and use holiday days . Work at weekends ( dc at dads ) So I can have days off during the week etc .

So it feels a bit of a piss take to see the amount of people in school , I drove by today on my way to work and it was the same as usual dick heads parked like twats all along the paths etc . There was no one around hardly at this time in the first lockdown .

But on the other hand maybe people are doing different jobs now ? Maybe people thought they couldn’t handle working from
Home and trying to home school again ? Maybe a lot of employers have stayed open this time ?? So I do also understand . And it’s difficult .

But then I feel a bit like why am I bothering and struggling ? I feel like I could probably get my dc a place tbh but am trying to stick to the guidlines and do my bit ? If so much is still open and so many kids are still in school though then what’s the fkin point ?

If everyone only does what is best for their family with regard to school places we will never get out of this pandemic. It's actually best for my family if I don't go and teach all the newly-minted keyworker children tomorrow, and actually that is what I am considering. Why should I risk my children losing a parent in order to babysit children who don't really NEED to be in school?

Exactly and I wouldn’t blame you. No one is saying that all people sending their kids to school don’t have a genuine reason, but some don’t. Some people have realised how hard it it to homeschool and are taking advantage to suit themselves. This puts the families of those with a genuine need for the service and those teaching them at risk.

@blackwycg over Christmas there was a supermarket employee pleading with people to only shop by themselves to help keep people safe. A teacher responded saying that if they wanted to go shopping with their entire family after being in a classroom with 30 kids all term then they would.
I'm not by any means suggesting that everyone thinks this way, but consideration works both ways.

It does seem unfair, as PPs have stated, there are kids in class who clearly do not have key worker parents and/or are home all the time. There are always those who take the piss, sadly, and can't be arsed to look after their own kids. Why would it be such a bad thing to have to give evidence that the parent is a key worker?

Totally agree with you . I work in a school and over 70% of children have a key worker parent apparently.

@HamishDent maybe there are, and yet most people on this thread are speaking in hypotheticals. Just because one key worker can manage working at home with children doesn’t put everyone else in that same situation.

I could complain, that as a doctor, I have had a terrible year at work

I'm sure you have, I've family members in the same boat. But one consequence of that is that they, like you no doubt, realise that if 75-80% of children are in school it both defeats the object of closing schools and worsens education for all of them as schools struggle with each new cock up from Williamson and the rest of the medicrities.

Around here during the first lock down hub schools formed to consolidate the 5-10% in proper teaching groups. This time heads report 75-80% are suddenly key workers as the definition has expanded to include every man and their dog.

Of courser if you define nearly every job in the economy as eligible for critical status you don't have to fund furloughs and businesses don't have to risk being challenged for failing to make reasonable adjustments/respond to flexible working requests.

I think some Head Teachers need to take a good look at which children they allow to have a place

I think the responsibility lies with the idiots who broadened the scope ridiculously resulting in heads being inundated with demands from parents who both WFH and are not in jobs where they spend the day in sensitive discussions about health and welfare.

The headteachers are powerless when the government guidance states what's allowed. My head won't go against it.

If everyone only does what is best for their family with regard to school places we will never get out of this pandemic. It's actually best for my family if I don't go and teach all the newly-minted keyworker children tomorrow, and actually that is what I am considering. Why should I risk my children losing a parent in order to babysit children who don't really NEED to be in school?

There will be some people who are taking the piss naturally but if you read the numerous threads on this you would think the vast majority of parents are sending their kids to school without a thought. I don't think that is true.
This idea that only critical workers who work out of the home are worthy is wrong and narrow minded.

I'm one of those 'newly minted' key workers you're so dismissive about. The DfE, mine and my husband's employers have made it clear we are classed critical workers and the implication is we should be using a school place so we can continue working but we should be wfh.
I'm sympathetic to the plight of teachers - I work in education, I teach teachers, I work closely with schools. I know it's not an easy time to be working in education but don't blame those parents who are doing what they can to keep their jobs.
There are a small number of piss takers but the majority of people are just doing their best.

@Laniwalks

I agree . I have worked as normal , outside the home since March . Physically impossible to work from home in my industry . Am not classified as a key worker by the Government guidlines Though as it’s not directly related to the Covid “effort”

So as per the last lockdown I have to juggle childcare With parents and use holiday days . Work at weekends ( dc at dads ) So I can have days off during the week etc .

So it feels a bit of a piss take to see the amount of people in school , I drove by today on my way to work and it was the same as usual dick heads parked like twats all along the paths etc . There was no one around hardly at this time in the first lockdown .

But on the other hand maybe people are doing different jobs now ? Maybe people thought they couldn’t handle working from
Home and trying to home school again ? Maybe a lot of employers have stayed open this time ?? So I do also understand . And it’s difficult .

But then I feel a bit like why am I bothering and struggling ? I feel like I could probably get my dc a place tbh but am trying to stick to the guidlines and do my bit ? If so much is still open and so many kids are still in school though then what’s the fkin point ?

I think you’re right, that a lot of people do think they can’t handle working from home and homeschooling again this time round. Some parents can’t homeschool whether they’re working or not and perhaps their children are at school because they’re (the family, not just the child) classed as needing additional support. I hate the default to assuming the worst of people. We’re almost a year in and everyone is at different levels of worn down. Last March it was a bit of a novelty, we didn’t expect it to last long. This time we’re none the wiser about where the end is, we’re all feeling it and our kids are all feeling it. I might have felt more able to homeschool while working if I had a timescale to work with but that’s just not there, for anyone. It’s hard for everyone.

I wouldn't say DH is a key worker but his employer have said that all their employees are key workers (it's government owned!) and that they should send kids in.

I don't know what else you are meant to do? Argue with them?

For those unaware a great deal of clinical work is being delivered via 'zoom' or the vastly inferior attend anywhere. Consultants in various specialties, physios, OT's, dietitian's, psychologists are doing as much as possible online before/instead of seeing patients face to face. We risk assess the need for face to face time. So yes there are plenty of key workers doing some of their work from home on zoom. But there is no way that you can do this and juggle looking after primary age children. And you can't get up early/work late/juggle because frankly members of the public aren't mad keen on having their HCP appointment at 6.00 am because it's the only time available that said HCP might get a full uninterrupted clinical hour to focus on the patient before all hell breaks loose over a small child's attempts to do number bond work unaided.
All our clinical spaces are reduced (limited numbers in each space) so we have to flex around where we conduct our virtual work from, but we really shouldn't have to try and do two things at once (honestly you'd be much better off with a focused clinician who is less likely to miss something or make a mistake).

[quote McCanne]@HamishDent maybe there are, and yet most people on this thread are speaking in hypotheticals. Just because one key worker can manage working at home with children doesn’t put everyone else in that same situation.[/quote]
Of course and that’s exactly why this provision exists. However, it should be restricted to 2 key worker parents or single key worker parents, unless there’s a very good reason why not. It should not be the case that there’s one key working with a SAH parent for example, unless there are mitigating medical circumstances.

When people take the piss they weaken the very reason why schools have closed. They increase the risk to those keys workers we need to be at the top of their game and risk the lives of school staff. Even one extra child who doesn’t need to be there represents an increased risk.

People need to examine their own conscience and be really honest with themselves. Just because you could, doesn’t mean you should.

Our primary says:

Only if both parents/single parent on list of key workers.
Have to state what their jobs are to the school.
Can only send children to school on a day where both working and all other childcare options have been exhausted.
They don't do any zoom or online interaction.
They also do not do any teaching in school, just supervision.
From 9am - 3pm

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.

At our school it's very much about education. That has been made abundantly clear.
We've also been told that if you are homeschooling you should be completing the learning and submitting the evidence daily as well as joining the google classroom lessons.No excuses.
DS is 6 - he can't do that alone.
I might be at home but I'm delivering lectures which are hours long - I can't do that, look after DS and homeschool.

My school head asked for evidence today so I wonder how many will drop off by the end of the week. Dh and I both qualify so I’ve sent the evidence from by work email (although the head teacher knows my job so I can’t imagine it would be an issue).

@Jijithecat

over Christmas there was a supermarket employee pleading with people to only shop by themselves to help keep people safe. A teacher responded saying that if they wanted to go shopping with their entire family after being in a classroom with 30 kids all term then they would.
I'm not by any means suggesting that everyone thinks this way, but consideration works both ways.

Yes, I agree consideration works both ways. I haven't set foot in a shop for a while and agree people should shop by themselves. Perhaps the teacher was frustrated and angry. When I have been in shops the masks and other precautions contrast very strongly with the situation in classrooms. It seems unbelievable that you have to put a mask on for a quick nip around a shop where you won't have any meaningful interaction with anyone for any length of time, when you've just come from school where you have spent hours with no protection.

I've no idea though what the cumulative effect of thousands of people in and out of a supermarket would be. Also co-workers in a shop would spend quite a bit of time with each other, presumably.

Apparently so. The world and their dog now consider themselves to be. Pisses me off. I was on a thread tonight claiming accountants and people who do accounts are. Bullshit. I do accounts and don't agree.

Part of the reason for the increased take-up is that a lot of employers are being less sympathetic and supportive than last time.

I know of an employer - a definitely non-keyworker employer - who’s told a single parent employee of a six year old to throw herself on the mercy of the school and beg for a place.

Rather than furloughing her, or supporting her to work flexibly, or letting her work part-time temporarily, or exploring any of the options.