Key worker places

[CousinLucy]

AIBU to take up a key worker space for my two primary children? Year 3 and 6.

I'm a full time secondary teacher. At least 2 live lessons every day, marking up to 120 pieces of work every day. Trying to puzzle out best ways of remote learning when lessons aren't live. Teams staff meetings 3 times a week and contacting 5 tutees every week (from tutor group).

Husband in armed forces so a key worker too. Last lockdown he was setting up morgues. This one don't know yet.

Some colleagues seem to be superior beings and can do it. Photos all over FB of homeschooling and multi-tasking.

Just feel guilty after school generic email asking if all key workers are sure they need their space. I am totally sure! But I'm paranoid it was directed at people like me who are teachers.

Is your husband home at the moment?

Ages 7/8 and 10/11?

Only you really know how much or how little attention/help they need.

Is your husband at home?

He's in the UK. He works 40 miles away

I would. My dd is 6 and year 1 and labour intensive. Even my 13 year old needs constant prodding each hour as he keeps trying to nod off!

@LegoAndLolDolls thank you. They'd just end up waiting for me and I'm worried about sending them the message that their education isn't as important as theirs! I'm worried they'll play computer games for hours!

YANBU. You are both key workers without question, you have a place, use it.

I wouldn't be happy with my secondary school son being taught online by a teacher who is also trying to look after their own children so from that point of view I think you should send them in.

We are actively discouraged from doing this, schools should be more understanding of your dual role at the moment.

You definitely deserve a place. There's no way that email was aimed at teachers.

I've become really annoyed by people getting around the key worker places at my sons school by one of them being a key worker and other not working at all but still sending in their children, while I'm at home single parent run a business homeschooling while also having a toddler here, but in your case of course you wouldn't be unreasonable to send them in! You have so much on your plate, teachers are super hero's at the moment in my opinion!

Ask to send them in. My DH is in school working full time, I'm teaching part time but my dc are in full time as I'm planning, emailing, going slightly crazy when I'm not at school so need time to do all that.

Thank you so much for helping my conscience. @pricklymole that was my reasoning.

@Tidypidy thank you! That helps too

I am struggling with the same guilt! 2 key worker teachers both expected to teach 100% live lessons but from home. We are using keyworker places 3 days a week and the emails are making me feel dreadful. Today was one of the days they were at home and it was chaos. My ds interrupted an extra help session I was giving, a meeting over ran so dd missed the first part of online music lesson. They didn’t finish their work until 17.40. Ds also has some learning difficulties so can’t work independently. I don’t want to be a piss taker but unless my school lower their expectations I just don’t think I can educate my pupils and support my own children at the same time.
I am on edge waiting for their places to be withdrawn and figure I’ll manage a week before I end up off with stress!

Don't feel guilty, OP.

It would be really unfair if your own children got fragmented support from you so you could endure other people's children got the best you can offer x

Absolutely take the place.

@Selfcarequeereyestyle thank you. OMG the school can withdraw places?!!! I will be so stressed out if they do! Yes I am working from home but how can I teach 31 Y10s and 2 primary children simultaneously? And why should my own children lose out???

I think it's entirely reasonable for you to put your dc in school.

@CousinLucy

He's in the UK. He works 40 miles away

Well then it's entirely reasonable to take the places.

Of course YANBU. There are some jobs that simply cannot be done at the same time as homeschooling/caring for your own children.

Well the Chief of Defence sent a rather direct email last week stating that unless a unit was getting ready for deploying on operations or are part of the COVID taskings then they should be dispersed... So he should be at home. Seems the military seem to think they are above the law and can defy Gov and senior officers because they can't stand the thought of people being at home doing nothing.....and they also forget that the spouses have their own careers in which many are classed as essential key workers.

I'm saying this as a serving person..... Can't wait to get out of the system. Social distancing in the majority of camps only happens if they are in view of the public, there's been outbreaks on camps which have somehow been banned from reporting in the media.

But if he is on COVID tasks then yes absolutely use the places!!

Send them in! Please don’t feel guilty

I wouldn’t have sent them if you are home as the government have asked that people don’t if working from home to protect the children, staff and other families.

They won’t be missing out, how do you think everyone else wfh but keeping their children home is managing.

At those ages they don’t need constant supervision and should be able to some tasks independently.