Be honest. Have you sent your kids to school when they could have stayed at home?

[Witchcraftandhokum]

I left my job in education before Christmas mostly because of the governments appalling response to Covid in schools and anti-teacher sentiment generally so I haven't really got a vested interest. But I'm curious, after speaking to my ex-colleagues and friends who work in other schools there seems to be a dramatic take-up on the offer of places for vulnerable students and children of Key-workers compared to the last lockdown.

The numbers in my old school during the last lockdown made it hardly worth opening the school, this time they're at capacity and are having to bring extra staff in at a risk to themselves. In my friend's child's class there are 21 out of 32 currently attending.

What's going on?

I work in a school and last time teachers were told that they could have their children at home and it was our choice. This time we have pretty much been told we should use our key worker places as we are expected to teach all lessons live and to a good quality. I think a lot of businesses are the same--last time they let people have children at home and now they are suggesting they if you are entitled to a key worker place you need to take it up so you can go into or fully concentrate on work. I know they'll always be a few CFs but generally I think the bigger uptake is due to employers attitudes

My friend’s a SEN coordinator and they’ve got 4 times the kids in, absolutely loads in that where one parent doesn’t even work - lazy cnts.*

So she has a good understanding that many kids with SEN need the routine and predictably of school to cope, and that when they aren’t coping their distress levels can lead to challenging, violent and self harming behaviour. And that the “lazy cunt” parents then need to try and help their kids regulate their emotions, often leading to them being harmed in the process - not to mention the very high distress levels the kids are experiencing. Or that prolonged time off school can make it nigh on impossible when they return back to school.

Both my kids have SEN, they’re in school 3 mornings a week to try and keep them connected to school and to avoid the school refusing behaviour that developed when they returned in August. I’d be appalled if their teachers decided that I was being a “lazy cunt” sending them in.

This government have done an excellent job in pitting parents against teachers and teachers against parents.

Don't forget that the definition is critical worker this time, not key worker.

It applies to specific jobs and businesses, and though it's a longish list, not being able to do a job from home doesn't make someone a critical worker.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Keep your knickers on @Jellycatspyjamas of she’s wasn’t saying vulnerable children shouldn’t be in - as you well know!! Her position also affords her of knowing exactly who is doesn’t and is taking the piss!!! No one is saying vulnerable children shouldn’t be in, that’s always been the case. The problem is the people who are taking the piss because they can’t be arsed to homeschool. It’s especially annoying when many have a key worker parent then one at home doing nothing!

An SEN coordinator should really not be gossiping, and if you are implying that she is not talking about vulnerable children it needed to be balanced with the wording sen coordinator.

@Al1langdownthecleghole

Don't forget that the definition is critical worker this time, not key worker.

It applies to specific jobs and businesses, and though it's a longish list, not being able to do a job from home doesn't make someone a critical worker.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Really good point and makes it even more ridiculous that work told me I could use provision if needed. I am no way a critical worker.

There is a lot of holier than though and judgemental attitudes here.

The fact is (though this is a minority view) - I believe primaries should be open. Many, many studies have shown that children particularly primary and downwards in age - play very little role in transmission.

The impact of closure is extreme - childrens lives are being pushed to the margins - and it's to benefit others not themselves. We have had ten months to find ways to use more spaces/ hire in young staff to do outdoor learning/ extra PE / trips to the park - we could have been creative and ensured childrens lives at least kept going 'socially' - ie with a few sessions of outdoor learning/ being with peeers

Instead, in a panic we have shut down their lives - we will look back with horror I think at what we have done.

I hope absolutely nobody on here feels guilty if their children are where they ought to be - in school.

Hell yes I am judgemental!

When the whole year group or the entire school has to shut, it's not helping anyone and the ones who genuinely needed the spot are left in the lurch.

"and if you are implying that she is not talking about vulnerable children it needed to be balanced with the wording sen coordinator."

Yes.
There have been plenty of posters in the past who have claimed to work with children with sen who blame their parents so the comment will be seen in that light.

@Iknowwhatudidlastsummer

Hell yes I am judgemental!

When the whole year group or the entire school has to shut, it's not helping anyone and the ones who genuinely needed the spot are left in the lurch.

Also judgemental.

Not of everyone whose children are in school, that would be ridiculous, but of those exploiting a loophole to secure an advantage for them and theirs.

And who then try to gaslight the rest of us into agreeing that because our children aren’t in school, we de facto have less important work/more understanding bosses/children who are more compliant or resilient/more robust mental health/better home tech/greater flexibility etc etc etc.

I do blame the government for creating this system, but I refuse to accept that every child in school needs to be there in a way that every child at home doesn’t.

I agree @Wondergirl100.

Schools should be open and children should be in receiving their education. So I will continue to send both my in full time although some days I am at home.

The pressure this time to keep your workload consistent as well as educate your children to the same standard as the teachers is much higher.

I have sent my children in 1 day per week as I cannot commit myself fully to either task for the full week.

The fact that employers are much less understanding this time around is high at the front of my mind, and I was not offered furlough (civil service).
I've been told to make up my hours when I can, and I find it unsustainable to work till 10pm every evening.

The last lockdown was effectively run in three week chunks. We went into it not knowing how long it would last, and a lot of people were not expecting it to go on for anywhere as long as it did.

This time round, our eyes are open a bit more - this could easily last to Easter or beyond. That will make people who were prepared to suck it up for a few weeks last time (and differed for it) fat more likely to be pragmatic this time and send the kids in. Same for businesses - we have been much more proactive in telling staff (where applicable) that they are key workers should they wish to take up school spaces.

Yes. I am a teacher and really struggled with this question. I have to be in work 2days a week and work from home the rest of the time. DH is a key worker but working from home. We decided that if we gave him one uninterrupted day at home while I was in school and the children were in childcare/school then we could manage the rest of the week juggling between us.

It would be interesting to see what take up of KW provision for wfh parents would be if the test was: “if your child’s bubble burst, would you be forced to stop working during their isolation period?”

Do you not understand the difference between short term and long term disruption?
If DS was told to isolate we could just about manage. My students wouldn't mind being flexible for one weeks worth of lectures and we could arrange to catch up. However, months and months of me not being able to deliver the lectures the students have paid for and need in order to get their professional accreditation then we have problem.

It would be interesting to see what take up of KW provision for wfh parents would be if the test was: “if your child’s bubble burst, would you be forced to stop working during their isolation period?

I doubt it would differ. Why would you choose a whole term of no school to avoid a couple of weeks no school?

My son has a place as a 'vulnerable' child due to my being a self-employed single parent recovering from a broken leg. I could have kept him at home but it is better for him to be at school rather as I am unable to take him out for exercise. I am on strong painkillers so often a bit drowsy in the daytime.

To be honest I find this thread surprising. I am surprised more parents aren't looking at the damage being done to children - banned from even seeing friends in a park! Demonised, blamed as 'super spreaders' when the evidence (I have heard this from Sage members themselves) is very much that they play less role in transmission than adults.

Some countries - Italy/Spain/ the Philippiens - have at various times even banned kids from leaving the house - even though they are the ones who don't get sick.

I am not saying schools are totally safe right now - but we have had 10 months as a society to find a way for children to see their friends and learn and play and we have failed.

Keep your knickers on @Jellycatspyjamas of she’s wasn’t saying vulnerable children shouldn’t be in - as you well know!! Her position also affords her of knowing exactly who is doesn’t and is taking the piss!!! No one is saying vulnerable children shouldn’t be in, that’s always been the case.

Except the presence of SEN creates a greater vulnerability than those without, so they should be offered the opportunity to access education regardless of whether you or your friend thinks parents are taking the piss or can’t be arsed to homeschool. Unless you mean kids without SEN, in which case you should have left out the SEN part of your post.

As of today both my boys are in. Up to today just the eldest SEN child was, I kept him home during the last lockdown and he still hadn't made up the ground that he lost when this one started. Sorry but he is my priority and his school expected no less than him to go in.

His younger brother I tried to keep home, but this is an autistic house, his brother is autistic, I'm autistic, the only time he really gets to see non-autistic behaviour is at school. In 2 weeks I've watched him change from a (mostly) happy caring little boy to an angry, over-emotional child. I finally phoned his school yesterday to say that we were struggling and ask for advice to be told to send him in. Turns out they had been virtually begging for a place for him (knowing his family circumstances) but were waiting for me to ask.

My son goes in on the two weekdays I work (14 hour shifts plus a weekend shift which either 10 or 14 hours) and he also goes in one extra day when I am at home. He has ADHD and is awaiting testing for ASC (at paediatrician's request) and I kept him home during the first lockdown. It affected us financially because I had to work my shifts around his dad's days off which meant losing a shift per week. DS couldn't handle online learning and because of his SEN he needs to maintain a routine and have some interaction with his peers. School offered him a full time place but I said the three days is plenty as he still has the majority of the week in school but it puts less pressure on the teachers/numbers in general.

@Hippywannabe

Likewise.

I’ve given my everything for 25 years. This pandemic has shown me what a waste of time it is.

I’m trying to sell my house so I can leave teaching. I’m frustrated that it’s not selling quick enough. Our area isn’t moving much though.

I can’t just leave teaching as I need the money. So until then I’ll be doing the bare minimum. I’m done.

Absolutely not, my three are at home Y7, 8 and pre school. My husband is a teacher at the local school and they are struggling to manage children who won’t access home learning. They are entitled by the government to attend and there are just too many children in school. It’s tough for people but I take the view that we all need to do the right thing and that is to look after each other by staying at home and keeping our contacts to a minimum.

Mine could as we are classed in the very wide band of key workers, but they don’t, morally it doesn’t seem right, I am part time and am working from home at the moment, it’s hard but we can manage just about. A family member is a teacher and it just seems that some parents are putting on the teachers, she is always working extra hours, I think once this is over she will just be sticking to her contracted hours as much as possible, I think many teachers will re examine their teaching future.

I never would and leave the spaces to those who really need to be in school. I know lots this time that just don’t want their children at home.