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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

557 replies

Witchcraftandhokum · 19/01/2021 17:02

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?

OP posts:
Crystalgirl90 · 20/01/2021 18:19

Im a teacher and it is quite busy in school at the moment, last year in March lockdown there were only 16 children across the entire school (two form entry) and now I have 14 just in reception. It really is a different picture this time. I have also noticed on a separate note the roads are so so busy in the mornings whereas when I went in March to work with the key worker children the roads were dead! I don’t really understand x

Wheresyourclapham · 20/01/2021 18:24

I’m a KW but we’re keeping 2DC at home, as we don’t want to catch Covid.
Year 1 DC also has a EHCP. DP & I WFH. Homeschooling youngest DC is a constant battle like during the first lockdown. Not expecting school to be open to all after Feb Half-Term.

Year 1 bubble got sent back home just before 09:30 on Monday morning. Covid case since confirmed.

PortalooSunset · 20/01/2021 18:24

Nope. Dh and I both keyworkers so could have a place but choose not to and tag team childcare and work.

Goldenphoenix · 20/01/2021 18:25

We qualify because of my husbands job but haven't sent them in. Am on verge of nervous breakdown though working and trying (and failing) to home school. Feel like a bit of a mug not using the school places when we qualify to be honest. Government's fault for changing the criteria

Seabreeze18 · 20/01/2021 18:27

I know at least 4 family’s in my small road that don’t really need to send their kids in but are stretching the rules to send them in. It is frustrating to see them all in uniform in the morning, whilst we are getting ready to homeschool and work. Our school is 40% full!! Teachers are overstretched! Something is not right.

caspersmagicaljourney · 20/01/2021 18:28

@Spied

My dc are in school. I am support staff in another school. Dropping my dc at school on a morning feels like the walk of shame.
Please don't feel ashamed. Working in a school right now you don't have a choice really do you.🎉 In the first lockdown we had about 10-15 staff in daily, now its nearer 20- 25. I think that's a measure of how many more students we have this time around. Other schools local to us are much worse, some with 60-70% of students in😮 totally defeating the object of a lockdown.
Babysharkdododododododododod · 20/01/2021 18:35

I have. I’m a key worker and doing phased return to work after Mat leave: my kids are going in when I’m in work but I’ve booked a few days for when I’m not in, I have a uni assignment to do and a new kitchen going in as well as a six month old. I’m exhausted and just need some time to get everything organised

Toomuchtrouble4me · 20/01/2021 18:35

Maybe lots of people have had it by now and got a mild dose so they’ve sent the kids back? More scared last time?
Mine are all off.

Lucyk1 · 20/01/2021 18:35

My husband and I are both key workers... Technically our kid is allowed to go to school but we have decided to teach him ourselves.

SueEllenMishke · 20/01/2021 18:36

@Seabreeze18

I know at least 4 family’s in my small road that don’t really need to send their kids in but are stretching the rules to send them in. It is frustrating to see them all in uniform in the morning, whilst we are getting ready to homeschool and work. Our school is 40% full!! Teachers are overstretched! Something is not right.
So you know the detailed ins and outs of their parents jobs? You know for sure that the children aren't classed as vulnerable?

You sound jealous.

Radoel · 20/01/2021 18:36

I totally agree with two year funding and the reasons for it. What I don’t agree with is parents just using it to get their kids out of the house for a bit.
No one should be under the illusion that this doesn’t happen.
The kids are totally better off in nursery but this means that my team is mixing with 60 different families-how is that right?

Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/01/2021 18:40

@Crystalgirl90

Im a teacher and it is quite busy in school at the moment, last year in March lockdown there were only 16 children across the entire school (two form entry) and now I have 14 just in reception. It really is a different picture this time. I have also noticed on a separate note the roads are so so busy in the mornings whereas when I went in March to work with the key worker children the roads were dead! I don’t really understand x
More people are working this time around. It's that simple. I myself was furloughed during lockdown one, I'm not this time.
mumof2exhausted · 20/01/2021 18:43

I have two friends. Different schools. One just coming out of mat leave and is an intensive care nurse but her school are too full and can’t offer her 5 year old a space. Second “friend” contacted her school in week 1 of lockdown and said she couldn’t cope with him at home as he’s too naughty. Before anyone chirps in there’s no SEN issues he is just good old fashioned naughty as his parents never say no / have boundaries (she admits this herself). School have said he can go in every day. Whole system is a joke. Technically we could send our kids because my husband is a doctor in but I am on mat leave so am coping with them all at home

Jellycatspyjamas · 20/01/2021 18:44

I totally agree with two year funding and the reasons for it. What I don’t agree with is parents just using it to get their kids out of the house for a bit.

So you understand role that funding has in protecting vulnerable children, supporting families who are just coping (or not), that getting the kids out of the house for a bit may be the difference between those children being able to remain with their families or needing to be removed into care. And you still call them “scrubbers”.

Grover79 · 20/01/2021 18:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

elmo1990 · 20/01/2021 18:57

We have and feel guilty for it, however since last time we've both changed jobs, 1st time round dh was furloughed and I did less hours so we could juggle it. This time dh is sat in the kitchen teaching online all day whilst I've been working full-time in the livingroom. My 6yo would require my constant attention to do anything and I just can't do that and wfh. If I could the kids would be home

Hugepeppapigfan · 20/01/2021 18:59

@Babysharkdododododododododod

The school staff are working to look after children while parents are AT WORK. Not when you are getting a kitchen fitted!!

Sallytheseal · 20/01/2021 19:00

@Elfinghecking

Our school has sent out several emails now practically begging the parents to have a conscious...
Same at ours. This is a small primary in a village and we’ve all known each other for years so have a pretty decent idea of each others’ circumstances. I wouldn’t ever confront anyone but I have lost respect for families who are willing to put teachers and the vulnerable at risk for the convenience of sending their children to school. In one instance, a colleague who does exactly the same role as me asked to be given a ‘key worker’ letter. Although we technically meet the governments definition, we are not truly key to the economy or the provision of services. Our MD refused on the grounds that it was morally reprehensible to claim unnecessarily, and I know the rest of the team and I will think more of the MD and less of my colleague going forward.
Faeryfly · 20/01/2021 19:03

Technically my daughter could stay home as although I am working (manufacturing) 3 days a week I am not classed as a keyworker.

However during the last lockdown she went into crisis and totally switched off from learning and I was about 1 homeschool session away from self referring to social services.

This time around she (finally) has an EHCP so she is in school. I offered to have her home on my days off but school asked me not to as she is far more settled and is engaging in learning. It also means that they have time to do her more intensive interventions with her with the smaller class size

ilovemygirls · 20/01/2021 19:06

Not this time, but I did last time. My year six was in (as were all year 6’s) & my teens mental health was deteriorating fast. School accepted & she was a lot happier having contact with some of her friends a couple of days a week. I was mostly wfh, but feel it was important for her.

MrsJThornton · 20/01/2021 19:08

No - My youngest son has an EHCP so could be in school but we’ve kept him at home. He’s resisting nearly all attempts to home school so it may become necessary but I don’t want to place unnecessary burden on the school which already has more than 50% of its pupils in (including numerous children where one parent doesn’t work but the other is a key worker)

Embroideredstars · 20/01/2021 19:10

No I kept mine at home with teacher dh whilst I go to work frontline NHS. We would have been entitled on both counts for a place but happy to free one up for others that are necessary.

Ilovegreentomatoes · 20/01/2021 19:11

Let's hope ALL children can get a face to face education by Easter .My dd is home learning and falling behind and I worry there will not be sufficient time for her to catch up.Yr 9 secoundary

twinkletoesimnot · 20/01/2021 19:14

@Ilovegreentomatoes

Why falling behind?

Behind what?

How do you know?

FreddieMercurysCat · 20/01/2021 19:28

No. We’ve sucked it up and my husband stays home.