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?

My school (well before I left). All lessons on Teams, including a register and recorded. I can't imagine it being much different everywhere.

It is a lot different elsewhere.

The online provision from DCs schools is good but no registration, no Teams, and no recording the children. They do have some Google meets via Google classroom but the childrens' cameras have to be switched off so they're on mic only and we had to sign consent forms for then to use it. Eldest DC school does one or two live lessons each week but they're difficult to organise everyone is on different schedules rather than a 9-3 day.

Children in school are also getting the exact same provision as children at home - a laptop, online work, and an adult in the room supervising. DS is going in as his one to one is there and he can get his interventions and therapies, he is also struggling with having school work at home because to his mind school is school, home is home, and the two should not meet.

Why on earth wouldn't people judge them?

Because you have never walked a mile in their shoes?! Yes, I think you are wrong and the MN pile on of people in all sorts of different situations smacks of hatemobbing.

We are allowed to disagree (thank goodness).

Dh is secondary teaching over teams which are recorded but the kids have to have their cameras off. They have a full timetable. Whilst their are definitely more kids in school at dd's school than last time, those who are in a position to keep their kids at home seem to have done so. Although there are quite a few vulnerable and key worker children anyway by the nature of the area we live in

Most people also don't know who the vulnerable dc are in school.

“The right decision for their own family” might well kill a member of someone else’s family. But hey ho, at least they did what was right for them

But you can apply that to so many things during the pandemic, not washing hands, not wearing a mask, not socially distancing, not bothering to get a test, not self isolating, etc.

@FoxyTheFox

Children in school are also getting the exact same provision as children at home - a laptop, online work, and an adult in the room supervising. DS is going in as his one to one is there and he can get his interventions and therapies, he is also struggling with having school work at home because to his mind school is school, home is home, and the two should not meet.

Not at DS's primary school they aren't. They are being taught properly with their usual class teachers.

I seriously hope people aren't! Why would your u send child to a place they are likely to get sick and bring it home during a pandemic!?? I know things are tough but sending them in when you have a choice to keep them safe is completely irresponsible.

@studychick81

Why are schools saying they have to be in full time do you think? Strange when they are also reporting how full they are and many teachers aren't happy with the situation.

Because that's not representative of all schools.

We're only hearing those that shout the loudest.

My DSs school has between 20-30% in depending on the day.

I know some schools will only take full time places as it helps with planning and consistency.

Because that's not representative of all schools.

Exactly!

I've actually quit my job (NHS admin) as there are no places left at school, they won't let us work from home, our manager insisted we came into the office and my husbands job isn't listed as "critical" but he has to go in as its open (mechanic). He earns more than me so I'm at home!

@BackBoiler

I've actually quit my job (NHS admin) as there are no places left at school, they won't let us work from home, our manager insisted we came into the office and my husbands job isn't listed as "critical" but he has to go in as its open (mechanic). He earns more than me so I'm at home!

I'm really sorry to hear this but unfortunately it's happening an awful lot.

Women's careers are being disproportionately impacted and schools being closed/restricted is playing a huge part.
It's very worrying.

My daughter was invited back under vunerable catogory. I was surprised but really pleased. I could only get her to do a little maths at home. She refused to engage in anything else and would turn aggressive when i gently then more forcefully tried to engage her. Last lockdown i was scratched to bits she was so angry at all the changes i got the brunt of it. She is Autisic and mainstream.

Spare some kindness and don't make assumptions about parents. There maybe something else going on you don't know about.

@BackBoiler

I've actually quit my job (NHS admin) as there are no places left at school, they won't let us work from home, our manager insisted we came into the office and my husbands job isn't listed as "critical" but he has to go in as its open (mechanic). He earns more than me so I'm at home!

Yes, if our school changed to 2 keyworkers only, I would be the one to leave my job as DH earns more and his company are not furloughing anyone, for any reason - he can WFH but not with the kids around (time critical work). I'm and ICU doctor, so it would be a significant loss for my employer, but we can survive (just) on his salary, but not mine.

My husband is as upset at me not working and tried to negotiate something at work but it could've only been done if I could work from home which is something our department was not prepared or equipped to do. It seems to be a full-time job supervising the homeschool with three children. I do have a job in the pipeline but who knows when they can go back/rules are relaxed a little?

I’m a single mum and a key worker who can’t work from home. Last lockdown I kept my year 2 dd at home in the care of my 16 year old dd. This time it wouldn’t be fair on her to keep her home as she has online lessons and A levels to study for.

The thing is, what are parents supposed to do? If their employer won’t furlough them, or agree to them working from home, and their dc are too young to be left alone? Many can’t afford to take unpaid leave or risk being made redundant. And I don’t mean just having to tighten belts, but likely risking homelessness, and being unable to feed their children.
The government could solve this by paying a percentage of wages for those unable to work due to childcare issues, by legislating against sacking people for that reason, and putting more pressure on employers to use wfh.
That’s where our anger should be pointed, not turning on other parents.

I'm as comfortable with my choice as we can be in a pandemic where there are no ideal choices or solutions. DS1 is working at home and it (mostly) suits him, though he misses the interaction of school a bit. Technically DH is classed as a 'critical worker' (we all laughed at that a bit, he's been working from home since March last year) but DS1 being at home isn't having an impact on DH being able to work from home at all (apart from when the broadband starts groaning but we work around that).

DS2 is severely autistic and at a SS. His head rang up to gauge interest in sending him in for a shortened week. Since his rigid mindset means he utterly refused to do anything approaching 'school work' at home last year, we said yes please. Last year, it took a while, but by about May he was deeply distressed at not being at school, self-harming and becoming angry and violent towards us.

There's a limit to how many fairy cakes we can bake a week (his preferred activity at home), walks we can take or lego sets we can make at home. We accepted their offer of 3 shortened days a week, knowing that he would then be the main infection vector for our household. I'm fairly level-headed about the very small chances of him getting seriously ill if he got Covid as he's ten, but concerned for his excellent classroom team. They are bloody wonderful.

@ColdTattyWaitingForSummer

The thing is, what are parents supposed to do? If their employer won’t furlough them, or agree to them working from home, and their dc are too young to be left alone? Many can’t afford to take unpaid leave or risk being made redundant. And I don’t mean just having to tighten belts, but likely risking homelessness, and being unable to feed their children. The government could solve this by paying a percentage of wages for those unable to work due to childcare issues, by legislating against sacking people for that reason, and putting more pressure on employers to use wfh. That’s where our anger should be pointed, not turning on other parents.

And this is the problem, isn't it?

Clearly, the few people in schools, the safer they would be. This is a virus spread by droplet infection, so we need to keep people apart regardless of their age.

But families can't live on fresh air or leave children unsupervised. If their employers or the Government won't help, what are they supposed to do?

YANBU, I will as offered a place for my youngest this time. All 3 went to school last lockdown as I co-run a food bank so had to be out of the house. DH also has to be at work. This time, however, I don’t have to spend as much time out of the house and so when I was offered the school place I asked they give it to someone who really needs it. I think this generation will be known as ‘The Lost Generation’ due to the quality of education they’re receiving and the lack of all the normal interactions and experiences that kids their age would normally be getting. It really makes me sad 😞

@ColdTattyWaitingForSummer

The thing is, what are parents supposed to do? If their employer won’t furlough them, or agree to them working from home, and their dc are too young to be left alone? Many can’t afford to take unpaid leave or risk being made redundant. And I don’t mean just having to tighten belts, but likely risking homelessness, and being unable to feed their children. The government could solve this by paying a percentage of wages for those unable to work due to childcare issues, by legislating against sacking people for that reason, and putting more pressure on employers to use wfh. That’s where our anger should be pointed, not turning on other parents.

No one really seems to have an answer to this other than to tell you that their mum's, friend Sheila has an aunt who's dog walker knows someone on Facebook who is a SAHM and is sending their kids to school. Obviously they absolutely KNOW that said child isn't vulnerable in any way at all and the parents are clearly just taking the piss. When asked how they know they just reply that they just do 🙄

Getting so bloody bored of these threads now. Surely schools have a process of deciding who gets a place and who doesn't. So if a school has agreed to allow a child a place, I will deem it none of my business to question it to be honest.

Or we can all sit on MN and tie ourselves into knots pretending we know every detail of Tom, Dick and Harry's personal family situation.

Getting so bloody bored of these threads now. Surely schools have a process of deciding who gets a place and who doesn't. So if a school has agreed to allow a child a place, I will deem it none of my business to question it to be honest.

Absolutely this. No matter how well you think you know someone, everyone has a chapter they don’t read aloud - you simply can’t know all the details of their lives and some of those details may mean their child needs to be in school for whatever reason. But I guess it’s much easier to sit in judgement.

But I guess it’s much easier to sit in judgement

Yep, in judgement and jealousy I imagine a lot of the time.

@PortChee

But I guess it’s much easier to sit in judgement

Yep, in judgement and jealousy I imagine a lot of the time.

Tbf missing out is galling and if that’s not what people face each time schools close like this, it’s hard to get.

I don’t blame people for using spaces if they can, I knew they would as last time was bad.

At same time so relieved out school is one of strictest. Missing out is tough, but even tougher for dc is they get that their friends together.

@ColdTattyWaitingForSummer

The thing is, what are parents supposed to do? If their employer won’t furlough them, or agree to them working from home, and their dc are too young to be left alone? Many can’t afford to take unpaid leave or risk being made redundant. And I don’t mean just having to tighten belts, but likely risking homelessness, and being unable to feed their children. The government could solve this by paying a percentage of wages for those unable to work due to childcare issues, by legislating against sacking people for that reason, and putting more pressure on employers to use wfh. That’s where our anger should be pointed, not turning on other parents.

Unfortunately they need to do what I many are doing including myself. I get up early and get some work done, then home school all day until about 2.30/3, then do my work, stop for tea/bedtime and then do more work, then work at weekends. It's bloody hard and exhausting. I turned down a school place. But people don't want to do that.