Crap. Schools closing. What am I going to do about work?

[Eek2020]

I know I’m not the only one in this situation but I’m panicking after meeting with my manager at lunchtime.

Lone parent to 11yo with additional needs. Live rurally and at other end of country from family.

NHS acute physiotherapist. I moved here and picked this job as it was Mon to Fri and school hours. My child goes to a holiday club during school breaks which is currently closed due to CV.

I’m apparently not an essential worker according to our school as not nursing or a doctor. If they do decide to permit children of essential workers to continue attending until Easter hols, mine won’t be included.

Applied for 2 weeks block of parental leave today. Manager refused it in writing ASAP due to “current service demands” and instead offered me alternative dates within 4 months, as per our local policy.

Can’t work from home as all my patients are inpatients.

Manager has basically said it’s up to me to arrange childcare alternatives. Because I can anticipate the schools closing, I won’t be given emergency dependents leave as I could have planned ahead for childcare given that I have had a few days notice about schools closing.

My child’s friends’ parents not wanting to babysit, understandably, due to my close contact with elderly patients everyday and the effect it might have on their families.

What can I do?

Oh. Annual leave also being refused at this time due to current service demands.

It is an interesting issue - presumably a tube train driver who ensures nurses can get to work is pretty key unless we expect all nurses to cycle to work.

What about a barrister to go to a police station when you are arrested? Presumably key worker?

Cancelling the May and June exams on which children's futures depend is pretty awful particularly when it is only to stop the spread by a bit of time and those children are the ones who suffer. It is almost a generalisational issue - protect the old and let the young suffer for life.

Sorry HRTFT so this may have already been mentioned but you say your dc has additional needs, would this not fit in with the vulnerable children Boris mentioned? He did say children with a social worker or other needs (I can't remember his exact words)

Remember any workers within the food supply chain are also considered key workers for this. You definitely will be so don’t worry.

**could still go to school

If your child has an EHCP hes entitled to continue in school

bbc state nhs STAFF on news just now -also doesn't your dc have special educational needs

Give it a rest @Xenia. You've made it clear on many threads you think old people should be allowed to die for the sake of your DC's exams. Thankfully you are in a minority.

It was made clear that plans are being made to make sure the kids get the qualifications they need

If you were in England it's clear that children of any NHS worker will be allowed in to school, hope this is the case for you in Scotland op.

Give it a rest @Xenia. You've made it clear on many threads you think old people should be allowed to die for the sake of your DC's exams.

Fucking he'll that's disgusting.

Hell even. Either way how can someone think like that?

It is almost a generalisational issue - protect the old and let the young suffer for life.

Do you mean generational?

All this banging on about exams. They can sit them in a few/several months. But the key thing is they WILL get the chance to sit them and have a future.

When did children taking exams become more important than human life?

Cancelling the May and June exams on which children's futures depend is pretty awful particularly when it is only to stop the spread by a bit of time and those children are the ones who suffer. It is almost a generalisational issue - protect the old and let the young suffer for life

Stupidest statement I’ve ever read on MN. A whole year’s cohort of youngsters are not going to have their lives ruined just because exams are postponed. And protecting the old is more important here: the risk to them is DEATH.

Could your dc go and stay with your family at the other end of the country for a holiday?

Its also a much better option that all of the children miss out on exams or have to deal with a re-jigged timetable rather than all the kids in London/Liverpool/Specific place miss out because their school or town is affected at the wrong moment.

This way they are all in the same position so whatever grades they come out with in the end will have the same meaning

Just to add it isn't just the old who need to be protected. There are many young vulnerable people, including children

OP if you have a local facebook group it might be worth looking there if you don't have any joy with the school. A number of people on my local group have offered to help out with childcare or nursery workers who have been told not to go into work so there may be DBS checked qualified people available.

Look, nobody's going to give a flying shit about exams.

Emergencies have a way of making things easy that would otherwise be unimaginable.

Point in case (small and trivial but outing example): today, I approved budget for some employees of mine to book expenses for the procurement of IT equipment and furniture so as to enable them to work from home effectively. Is it my problem or responsibility to furnish and equip people's homes? Like fuck it is! For all I care, you can work for me and live in anything ranging from a dump to a castle. Do I understand that spending on a monitor and thus making someone actually productive is a net benefit and the associated cost, basically, peanuts in terms of what we're losing right now? Yes, I do! I'd be pretty crap at this job situation of mine if I didn't understand that!

Long story short: ways will be found. And so what if an entire year is awarded a "pass" due to circumstances? They'll have plenty of chances to win "top of their year" gold star points during uni - and the boss at their graduate trainee scheme will still think they're pretty useless if they don't cut it at real-life stuff.

The Government is deciding every day who lives and dies as has the NHS since its inception so this is nothing new. It always a balance and it is a question of how many vulnerable people will die rather than ensuring none will.

(I don't have children doing GCSEs or A levels so my comments on that are just for the sake of other teenagers, not a personal issue. I just spoke to my son who has one university exam this summer only and that could easily be decided on assessment).

*non-outing example ... the larger stuff in the same vein might be problematic in that respect

The Government is deciding every day who lives and dies as has the NHS since its inception so this is nothing new. It always a balance and it is a question of how many vulnerable people will die rather than ensuring none will.

That's a lot different than deciding that exams are more important than lives.

I think anyone NHS should be considered essential

I'm astounded that you have been refused. At the school I do most of my work at, I get the feeling that they will accept all who want or need to attend. Very deprived area and school is so much more than education for many.

I would go back and insist. Explain that you are an NHS worker and you have been told you are essential.

OT but very proud of colleagues today. An almost full staff team apart from those in high-risk groups sent home. Mostly people with their own families to care for too.

As essential workers include delivery drivers why on earth wouldn't your school see you as an essential worker. Surely in these times any NHS worker is needed. Have you spoken to the Head?

Surely you will be on the key worker list, my understanding was that a broader approach than just doctors and nurses is being taken.

I am not trying to belittle the work of delivery drivers hope I didn't cause offence!