Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

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

126 replies

Eek2020 · 18/03/2020 14:53

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.

OP posts:

MonaLisaDoesntSmile · 18/03/2020 18:58

As NHS worker your child is still covered, schools will remain open for them!

LashesZ · 18/03/2020 19:04

My trust has issues a coronavirus policy. Special leave will be given to those with childcare issues. The policy has been adapted as special leave is normally without notice. Perhaps contact HR.

bringmelaughter · 18/03/2020 19:10

It’s not down to school to define essential workers, they will get guidance on this nationally/via devolved government. It’s likely this will include NHS and emergency services.

Are you really not a CSP member? It’s unusual for physios not to be but obviously possible.

ThanksForAllTheFish · 18/03/2020 19:17

I seriously feel for all the parents that will struggle massively with childcare now. I am fortunate that I could take DD to work with me if I had too. As it happens we closed up this evening until further notice (financial disaster for me but we did have to close sooner or later). I’ve offered childcare for my niece as I know they will both still be working for the foreseeable. I know if it was the other way round they would help out too.
I know of quite a few people scrambling round to get childcare now, group chats of groups of people in the same boat trying to work out who can take kids one day, who will have them the following day etc.

I hope you can get something arranged OP and they the school sees you are essential NHS staff and lets your DS go in to school. Even if they only have a system where one school in an area is open and all the children need to go there in place of their normal school it would help out massively for all the NHS staff and beyond who are still required to work and get us through this.

foodtoorder · 18/03/2020 19:18

You are absolutely and essential worker OP! Surely you realise that as a registered AHP?
Why haven't you fought this with the school?

wobblywinelover · 18/03/2020 19:24

If your child has an EHCP they still might be entitled to go to school. If you are struggling finding childcare there is a website called childcare.co.uk where all the childminders and nannies are registered and you can currently contact them all for free. I'm sure there will be someone who wants special needs experience who might be able to help you out. Good luck OP

JimmyGrimble · 18/03/2020 19:37

We will be opening for children of any nhs staff and a range of other emergency personnel. I and several of my colleagues have volunteered to do this for as long as we are well.
The problem with the governments ‘advice’being so shite is that schools have been left to interpret it in their own ways. Hope fully this will stop now,
You should be in a union btw. You can’t just say ‘unfortunately I’m not in a union’ .., stop cheapskating and join!

danni0509 · 18/03/2020 19:44

@wobblywinelover children with ehcp might be able too? I thought they were allowed to attend.

They didn't say might?

CheesecakeAddict · 18/03/2020 19:48

It's time workplaces learnt to be more flexible.
We have been told, providing they have no symptoms, we can bring our kids to work with us. I think that's fair.

I would say it's a shame that after sorting out last minute childcare, you woke up on Monday with a cough and a temperature...

Inthemuckheap · 18/03/2020 19:59

The key worker definition hasn't yet been defined. Some schools have sent out list which include all hospital and care workers as being key workers. Until BJ publishes it, hopefully this evening, I don't think any of us who may/may not be a key worker can do much.

Xenia · 18/03/2020 20:19

The Prime Minster I think the speech mentioned delivery drivers as key workers - they deliver food etc.

I suspect in London bus and train drivers are key as lots of nurses don't have cars nor teachers who are getting to schools to look after children of key workers. I would add barristers defending people in court as key too unless we want no system of justice in the UK - we might well have to prosecute people for breach of the peace so police, crown prosecutors, MPs etc are probably all key workers.

Bringing children to work depends on the job. My son drives a van. It would not be safe to have a small child in there. Presumably teachers in work to mind children of key workers could bring their own chidlren in.

lyralalala · 18/03/2020 20:25

Barristers are not going to be on the list of key workers

Xenia · 18/03/2020 20:27

I suspect we cannot say that yet. The issue would be if you were arrested for breaking a lock down rule and wanted a lawyer. Do we want people to have access to lawyers in those circumstances or not? Why a cleaner but not a barrister for example.

The drafting of the definition of key worker is going to be very interesting. Eg nurses will not get to work in London unless buses and tubes continue to run and those need staff many of whom do have small children to be able to work. Or will the state just say ah train drivers are men so will have no childcare issues, nurses are women so they do so they are key.

wonkylegs · 18/03/2020 20:33

@Eek2020
I have just asked DH he is one of the drs on his hospitals CV19 planning board - he says that you will definitely be classed as essential personnel and that your Health board should be able to provide a letter to support this to the school, you need to contact your management to get you this for the school.

Catrescue1971 · 18/03/2020 20:35

Has he got an ehcp?.Children with ehcp can continue to go.

lyralalala · 18/03/2020 20:38

I'll eat my hat if barristers are on it

We need a lot of nurses so they will be on the list. Doctors, other hospital staff (cleaners, porters, receptionists, pharmacists, physios etc), teachers and school staff, food supply staff (supermarket workers, food delivery drivers, food factory staff), essential transport staff (bus and train drivers), emergency services staff, plus other essentials like utilities staff. Similar to the fuel crisis essential worker list in 2000

It'll also be children who have both parents on that list or from a single parent family where they are a key worker.

TrentBridge · 18/03/2020 20:41

I was wondering that Lyla. Surely both parents have to be key workers, or it to be a single parent who is, or that would be ridiculous? I have a couple of nurse friends who are going on about how their kids are furious that they will be in school still, and yet I know both have husbands who aren't key workers. (And I will be in that situation - my DH is a teacher so a "key worker", but I'm not, and it would seem bonkers if I can just carry on as normal whilst other people can't).

gamerchick · 18/03/2020 20:44

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

Yep, mine is able to attend school because of his EHCP.

lyralalala · 18/03/2020 20:46

TrentBridge - I think that is one of the reasons all schools will be open Monday, but they said that not all schools will stay open. It gives them time to shake down who really needs to be there, who wants their kids there (my SIL's 4 are moving in with us for the duration as that allowws her to focus on her ICU job) and then they can almalgamate into one or two schools locally.

I think it'll be made clear quickly that the schools are open as a safety net for people who need their child there (or for some of the vulnerable children, for them needing to be there). Not for those who have other options.

ocarinan · 18/03/2020 20:47

I'm sure that has nothing to do with the fact that you claim to be are a lawyer.

TrentBridge · 18/03/2020 20:54

Exactly Lyralalala. One of my nurse friends is quite honestly gloating about it... "why would I want to keep them at home?" etc, and I think / hope that it is made clear as you say that this is a safety net for families who do have 2 key workers (or a single parent who is)

ginandtonicformeplease · 18/03/2020 21:14

Xenia well if you were arrested it wouldn't be a barrister who met you at the police station, it would be a solicitor. In England and Wales they are two distinct jobs. As the Government has halted all trials lasting longer than three days, barristers definitely won't be on the list.

vickibee · 18/03/2020 21:19

My son has an EHCP and can continue to attend. He is not going to be happy because he seems to have it in his head that it is closed and he doesn’t like being different to everyone else.

Wonderbag · 18/03/2020 21:32

Sorry, is it the holiday club 2 weeks?
As school should accommodate children with an EHCP for term time.

mamansnet · 18/03/2020 23:59

Really feel for you, OP. If your manager won't push for it with the school, maybe threaten to take your child into work with you and let them get on with their schoolwork on a desk near you. Since children are known carriers of CV, surely they'd rather help you find an alternative solution...

And really push that your child has additional needs and needs to be in school as there are no other caregivers who can provide the necessary support.

Best of luck.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6