So how is all this ‘open only for key workers’ thing going to work then?

[FlamingoAndJohn]

Really is doesn’t seem to mean anything.

I can’t really teach a random selection of children.

Lots of childminders now losing their livelihoods,who could in fact be looking after children while these front line parents work.

Who will offer to do this, most teachers are parents too.

If will be interesting to see what the unions make of this

I'm happy to go in and do my bit.
My worry is that the students in my school who are vulnerable tend to be violent etc and I have no idea how to handle extreme behaviour, especially if they are all in one room. I just wouldn't be safe.

I'm happy to do it but only if it has actually been seriously thought through and planned carefully.

I hope they compensate teachers - are they expected to work as normal??
I am so glad to be salaried and protected right now. I'm also more than willing to keep working as long as I and others in my household are in good health. We're all low risk so need to do our bit.

No idea what's going to happen. I work as a 1-1 with a child with an ehcp, and have three children...one a toddler. Obviously the primary aged kids could come in with me if I had to work, but what about the toddler?

Our schools didn't even know they would open for Key Workers.... they were told full closures so somehow didn't know.

I'm a TA who works with EHCP and vulnerable kids, I am expected in but do I class as a key worker? I can only work if my childrens primary and nursery open and take them. We really need more clarification quickly.

Of course I would rather stay away and hide away with my family and keep us safe but I know we need to all pull together too so I will do my bit. I'm scared, but willing.

The suggestion did seem to be that they would streamline things so that only a few schools are open in each borough, rather than all schools having to open at 15% (or whatever) capacity.

On this basis, and assuming there is online learning organised for the children by their various schools, I suspect the 'open' school/s will operate as a learning childcare base, where a rota of teachers (from all schools in the borough) will be drafted in to oversee and be available for general educational guidance and lunchtime wrangling, rather than teaching.

I’m a teacher and I think it’s the best solution possible. I’m no Boris fan and definitely not a Tory voter, but as a teacher I accept that I have a responsibility to do something to help in this situation and looking after vulnerable children and key worker’s children really is the least I can do. Will it be fun or easy? Possibly not. But I’m going to be paid a steady wage unlike millions of people in this country and I’m not going to be on the nhs front line working flat out and watching people die, so I’m going to suck it up and get on with it.

I knew this would happen everyone crying out for the schools to close now its why shojuld i babysit kids of key workers!

I hope all the people who are criticizing @TimeforanotherChange are currently sorting out their DBS checks so they can volunteer to go into schools and provide childcare. Because that's what it will be, childcare, not teaching. So makes sens they should be able to do so,

There are very valid concerns that school staff are being asked to do this. We've had a horrendous difficult week at school with skeleton staff numbers remaining, trying to keep caring for about 70% of the students. We're exhausted and stressed, which makes us even more vulnerable to bugs. And many of us have our own health issues, young families and elderly family members, too.

I'm a primary teacher and happy to go on a rota with other staff to go in and care for the children of key workers. I just hope that some proof has been shown that there is no other option for care such as a parent at home.

I work in an SEN school, so all our students have an EHCP so it seems that we will need to carry on as usual. Having said that many of our students are also health compromised so they should technically stay away for 12 weeks. The Govt advice is very confusing and we need clarification and...we really need our Easter break.

are currently sorting out their DBS checks so they can volunteer to go into schools and provide childcare

The fact they are making changes (presumably cuts) to allow DBS checks to go through "much quicker, hopefully in 24 hours" for the care sector means people could be drafted in if needed.

Thinking about children with EHCPs, surely many of them would rather have them at home due to health concern rather than have them in with loads of other children?

It would make more sense to open a handful of schools per area than all of them. Just thinking about the logistics of opening every building and the cost of turning on the lighting and heating.

I understand it would make sense from an economies of scale point of view, but as a teacher it would be preferable for me to teach in a building I am familiar with and pupils I know. I'm sure the pupils would feel the same.

@FlamingoAndJohn If parents want to keep their kids home they'll be able to do that. Kids with an echp can go in, but that's going to be a safety net for vulnerable kids who need to be in.

@flamingo my DC has EHCP and I'd much rather have him at home rather than around children that are more likely to be exposed to it.

I said they'd do this right at the start. No one seemed to agree. I think it's the right thing to do. I've already told my head last week that if they keep schools open for people who need to physically be at work then I will help out.

I have primary aged children. If their school can't do it - I've already arranged that they'll come into school with me.

It needs to happen. Everything can't just stop. Everything would collapse.

surely many of them would rather have them at home due to health concern

Why would children with cognition and learning, communication and interaction or social and emotional EHCPs have underlying health conditions?

Really sad to see some teachers not understanding how providing care for children whose parents need to work in health and social care is important. I work in social care. No longer frontline far from it. I’m expecting redeployment back into social care, probably front line delivering personal care to vulnerable people. I’ll happily do it. Got to help out where we can can’t we? Isn’t that how we get through this?

I'm waiting for clarification from my school as to how many staff they will need. DH and I are both teachers (at the same school) so I'm hoping that one of us can stay off or work from home to look after our DC, while the other one goes in.

One of us will definitely volunteer to keep going in, even if we have to go to a different school in our area/MAT, as we're lucky enough not to have anyone in our household who's at high risk. I'd rather my colleagues with elderly parents living with them or children with asthma/diabetes/etc stay home.

Who's going to provide childcare for the teachers' own children when they are not classed as key workers?

@lemonGingerCakes Teachers are 99.9%, if not 100%, likely to be on the list tomorrow

Another problem is going to be cleaning/ kitchen staff.

Before today’s announcement DDs school had to close their kitchen due to staff shortages and have been only selling sandwiches since Monday.

If cleaning staff go off the schools (classrooms, canteens, toilets) become more ‘dangerous’ to the kids.