Do other countries still have schools open for key worker staff?

[AliciaWhiskers]

I know there are many people on here from other countries where schools have closed.

Do they also have some school open offering schooling to key worker children?

Both myself and ExH are key workers, so we are eligible for our kids to stay at school (although we both have other partners, ExH's is also a key worker bu off work due to an injury for 4 weeks, and my OH is not a key worker). I feel so uncomfortable about the whole thing.

Surely schools are closing to try and keep people safe. So I feel I am not doing my best to keep my family safe if I continue to send them to school. I know that they are at higher risk because of myself and my Ex as we are higher risk by working for the NHS and being patient facing, but I feel like I would actually be increasing their risk by using the school as ALL the children there would be higher risk due to their parents work. I feel as though I am doing the opposite of what I should be doing.

I just wondered if other countries offered the same, or if it's actually counter productive and not being offered in other countries as it's putting kids at higher risk.

I am trying hard to change my days at work so I can make it possible for the kids to stay at home, and if necessary my partner and Ex's partner could help out.

I feel out of control and like I'm putting work ahead of my kids and despite being a healthcare worker that doesn't sit well with me.

Canada they're are closed for everyone.

@MrsTerryPratchett thank you

I think Finland still have schools open for key workers' children up until the age of 9-ish. It's a difficult situation to be in, and I hope you find a solution that works for you.

Closed for everyone in Maine.

Childcare is being made available for essential workers apparently - I'm not one so I'm not really clear on how it works.

Meant to say, our teachers are very busy running an online teaching program - I'm not sure how they'd manage that if they were also having to keep the schools open for a small number of students.

Netherlands open for key workers children and closed for everyone else

Alicia!

I just made an account on here as I am in the same position as you and wanted to reply.

My daughter is 9 and I qualify as a key worker (as does my OH although she will basically be working online from now on and so at home).

Daughter has a place at school but I just feel bad using it.

We could get through it and keep her at home (which she badly wants of course ...) and I am concerned that it increases the risk to us all (OH has asthma and had pneumonia before so is higher risk than most) if we keep her going in

France does

In Germany (at least in Hesse, the State I am in) there are childcare facilities open for children of key workers up to secondary school age. Both parents have to be key workers though or the resident parent if a single parent.

The list of key workers is updated regularly and now includes supermarket staff, delivery drivers etc

from what I have gathered at my daughter's school, there are very few children there so I think the risk is as low as you can get it if you need that childcare.

In Belgium schools are open for key-workers' children.

In France there is a service for key workers but it is grouped, so one school per town for example. They are not calling it school though, they are calling it something closer to childcare.

Closed in Ireland

The Netherlands do indeed have child care available for children of parents with ‘vital functions’, it is supposed to be an option of last resort for the reasons OP states.

Sweden all schools up to age 15 open, at least for now.

The Netherlands is doing a bit of the Herd Immunity shizz too, mind. Unlike our close neighbours. I’m hopeful we’ll pull our socks up, looks like we might...

In Sweden schools are still open, for everyone.

Open for children of key workers only in Germany

Denmark, schools, nurseries etc. open for key workers.

Where I live in Switzerland, DC of primary aged key workers can go to school for supervised childcare. They are doing the work sheets etc assigned to all DC, but it's not formal teaching. You need to apply and the form asks which category of key worker you are for both parents. Both need to be key workers, (or be a single parent). You don't qualify if one parent for example is a nurse and the other is working from home. There are fines if this is abused. The idea is to keep the numbers low as possible to protect those there as far as possible.
If there are older children/adults at home who could babysit, this should be considered. I believe the uptake is quite low.
It's not ideal but nothing about this shitty situation is.

Obviously that should be primary aged DC, not primary aged workers!!! I need to go to bed.

Im a teacher in Switzerland. Where I am the schools are open for any on needing childcare - emphasis on emergency childcare meaning for key workers. We had quite a few applied to come at the beginning of the week but they have all dropped out and we had none today. People realise everyone is safer staying at home.

In Poland all school closed.

A bit of a mix then. I still can't decide!

Schools are not acting as schools, as such more a childminding service. Surely other countries are providing a similar service ? What else can they do.

Italy all schools closed, all teachers working online.
Fewer categories of "key worker" I think. Obviously health and essential retail (food and medicine) but that's about it.
The govt have passed emergency legislation to give financial help with childcare costs but that's obviously going to be retroactive.