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Original poster

Is no one else shocked that the government have closed schools, but offered no support for working parents?

44 replies

StoodonLego · 19/03/2020 18:45

Ok I know we are in dreadful circumstances, and yes I know school isn't childcare.

But, it's obvious that thousands of people are going to struggle to work now. We've been asked not to send children to grandparents.childcare won't be available as we're all socially distancing.

Well what the hell are people supposed to do?

Many families can't survive on one income.

Meanwhile round here the pubs and restaurants are busier than ever.

OP posts:
Faie · 19/03/2020 19:26

I'm with you on this, hopefully this weekend they'll confirm solid plans as to how they are going to help out, instead of saying "we will cover this"

I work in a hotel reception and am newly pregnant so cannot wait for the news this weekend

WyomingWoman · 19/03/2020 19:31

Well what do you want them to do?

We are in an unprecedented crisis. The government’s priority is saving lives and preventing the spread of disease.

Original poster
StoodonLego · 19/03/2020 19:35

We are in an unprecedented crisis. The government’s priority is saving lives and preventing the spread of disease.

Is it? Is it really? Or have they succumbed to pressure from the "close the schools" brigade.

I've been out today, my local town and high street were busier than ever. Nearly everyone I know is going out to restaurants and cafes and doing what the hell they like.

OP posts:
AutumnLeavesSeptember · 19/03/2020 19:37

I really can't see what they could possibly do? We have to either work around the kids, do localised childcare swaps or try to take leave.

SpringIsBlooming · 19/03/2020 19:39

Early year's childcare settings have also had to shut which means they have no income at all. It is a horrible situation for everyone but I am (perhaps rather naively) optimistic that the government will step in and help.

TSSDNCOP · 19/03/2020 19:41

Nearly everyone I know is going out to restaurants and cafes and doing what the hell they like.

I think these are the people you need to take to task, aren’t they?

Friendsofmine · 19/03/2020 19:45

Just because other people are going about their lives in restaurants....that was like saying smoking can't be dangerous back in the 50s! Ludicrous OP.

bemoreeverything · 19/03/2020 19:47

Is it? Is it really? Or have they succumbed to pressure from the "close the schools" brigade.

You think the U.K. government gives a shit about what the people think?

Well that's a new one Shock

Of course they didn't decide to close the schools because of Jane and Bob down the road shouting about it.

Original poster
StoodonLego · 19/03/2020 19:48

Point is schools are supposed to be closing to stop the spread, but how will the spread stop when so many people aren't listening to government advice about social distancing.

OP posts:
adiposegirl2 · 19/03/2020 19:56

What WyomingWoman said

StoodonLego Is it? Is it really? Or have they succumbed to pressure from the "close the schools" brigade.

Shock

I, I have no words...What an astonishing comment to have made. #snowflakementanity

Google coronavirus Italy, Spain, France, USA

Derbygerbil · 19/03/2020 20:08

They’ve closed the schools as it’s a necessary precursor to the more stringent enforced “lockdown”‘that’s coming. If we carry on as we are without one we’ll make Italy’s death toll look light in comparison.

hopelessatthinkingupusernames · 19/03/2020 20:11

Yep. My husbands work have said they can have 5 days leave to make alternative arrangements. That’s great except there is no alternative arrangements so what the hell are we meant to do?
I know the government is trying to sort a million things at once and this is completely unprecedented and unplanned for but I genuinely have no idea what we are meant to do

bemoreeverything · 19/03/2020 20:11

Point is schools are supposed to be closing to stop the spread, but how will the spread stop when so many people aren't listening to government advice about social distancing.

Interesting point, but it's not the one you raised in your OP. That was...

Well what the hell are people supposed to do?

Many families can't survive on one income.

Grasspigeons · 19/03/2020 20:14

I agree - im not sure what but some kind of income and keeping jobs open for people to return to would be good. Like mat leave.

Original poster
StoodonLego · 19/03/2020 20:14

They’ve closed the schools as it’s a necessary precursor to the more stringent enforced “lockdown”‘that’s coming. If we carry on as we are without one we’ll make Italy’s death toll look light in comparison.

I agree, but meanwhile all I'm hearing about is how "it's only flu" and "people die everyday". Mumsnet seem to be taking this quite seriously but in real life no one is, that I have witnessed. If lockdown is coming then fair enough, but didn't sound like it from today's press conference.

I'm a key worker but dh isn't, we can't afford for dh to take time off as he's the higher earner. We can't afford to survive on one income. We're lucky I guess, single parents will be in even worse position.

OP posts:
Pixxie7 · 19/03/2020 20:15

Perhaps it will come to working in shifts with one parent working at night. We just need to be more imaginative.

Sirzy · 19/03/2020 20:16

I've been out today, my local town and high street were busier than ever. some irony there surely?

The government have rightly ensured that families of key workers are catered for and those identified as the most vulnerable pupils.

Don’t forget this is all completely unprecedented. Everyone is making it up as they go along and trying to do the best in bad circumstances which will mean people having to take some pretty horrible and hard bita along the way.

Original poster
StoodonLego · 19/03/2020 20:17

I've been out today, my local town and high street were busier than ever. some irony there surely?

I was driving to take my children to school for their last couple of days. I have to drive through a high street, it was heaving, I wasn't out at the pub.

OP posts:
lettersbyowl · 19/03/2020 20:18

Goodness sake. There's literally tens of thousands of people out there right now working hard to keep you and your families safe, and keep essential services running. Work from home if you can, split childcare "shifts" with your partner, approach the bank for a mortgage holiday if you think you'll need one, approach your employer to find a workable solution. You're not the only one in this position and the government are not doing it to piss you off and make your life hard. They're trying to save lives. They've put SO MANY measures in place to help where they can. The rest is up to you to show some resilience!!!!

Quartz2208 · 19/03/2020 20:20

or companies should be willing to help - both mine and my husbands have said that we can work outside of normal hours to faciliate one of us being around to have childcare. Where possible people should be working from home anyway.

We are doing shifts across 7am to 9pm in order to fit our hours in. Its not pretty or easy but nonething about this is

@StoodonLego the fact the people arent taking it seriously is exactly why we are in this mess. They are giving people a chance to realise how serious it is and make the decision themselves

Look at the pound though - there just isnt that much to give from the government

DoubleAction · 19/03/2020 20:21

We were down to 40% teachers today. They weren't closed to try and prevent the spread, despite what may thought, it did make sense to keep them in school from that POV. Better than terrorising supermarkets like some here have done today.

Schools closed because it wasn't safe to keep them open with rapidly declining staff numbers.

I'm not sure where "they" are supposed to magic up childcare from but it is being done by schools for key workers.

I suspect the list of key workers hasn't yet been released because of a dawning realisation that it's actually quite long. Schools are going to be much more "open" than they are planning for or (possibly) able.

Aardvarkitsabloodyaardvark · 19/03/2020 20:24

We're all in the same boat though surely.
What of those that are now unwell as they caught it from their children still in school?

Oblomov20 · 19/03/2020 20:25

Op:
"I've been out today, my local town and high street were busier than ever. Nearly everyone I know is going out to restaurants and cafes and doing what the hell they like."

Well. They shouldn't be! Clearly no one in your town is taking on board the Governments instructions of:

  1. social distancing
  2. only travel if essential.

God give me strength. why are these people so stupid? Stay at home, only go out if you absolutely have to, do not meet friends, do not go out unless you absolutely have to, and try and distance yourself: is what people are supposed to be doing!! Hmm

ukgift2016 · 19/03/2020 20:29

The teachers don't want to work. Funny how they are all self isolating yet NHS and social care staff still manage to go into work.

The schools are still open for key workers kids so the teachers will still have to go in. Oh no, haha. See them soon start to kick up a fuss about that.

Oblomov20 · 19/03/2020 20:31

"Nearly everyone I know is going out to restaurants and cafes and doing what the hell they like."

Then hopefully Boris will implement a lockdown. To make these types of people obey the requests he's been giving, but they are ignoring.

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