Key worker, school or not?

[allhailthegingerninja]

I'm a key worker, so my DC's could go into school if I wanted them to. I'm part time.
DH is working from home. So, I'm not going to send them in.
But, should I? Psychologically it would be better for them to be there, and of course far easier for DH to get work done.
OTOH, I'm increasing their risk, and our risk. (And school staff risk) So I'm thinking no I shouldn't. And probably won't.

What are others doing?
(DC's are yr3 and yr5)

Does anyone know if school catering staff are included? Nothing about support staff on the list but someone will have to feed the keyworkers kids 🧐

I'm a social worker and therefore keyworker.

DH has just found out he can wfh and so can I for the most part just doing phone assessments etc - I have an underlying condition.

We've just discussed it and won't send ds in. I'm not frontline like medical staff and we can muddle. It'll be bloody hard but we can do it

I imagine they might count as part of the food supply chain?

As a teacher married to a teacher, please don't send them in if you can safely care for them at home without affecting your key worker job. If you need schools, use them but if you don't, keep kids home.

Every child sent in increases the risk for those still in school - I'm pregnant so am at home, but my partner is still having to go to work as we expect so many children next week.

Every child he mixes with is another risk to him and therefore me and our baby. We have literally nowhere else for him to go and I have health issues making it unsafe for me to live alone, so we are having to stay living in the same house but keep our distance.

I am scared every day that he will bring the virus home.

Please don't send them in if you don't have to.

It won't be education - it will be childcare. And greatly increases the risk of spreading the disease further.

If they can stay home they should.

I've provided a list of my working days to DS's school - he will be going 1-2 days / week while we are in this situation.

It has to be both parents who are key workers. If not, your child will be turned away at the gate.

The guidance is quite clear this isn’t the case-point 4.2.

OP-the guidance is also quite clear that in your situation, your child stays at home! You do not need childcare to do your essential work.

I’m on the key worker list but will be keeping mine home. They are 14 and 10 and their adult sister is around too. Will only send them if they start becoming a problem when I’m working.

If it is at all possible for children to be at home, then they should be

First point in the government’s advice. If there is any way that they can be at home, keep them at home.

It’s meant to be only if no parent can stay at home

Ds is very disappointed he will have to go in I have no choice he is in Year 7 and I have to work. I can do a two shorter days catching up on reports/emails at home so will send him in for three days he can stay at home the other two I’m fine leaving him for a few hours

His dad is abroad and I have no one I am so relieved and thankful for this as I couldn’t not work otherwise and wouldn’t get full pay. Though pressure being out on to do overtime I simply can’t

This is quite conflicting for everyone.

What about teachers who have children of their own-they can put theirs in school (childcare) or bring them to their school (childcare) with them- but neither of those things counts as ‘staying at home if at all possible’.

If we say teachers with children can stay at home but everyone else should put themselves at increased risk and work more, that is very unfair. The chances of getting the virus from a group of key workers’ children in a germ-ridden classroom is pretty high, I would think. Forcing teachers who are in their 50/60s (the ones without dependent children) to do it alone is not fair either. You could exclude all people with children and all people over 50, but then the school will be run entirely by three teachers in their 40s and an NQT of 21 which isn’t fair either!

This makes me think the rota needs to be done completely fairly and everyone takes their turn (unless pregnant or one of the pre existing health conditions).

do not.

i could send my son in, but I'm not going to as it's not a necessity. that is unnecessary social contact - exactly what all these measures are trying to limit.

I’m genuinely insure of what to do. My husbands job is NHS front line and absolutely critical. He must go to work and is intending in working extra hours daily.

I am an allied health professional and work full time. My job is highly specialised but I have 15 years of experience and skilled in lots of areas. We have been told that we will not be running our routine clinics. We will be redeployed to the wards to assist the nurses. Focus is on getting bed blockers (for want of a better term) out of hospital and home ASAP. Or just generally freeing up nurses from their routine care to treat covid patients.

However, I could afford to take unpaid leave and stay home with my daughter.

I decided today to go to work and send my daughter to school. She will absolutely hate it (very small rural school and very few kids will be going in).

Have now read this thread and questioning my decision.

WTF do I do?

Just to clarify, all 4 grandparents over 70 and immunosuppressed. Only other family nearby currently in self isolation but have pretty much said they will not look after our DC.

I’ve no other options for childcare besides me.

That should read “they will not look after DD once they are no longer isolating”

@fedup21 Fair isn't important right now. Reducing spread and lowering the demand on intensive care is what matters.

Knobblybobbly I'm a TA and will be providing childcare in a school setting. Allowing both you and your DH to go to work is absolutely what it is about .

Thank-you x

Im classed as a key worker but can do my job WFH. Husband also WFH - we not sending our children in - as much as I’m nervous about how it will all work but it’s about keeping us and others safe as much as possible. The space is needed for actual frontline workers. We also live near a major hospital so guess the numbers will be higher - those teachers also need to keep safe.

Ok.

I feel like every decision has a moral implication at the moment. I dont care about not getting paid and I really don’t want my child to potentially catch/spread covid. I’m aware that this is a risk we are taking by sending our child to school. But at the same time I feel I have a duty to work. Ive been told by our management it’s all hands to the deck. Its been over 10 years since I worked on a ward, but I found out today that staff shortage is already a huge problem. So that is why I am going back onto the front line.

So to come on here and read that comments like “if you don’t HAVE to use the childcare you should keep your child at home” just raises my anxiety. I certainly don’t HAVE to work for the money, I’m not doing it to get paid. I’m doing it because my boss has told me I’m needed there.

Feel like either way I will be criticised.

Sending your child to school should absolutely be a last resort not a free choice.

I am a single parent teacher. My 2 eldest can stay at home but my youngest will have to come with me.

It is childcare we will be providing, not education. Mixed age groups from Reception to Year 6. It will not resemble 'school' in anyway.

I am doing my bit. Please do yours by keeping your child at home.

@My2catsarefab is that a response to my post?

Knobbly bobbly I get it. We were going to try and fudge it through my husband is having them at home (not key worker) but it looks like I'm going to have to increase my hours significantly (nhs front line) as our service is already swamped.

I'm sending mine in 1 day a week. I'm already doing over and above (with inadequate ppe but that's another thread) and he needs to have some time to do work. I can't guarantee what time I get home at the moment. But it gives him one day a week he can definitely do all his conference calls etc.

I’m gutted that my daughter has to go in everyday. I literally have not met/spoken to/encountered another child that has to do this. I surely can’t be on my own. But be both work full time DH in front line and I’m being called to the front line, so what choice do I have? Other than declining g to work.

Then I’ll get criticised for not working.

Sorry, my anxiety is sky high at the moment. This is literally occupying my every thought.

Why on earth would you send your dc into school during a pandemic, if her DF is AFH ?
No, it is not better for her....she is at risk of getting covid 19 and then bringing it home.
If you are a key worker, you cannot afford to get it.
Be sensible, keep her home, there will be plenty of time for her to socialize when this passes .