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Covid

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Original poster

The List of Keyworkers is here

294 replies

noblegiraffe · 20/03/2020 00:17

The long-awaited list of keyworkers who will be expected to continue to send their children to school is here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Tbh it seems that it would have been quicker to list people who aren’t keyworkers. It’s going to be way more than schools were expecting and I’m not sure how we’ll cope.

OP posts:

AnotherEmma · 20/03/2020 11:20

"I had no intention of using this but I'm now a bit worried that I might come under some pressure to as it fairly clearly says I can, and work might be a lot less understanding about paying me to do less than my full job if they see it as a choice."

Exactly this.

Arguably I am on the list because I work for Citizens Advice and my employer has said that we are "charities and workers delivering key frontline services". However, I am not convinced that it's a "key frontline service" compared to some of the other roles on the list which are much more essential IMO.

Also, I'm "vulnerable" because I'm pregnant, so I'm working from home and avoiding social contact. But what is the point of me being under house arrest if my DS is going to attend nursery and risk catching coronavirus from (for example) NHS workers' children who are also still going to nursery and are presumably going to be a high risk of catching it from their parents?!

I asked my employer if I could take parental leave but they didn't reply and have instead emailed everyone to say we are key workers.

Like many others I am by far the lower earner. My DH is not a key worker but he is self employed (doesn't get paid if he doesn't work) and his income pays our bills. So it would be financial madness for him to do childcare while I work.

CatLadyP · 20/03/2020 11:22

@rnwood Very good point! And that is why the government should make it clear that if one parent is not a key worker then you can't send the children to school, regardless of what the non key worker's job is.

CatLadyP · 20/03/2020 11:26

Also there should be clear financial support for those who do have to take unpaid leave to stay with their children.

Cohle · 20/03/2020 11:26

And that is why the government should make it clear that if one parent is not a key worker then you can't send the children to school, regardless of what the non key worker's job is.

But as many many people have pointed out on the thread, that would lead to some key workers choosing not to work because their partner is the higher earner. We can't have nurses not going to work right now.

Rowgtfc72 · 20/03/2020 11:27

I've just had a message from school to say as a key workers do we want to accept dds place on monday.
Shes 13 and we work opposite shifts so shes staying home. I know a lot of people that wouldn't think the same .

CatLadyP · 20/03/2020 11:37

"But as many many people have pointed out on the thread, that would lead to some key workers choosing not to work because their partner is the higher earner. We can't have nurses not going to work right now."

The government really needs to do something about this then, perhaps through financial support.

I earn more than DH and he is the key worker, but we wouldn't consider him staying off while I worked in the current circumstances because he's needed and my job is ultimately not going to help society. I would do it, no question, even if it meant a loss of pay.

Cohle · 20/03/2020 11:41

The government really needs to do something about this then, perhaps through financial support.

It is doing something. It's offering them childcare.

CatLadyP · 20/03/2020 11:44

But offering them childcare when the other parent could stay home is not going to help limit the spread of the virus. The aim should surely be to keep people apart as much as possible.

WishMyNameWasWittyNotShitty · 20/03/2020 14:40

@cohle in relation to your comment about the Justice System, I am aware that administration staff have been told that they are essential....whether they themselves believe that is another issue, but that is what is being fed down.

Cohle · 20/03/2020 14:58

Yes I can imagine court staff are far more essential than many lawyers at the moment.

JudyCoolibar · 20/03/2020 15:02

In criminal cases, defence lawyers are pretty essential given that the right to a fair trial is so central to the entire system.

In civil courts and tribunals they seem to be trying to set up as much as possible by way of online hearings so the issue doesn't really arise.

trinklesminkle · 20/03/2020 15:04

It's crazy I work for Royal Mail as a cleaner for two of their sites and I'm classed as a key worker too. It's baffling

Iwalkinmyclothing · 20/03/2020 15:11

DS1 doesn't have a named SW or (yet) an EHCP, but he has diagnoses and is in a PRU alternative placement. Or was, until they were forced to close this week due to staff needing to self isolate. I have no idea how we will handle the coming weeks. So far I have been bribing him to stay inside but that isn't something I can continue with. I can see another descent into absolute shite coming.

DS2 and DS3 will probably still be able to go to school for the days of the week we can't cover (I have key worker status) but there is no provision for DS1 it seems. I can't see a way through the next few months tbh, he's disengaged from CAMHS and is unmedicated and I despair at trying to keep him safe and out of trouble.

KoalasandRabbit · 20/03/2020 16:10

DS says in his tutor group of 20 there's 5 coming in on Monday so about 25% of children will be in. He says they are putting them all in big groups in the library and the sports hall and allowing them access to the teach from home resources everyone else has given with one teacher supervising each big group. Good luck to that teacher. Seems like a plan to spread the virus putting them altogether especially with kids of NHS workers in there. We're rural and would imagine in our old area by London take-up will be higher as more people with 2 working parents there. A lot of them probably could home educate but I bet they chose not to. When they realise it's more childcare than teaching think some will drop out.

givemewaffles · 20/03/2020 16:29

I'm not sure what to do, both me and DH are classed as 'key workers' as we are government staff- he is working directly on COVID stuff but me not so much. We have a 15 month old DD which basically means I can get no work done at home as she doesn't entertain herself for very long but I really don't want to send her into nursery if I can help it! (Although I'm sure they would be glad of the constant income)! Hoping my work will be super flexible or maybe send her in on reduced hours!

Fidgety31 · 20/03/2020 17:02

My sons school will not take kids if the parent is working from home .
Some people on this thread have mentioned using the childcare so they can work from home in peace .
My school have checked with my employer that I am not working from home and because I am a single parent my son has got a place .

Sounds like some folks just want to use it so they can home work in peace and quiet !

AnotherEmma · 20/03/2020 17:10

Well yes, when you have a 3 year old you can't really work properly from home. I realise this thread is about school closures though and most school age kids require less supervision. Still need some though!

WyfOfBathe · 20/03/2020 18:49

DD's school have said to only send children in on days when both parents are working in key worker jobs and there is no other option for childcare. They have made it very clear that sending children in is a last resort.

My school sent a letter to parents today saying that students are going to have lessons, and opportunities for PE and art. The letter says it's only open to key worker/vulnerable children, but also has a bolded statement saying "this provision is full-time and students are expected to attend every day and for full days." It almost seems like they're encouraging parents to use this service as much as possible.

Greenpop21 · 20/03/2020 19:46

I work in a primary school. One parent has to be in the key worker list and it is only available if you can’t be at home. Lessons won’t be taught as normal, it will be childcare.

Greenpop21 · 20/03/2020 19:48

We’ve gone from 90 pupils (small, rural school) to 15 on most days. Staff are being put on a rota if they are not vulnerable themselves.

WaterSheep · 20/03/2020 20:14

Lessons won’t be taught as normal, it will be childcare.

Exactly the same as my school.

DakotaFanny · 20/03/2020 20:30

I would think this is for safeguarding reasons, schools need to know who’s in and who’s not, they can’t have people dropping kids in some days and not others.

Greenpop21 · 20/03/2020 20:32

We plan to do some exercising, gardening, some reading, maths games etc depending on the age group.

Randomschoolworker19 · 20/03/2020 21:18

Our head teacher is reviewing it on a case by case basis and is only going to let vulnerable children in and children of key workers if they absolutely can't get childcare elsewhere.

Children really should be at home otherwise there is no point in closing schools.

WyfOfBathe · 20/03/2020 21:51

I would think this is for safeguarding reasons, schools need to know who’s in and who’s not, they can’t have people dropping kids in some days and not others.

Nurseries and holiday clubs always have people using it some days and not others, so it's not impossible. Other schools are asking parents to say in advance which days they're using it.

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