School Closures and Key Workers - I am so frustrated with the government

[Whatsername177]

I am a teacher. Over the last two days I've been through the mill with everything that has happened. The closure of schools was a devastating blow, especially to my yr11 pupils whose future is now uncertain. I have cried, they have cried. It has been fucking awful. I am gutted, genuinly gutted. It has been compounded by the fact that I've had to self isolate since Wednesday because my husband has symptoms - I'm frustrated because I am well and feel blody useless at home, communicating virtually with my kids. When the government announced that schools would stay open to provide childcare for front line staff I was happy. I knew I'd be rota'd in - good. I will happily provide childcare if that is what the key people need to do their job. It is literally the only thing helpful that I can do. But, now the list has been released - there are 8 categories, pretty much most jobs can be covered by the list and it seems it applies to two parent households even if only one parent meets the criteria. We could potentially still have hundreds of pupils in school. Parents are frightened about losing their jobs and I understand that. But social distancing is the only way to beat the virus. We have just thrown the entire education system out of the window, but if it doesn't result in an increase in social distancing to save lives, what was it for?!

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

I know how you feel. I am on the list (but one day a week) I feel pressured to try and get a place so we can both get work done and the kids get some human contact with other people, but equally we had worked out a plan that hopefully would have just about worked (and been hideously stressful)

I don't know what to do now.

And I know I will get berated for saying human contact is important but one of children has SEN, awaiting diagnosis, and it is really important for him, I don't know what long term impact this will have on his development.

Totally agree. The list is so long and open to abuse. Theres also the issue of some schools opening as hubs, which I disagree with.

GOV: we're closing schools so people can isolate/be socially distant. They will be run on skeleton staff

SCHOOLS: ok... let create hub schools full of kids we dont know and we'll babysit them. Oh and all staff expected in

Think they've missed the point.....

I’m a key worker as a teaching assistant (I think). I am not sending my son to college even though he has an EHCP as my husband is about to provide care.

I plan to self isolate if we get any symptoms but am hoping to avoid it.

As many of us as possible need to keep children out if someone can safely care for children.

In the meantime I will happily and willingly care for children who need to come in to school.

So every what is it you'd like the government to do then? Totally shut schools and leave us without vital services. At least this way there will be less children in.

Which of the jobs on the list do you think isn't essential OP?

That guidance is totally contradictory. Schools will be virtually open as normal in some cases. The virus may well v quickly tear through all of us working in them.

It really highlights the school= childcare argument .

I don’t understand why one parent (unless single parent family) means they qualify.

It should be the minimal needed to keep the essentials ticking over not a free for all childcare service.

Ds would qualify as he has an ehc but I had already said he wouldn’t be going in before this list (although I do fully understand why they are included!) but the new long list of qualifying people makes me even more sure because the idea is to reduce contact but have lots!

I was thinking this. It’s almost like they have created a massive list so schools are actually open. Plus less teachers and mixed age groups. Are you babysitting or teaching?
Also all I’m reading now is what about x job what about y job!
You will get symptoms soon and so will all the other teachers.
This plan is doomed to fail

I’m a key worker as a teaching assistant (I think)

I didn’t see TAs in the list-can you please copy and paste that bit for me if you find it?

@SushiGo please don't send your kids to school just so they can "get some human contact with other people". The entire purpose of closing the schools is exactly so kids DON'T don't contact other people.

In my dc primary school I reckon at least half the kids will still be in. I want the government to say you HAVE to work from home unless you are a key worker instead of their wane ‘advised to’ shite.

And that you need both parents to be key workers unless a single parent.

am not sending my son to college

Is this an FE college because they won’t be open.

Surely all (non vulnerable) secondary school children are capable of staying home without parental supervision? Maybe parents can work a shortened day.

I posted again to explain why I said that. Kids with SEN are not in this in the same way other kids are.

It’s horrible OP but laure is quite correct.

There really is NO reason for secondary schools to be opening.

but one of children has SEN, awaiting diagnosis, and it is really important for him, I don't know what long term impact this will have on his development

The good of the country has to come first.

They have shut down nothing.

Teachers and teaching assistants are only on the list because the rest are on the list. Until you are actually called in to work you don't know know if you are needed.

Whole thing is a shit show.

No child should be getting sent to school for human contact, fucks sake why is no-one getting this.

Issey secondary schools will need to provide access for some vulnerable children.

How on earth does the list include most jobs?

Construction isn't included
Non essential retail
Beauty industry (hairdressers/ barbers etc)
Leisure (pubs, gyms, etc)

There's going to be a heck of a lot of people at home. I also wonder if they are thinking school 9-3 forgetting many children of key workers will ordinarily be going to Grandparents or other after school provisions.

I agree with @haggisfish it's not the list that is too long it's that it applies even if just one parent is on it.

I doubt we will see hundreds in school though as only really immoral people would send their kids to school if they weren't on the list so am sure the other parent will be required to step up. It will only be in single parent families or those where both are key workers.

Our local area have said they will need to create a hub ie. keep one school open for all children who are attending. Possibly more children together than in the smaller schools?

However the list is open to interpretation and rather than taking decisive action to slow the curve it has created discord between parents who can claim to be on the list and send children to school and parents who are desperate to keep their jobs and have no childcare.

I work in children’s services and yesterday we were asked to provide a list of children who may not have an EHCP or social services intervention but who were still considered vulnerable. Surely every child who may be left home alone because their parent is not a key worker but they can’t afford or access childcare is vulnerable.

So if all of these children can go to school what is the point ffs it’s so frustrating.

Religious services doesnt need to be on the list - religious institutions are already doing a great job of skyping services.
Financial services can cover anyone who works in a bank- if banks too ran a skeleton staff then it would mean lots of people would be able to reduce the amount of pupils in. We have made the sacrifices - thousands of pupils have made the sacrifice - WTF was it for?