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

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

IT and data? Most of the people I know in these sectors work from home anyway.

I think the only reason they haven't said both parents to be key workers is the number of single parent families and potential abusive situations.

I imagine most key workers would rather their kids were at home with the other parent or at Aunties rather than mixing with kids in school.

Myself and DP are both classed as key workers (financial sector) but I won't be sending my children to school or nursery. We're very lucky that I only work a Monday during the week and we have people who can cover that day for us. That will change if those people have to self isolate but for now we have the means for the children to stay at home.

Totally agree with it and data-ffs if anyone can work for home it’s them?! And there are so many jobs that come into that category.

I'm on the list. I'll be sending my 13 year old in some but not all days.
They can stay home themselves on a short term basis but from 8-6 every day for 6 months? Absolutely not.

Religious services-I presume that is so funerals can happen but our minister said only 10% of funerals are religious nowadays. Classic spreaders otherwise among the elderly and vulnerable.

Religious services, people will want to pray, get married asap, bury the dead. There is a reason why they are on that list.

And people can pray at home.

The list is so long that I think my DD’s school will have around 75% of their pupils still in. I already know of families who have one parent who is a key worker and one who is working from home but are sending their children in so the WFH parent can ‘concentrate properly‘.
But I don’t know what the answer is...

I’m on the list as a teacher and have a 3yo and 2 at secondary but they’ll all be at home because dh can work from home and accepts he has to be flexible so I can work as needed. But I will resent others sending their kids in if not absolutely necessary for them to do their job to help others in this crisis.

Also, call centre workers without specifying the industry.

DH is on the list, so theoretically entitled.

I'm working from home hoping that my line manager doesn't put pressure on me to put kids in school as a whole company email went out to those working from home after the announcement of school closures to consider rotating.

You’ve literally said everything I’ve thought!
Deffo YANBU
I’ve had people cheering on Facebook earlier they’ve ‘got childcare’ FFS

It’s bonkers. If the idea is that this is just so key workers can get to work, make it both patents or single parents. The other parent in the non essential job stays home.

This had been totally bungled.

@HoffiCoffi13 I think it’s to say if there’s 1 key worker the children stay at home/ go to other parent unless they have absolutely no other option.
There are loads of other parents not on the list who have to manage childcare around wfh.

I’m fucking furious

It needs to be BOTH parents are key workers in order to stop people taking the piss

Why the fuck should me and my husband both be out there on the frontline and our kids still be exposed to the same amount of risk as before?? If you aren’t both key workers, keep your kids at home!!!!!

I'm on the list, I am having to WFH and currently have no idea what is happening with my son's pre-school, but if the only option is a "hub" setting I absolutely wont be sending him in. If his childminder is able to have him instead I may send him to her a couple of days a week depending on how many other children she is looking after.

Just found out DH and I are Key Workers- who knew?
But those saying IT/data can work at home... yes, very easily, often do- but the children aren't here when we do!
Thankfully ours are a bit older, and can entertain themselves/know when to be quiet for calls etc, but many, many on DH's team have v small children. You can't stop them charging around when their parents are on calls!

Both DH professions on that list, he is going to work, I’m staying at home to try and offer my services online.
DS will not be going to school. He needs to stay away from others.

They can stay home themselves on a short term basis but from 8-6 every day for 6 months? Absolutely not

Why not?

I'm on the list, but our children will be staying at home as we had pre-empted this and thankfully my husband can work from home. However, I am seeing posts on school groups saying how fab that they can keep sending their kids to school whilst they get some work done at home! Ridiculous, if your children can SAFELY be at home, then keep them at home!

*am not sending my son to college

Is this an FE college because they won’t be open* @Northernwarrior
Yes we are!
I have had this argument at work because surely, with our students being over 16 they are capable of caring for themselves at home! Apparently we will still open for the vulnerable and so all staff must be in too.

I agree Karwomannghia. I’ve just had to point out to a close friend (who is a key worker) that it may be best for her husband (who absolutely isn’t a key worker) to stay at home with their children rather than sending them in to school/nursery. She said ‘yeah but he won’t, he doesn’t want to’. WTF?! He also didn’t want to self isolate even though two members of the household have a cough and fever, so is still going out as normal.
He’s a dick.

Unfortunately the list relies on an element of people making sensible and maybe selfless decisions, which many won't. We are both on the list, however awkward it is I can work from home, and although my work allows others who would normally do what I am doing to crack on with some Covid stuff, it isn't directly related to the effort; therefore we crack on and keep him off nursery to help protect the staff and also to keep numbers of children low for them and their families safety. Those who are trying to pigeon hole themselves into it just to be able to send then in for ease should be ashamed really, we all need to pull together even though it's hard. I feel for you all, it's a mess. I hope people are sensible.

Do you know what, Boris Johnson is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. This is unprecedented and they are doing the best to contain the spread. We all have to be flexible.

I'm no Boris fan but do feel a little bit sorry for him.