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’ve filled in the keyworker form and it asked for contact details of my employers
So assuming they will be ringing round to ascertain if it is a critical role
I know lots of key workers who won’t be sending their kids to school for various reasons anyway and feel a duty not to
But 2 person medical household we need this and are grateful for it

My sister is really proud of her key worker status (not frontline) and is planning to send her son in... I find it madness.

Her other option would probably be to let my elderly father look after her son. Anything so her husband actually doesn't have to do anything...

Thought exactly the same. How do they stop someone who works at the corner shop claiming they are a key worker? A restaurant worker that's been laid off?
Should not of included supermarket shelf stackers. Will be interesting to see how many kids go into school Monday morning.

Our school of 800 asked parents their intent -100 replies that they’d use service so most people taking it seriously

Why on earth shouldn't someone who works at a corner shop or stacking shelves be included?

How do you think people will get food?

One thing I've noticed is that when it's the man who's the key worker, the female partner seems to be a lot more accepting of the fact that they will have to make things work in terms of their job and wfh. It's amazing how many men seem incapable or have such senior jobs that they are not going to be able to possibly wfh with kids around. (This is in general - obviously not all).

I have a pretty senior job in finance and wfh is going to be an absolute nightmare next week with 4 kids at home. But that's life, we'll somehow make it work. Personally, I'd rather not have my children mixing in the huge Petri dish at school unless it was essential.

Yes the men are always more important obvs.

@sunshine1239

But how many thickos will turn up anyway on Monday morning, or now apply since they've seen the official list?

I wonder how well are the teachers going to be able to serve the kids at home if they are occupied with 100's still in school?

Stacking shelves can be done by anyone. Lots of people will be looking for work.

DP is a teacher and has just been told he has to work Easter Holidays!!!!!

Absolutely@housepictureque

DP is a teacher and has just been told he has to work Easter Holidays!!!!!

Not unexpected. What did he think key workers were going to do with their kids while we were swanning around on two weeks' holiday?

I think it’ll still be 100 as the intent letter was sent out before schools closed and inc those who wouldn’t supervise learning etc - emergency services was just one option on list it also inc those who had no ict support at home etc and it was still 100 thankfully

Just wanted to say thank you so much for all you are doing, to any teachers on here. You’re amazing and the kids and us parents appreciate it so much.

DH and I are both key workers according to the list. His employers have already said children are expected to be sent to school so employees can work. So much for "if it is at all possible children should stay at home".

DP is a teacher and has just been told he has to work Easter Holidays!!!!!

NEU advice is that heads need to ask for volunteers. They are suggesting spitting the fortnight into and A and a B team so as not to infect the whole staff if people get ill.

They should then be given time off afterwards as holiday.

Everyone needs to step up and do what they can. I am night a carer and my husband a teacher but we won't use the key worker childcare. It will sometimes mean I can't sleep after a night shift but we will have to ask my work and my husband's work to look at swapping shifts around when I have two night in a row. My husband's school is also doing a rota for Easter. We have a toddler so would need childcare for him even if our son went to school - grandad usually help us. We will do our best to muddle through.

@sallylovescheese the same thing they were going to do before the virus / find care. What about teachers children? Ridiculous - they work long enough as it is

My school is opening 8-5. Currently working on how many teachers we’ll need for the number of children we’re likely to see in school. Have been told that weekends not included “yet” but Easter and half term we will definitely be open.
A staff rota will be worked out for teachers.

Loads of people in demanding jobs are WFH with their kids about. DP said that he's seen (and heard) loads of kids (all over the world) in the background of conference calls. Everyone is just accepting that's how it is, and trying to get as much done as they can.

And people are having to work odd hours around the kids. That's just how it is (and actually lots of men people in Important Jobs might simply be experiencing what many other people have been doing for as long as people have had jobs in this regard).

Our school have given a priority list and stressed that there are very clear capacity issues. Vulnerable are actually number 1 on the list, followed by kids where both parents are keyworkers (or where a networked heads a single parent household and cannot rely on the other parent). Then people where only one of the two adults is a key worker. I'd imagine there will be no spaces left after categories 1 and 2.

@redlocks his school havent said that, they've said it's a requirement.
Also I am a high risk person so I'm constantly being put at risk and his school said unless I get a cough it doesn't matter. Ridiculous

Our school had emailed this morning saying they're being inundated and stressing please don't send your child in if they don't need to be there. Even part time workers are being asked not to send kids in. They've basically said they don't have the staff and the school would end up shutting anyway.

His employers have already said children are expected to be sent to school so employees can work.
This is the biggest issue. There are a lot of employers who are very happy to exploit the fact that the guidance is vague and relies on people doing the right thing.

the same thing they were going to do before the virus / find care. What about teachers children? Ridiculous - they work long enough as it is

But a lot of that care would have been holidays camps or grandparents. As these things can't happen now, an alternative needs to be put in place. The easiest option is for schools to continue to provide care.

Hopefully rotas can be set up so people get some kind of break. But when you know that holidays for NHS staff are being revoked (I think postponed until later) then teachers can expect similar.

I'm a teacher with kids. I expected to be working over Easter, at least some of it. These are not normal times.

@housepicturesqueclub some people's jobs before this was stacking shelves. So why if they have kids under 12 shouldn't they get childcare or send their kids to school if they don't have anyone else to look after them?

Also my corner shops and smaller shops seem to be getting daily deliveries of things like milk and other food that is sold out in the supermarkets. So yes they are vital. (Though the family at the nearest corner shop to me won't be sending their kids in as

You are just being a snob.