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

The situation is highly complex, so I can understand why the government hasn't been able to be more specific. But I think the general message is clear. If you can stay at home, you should. Even if you are a vital worker, if you don't need to send your kids to school, then don't.

It's all very well saying the government should tell us, but we all have common sense. Use it.

I’m sending my daughter in. It’s a hard situation but I’m divorced and her dad is a key worker. I work full time in a full on job. If I looked after her 100% I’d have to take unpaid leave. And then I couldn’t pay my mortgage. So what choice do I have?

I think a lot of people are missing the point. This is a crisis/emergency situation and if you have to take unpaid leave to look after your children then that is what you have to do. People will be losing their jobs left right and centre (my DH may not have a job after today). The good of the country has to come first and childcare will be provided only for those parents whose work is essential in keeping the country going.

And then I couldn’t pay my mortgage. So what choice do I have?

Take a mortgage holiday. Stay in and look after your DD. You're not a key worker and don't live with her dad who is.

I’m sending my daughter in. It’s a hard situation but I’m divorced and her dad is a key worker. I work full time in a full on job.

You wouldn’t be able to at my kids’ school-they are asking for verification that you are a key worker. If you’re not-they won’t take your children.

That situation wouldn’t be allowed at our school either SugarSugarShimmy.

it’s all very well saying the government should tell us, but we all have common sense. Use it

Exactly this.

I’m sending my daughter in. It’s a hard situation but I’m divorced and her dad is a key worker. I work full time in a full on job.

How does that make you a key worker though?

At my dd’s secondary school if you sign up for your child to continue going into school they have to attend every day not just the days parents are working
There are no canteen facilities provisions will be made if they have free school meals so I’d need to send my dd with a packed lunch which is easier said than done considering the way the shops are at the minute
The work they will be doing is exactly the same as they are being sent to access at home
It’s easier for her to stay at home I’m a key worker but would be able to manage her staying off school

Lol my work have said this morning that everyone that works for the College including HR, Marketing etc are all key workers so we shouldn't have any child care issues

Is anyone else's work taking this line? The schools will not have the capacity regardless of how ridiculous employers want to be in their interpretation of the advice.

I’m a doctor and DH is engineer in defence industry, so both deemed to be key workers. If DH could work from home he would but can’t due to security issues. If we couldn’t send the kids to school we would both have to reduce our current hours to care for the children. Big impact for us to do our bit. In an ideal world we’d keep our kids at home, but we all have a part to play to fight this virus.

my work have said this morning that everyone that works for the College including HR, Marketing etc are all key workers so we shouldn't have any child care issues

That's ridiculous. These employers must recognise that there will be huge public outcry about this. Securing free childcare for their staff is effectively profiteering.

At my dd’s secondary school if you sign up for your child to continue going into school they have to attend every day not just the days parents are working
DD school says this for Children in Need/Child Protection but DH is a key worker and our DS has SEN and they have said we can send her for minimal sessions and they won't be taking attendance (one day a week we are both supposed to be working and DS school is only providing part time respite so we may send her just that day).

@cadburyegg how are people to feed their children if they take unpaid leave?

@Pinkdelight3 yes but she lives with him 50% of the time.

Mortgage break fine - if allowed as joint mortgage with ex who’s the key worker and therefore has childcare?

But then how do I provide food, pay my bills? I would also likely lose my job.

If we lived in the same house and had a joint income and could share childcare shifts then absolutely I would keep her at home.

@SugarSugarShimmy have your DDs school agreed she can come in? I've already heard of several cases where schools have said even "key" worker's children may not be accommodated.

@HoffiCoffi13 this is allowed. The government have made it clear that one parent needs to be a key worker not both. The reasons for this are clear.

If I had my daughter at home 100% of the time then my ex, the key worker, would need to be off work 50% of the time too to do his share. This is why they have done it.

If the school said they only want her there 50% of the time, absolutely that’s fair.

@SubjectMatterExpert they will have to manage like everyone else. With their partners wage, benefits, etc. Mortgage holidays if necessary. Food banks if entitled. This is a national emergency. As I said my DH may not have a job after today. We will have to carry on feeding our children somehow, we have no other choice. We will find a way.

Where does it say specifically only "one key worker???"

Please don’t send your kids in unless you have no choice. My school has a huge proportion of parents of the opinion school
Is open. Therefore this will operate way above the mass gatherings number. Classes of 20 +. Teachers are literally sick with worry for the kids but also their own health.

Children will only be able to go to a school if they have a keyworker parents and there are no other options for childcare.

Some people will take the piss at first but schools will soon get an idea of people's circumstances.

Our head is interpreting the list very widely - anyone on it gets a place regardless of whether their employers deem them "essential" and only applying it to one parent key-worker. We will have 50% of children in on Monday (parents have requested places) So that's 100+ children

@cadburyegg do you live in a bubble? Not everyone has partners. A lot of people are renting and can’t take ‘mortgage holidays’ People who NEED food banks often don’t have access. Definitely not straight away

This IS a national crisis and the Government said be responding to it and making sure people maintain homes and food. People shouldn’t have to take unpaid leave

If the school said they only want her there 50% of the time, absolutely that’s fair.

That’s quite likely. We aren’t having key workers children in every day-just when needed.

Lol my work have said this morning that everyone that works for the College including HR, Marketing etc are all key workers so we shouldn't have any child care issues

I suspect a lot of crappy employers will take this line too. It's absolutely not ok.

The DSC's school is asking for proof from employers that you're a key worker and what hours you are required to work. They're obviously anticipating a lot of CFs taking the piss.

Tbh, their mother (a SAHM) would definitely try it on (she has plenty of form) because he's on the keyworker list (even though he is WFH along with all his colleagues) just to get the leisure time. So the school are probably being sensible in insisting on proof. The teachers would presumably realise anyway - they'll have a pretty good idea whose parents work and whose don't.