So many children still going to school next week

[SistemaAddict]

My DC's school closed to nursery and reception yesterday. They were due to close today the same as other schools but last night they announced there weren't enough staff to keep those classes open today.

Key workers are sending their children in next week and the school has made provision for this. However, so far nearly 25% of the reception children are going in next week. There is supposed to be provision for 10% as far as I know (I could be mistaken about that though but think I read or heard on the news those are the expected figures). How on earth are schools going to keep providing a place for all these children when more and more staff go off sick? They've been dropping like flies all week hence closing the early years yesterday.

Surely this isn't sustainable for long? Should it be both parents being key workers to get a place rather than one?

@Eminybob You're right, the list is far too wide and open to interpretation. My friend is an accountant, her husband an app developer, both can and will do their work from home, but because his work broadly falls under "IT" they're awarded a place at nursery.
Meanwhile, we have been denied but if I just tweaked my job title slightly, I would've been a key worker (I don't consider my job essential for the society to function). And scientists and researchers are NOT on the list of key workers at all. It's all so bizarre.

Emms, schools are interpreting guidance differently. My DCs school have stipulated an 'all or nothing' approach; it's either 5 days a week or none. At my school, we are happy to take pupils on a part time basis, as and when their parents require, as we are keen to keep numbers as low as possible throughout the week because... erm, social distancing.

Now to everyone who resents nhs staff getting childcare what do you want me to do?

Nobody resents nhs staff getting the childcare they need. Some people resent non-critical staff in other areas (eg cold calling sales people for utility companies) insisting that their child goes to school while the other parent SAH. They resent it because they know piss-takers are making your life harder. And schools are staying open to try to make your life as bearable as we can for the next few weeks / months.

Thank you for all that you do.

My DH works in the oil industry, I've seen posts that they're included but I'd rather my son was home and not mixing with too many people. I'm lucky that our older daughter can provide childcare if needed but if not I'd have to leave my job.

@Chelsea567 someone I know is a key worker. Is trying to send his son in. He is 16. Just because they want him to keep revising. I won’t tell you what I said to that.

About 25% of our school are going in, almost all around here as its rural have one parent at home or one that can wfh. I think DD said when they asked the children who didn't have a parent at home in the day it was only 2 in the class. So would imagine there's a lot of trying it on.

Obviously NHS workers should have schooling provided, but they key worker list was far too wide and the requirement for only one parent of a two parent family leaves it wide open to abuse. Though once parents realise their child won't have an advantage being at school and their risk of infection is higher they might be more responsible. I hope schools weed out some of the parents just trying it on.

My DD is in Y10. One of her friends parents want to send him in to school because they are key workers. He's a normal kid who can stay at home at watch Netflix. I suspect his parents just don't want him to no learning.

As well as key workers kids, vulnerable kids, kids with social workers and echos, our cool has opened our up to anyone who doesn't have alt childcare and would lose money or their job being off.

And to cover kids who are entitled to free school meals, kids at home who qualify can go in each day to collect a packed lunch.

They might as well have stayed open. No idea what they'll do in a teacher crisis

I also think people haven't realised in some cases that a) this is going to be run closer to a play scheme than school and b) if a class teacher is providing key worker care all week then they are not going to be able to produce work online for the rest of the class.

My council offered me a letter to hand to the headteacher confirming I was a keyworker - actually my kids are students to irrelevant but at the council they are able to speak to schools if they are not allowing attendance. The lady said to me she needs us in place supporting the vulnerable not watching kids tv. As I said, no applicable to me, but there's not proof shutting schools to "normal" kids eg those with health conditions, or whose parents have them, actually will make a difference, it might even make the situation worse if their grandparents look after them

Our DC school is either both parents or single parents key workers.

The problem is there is a large amount of single parents whose mums work at the enormous supermarket literally across the road from the school. (Not criticising these parents in any way). So it has rendered the idea of the school closing pointless.

@GiantRedPanda Just like NHS staff lots of staff like the "cold calling sales people" are going to be redeployed as other staff take time off sick or to self-isolate.

People don't seem to understand the modern world doesn't run as simply as it did years ago so now people who you wouldn't automatically class as essential e.g. call centre workers are.

I am a keyworker (managing the deceased... not something most people are thinking about, but yes vital) ... and we withdrew our application for a place and we will try and wfh as much as possible around them (obviously will have to go into work sometimes).

I do understand people's fears, those kids with engaged stay at home parents are going to be miles ahead of us who have to keep slogging away to keep the country running when they all go back to school. And when your kids have SEN it's a whole other worry.

It took me a good few hours to go, no, I think we just have to manage this as best we can.

I hope anyone else in a similar situation takes the weekend to think about it and see if they really 'need' the place, the less people that take it up, the less deadly the pandemic will be.

tiddle your local authority should find you a place at another school for your child.
I’m a headteacher and my school has closed but I’ve liasised with a neighbouring school to take some of my pupils with some of my staff.
The local authority will arrange for school places in my area if your school is shut.

It's not working. They need businesses to justify why people can't work from home. And they need to tell businesses the children will be at home with these parents. That would vastly reduce the childcare requirements. They are over complicating matters. They need to make the rule they want, and employers and parents need to adapt. That is what has happened in France, Spain and Italy. And believe me, Italy was not set up for smart working.

I have learned some people really hate their own kids!

I would charge the parents a nominal amount, maybe £10 a day. Genuine cases could claim it back.

@mygrandchildrenrock
I wasn't clear - DDs school is opening, but they haven't 'offered' places except as far as I know to the most vulnerable children. A large proportion of parents work for the NHS and so they are heavily discouraging parents to send their children in where possible.

Why feel sorry for them ? They have a job and get paid well , what about the nurses who can’t sit at home for next 5 months getting paid

Charge underpaid NHS staff to have their children educated by people who are already being paid to teach them , what ???

Your parents for a start , I work as an ICU nurse and my kids need to go to school so I can keep sick people alive , so I hate my kids ??? Wake up

My partner is a key worker - teaching in specialist autism school. He is not bothered about going to work (full time) he is just getting himself worried he will get the virus and bring it home. He has no issue with those that have no option sending g their child to school but he wants those that can keep their child off/reduce school hours needed to try to do so.

I have a stressful job and will be working from home with 3 children from ages 15 to 5 but I will just adjust my hours to getting up and starting working early (when older ones prob still in bed) and work later when little one is in bed for the night. It’s the least we can do to minimise NHS resources.

I have a manager at work who is respected as a good kind man but this situation bringing out the worst in him. He openly talks about buying products in high demand in mass to protect his family - 2 adults 1 5yr old and is pushing for his wife to be considered a key worker - she works in probation so that he can send his child to school and get through his “important” work uninterrupted. I just think those that can keep your children at home. We will be in trouble if this continues spreading and front line NHS staff are falling ill. And in my opinion if you lay yourself in danger by working in close contact with Coronavirus patients your healthcare should be prioritised.

it feels like people read the ‘key worker criteria’ but not the ‘and they cannot be kept safe at home’

I agree, but I think the problem was with how the announcement was made in the first instance with first Gavin Williamson in the House of Commons, then switching to Boris Johnson's press conference, and the original message was schools closed except for child of key workers, vulnerable children and those with EHCPs. This was Wednesday.

It wasnt until late Thursday evening(?) that further information was released with the bit about if children can be safely at home then that's where they should be was added.

There was a lot of confusion for over 24 hours.

Dawnof

i have learned some people really hate their kids

your post is uncalled for - as a police officer i am looking to be taken out of my day to day role (detective in child abuse) and deployed where ever i am needed. That's my job and i will do it to the best of my ability, i do love my children and do not hate them

have you any idea how hard it will be to leave them to go and protect other people when every ounce of my wants to hold them close and protect them?

i am so thankful for the school and the teachers, we all play our role. I would love to spend time with them, but i may be called to work more hours and cancel leave etc. which i'll happily do

Then assuming you’ve no other option and your kids are young, 1morerep, you’re not the person I’m referring to. It’s the idiots sending 15 year old to school, the SAHPs who have decided their child needs the ‘routine’.