To resent parents who are still sending their kids to school on Monday

[letmeinthroughyourwindow]

Not the genuine cases, obviously.

But I'm a teacher and we will be opening for the duration because 40% of our pupils have at least one parent who is a keyworker.

Before the list was released, the government told us to expect 10% and we planned accordingly. In fact, we planned for 20%.

When the list was released, it was so broad that far more parents than we ever expected fell into one of the categories.

Now, if your need is genuine then of course I want to care for your child. I'm happy to do it, and proud that doing so keeps you working.

But we have so many parents who are allowed to send their child to school, but shouldn't be, that it's infuriating me.

If you are a keyworker but your partner is a stay-at-home parent should you be sending them in?

If you are a keyworker but your partner works from home or is allowed to work from home indefinitely, should you be sending them in?

My sister's employer is allowing all employees who are parents to work from home on full pay, but many are saying that they don't need to, because their partner is a keyworker so their kids can still go to school

Just because you can send them, doesn't mean you should. It shouldn't be the best or easiest option for you, it should be a last resort if there is nowhere else to keep them safe.

The number one, most critical piece of advice for keyworker parents is, 'if it is at all possible for children to be kept at home then they should be.'

Please don't think I'm lazy and cba babysitting these children. I cried when my class went home yesterday, and care about every child in school. If I am in work full time anyway, then it really doesn't matter how many children are in the classroom.

But so many people don't understand social distancing. They are walking around like they are immortal, or only thinking that they themselves will probably be ok if they get it. For social distancing to have the desired effect, then everyone who can be at home, should be. If there was a chance of your child dying from this, would you send them to school? Well then think about who might die because they came into contact with your child.

And all of this brought on by a friend who called me last night to say that she is thrilled to be able to send her child to school on Monday because she is a deliveroo driver, even though her unemployed bf will be home all day on the PlayStation.

@Saoirse7

*Sending ASD and kids who are heavily reliant on routine to school at this time is likely to be more counterproductive.

Their routine will be as far removed as they've ever know it. They will be on with kids who are not likely to be their peers, may not have the 1:1 support they usually do, sensory issues may not be able to be accommodated etc. It's not 'school' it's childminding in a school building.*

I work in a special school and it will not be child minding. Business as usual for us. Meeting needs and providing education. Plus sending work for those at home.

I though it was if both parents were In the bracket. Me and my sons father both work in the emergency services and will be sending our son to school if he gets a place. We can’t work from home and don’t have a choice. I hope that people do not abuse this system.

We had this conversation earlier. In holidays they are in provision throughout. Weekends are more manageable as it's 2 days and even then we usually get help from the grandma with chronic severe liver and lung problems. Thdres genuinely no comprehension of how impossible it is or how perhaps an alternative could be put in place but that is non existent at the best of times.

Completely agree.
Parents are seeing it as free childcare, schools need to be strict.

I am a key worker and my OH can work from home but we have a 9 month old baby. He can't look after a baby and work it's just not possible. I'm due back off mat leave in 2 weeks 😢

Donkey stop bullshitting.

How am I bullshitting?

Well here it seems your child is fine left at home.

My DS is at private school and the head teacher said he had received loads of responses from parents expecting them to still look after their children.

OH can work from home but we have a 9 month old baby. He can't look after a baby and work it's just not possible

It is possible. As many, many people are finding out.

Yep if you have options to work home you do it. I wish I had that option I can assure you I wouldn’t be sending my son to school!!! I want to stay home with him!! 🙈

I'm a support worker in a local secondary school. My own son is going to be at home with his dad on Monday whilst I go in to work with children of key workers. My concern is that my son has left school earlier last week because he has an underlying health problem. So when I'm in school, mixing with kids who may or may not be getting ill, I'm bringing that into our home. To my son. Who can't go into school because of his health issue. But I can look after other people's kids for the duration.

Now I don't mind that for real key workers but I'm damned if I'm a baby sitting service for parents who could have their kids at home but won't. This is for real key workers only with no one else available meaning they'd have to miss work. My child is not going to be put at risk for anyone else's kids. Look after you own if you're able to or explain why my child's life is less important than your sanity.

"Then right now school isn't the place for these children. There won't be enough staff to offer this level of support."

I can see you have no comprehension of that level of need. They will still be getting the level of staffing support they usually get because otherwise they wouldn't be allowed to stay in school because it wouldn't be safe for them or others to have them in school.

I would love not to send my children in to school but me and my partner are railway staff and if we both didn't turn up to work then no freight carrying food supplies around the country would arrive!
Then you are one of the ones that need it.

People abusing the system are putting you and your family more at risk.

I work in a special school and it will not be child minding. Business as usual for us. Meeting needs and providing education. Plus sending work for those at home.
If you believe that you will always have enough staff, to meet these obligations, you are kidding yourself.

I am a key worker and my OH can work from home but we have a 9 month old baby. He can't look after a baby and work it's just not possible.

He needs to try. We all have to try. Work around babies naps etc. Early morning working and late evening working.

If you are still working you have a higher chance of bringing it home and you child passing it on to other key workers.

Are you returing full time? Monday to friday? The exact hours he works?

Then they need to be at home, under

Look, we all know it is shit, but this is spot on:

Explain why my child’s life is less important than your sanity

Londonjax I really do feel for you.

My head is up my arse I’m really worried about my son going to school, I just can’t understand that the rule is to stay away from people not to encourage it and yet here I am unable to stay home and either is my sons dad. It’s actually making me stressed out 😰 x

People are already trying to abuse the system at my sisters school. The head has had to issue a warning letter to all parents as the initial one clearly didn’t get the message through.

Kel9 if you are both in key roles and essential ones related to the response to coronavirus then you are exactly the critical workers I will be providing childcare for as a childcare of last resort and when you have no other option. So if you are both working all of the available school hours then what else can you do? The emergency childcare is defined for key workers like you and your partner. If you have no other family close by and able to help then school is your last resort.

They will still be getting the level of staffing support they usually get because otherwise they wouldn't be allowed to stay in school because it wouldn't be safe for them or others to have them in school.

No one can possibly know this and would be very dangerous to rely on it. It takes a cough or fever to completely change this at a moments notice. Fact.

I think most schools have been able to interpret it in a way that results in a sensible, necessary proportion of children. Some places will have more, others less but if you have 40%, your head needs to do some urgent prioritising, or you may as well open for business as usual. The message is slowly getting through that it's not an entitlement as such, it's for cases of genuine need and where there genuinely is no other option.

Where is the dcs dad Donkey? Must be very difficult having 2 SN dc.

And it's possible to work around young children, as lots of us have known for a long time. You just need to give up the adult time you currently enjoy around them. That's your sacrifice.

My child is not going to be put at risk for anyone else's kids. Look after you own if you're able to or explain why my child's life is less important than your sanity.

Exactly this.

We’re asking people like you to take risks for those who need your services.

That isn’t going to work if people don’t have genuine need. It’s not fair. And genuine need means ‘my children will be home alone otherwise’ not ‘my DH will it hard to juggle his job with childminding’.

My DH (not my kids father) is a police officer.

I'm working from home, getting up at 3/4am to get my hours in (I'm self-employed) looking after my two DDs as well as my sisters two DDs (she's a teacher).

My police officer DHs Ex is using his job to send their son into school.

She works in a call centre!! Selling completely non-essential things (think windows). And she has him Mon-Fri, so DH has never been responsible for his childcare (even though we'd gladly have full custody).

I have offered to have him here with with us mon-fri. He is 12 and absolutely no bother. She is refusing and will send him to school, even though she is in high-risk category.

It's absolutely madness and making me really angry.

My sister who's children I'm minding is a teacher, and I'm having to mind her children because one has asthma and the school is so oversubscribed she's not willing to take the risk putting her own children in (one has asthma). I completely agree with her, but it's fucking ridiculous. She should be at home looking after her own children. EVERYONE WHO CAN SHOULD STAY HOME.

And "you can't work from home with children" is nonsense. I do it every summer holiday for 6 weeks. Conference call? Stick your kids in the bedroom with a DVD and warn them if they come out they'll be banned from iPads. It's not fucking difficult.

It's not fucking difficult.

In fairness, it really can be. Especially when you’re not used to it. But that doesn’t matter, it has to be done.