We’re expecting 1000 kids!

[DBML]

So, we are going to be a hub school for FSM and childcare.

We are expecting 1000 children in, due to all of the local schools sending their children to us, keeping one building open.

The children will not be learning it has been confirmed. It is child care only.

Please, do not use the school childcare services unless absolutely necessary.

Yes my school is handling it very well. Front line workers and the most vulnerable only. As I said we have said no too many, just because they may be on the list doesn't mean they get an offer. We have to cap it - schools are shut for a very good reason. Letting everyone in who thinks they are eligible negates the whole reason for closing schools in the first place!

Popfan - yes I agree - we are doing that too - but some of the LA's largest schools are nearly 100% army/RAF/navy personnel on bases.

@popfan

I’m glad for you. I hope you continue to be able to manage it and push back against the expectation to include everyone on the list.
Good luck next week.

Being on the list does not mean an automatic right to an offer!!

@Leithwalk

Do you think LA’s will refine things as the days go on? Or do you think it’s going to require a government change? Would you LA be willing to say no to people who are currently on the list?

@Popfan

I think that the interpretation of this is where the problem lies. Some LAs May feel that HAVE to include everyone.

Op are you at Eton? I read that they are opening specifically to care for the local children of key workers.

I'm on the list as a key worker, and my employer have offered a letter to confirm along with paying any childcare fees if we choose to keep dc in school. I'm still not taking it. I'd rather work from home and keep her and her teachers safer. Unfortunately, not all the parents feel the same even though I know full well plenty could. I know parents working from home who are sending dc to school because they can. Schools shouldn't have to be firm, but I think they'll need to be, sadly.

@DBML then those LAs have it completely wrong. Schools need to push back against this - as I said the offer isn't mandatory. I honestly despair!

I know of school transport who have no idea what they are doing in the next few weeks or where they are going (big city v.large hospital) or how long they will be kept on & if they don't work they don't get paid.

As always we will be working with schools to support them, setting up hubs to fill gaps, deploying cleaners, cooks etc.

Government guidance also tells parents that if they don't have care for their child the LA has to find this....we could have 100's of children in district offices, swinging on office chairs and answering the phones...I gest.

Monday we need to collect pupil and staff numbers and send to the DfE - I wonder if this will bring about a change of policy - hopefully DfE will realise guidance hasn't worked, too many CF's, too many businesses expecting workers, too many schools with service/NHS personnel and issue another directive.

If not schools will have to tighten their stance - the gov doc is guidance, we will be supporting schools to prioritise further - to save care for ABSOLUTELY essential CV19 jobs - not the wide range of workers suggested and certainly not with a parent at home.
If things are left as they are - we won't have enough staff, even with mobilisation and hub schools to keep children safe.

e didnt get to know which KW's until the doc was released. Friday was hellish - 15 hours of trying to work with and between schools. I don't know what the government were thinking, 400 pupils in a school can't possibly be social distancing. There again, they were probably relying on the sensibility of parents to want to protect their own child, safely at home, rather than demanding to send them to school.

Just like they were relying on people to stay in; not go to pubs or restaurants and not mix and mingle.

So far too many people have ignored every one of the governments polite requests.

I have already come across someone trying to construct an argument that she is a key worker when she very clearly isn't and just wants to maintain childcare. Do schools have the power to ask parents the name of their employer and their place of work and role? That might be a good start in trying to weed out people who are taking the p*.

This government don't seem to be learning that asking nicely doesn't work in Britain anymore! People need to be forced to do what is required, not just asked!

Our council is delivering packed lunches to FSM children and a questionnaire needs to be completed for other DC for the childcare for essential workers. Parents are being allocated a center to take their child to. Mornings/Afternoons or both, care for children from birth to age 14. For once it actually seems well organised.

They have not released the actual addresses of the hubs, just general locations so parents could express a preference.

There won't be random 1000s of DC turning up.

Your council needs to get a grip OP.

Do schools have the power to ask parents the name of their employer and their place of work and role?

Our school did. It asked for an employer’s contact name and number/email so they could verify it.

Wow
This is ridiculous.
If you have a parent in a non essential role then you should not be at school. Receiving FSM does not mean you should be at school. Having SEND does not mean you should be at school.
I despair at times. Look after your own child. Stop relying on others and I hope ffs that those who don’t look after their kids stop having them.
We are over populated enough I hope this madness of churning out children and then expecting others to look after them stops.

Do schools have the power to ask parents the name of their employer and their place of work and role?

I was curious so flicked through the questionnaire and yes, it does ask for it and why shouldn't they? If you need the care and have nothing to hide then why wouldn't you? It also asked parents to categorise themselves into 3 types depending on their role so as to prioritise.

Haven't read the full thread but our school will work like this....Kids that get registered have to have both parents as key workers and then there is a tier system. NHS workers get priority for instance. We are on a rota where we volunteer our help. We are not obliged to at all. Hopefully we will be of use to the community.

our school out of 1400 kids only 65 will be in

Who on Earth is making these decisions? Zippy and Bungle?! First the NT opens up its car parks to allow everyone to mingle and now this 🤷🏻‍♀️

Maybe the friends of critical workers, (who are off from their less-critical jobs) could help look after children who's parents are critical workers? I am involved - expected to provide cover at the college I work in. But, I would help another parent who needed a hand aswell. Unless, if we are really distancing, we aren't supposed to have different kids in our home?! In that case, it gets very difficult.

No you are not supposed to have random kids in your house.

I don't have a critical job, but I am able to work from home so expected to be working. I no longer have school age DC and can appreciate it must be a nightmare for people who need to work but have no childcare. It was bad enough having to cope for a few days when we had snow and the schools were shut.

This is crazy - this will be a direct route to infecting huge numbers of key workers.

We are the same in Scotland. Majority have another parent who could take over childcare. Read one argument, the girls husband was category 3 not sure what that was, but she had to get to work in a call centre. Wtf she should be at home with her kids. Iv no choice to take time of unpaid as I have no childcare, makes sense my partner who earns more goes to work. Another one she’s a nurse but her husband is unemployed joking online she only works weekends plus a shift during the week. Iv had to log off fb as it’s causing me grief reading this.