Why do schools need to go back to get the workforce back?

[Pitaramus]

I keep hearing talk of the “need” to send kids back to school so that their parents can get back to work. I’ve never really seen school as sufficient childcare to enable someone to actually go to work. My youngest child’s nursery is 8-6 and open about 51 weeks a year. That is childcare. School is 9-3 and is shut for 3 months of the year anyway.

Surely one parent in each family unit (assuming the family has two parents) could go back to work without schools going back. A certain percentage of families of primary aged kids have one stay at home parent anyway because of the cost of the wrap around care they’d otherwise need. And all parents whose children are 13 plus could also go back to work.

I just don’t see the schools being shut as being a massive barrier to a lot of the work force returning, particularly given that they are only open 9-3 anyway and they are due off for may half term and then the summer hols which means you’d be getting 9-3 “childcare” for 12 weeks between now and September.

Of course there will be some who can’t work without school and the after school and breakfast clubs that some schools offer but these people must be in the minority if you’re looking at the workforce as a whole. I know in my workplace I’m one of three people out of about 40 with primary aged kids where both parents work. Luckily I’m managing to work from home as I have quite a flexible job.

If the cost of the furlough is the problem (which I’m sure it is) why not furlough one parent in each family with young kids where both parents work and then everyone else can go back as and when it’s safe to do so.

15 in my department and not one with primary aged kids.

It would be interesting to know the stats though.

I’m working from home. Not getting much done due to constant distractions from y6 child needing something.

It’s really hard to do my job from home. I’m really not productive enough.

Lots of children go to before and after school or have a childminder.

I go to work at 7.15am and dh gets the kids ready and drops them off at 8.45am.

They stay in after school club till I pick them up (4-5.30pm). Dh gets home about 6.30pm.

Loads of schools have after school clubs.

Many people with school aged children work. I’m surprised you weren’t aware of that. They use a combination of childminders, friends, family, after school clubs and so on to plug the gaps.

Surely you don’t believe that everyone is like you and puts a young child in nursery from 8-6 every day?

In my company of 38 only 6 have school/nursery age children. 4 of those could wfh.

Breakfast and after school clubs plus probably help from grandparents doing some drop offs/pick ups.
Me and DH both work full time he starts early to try get there for pick ups (GP or after school club otherwise) I start later to do the drop offs. We work it between our families and take annual leave for school holidays or use holiday clubs.
Neither of us could possibly maintain working full time and looking after the children full time too especially if theres no alternative child care provision. Take all working parents out of the economy and see where we end up, just because it doesn't affect your specific job/work environment doesn't mean its irrelevant. Its not the olden days when 1 parent stayed at home

If schools go back soon, what will working parents who relied on grandparents or childminders who might be shielding? Sounds like more places in breakfast and after school clubs will be needed.

you honestly need to ask 😂😂😂

I work part time, term time only. Am finding it impossible with 4 children at home. I will be able to work if they return to school.

I'm a teacher and have children.

I need their school to open so I can go into my school to teach.

I drop off at 7:30 so I can be in before 8. I then pick them up at 6:00pm so I can dismiss my own class at 3:30 and then spend a couple of hours sorting marking or preparing lessons for the next day.

I can't do my job if their school doesn't do theirs.

"Surely one parent in each family unit (assuming the family has two parents) could go back to work without schools going back."

Many single parents, or where both parents have to go out to work just to pay essential bills, especially those on ZHC

Millions of people were living pay packet to pay packet even before lockdown
Unlike the privileged mc, they have no savings pots, no "luxuries" to cut out, just essentials, like parents skipping meals

If you're comfortably off, or very young, you may not meet such people

But then you may live in a privileged bubble

This is predominantly a parenting site, frequented by parents of chlildren, most of whom will be school age.

Therefore their views are reflective of their personal situation.
There are many, many MANY non-parent workers or those who could go back to work without the schools being a controlling factor.

Parents of teenage children who are safe to be left alone.
Parents of adults, who no longer have to worry about it.
People who don't yet have kids.
Parents where one parent already is a SAHP.
Parents where one parent has been furloughed or who is working at home in a capacity where childcare is feasible, even if it impinges on productivity a bit.

But the view is exceptionally biased towards wanting/needing schools open.

A quarter of all families are single parent families, so will likely need school and wrap around care in order to work.

It's not true to say ALL over 13 years do not need childcare, what about those with SEN's?

There may be some who don't require schools to be open in order to worker, but I don't think it's a majority at all.

Speaking of nurseries/daycare.

Some might ask. Why would a mother with very young/pre school children want to go to work anyway? It's a valid question but not a popular one on mn

Some might ask. Why would a mother with very young/pre school children want to go to work anyway?

Only if they had half a brain and couldn't work the many possible answers out for themselves.

Some might ask. Why would a mother with very young/pre school children want to go to work anyway?

Fuck. Off.

The real reason government wants to reopen schools is to make sure most people get infected with covid 19.

Some might ask. Why would a mother with very young/pre school children want to go to work anyway?

Er, because they need the money to put food on the table, you know luxuries like that. FFS

Oh, I can answer that @Flaxmeadow 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

Is it because they hate being mothers in general, and hate their kids in particular? Is that the right answer?

I might add that I didn't put those female signs in...

@sylvian Yep. Bad mothers. Fathers are fine to work very long hours when they have a tiny baby though. Or even to leave altogether.

@Flaxmeadow a valid question the funniest post I've read on here all week!

the funniest post I've read on here all week

But not so funny when you've seen some of the Ofsted reports of failings in daycare or the many many research papers on how damaging prolonged daycare is for very young children eh?