Key worker children in school

[madeittotheend]

What's it like for the key worker kids at school? I'm thinking of sending my DS in for the days I WFH in my NHS job. DH also key worker and out of the house. But I keep struggling along at home with him when really I should send him so he isn't watching Netflix for 8 hours a day...he isn't happy. Are you sending your kids to school still and is it okay? Have any of them been ill?

Touch wood I haven’t heard of any outbreaks of suspected covid in schools - lots of us at work have children at different schools, and I know quite a few teachers.

It’s obviously quite different to normal school. Older children can’t sit together, change classroom every day to give them time to deep clean. However they play together outside. And no social distancing for the little ones as it is impossible.

I’m in on a rota. Obviously It’s nothing like normal. I find it quite sad :(

Less children, no work as such. Playing colouring etc, all years mixed together but small groups, around 6|7. My little boy says they are supposed to play games that aren’t close, but the teachers don’t do social distancing as such. He enjoys it now but took a few days of adjusting. He is just 5.

I'm thinking of sending my 13 year old back next week. Apparently they are supervised in the library to do the same work they are doing at home, just not alone all day, and I'm hoping they have regular break times to provide some structure.

My two aged 7 and 9 go two days a week and they really enjoy it, not alot of school work mainly playing. I think it's good for them to be socialising, there are only an average of ten pupils there at a time though. No illness, hope that helps

He also plays minecraft on the school IPads 🙈

school work until lunch, then a bbq to use up food in the school freezer, then playing on the field team games such as football or water play with sprinklers

Depends on the school. Some are in their normal schools, this is easier tgere may be known staff and friends or familiar faces. Other hubs are central, so no known faces, staff or pupils. Kids are, on the whole, adaptable, staff are tryingvtobkeep everyone safe, as numbers increase so will stress within the schools. Whilst numbers are low kids can spread out more, use lunch halls etc, however if they get busy enough outdoor times and lunchtimes may need to be staggered. The more kids in the more staff needed, the more staff needed the more staff kids come in and so on. Most kids I have seen are managing well but, unless you are in my class or one like it, it isn't school or like school really. My kids folow normal timetables with know staff to fully meet their needs.

Tbh. They aren't socially distanced properly, not doing proper lessons. I'd keep them at home if you can

I'm on the Rota at our school. About 12-15 children between 3 and 12, divided into under 6 and over. No social distancing. No uniform. Outside as much of the day as possible but the over 6s need to do their live online lessons so they don't fall behind the other children. That means they need to spend a lot of the day in the computer room but they can spread out a lot. Nobody has caught it yet. They mostly have fun o think, especially the little ones, but we can't make it seem normal for them, of course. They still miss their friends and normal teachers.

We have about 12-20 children between 3 and 11 (have joined forces with village pre school) daily. Pre school use the reception classroom, and our reception children join them as they need a play based day.

Morning is maths and English home learning, supported and supervised by a teacher and a TA.
We spread the children across two rooms if needed, own desk and named equipment. Regular breaks outside, watch a film while eating lunch and then fun stuff in the afternoon.

We try our best with social distancing but they just don’t get it.

Very boring for the adults frankly.

The kids have a nice time - colouring, lots of art activities, gymnastics equipment, watching some TV/films in the afternoons, doing the work their classmates will be doing at home, playing outside.

They’re doing lessons here. Not quite as formal as before though. And a bit more topic work.

Outside as much as possible.
Lots of art based activity.
It's a weird atmosphere- teaching staff are one week in two weeks off.

DS goes 2 days a week there's about 5 other kids there
He doesn't like going but at the end of the school day he is in a much better mood than if at home on screens
He says they wash their hands 4 times a day
He takes packed lunch and the teachers do social distancing. He says the kids don't though :/

It's been fine. DS goes 2 days and whilst he's bummed that none of his friends are there he enjoys being out with other people. They are giving them work and also doing fun stuff. None of the kids have got ill.

My two (10 and 5) have been school in 4 days a week since it all started. They enjoy it - they call it "corona-school". The 10-year-old even said he prefers it to normal school because he gets to play football on the big field and the teachers are nicer! They're only doing the same online work they would at home, but despite some initial worry, I know we made the right decision to send them in. It's a school of 600, 50 parents registered, and the most kids they've had in on one day is 20.

In terms of social distancing, they teachers have tried their best, but it doesn't really work, especially on the nice days when they're playing at lunchtime. But it's small number of the same kids each day, so it no longer worries me.

The advice has always been if someone is at home then the children should be at home even if they are ‘allowed’ to school.

That advice has not changed since the beginning of lockdown

My 5 year old goes in 3 days a week and she's loving it. There aren't many children in so she's getting a lot of attention. They're not doing loads of work, probably a bit less than the work sent home but doing a lot of outdoor play and making up games which I am happy with.

Sorry but your WFH why should you be any different to the rest of the population struggling to watch kids and WFH?

The more kids in schools the more risk to the other kids and teachers.

My 5 year old is in but she's vulnerable (Ehcp not child protection).

Reception and year 1 are combined. As are 2, 3 and 4. Then 5 and 6. Reception and year 1 are in the foundation class rooms.

In the mornings they do the same set tasks that the kids still at home do. In between they play and have stories etc. Lunch is 11.45-1. Then until home time it is fun. Either they stay in the class rooms doing free flow play or they do some fun activitiess like baking or den building or games on the field. Reception and year 1 are taught by a different teacher each day but they are on a Rota system. Each teacher and TA has a set day.

She has 1 to 1 so they have an additional teacher in each day for her but that is also Rota based.

There's zero social distancing going on however it's a lot better than a lot of posters were trying to suggest it would be when first announced.

It really depends on the job. Doctors, social workers, psychologists etc MAY be able to work from home but it's almost impossible with children around. It's totally permissible to send children to school in order for essential workers to do their jobs even if they don't leave their houses to do so.

Our school required one parent to be a keyworker and asked nothing further.

This should really only be used if it’s your only option. Both staff and children are at risk as social distancing is impossible and ultimately many children who have to attend are children if nhs workers coming into daily contact with Covid. Please, as a member of school staff, keep your child at home if you can. If you can’t as you are physically not at home then this is totally different and totally acceptable. I would rather not be putting myself at risk for someone who ultimately could have their child at home. Even if he is spending hours on netflix, it won’t kill him but covid could. don t mean to be harsh but....