Called back to work but no school for DS

[CanIDigIt]

Does anyone know anything about employment rights currently as I've been called back to work on Monday but my DS isn't yet back to school in the published year groups.

His own school won't take him. And as he hasn't been there since lockdown i think it would be unhealthy for him to be dumped back there with no normal routine or friends.

I can't take him to work - it's a school! I work in administration.

Feeling stuck. Had this pushed on me now for Monday.

As a teacher, my friend was able to take her yr7 ds to the primary school she works in as logistically she couldn’t take him to his school. I don’t see why admin is different. Have you asked your employer if you can bring your ds along until you’ve sorted things out with his school?

The government has now stipulated all key worker should be encouraged to go to school. The school is going against governmental guidelines and needs to accept your ds or refuse him in writing.

If I was your employer and you are a key worker, I would expect your DS go to school with other DC’s of key workers , and for you to attend work.

As a keyworker who has had to send her kids in each day to babysitting at school then try to catch up on set work at the beginnings and ends of the day this actually gives me the fucking rage.

They’re bored senseless and stressed to death trying to catch up with set work when I’m off (off 2 weekends in 3, in every day otherwise).

If you don't want to work, resign.
If you want paid work and send your kid in as a keyworker child.
There are no other choices.

Yes school have to take him. I would call the LA as a pp suggested. A local head was refusing to take keyworker and vulnerable children from the start of lockdown. LA asked the governors to get him to change his mind ASAP or remove him from post. HT can make up laws.

Mention in your talk to the LA if this is legal and that might chiv them up

I would contact the main education hubs. Not just the school. He surely should get a place lots of parents will be sending their kids due to having to go back to work over the next few weeks.

You'll just have to suck it up and send him in.

People with valid, medical, confirmed by GP reasons to stay home should of course be supported to do so.

People in your position have a social responsibility to get back to work to facilitate the shielding of the actual vulnerable.

The school have to take him, you're just looking for excuses.

If not ask your employer what they want from you, to bring your son in or go against safeguarding and have him home alone neglected. Safeguarding is important or it’s not. It can’t be just when it suits them

I didn’t see that you don’t actually want him in school.

Ignore my advice. If he’s under 11 I personally wouldn’t leave him alone.

If you can’t leave him and can’t work then like others you can resign. Or get sacked

How old is his sister?

OP, how come it's not ok for your DS to go to school, but it is ok for children of other key workers?

If you can’t leave him and can’t work then like others you can resign. Or get sacked

This will just hammer yet another nail in the coffin of our economy.

You need to go to work OP.

Childminder x

This will just hammer yet another nail in the coffin of our economy.

Not in this case as someone else will get her job. The job doesn’t go away.

I do want to work. I do want my children back in school but when the rest of the year are back.

I'm on my phone so I can't link but whoever said it's the safety situation in my workplace freaking me out the most - it's this. I am all my children have. And I want them to continue to be as happy and healthy as they have been up till now.

Childcare is far less a component of this than DS well being.

He would get nothing educationally by going in as a key worker child indeed less than he gets through the online classroom at home. So putting that out the equation, what DOES he gain by going in? He hates art and craft. He won't be allowed to climb and play outside on the equipment. He would prefer to sit and read so I think he's better doing that at home where he can talk to his best friends freely.

And my boss is a shit having been too busy to deal with this, then emailing me on the weekend to be sorted for Monday.

I work in a school office and am SLT. I’ve been in most weeks so far.

The DfE guidance came out this week and we only received our County Council guidance yesterday. I would be surprised if it’s much different where you are. That means you are making a lot of assumptions - the school MUST do a risk assessment first to ensure children and staff will be safe. I doubt they have even had time to finish writing this yet, much less share it with the staff. You won’t be allowed to sit 20cm from your colleague - you might be asked to alternate days in, for example.

Is the head asking for you all to go in for one day so the plan can be communicated to you and everyone has a chance to air their ideas and anxieties? It doesn’t make any sense for all staff to be in for the rest of May as other years return from June at the earliest.

As others have said, DfE guidance is very clear that your child has a place at your school as you are a key worker. I’m sure he will cope. This isn’t an ideal situation for any of our children but we have to make the best of it.

I was very encouraged by the guidance that was issued by my County which said in no uncertain terms that H&S for is the number one priority, and if schools feel they can’t achieve this then they are not obliged to open whatever Boris may want. This gives schools some control and means they can open for as many children as they safely can.

OP you are being confusing. The thread title said you aren’t able to get childcare. Then you say you asked the school and they wouldn’t take him. But then you say you don’t want him in school anyway. And then you say it’s because you can’t social distance in the office. What do you actually want to happen?

Sorry if I missed it, but how old is your DS? Is he old enough to be left? I also work in a school (non teaching) and have been there throughout for the key worker children, including the whole of the Easter holidays. I am with the children all day long. DD2 who is 10 is a pupil at the same school but wasn't allowed to attend as my role wasn't specified on the key worker list!

So she stays at home with DD1 who is 13 and they do their online lessons/set work with no adult supervision at all. Fortunately they are very capable and independent, and it's all working well.

Sonny thank you helpful words

The last bit is the point -I expect that is the decision DS head HAS taken.... he can't accept any more children and has stated so twice in writing.

Are you in a union? Mine are advising not to go back and providing a template letter to that effect - unless schools can answer certain questions around safety and social distancing. I’m not saying I am following this advice before I get jumped on, simply what my union emails say.

Cinnamon I'm annoying myself too!

It is just panic but this has really helped work through it.

DS mental health is my most motivating factor. My panic is which choice is the best for him

The layers from my head and my safety are just piling in on top

emailing me on the weekend to be sorted for Monday.

If today is the first you've heard about needing to be in work on Monday, have you actually been in touch with your son's school to ask about him going in? Or are you just assuming it will be a no?

Not in a union sadly. I've seen Union in action anyway and whilst supportive, I've never seen any miracles. I guess their advice is good to have on board. So is Mumsnet

OP, you've been given some honest and helpful advice. However it sounds as if you're making excuses not to return to work and potentially 'expose' your kids.

Your boss should have given you more notice than the weekend before, absolutely agree. But if she did this, when did you talk to your DS school?

What are your working hours? Wonder if there is scope for negotiation for a phased return this coming week to allow them to put up screens in your office and see how your DS gets on?

It’s not really relevant whether your DS will enjoy school as it is now, you have to go to work so he will need to go to school. It’s no different from other children of his age who have been at school since lockdown.

Grimm it is a no. His head has written to parents

Copied sorry we cannot take any more keyworker children at present and we are unsure whether we will be able to from 11stt Junee_.