Schools not to open over the summer for children of keyworkers

[Hopingforsummer1]

Am I missing something or is this completely unworkable? How are keyworkers supposed to arrange childcare over the summer holidays when friends and family members can't help due to social distancing? Surely rules will need to be changed to make this doable....

[Notsafetogo]

@Groundhogdayzz that does seem mean then. Xx

[Groundhogdayzz]

@Notsafetogo sorry the way I wrote that didn’t make much sense. I definitely don’t think teachers should work through the holidays unpaid, all ours have been working remotely anyway, doing longer hours than normal I think. The school usually runs clubs in the summer but teachers/coaches/assistants are paid extra (I assume voluntarily) to run them. If they don’t want to this year then at least offer up the facilities to others in the local area. The school closes in 2 weeks for summer, so seems such a waste having it sat empty.

[Notsafetogo]

@Groundhogdayzz perhaps it’s just that the teachers don’t want to work through another holiday for free? Or did you mean the school won’t allow other care providers to use the building? In that case I guess it’s a bit mean. Although lots of maintenance work often takes place in summer holidays and teachers will be wanting to go in to their classrooms to get organised for September for a week or so too.

[Groundhogdayzz]

Our school isn’t running holiday clubs this year they have already confirmed, however, other schools in the area are still running them but reduced numbers. I think provision will be varied this year. I’m actually feeling very let down by my own children’s school, they have lots of space and excellent facilities to easily provide some socially distanced activities. Other businesses are expected to innovate and adapt but schools seem very reluctant.

[NeverTwerkNaked]

A lot of the holiday clubs near us have already said they will be open. And our local council has said they are organising extra clubs too

[AhGoGo]

@Pixxie7

If I tell my employee I won’t return at the end of furlough (hospitality) due to childcare they may be reasonable for a bit, but reasonable I mean unpaid leave, but ultimately they will fire me and I will struggle to pay our mortgage.

And I have quite a lovely employer.

Boris just gonna write a note for everyone else?

[99victoria]

My daughter is a primary school teacher. We've been looking after our 2 grandchildren for the last month since she's been back doing her normal hours

[Pixxie7]

I thought Boris has said that parents who can’t get child care are not expected to go to work.

[Mollymalone123]

I’d love to be back at work at our breakfast/after school and holiday club but can’t due to school taking over our actual area to use as a classroom.also told even if we had room that the ‘bubbles’ in school can’t mix- we take 3-11 year olds- we won’t be back until September poss Oct - because of the ages mixing and we have too many children on the books- feel terrible as we are letting these families down.The reason why tthey send their children to us is because they have no-one else to help.
The only way for us to work is by allowing children from different classes be allowed to mix- how long will that be?!

[BonnesVacances]

@NovemberDecember And what about the teachers who have been working over the last 12 weeks? Do they just suck it up?

[worzelsnurzel123]

Hope so @Sweetlikecoca

[Sweetlikecoca]

@worzelsnurzel123

I think the term “ key worker” is defunct now as everyone starts to return to work. Childcare arrangements are a problem for us all now unfortunately

I’m sure by the summer holidays things will be more relaxed and play schemes will be on.

[worzelsnurzel123]

I think the term “ key worker” is defunct now as everyone starts to return to work. Childcare arrangements are a problem for us all now unfortunately

[Notsafetogo]

@NovemberDecember you do realise that teachers don’t get paid for the holidays don’t you? I have worked through my Easter holiday, two bank holidays and half term for free. I’ve had to leave my 11 and 13 year olds home alone. I will not be working for free over the summer. No way!

[superram]

@NovemberDecember surely by now after all the many posts discussing this you must have realised that teachers are not paid for their holidays and you can’t just force people to work above their contracted hours. All the teachers in my state school have been doing more than usual-actually teaching a lesson is much quicker to prep than running one online.

[Sweetlikecoca]

They do it’s a long time for children to not have been interacting with others.

[getoffthatbloodytablet]

I'm really hoping summer camps are running just so my DCs can get out of the house and mix with other children. I'm a key worker, but luckily DH is working from home so we've managed up till now. But now they need some social contact and some activity.

[Sweetlikecoca]

Summers camps will be open by then Won’t they?

My camp has been running all the way through from April and on some extra days to help the parents. Smaller groups will be introduced now as things probably will start to fill up more now.

[Drivingdownthe101]

The childcare issue affects both key workers and non ‘key workers’, as the vast majority of people are expected to be back at work now (and most jobs are important, otherwise they wouldn’t exist).
Hopefully summer clubs will open.

[FabulouslyElegantTits]

... BJ's assertion that these vulnerable 'grandparents' can't look after children over the holidays make me laugh, at 52 I'm older than lots of the children's grandparents at our school!! 😆

[actiongirl1978]

Holiday clubs are running at our school we've already had the promo emails through.

[Nihiloxica]

All workers are key workers now.

Schools need to close as usual over the summer so teachers can be well rested for the massive work they will need to do catching children up from the months of education they have missed in this academic year.

[tisaginthing]

They do need to make it clear very soon what the other options will be. A lot of people probably assumed schools would stay open over the summer for key worker children. Hopefully holiday clubs will be up and running, or households with more than two adults in them can form support bubbles too.