Anyone's school taking non-keyworker kids outside of YR/1/6?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

A friend is being taken off furlough as of Monday. However she is a lone parent with a child not in the accepted year group.

Her ds's dad is not on the scene. Friend works term time only 9.30-2.30 so has not required childcare ever. She is on minimum wage.

Is it worth her calling her son's school and seeing if they have capacity? Or is this cheeky fuckery? I'm not entirely sure what else to suggest, as even if she is able to find a CM with space, she simply couldn't afford to suddenly start paying 140quid a week etc for the care. It's over half her income.

our school is taking all year groups key worker children as well as R,1 and 6.

Plenty of CFs at our school! Various extra kids in but the head is keeping quiet and hoping no one finds out

Ours is hoping to be able open to any children who wish to return. It's a large building for the never of children though!

No harm in asking

Only 1/3 of year R in our school. No year 1 at all. The reception group is part time and the key worker bubble is also only ten kids

Most of our KW bubble are now outside of the in classes! We have y2,3,4 and a couple of nursery.

AveEldon - why are they CFs? Are you sure they are not key worker kids

They aren't opening all primaries from Monday anymore but I thought those that could take more were allowed to and indeed still encouraged too?

@SeasonFinale

AveEldon - why are they CFs? Are you sure they are not key worker kids

Private school, not keyworkers. Kids weren't in before.

There has been a big increase in the numbers of KW children in schools in last few weeks but it can't hurt to ask.

My daughter's school is just infants so reception, year 1 and year 2. They just confirmed today that they will be opening to all year 2s from 22nd. I'm so happy! The headteacher has been very pro having the children back and she's offering half days Monday to Thursday for them, but key workers obviously get full days Monday to Friday. I'm so pleased!

Won’t hurt to ask, however lots of schools are only offering part time.

If she can find a childminder she can get up to 70% from universal credits.

OP's friend is not a key worker from the title of this thread. I think Boris said not having childcare should be a reason for employers to keep the person on furlough. It's worth asking the school but if they don't take them she should ask her employer to keep her on furlough. Don't know what happens if they refuse.

My school has taken Y5 back and my DS's school is having everyone back for half days.

It’s up to the schools now. Our school is getting a plan together for further year groups. But part time. It depends whether they have the space and teachers. Worth speaking to them and seeing if they are planning anything.

Can't hurt to ask. She might not get lessons as such, more the childminding approach but she's in a genuine jam so it's a reasonable request.

Mine are at school and I'm not a key worker - don't know why that means I'm a CF? Obviously it needs to be applied with discretion, as the name of your employer doesn't dictate the need for childcare. My employer is not using the furlough scheme.

Of course ask the school OP, the key worker scheme is discretionary, they may or may not have space.

We don't even have any indication whether/when any year 1s can go back

I would definitely ask. A friend, who is a single parent and had to return to work, had a word with school and her dc now attends with the key workers children

The Head has the authority to decide if a child is vulnerable and can be accepted from any year group, and if they have space or even short term space.

Vulnerable is not limited to an official status but is based on personal circumstances that others may not be aware of.

I think most schools are making discretionary exceptions. So she might as well ask ...

Our school has just sent a email to say the bubbles were now full , with just a couple of spaces left for keyworkers. They limited spaces to just children who's parents are both going out to work so need it for childcare. They admitted they could have taken more, but didn't want to push it so that was their plan

My child is year 5 and they are going back (part time) on 22nd June

My year 6 ds can't even get a place because so many key workers have already taken up the places.

Gutted.

Ours is endeavouring to help any families in need like this, by including them as vulnerable pupils and providing full time provision. Your friend should definitely ask.