Key worker kids at school while parents not working?

[Lemons1571]

Is this an issue for those of you who have kids in primary school? Our school has sent out a plea asking key worker parents not to send their kids in when they are not at work. Apparently a few very part time key worker parents were sending their child into primary full time.

Seems odd, when other kids haven’t seen the school since 20th March and there’s no place for them indefinitely (remember September is not guaranteed it’s an unknown). If you’re a key worker did you have to prove shift patterns etc?

Every school is different... but actually the government guidance says key worker kids can go in regardless of whether another parent is at home etc

I could have sent mine is as I'm a nurse, but DH works from home and none of the DCs wanted to be in school with none of their friends (secondary had 2 children 2 days a week and 1 the other two days with one day empty, out of 700 pupils!).
I've asked again if they want to go in but they don't. At least at home they have each other for company!

But I would have sent them in 5 days a week if I could and they wanted to!

I know someone whose partner is a key worker and she wfh and she has sent the kids in because she can't cope with working from home and dealing with them.

She does seem to struggle to manage them at the best of times though.

No. You book online every 2 weeks what days you would like your child to attend school. This is optional as to what days you choose. You give the name and address of your work place. Also contact details.

I doubt they have time to check at the moment.

@Frazzled2207 what's so hard to understand? I'm a key worker, DH is a key worker. I'm working from home, why would
I send my DC into school in a pandemic when I don't need childcare? Why would I add more people to a building when the government advice is to avoid groups of people? The key worker children aren't doing school work (other than what has been provided to all students) so they're not being taught.

It's like using the after school club because you can't be bothered to do the school run.

There were even parents near me pretending to be key workers so they could continue to send their kids into school at the beginning of the closure. School worked it out and dealt with it, they allow kids to attend as long as they have one key worker parent and no one at home during the day.

Now that the bubbles have been established there is no room for any more children regardless if their parents are key workers, they are vulnerable or if they are in one of the returning year groups. It's quite a small school and kids can't move in and out of their bubbles.

It’s not about childcare though (it should t be) - a lot of people working from home full time are really struggling with home schooling

I'm a key worker and could have sent my kids all along, but due to being at home I have kept them at home. But recently my Y6 child went back to school which made things difficult for the first time. My youngest is autistic, and hasn't engaged in any schooling. Instead her sister has (in the main) kept her entertained whilst I've been engrossed in my back to back meetings. Some days I wasn't giving my daughter lunch until gone 2pm. It just wasn't working, and I wasn't giving her the time I needed. So on Monday I approached school with a view to her returning, and yesterday she went back part time. I've deliberately selected days when I'm in back to back meetings, so she would be spending 5 hours on her iPad, snacking on crap.

I know some won't agree, but it's my decision and what's best for my child. She came home beaming yesterday. She had done some maths and English, something she hasn't done at all in weeks. I don't regret sending her and she can't wait to go back tomorrow.

4 or 5 children in total at the hubs I know of seems unlikely.

They 2 key worker families I know have managed to avoid hubs completely as would rather not send child in.

As a parent if you feel your at your wits end and you sent your child to school I honestly don’t see the problem. Also for those working from home I think they should end their kids in part time if they want. Parents should not be run into the ground just to save face.

Since 1st June our school has been saying that key worker children should be in all the time if they can - I think it just makes the bubbles easier to manage than if kids are flitting in and out all the time.

I'm a key worker, DH is a key worker. I'm working from home, why would
I send my DC into school in a pandemic when I don't need childcare?

That's you though. Lots of people feel that their children are better in school, socialising and having contact with teachers etc. They feel that that is best for their children and if the school are willing to have them, then they will send their children to school even if they don't need the 'childcare'.

This week, more parents in Y1 and Reception seem to be sending their kids in as well.

Oh my bolding didn't work.

It depends on how the school works their key worker bubbles. My daughter is in a bubble of 10 as that is all the classroom can take. If she doesn’t go-there is an empty desk. You can’t mix bubbles so another child can’t take her place. She was meant to be doing 2 days but enjoyed it so much, will do 4 this week. The head encouraged it.

I think it should be about what is best for the child. I've kept my children at home during the height of the pandemic, but I can't help but feel saddened that some children appear to have had a wonderful time during lockdown whilst mine have been stuck in their rooms in the majority. There has been no let up in my work, no days off - and I know I won't be alone. My Facebook was full of kids going on bike rides, long walks, baking cakes etc. We've done nothing. So once my eldest child was at school, that only emphasised the boredom for my youngest. She loved seeing her friends, she has some routine back getting up on a morning and putting her uniform on, and she's not stuck in isolation staring at a screen.

@innitsmashing exactly the same here (not a KW but WFH FT). I don’t begrudge those in school (well, I begrudge the government kyboshing part time for all in favour of full time for some/none) but am sad and worried for my child and stressed to my eyeballs trying to juggle everything

Being a bit thick here, but why are children of a key worker now being strongly encouraged to go in?

OH is a key worker, I’m not (WFH FT), and DS year 4 has been home in front of a screen since March. No one from the school said the guidance had changed. The key worker bubbles in his school are now full, so I guess we couldn’t apply even if we wanted to. If it’s only childcare and not teaching, I don’t really get why we would have priority over 2 non key worker parents trying to juggle a younger child.

Tbh I don’t think I’d bother anyway. We’re virtually in July. Presumably the key worker thing will be phased out over the summer hols?

I'm work nights and have sent my child in next day go I can sleep before my next shift. I cannot go without sleep. Should I not send my child in if I'm at home in bed sleeping in the day daytime?

Keyworkers now encouraged to send their children back regardless of shifts since June 1st. It was in with all the back to school ( R, yr 1&6. ) guidance. It’s to get as many children back to school as possible to test out what happens IMO. Keyworkers is easier to administer and helps the country

@947EliseChalotte I’m in the same situation. I do the same.

It depends, if someone is coming off or about to go onto a night shift then technically they aren't at work during school hours, but I would expect them to be able to send their children to school if they want. The issue of every child not being able to go in is different imo.

Myself and DH both keyworkers so DD 2.5 has been in private nursery as normal since start of lockdown. This week we were supposed to be going on holiday but obviously cancelled and my employer stated any pre booked leave must be taken so there isn't huge demand later in the year.

So I've still sent DD to nursery this week. Even if we took her out we'd still have to pay... I do have a bit of moral guilt but it's not as if she's taking a place up 🤷‍♀️

Christ jealously really is a horrid emotion

DH & I are both keyworkers (teachers). We managed to juggle stuff between us for the first part of lockdown and kept dc at home but since 1st June we’re needed in school more so they are back full time. I only work 3 days per week but school asked for them to go full time to make it easier for their teachers planning across the week. It’s fine with me - I usually use at least one of my days ‘off’ for planning etc and we’re writing reports atm so it is much easier them being in school.

My kids school are encouraging key workers to send their kids full time now so we are taking them up on that! It's terrible that most children now won't be back at school until Sept but my kids are at a school that is happy to take them (and can take all reception, yr 1 and yr 6 kids too). I know we are lucky but I don't think we are being cheeky or doing anything wrong - the school know I work part time.