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Keyworker children in Wales: childcare or teaching, but not both.

92 replies

SaltyAndFresh · 28/06/2020 07:34

I'm a teacher. I'm working, have been throughout and work in England so I'm expecting classes of 30 full time in September (thanks Mumsnet). Ok, I need to work so I've got no choice.

But because I have to use emergency childcare, my children can't be taught in their own school. The childcare begins tomorrow in the local leisure centre and will apparently be staffed by childcare professionals, not teachers. The LA has been scrounging devices from schools so the children can do their home learning but I know the WiFi is pathetic in the leisure centre. The LA is also insisting that children can't move between settings so the can't go to school if they go to childcare. There is no way that bubbles can socially distance in one big sports hall.

Because I'm school staff I was then told my children could go to school to be looked after, but still couldn't be taught and would just do their home learning with TAs. Of all the gently, gently support for and concern for the emotional well-being of non-KW children, there's none at all for key worker children.

I'm going to petition Senedd about this. Their own guidance states that all children, including key worker children are entitled to education and face-to-face time in school. The LA and my children's school have taken a can't do approach and because the guidance also says that where possible, groups shouldn't be mixed, they're saying no to teaching. One school has had the sense to ignore this and others are providing some teaching time. They're generally allowing six children per classroom Hmm There are currently no plans for anything more in September.

Please don't give me flowers or ask me to take it up with my school - I have and they're not budging. First I'd like to know what teaching provision is in place on other Welsh schools and secondly, would anyone sign my petition if it's approved please?

OP posts:
TabbyMumz · 28/06/2020 08:57

I dont understand your post. My understanding is that no children are getting learning in school at the moment. Keyworker children have been looked after, not taught. Kids that go back on Monday are only having update sessions. Our high school is only providing a half day a week, for 3 weeks.

TabbyMumz · 28/06/2020 08:59

"Of all the gently, gently support for and concern for the emotional well-being of non-KW children, there's none at all for key worker children."
What do you mean by this? Most non keyworker children have been off school with no support whatsoever?

sashagabadon · 28/06/2020 09:05

This is the situation for all us keyworkers. This has been the case since March.
It is very unacceptable.
As a teacher did you complain about this back in March when this is what was decided? Or only now when it is your children affected?
It's a totally unfair situation for keyworker children and the unions / teachers support it so i can't see it changing any time soon.

PotteringAlong · 28/06/2020 09:06

I don’t understand either. I’m a teacher. I was also told that we couldn’t mix settings, so wrap around care is off the table. But your kids are going to a hub centre. So they’re being looked after and they have access to provision for education. Which is all they are getting everywhere in England.

If your beef is that it’s not the same as in Wales you need a job in Wales.

TabbyMumz · 28/06/2020 09:07

"This is the situation for all us keyworkers. This has been the case since March."

How so, when you have had childcare since March?

gassylady · 28/06/2020 09:09

Both of my kids have been offered one 3 hour session a week for the next three weeks, the school wanted to offer the fourth but the council stuck to three. This includes my eldest in year 12. For my younger ones perhaps three items of work a week have been posted on website but no marking or feedback. Your kids probably aren’t missing much!

MotherMorph · 28/06/2020 09:13

My DS is back at school (2 short days a week - I am not a key worker) but in a bubble of 15 and being taught by TAs.

sashagabadon · 28/06/2020 09:14

@TabbyMumz

"This is the situation for all us keyworkers. This has been the case since March."

How so, when you have had childcare since March?

But no teaching. And i am not at home to "homeschool" as i am at work. So keyworker children do not get "homeschooling" either. I do what i can when i get home of course but i am knackered and so are they. Keyworker kids deserve sn education too. I am getting more and more cross about it. If schools go back to normal in September i will accept it all and hopefully my child will catch up. If not i am going to start complaining in a very loud voice.
TCMcK · 28/06/2020 09:26

My son is in a key worker bubble, he goes in 2 days a week. He is doing curriculum based work both days. I’ve seen his work as I work at the school. His teacher told me that she is preparing them as much as possible for September.

wantmorenow · 28/06/2020 09:29

Bridgend county. No teaching for any child mandated by LEA. It's shit. None happened and none planned.

TabbyMumz · 28/06/2020 09:31

"But no teaching. And i am not at home to "homeschool" as i am at work."

But that's the same for most people. Most people who work have not been able to provide homeschooling.

"So keyworker children do not get "homeschooling" either."
Neither do most kids.

"I do what i can when i get home of course but i am knackered and so are they.
Keyworker kids deserve sn education too."

Any child deserves an education. Most children are not getting an education.

" am getting more and more cross about it.
If schools go back to normal in September i will accept it all and hopefully my child will catch up. If not i am going to start complaining in a very loud voice."

It's the same for everyone.

sashagabadon · 28/06/2020 10:00

A lot of my friends are furloughed. They are able to hone school their kids during the day every day since March in a way i am not. Same goes for parents working at home. Not in as good a postition as furloughed people but nonetheless at home. No commute.
I don't have either luxury as i have to commute into work, work, commute home again and therefore my kids are at a disadvantage to their kids.
I am cross with the unions about this for discouraging teachers to teach key worker kids.
I accept this situation for now but i will start to kick up a big fuss if it continues into September.

sashagabadon · 28/06/2020 10:04

@TabbyMumz

"But no teaching. And i am not at home to "homeschool" as i am at work."

But that's the same for most people. Most people who work have not been able to provide homeschooling.

"So keyworker children do not get "homeschooling" either."
Neither do most kids.

"I do what i can when i get home of course but i am knackered and so are they.
Keyworker kids deserve sn education too."

Any child deserves an education. Most children are not getting an education.

" am getting more and more cross about it.
If schools go back to normal in September i will accept it all and hopefully my child will catch up. If not i am going to start complaining in a very loud voice."

It's the same for everyone.

And if people at home cannot or will not home school their kids hopefully they will kick up a big fuss too in September along with all the parents homeschooling furloughed or wfh. We should all unite (like the union) and kick up a big fuss
TabbyMumz · 28/06/2020 10:05

Sasha....you are jealous of your friends because they are furloughed, but you had access to childcare where they have not. Trust me, the majority of kids have not been at an advantage to keyworker kids. The majority of people I know have been on their knees because they have had to work from home, putting in a full day, and look after their kids. Homeschooling hasnt even happened. Plus there are high school kids. I wouldnt even know where to begin with teaching high school kids.

PinkFondantFancy · 28/06/2020 10:07

@sashagabadon I wouldn't assume those kids with parents working at home are getting any education, mine aren't. They're ignored all day while we work. It absolutely sucks. Key worker bubbles are full so I can't even put them in there to get some adult attention. The whole situation is farcical.

TabbyMumz · 28/06/2020 10:08

"And if people at home cannot or will not home school their kids hopefully they will kick up a big fuss too in September along with all the parents homeschooling furloughed or wfh.
We should all unite (like the union) and kick up a big fuss"
But why? What is it that you think schools could have done? We dont know what schools are going to look like in September. Currently my school can only offer one half day per week. I'm not thinking it's going to be back to normal in September

Cookiecrisps · 28/06/2020 10:10

I know this doesn’t directly help the Op but I just wanted to say that not all schools are providing care alone for key workers. I work at a school in England. We are teaching our key worker children. We are required to plan full lessons with a big focus on English and maths skills an all key worker children must attend full time. This is based on the advice of the LA. The key worker children in years 2-5 are getting a much better deal in my school than children in these year groups working at home in terms of the support we can offer them during the school day (all staff are in teaching so can’t do live lessons for those at home.)

TyphoidMary2020 · 28/06/2020 10:12

I am 🤬 about this too.

I am NHS and have used the kw provision since March.

There were some threads on here about similar in May when year groups first started to look at going back, but no solutions there either apparently.

Now some years have gone back in England we have had to choose, if we go into year group we lose the kw childcare hours and no wraparound or school summer holiday childcare is available, I have looked into this near me.

I spoke to the new Head on the phone, all she had to say was how frustrating it all is is because, she really wants to get her hair cut, 🤬.

I would sign a petition that addresses the issues I am having, which sound similar?

No daffodils here!

30not13 · 28/06/2020 10:18

I think I understand.

Is it that you will be teaching your pupils but as your child has to go to a KW hub they wont be getting education, just childcare and perhaps a little support to complete homelearning tasks?

I'll be in same situation if we cant all go back as normal in Scotland. My dc will have to attend a ft KW hub rather than their school as I'm led to believe from what little patchy info is out there. DC will also not be allowed to attend their usual out of school care.

It's very unfair.

sashagabadon · 28/06/2020 10:18

@TabbyMumz

Sasha....you are jealous of your friends because they are furloughed, but you had access to childcare where they have not. Trust me, the majority of kids have not been at an advantage to keyworker kids. The majority of people I know have been on their knees because they have had to work from home, putting in a full day, and look after their kids. Homeschooling hasnt even happened. Plus there are high school kids. I wouldnt even know where to begin with teaching high school kids.
I am not jealous of my furloughed friends Hmm Far from it. I like working and j have a useful to society job My point is my kids are at a disadvantage as i do not have tbe luxury of time to home school them unlike others. I am not sure how this point can be disputed. Time is a fixed thing and i have less of it. Anyway, i feel this way with good reason and i will not be so understanding about it come september. You do you and i'll do me
sashagabadon · 28/06/2020 10:21

@30not13

I think I understand.

Is it that you will be teaching your pupils but as your child has to go to a KW hub they wont be getting education, just childcare and perhaps a little support to complete homelearning tasks?

I'll be in same situation if we cant all go back as normal in Scotland. My dc will have to attend a ft KW hub rather than their school as I'm led to believe from what little patchy info is out there. DC will also not be allowed to attend their usual out of school care.

It's very unfair.

Hopefully teachers will be able to understand my point of view when it is their own kids now being disadvantaged as mine have been. Keyworker kids including teachers kids need educating too
sashagabadon · 28/06/2020 10:26

@TyphoidMary2020

I am 🤬 about this too.

I am NHS and have used the kw provision since March.

There were some threads on here about similar in May when year groups first started to look at going back, but no solutions there either apparently.

Now some years have gone back in England we have had to choose, if we go into year group we lose the kw childcare hours and no wraparound or school summer holiday childcare is available, I have looked into this near me.

I spoke to the new Head on the phone, all she had to say was how frustrating it all is is because, she really wants to get her hair cut, 🤬.

I would sign a petition that addresses the issues I am having, which sound similar?

No daffodils here!

Agreed Typhoid mary. Great pandemic name by the way. Pre- covid choice? Us keyworkers need to complain en mass. Maybe now teachers are being disadvantaged too, complaints will have greater impact.
CallmeAngelina · 28/06/2020 10:29

I remember the OP from other threads and what she hasn't spelt out here is that she lives in Wales but teaches across the border in England.

For the record, lots of schools are providing support for Key Worker children to complete their Home Learning tasks. I think it's a bit stupid not to, actually. For one thing, it makes the time pass much more quickly. We have all year groups open now, N - Yr 6 (on a two-week rota) and are giving more input to the work set, as all children were offered the opportunity to return if they wished (and therefore can't really complain that they're missing out although I bet some do ).

CallmeAngelina · 28/06/2020 10:31

Hopefully teachers will be able to understand my point of view when it is their own kids now being disadvantaged as mine have been.
Keyworker kids including teachers kids need educating too

Teachers' kids have been in the same boat as others all the way along, as we have been working from home and also trying to sort Home Schooling out like everyone else.

TyphoidMary2020 · 28/06/2020 10:35

Agreed Typhoid mary. Great pandemic name by the way. Pre- covid choice?
Us keyworkers need to complain en mass.
Maybe now teachers are being disadvantaged too, complaints will have greater impact

Thanks, I have used many different names pre Covid!

Been on here for a few years now...

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