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

[SaltyAndFresh]

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 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?

This is local authority specific in Wales

After a lot of debate the LA I work in has agreed that KW pupils can have one day with their teacher (so they have parity with the other returning pupils)

There was a lot of opposition from some HTs. The LA (correctly IMHO) said that it would be unfair and discriminatory if they did it have this day. They also felt it would be hugely damaging to wellbeing.

In my school on the day when they are in the KW group we are providing support to access the online tasks being set for their class.

Should add this is a change to the hub care where it was just childcare

We are not allowed to change between bubbles I think is the reason, but hours and education offered should be equal surely?

The letters and online info I have seen pats themselves on the back about how places are offered for kw and year groups, when actually they are not!!

Our school England are crossing KW and class bubbles for 2 days in the last week. Which is obviously a very bad idea.

Keela distance is there a reason given as to why?

Sorry! Autocorrect, that q was to keepadistance

I agree op. I do think many keyworker children have been massively disadvantaged in this.

I'm in Wales and we have been told we have one day per child classroom time in total for the rest of this academic year. It's been made clear that they aren't being taught anything - it is a wellbeing session to 'Check in'.

Lots of children are “at a disadvantage”.

Children whose non keyworker parents have been working full time from home haven’t been homeschooled.

Children who don’t have good internet connections or devices haven’t had the same experience as those with tech.

Children whose parents don’t speak English, children who have multiple siblings...

It might not be “fair” that some children are being homeschooled by a full time parent with plenty of time and resources and many children aren’t, but that issue isn’t unique to key workers.

@sashabgordon but kw (teachers amongst many) kids have been in the same position too cant you see that? Any care provided this far has been just that. Care. Not education. Just help with the home learning as any parents at home have had.

@TabbyMumz

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.

I have seen this posted lots of times but it is not true. My keyworker children and try child are both having proper teaching in school. (We're in England)

I believe the childcare only line is a distortion of the guidance and should not be the case and it disadvantages keyworker children.

I'm in England but would definitely support your petition.

I work from home as a single parent and I still think my children have more of an advantage than keyworker children because I am still there to keep an eye on things. A friend who was doing extremely long shifts in a hospital, plus travel time on top, had no time whatsoever to support her children with their home learning.

*Keyworker and yr6 children (so different bubbles)

"11:12SushiGo

"TabbyMumz

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."

"I have seen this posted lots of times but it is not true."

It is true in Wales, and that's where the op is. I have teacher friends who only have to go to a keyworker childrens hub one week in 4, to provide childcare, no teaching. These hubs are made up of kids in all years, a primary school teacher cant teach older kids.

"My keyworker children and try child are both having proper teaching in school. (We're in England)"
Exactly, we are talking about Wales here.

"I believe the childcare only line is a distortion of the guidance and should not be the case and it disadvantages keyworker children."
Yes it does, it disadvantages all children. Not just children of keyworkers. The op lives in Wales, but works in England, so she no doubt has seen kids in primary years get some teaching, but in Wales, they havent, and wont for the rest of the school year. So her kids are not any worse off than other children in Wales, but they are worse off than a few year groups in England, because in England, a few year groups are being taught.

My 'beef' as one poster put it, is that children in Wales are going back this week but not if their parents have to use hubs. There is no teaching at the hubs; in fact they won't be staffed by teachers.

Non-key worker children have been gently introduced to the new normal. Kew workers are not allowed into school at all if they have no choice but to use hubs.

Sorry I haven't read beyond the first few yet, will do later.

Well you are in the same position as English kids , they are not being taught whether in school or at home or the same work given. Schools simply supervise. I really would not be concerned , school breaks up very soon anyway.
Your children are at an advantage compared to thousands of U.K. kids whose parents are wfh full time.

Ignore the second or!

I am in wales and my children aren’t going back to teaching - they are going back for check-in wellness sessions. So a couple of hours once a week, to talk about how they are getting on etc. Then in the first week they are having a session on virus’s and how they spread!! It’s 3 sessions and then that’s it until September when no-one know what will happen.
Our LEA have the KW hubs in their normal school now and they can attend thier check-in session on the day they are scheduled to.

My kids year 12 are going back next week in Wales. No teaching planned. None received so far. Awful situation. I can't teach or support Alevel maths and physics. Meanwhile I'm WFH and delivering teaching to my students in England. Not fair. It has been decided by LEA not school due to safeguarding. Crap excuses 😠

And literally a few posts later someone says keyworker kids in England aren't being taught either.

I don't believe this is a devolved issue as schools offering/not offering have varied across the whole of the UK and NI normally on the basis of local government advice not country level advice.

"Non-key worker children have been gently introduced to the new normal. Kew workers are not allowed into school at all if they have no choice but to use hubs.

Sorry I haven't read beyond the first few yet, will do later."

But if you are in Wales, you will know that no children in Wales are getting teaching?! They are getting a half day a week check in. This is why I cant understand your "beef". Do you think for some reason that non keyworker kids are attending normal lessons? Because they arent. You must know this, surely? They arent getting introduced to the new normal. They are in groups of 8 and in for one morning a week. They wont beckwith their friends or their teacher.

They are getting three days of face to face time with their teacher, so yes, teaching; which the guidance says that KWV are also entitled to, but won't get. There is nothing else in place for September. If I accept it now I accept it then.

I work in a secondary school and our KW kids are completing online work on their days in. We are in wales and open next week for the 3 weeks ‘catch up’ sessions. As far as I’m aware it’ll be one teacher per bubble and online working only, no actual taught sessions. My dd will be attending the KW bubble at primary and they aren’t doing any teaching at all. It’s all home learning which is a juggle to complete along with work, housework and her music lessons. Fortunately I play the same instrument so can help with that! But it means she is working evenings and weekend to catch up from her days in the bubble where all they do is play outside and watch movies.

Everyone is in the same boat, I’m fortunate that I’m not working my full time hours in school yet as the lack of wrap around care would be a major hurdle.

@SaltyAndFresh my kids in year 7 and 8 are getting 2.5 hours once a week for 3 weeks with a random teacher who is not thier form teacher nor once of thier subject teachers. They are mixed up with children from different forms so not with any friends
They are getting a 30 minute assembly, then a daily mile walk around the field and chat about how they are feeling then the last hour is random stuff, first week is viruses and how they spread. Not sure what the other 2 sessions subject will be .
They are not getting ANY face to face time with any of thier own teachers and are not doing any school work or being taught any school work so I’m not sure where you are getting this ‘welsh children are getting full on tutoring’ that your children are missing out on!!!

I the reason it feels so wrong is that they were all told they'd be going back to school at the beginning of June, then last week, as their friends were finding out who they'd be going in with, ours were told they weren't included. It's been a bright spot on the horizon for weeks and then, nothing. DS is all over the place.