Those wanting school open - are you not worried about your DC?

[Hicksville21]

Just that really. Do you not think it’s time to keep our kids home safe until this wave passes?

Not worried about the children no.

Hancock just live confirmed on LBC

Schools not closing
No more tiers!!!

Did he? I just heard him on sky saying, the data changes all the time so that's what they will be following when pressed on school?

BBC reporting Hancock said no lockdown sticking with tiers

Quite right as not all areas same

Announcing more tiers tho

I'm very relieved that they are staying open. Hopefully they pull their finger out and get cracking with the Oxford vaccine after today's news.

I wouldn't be confident they'll remain open.

Good!

No, im not worried. Im more worried that my 17 year old has a levels shortly snd more time out of 6th form will screw up her future. Im worried about my 9 year old mental health, he really suffered during lockdown one and I took up a KW place after half term which did him the world of good.

and I took up a KW place after half term which did him the world of good

This is what pisses me off. Surely if you're a key worker, you would have needed that place for the whole time not just pick and choose. My dc would have also benefitted from time in school but couldn't have it. You either needed the childcare or didn't?

I'm not overly worried. Their school is doing staggered return (exam years only going back the first year) and twice weekly lateral flow testing. Plus they are young and healthy and we are the oldest people they'd come into contact with. Pretty sure the eldest has probably had it anyway as has been sent home for exposure in bubble 3 times now.

@formerbabe

and I took up a KW place after half term which did him the world of good

This is what pisses me off. Surely if you're a key worker, you would have needed that place for the whole time not just pick and choose. My dc would have also benefitted from time in school but couldn't have it. You either needed the childcare or didn't?

Read the post, the child wasn't coping. I sent my 14 year old back to school in May, he doesn't need childcare. His head of year encouraged me to send him in.

*Businesses have adapted hugely. In multiple ways. Is this news to you, seriously?

Unlike schools however, if they don’t turn a profit, they’re toast*

But not adapted enough to help working parents, obviously as there wouldn't be so many stressed parents on here blaming the schools when as a parent they are struggling to manage both work and homeschooling.

Looking at the guidance, furlough can be taken where parents have childcare responsibilities. Why isn't this an option for those who say i can't work and care for my children? There is an option. Not perfect financially but then there is a pandemic which is making life far from perfect for everyone.

Have you worked with schools? Do you understand the pressure and consequences for schools when they have no money, when the budget is in the red? Obviously not!

@kowari

I thought a key worker place was because parents had to work in essential jobs and hence childcare was needed. It's not simply a reward because your parent does a certain job. My dc struggled very much too. But no option to return.

First few weeks of the initial lockdown my dcs school had six key worker children...who I guess genuinely needed the place. As time went on, there were over 100 key workers children in. Why didn't those people need the place at the beginning of lockdown?

Why didn't those people need the place at the beginning of lockdown?
I'm guessing that like me they didn't know schools would be shut so long. My DS doesn't need childcare, but, it turns out, doesn't cope well alone for a full working week, week after week. Likewise, children may have been coping while parents worked from home for a few weeks, then started not coping.

@kowari

Why didn't those people need the place at the beginning of lockdown? I'm guessing that like me they didn't know schools would be shut so long. My DS doesn't need childcare, but, it turns out, doesn't cope well alone for a full working week, week after week. Likewise, children may have been coping while parents worked from home for a few weeks, then started not coping.

So key worker places weren't given out based on a need for childcare but based on which key workers child was coping or not coping?

*not based on a need for childcare

That should say

DDs school initially were really strict on criteria and then gradually allowed more in. They targeted vulnerable kids being in too. They never reopened for reception/y1/y2 as they were full with keywords and vulnerable

The initial lockdown sent my DS into a reclusive world of his own, he didn't start interacting and playing with friends online again until October.

@Rubyrubyrubyred

DDs school initially were really strict on criteria and then gradually allowed more in. They targeted vulnerable kids being in too. They never reopened for reception/y1/y2 as they were full with keywords and vulnerable

So it's basically a two tier system based on what job your parents do and the need for childcare is a secondary concern. What an absolute pisstake.

@kowari

The initial lockdown sent my DS into a reclusive world of his own, he didn't start interacting and playing with friends online again until October.

Plenty of children struggled. Mine really did. But still not allowed back because we're not key workers.

So key worker places weren't given out based on a need for childcare but based on which key workers child was coping or not coping?
Our school offered a place to all keyworker children at the start, but I sent DS in when his head of year encouraged me to. The numbers of keyworker children increased from when DS went back in May. If it was just about childcare then it would have been limited to year 7 and 8 and SN.

@kowari

Why didn't those people need the place at the beginning of lockdown? I'm guessing that like me they didn't know schools would be shut so long. My DS doesn't need childcare, but, it turns out, doesn't cope well alone for a full working week, week after week. Likewise, children may have been coping while parents worked from home for a few weeks, then started not coping.

Yes we had the option of a key worker place through my husband, who works in retail and gates the term key worker - as do I, it's so offensive to anyone else breaking their bloody back.

However, we didn't take it as we stupidly thought it would only be a few weeks and we felt guilty as the school gave a pity story over taking up of places and to consider carefully if you should take one/did you REALLY need it, typical guilt trip.

Then, a note went round saying they'd accept no more children regardless of change in circumstances- leaving us screwed.

but I sent DS in when his head of year encouraged me to

So you didn't actually need it for childcare?

@formerbabe
I don't make the rules. I'm just a single parent trying to do the best for my child in a difficult situation like everyone else is.

But if your DC needed the school place for their mental health and they get it because of your job...then my DC may also need help but can't get it because I'm not a key worker, that is really unfair. Key workers places were started so that essential workers could still work. Instead it's a two tier system where some children are considered worthy enough to attend and some aren't, based on their parents career choice.