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Original poster

66% of my daughters reception class are in school this week

521 replies

Crazyoldmaurice · 04/01/2021 22:29

We live in a very affluent part of South West London, avg house price 750k+

Turns out that 66% of my daughters reception class are due to attend school this week. There are 75 kids in her year group and all 48 keyworker child places have been taken (I was too late to book her on so have had to send an email!).

Hardly seems worth keeping the 25 other kids off at this point.

OP posts:
User158340 · 05/01/2021 10:21

Thankfully our school is taking a tough line of two key workers required, and have to be working out of the home. All the fake key worker parents from last time are up in arms about it.

Why can't people get it into their heads how serious this is? The schools haven't been closed for a laugh.

MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2021 10:22

Clapham can they give places to everyone who needs them or us demand higher than KW places?

BelleSausage · 05/01/2021 10:22

@Manteo

Well they are in for a shock then. Our school is just plopping the kid in front of the computers to do their online provision, just the same as they would be at home.

I doubt the kids who weren’t going to engage at home are going to engage at school. The supervising teachers have to keep a two metre distance.

Wheresyourclapham · 05/01/2021 10:22

@formerbabe
It’s not fair, but you’re just going to have to get on with it.
It’s everyone for themselves out there!

Schoolchoicesucks · 05/01/2021 10:26

@Onlyfools.

No, of course I didn't want them to close. Did anyone? I think they had to be closed. I also think that eg doctors, nurses, food production etc etc workers have to still be able to go out to work.

Nikhedonia · 05/01/2021 10:26

It’s everyone for themselves out there!

If everyone thinks this way, there is no way out of this pandemic.

Wheresyourclapham · 05/01/2021 10:27

Loads of kids went back yesterday and are now back at home likely to be spreading the virus amongst everyone they come into contact with and not wearing masks.
My primary DC wear masks as soon as we leave the schools gates.

Notnamechangeday · 05/01/2021 10:28

We live near a major hospital and a lot of the children are KW and rightly so can attend the school. But it means due to the high numbers & the need for the teachers to be in school for them any none KW children won’t be getting any teams/zoom contact it will be worksheets etc

MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2021 10:28

The other issue is the more dc in the longer it goes on and the same dc out waiting to be allowed back.

User158340 · 05/01/2021 10:29

@Blueeyesparkle

The whole thing just makes me so angry. So many people are taking the bloody piss. Like sahm taking up spaces as they are so bloody up their own lazy arses to look after their own children. The rule in every school should be 2 keyworkers only. Plus the keyworker status should be simplified.
Schools are not a child minding service.
Schoolchoicesucks · 05/01/2021 10:29

@where'syour working in accounts in a non key industry where no-one will be paid if you don't do it is absolutely not classed as a keyworker role.

Nor should it be.

It can be done from home, in the evenings/morning/weekends etc.

I'm not suggesting that it should be classed as a key role or that my child should be in school.

I am suggesting that people shouldn't be piling on those who are sending their children in because they are key workers.

Wheresyourclapham · 05/01/2021 10:30

@MarshaBradyo

‘Clapham can they give places to everyone who needs them or us demand higher than KW places?’

I’m not sure, as I haven’t asked. I won’t be contacting the school again today as they’re busy enough!

PusheenLove · 05/01/2021 10:30

@formerbabe

I'm feeling really bitter about this. Loads of kids in my dcs school going in under the key worker scheme. Right now I feel like my DC is one of the few being excluded to make it safer for the rest. Lots of people taking the piss to be honest.
Me too. I'm angry and sad.
BishopBrennansArse · 05/01/2021 10:30

Not having a lot of luck contacting people to sort DS' place.... I'd WFH if I could but the vaccination clinics can't be staffed remotely....

breadwidow · 05/01/2021 10:31

So this morning my 'friend' (really thinking this may be the end for our friendship which was waning) confirmed on a group whatsapp chat that she has both kids in key worker school despite her job being wfh (and part time), her husband not being a key worker in any sense of the word and today they are both taking the day off as its her bday . . . fuck sake loads of people have had bdays in lockdown. I am so enraged by her. I know that I should just let it go but the fact she is flagrantly take advantage while I have single parent colleagues struggling because they do not want to put pressure on heir kids school is driving me a bit mad. I would very much like to reply to her message to our whatsapp group with some clear and cutting come back. My DH suggested I press the nuclear button and simply leave the group

Manteo · 05/01/2021 10:31

[quote BelleSausage]@Manteo

Well they are in for a shock then. Our school is just plopping the kid in front of the computers to do their online provision, just the same as they would be at home.

I doubt the kids who weren’t going to engage at home are going to engage at school. The supervising teachers have to keep a two metre distance.[/quote]
Even at primary school? My DD is 6 so I don't know what secondary keyworker provision is like.

MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2021 10:31

[quote Wheresyourclapham]@MarshaBradyo

‘Clapham can they give places to everyone who needs them or us demand higher than KW places?’

I’m not sure, as I haven’t asked. I won’t be contacting the school again today as they’re busy enough![/quote]
Fair enough but if you don’t need to use the two places would you not just say no thanks?

User158340 · 05/01/2021 10:33

@MrsFrisbyMouse

Seriously don't understand how anyone is surprised by this. How do we think society functions? Of course most families have a parent who is a keyworker- because keyworkers form the backbone of society and keep things flowing - from birth to death and everything inbetween. They provide healthcare, energy, food, transport, childcare, education, cleaning, rubbish collection, sewage treatment, and a million and one other functions. They make up the majority of the workforce.
This is the real reason the government have been so hesitant to close schools. It's not really about education.
christinarossetti19 · 05/01/2021 10:36

So we agree Marsha.

Worrying that the schools will be shut for a long time and sending your child in when you don't have to en masse is exactly why the schools will likely be closed for a long time, I'm afraid.

sashagabadon have you actually read the union's statements? The NAHT are asking the govt to work with them and PHE to ensure as safe as possible return to school for all children. And the NEU advised members to send section 44 letters, which is an entirely appropriate measure to unsafe working conditions (now supported by data which has finally be released into the public domain).

What unions have wanted all along is for schools to be safe so that they can remain open. For their member's workplaces to have the same mitigation measures as other workplaces.

The govt decided to open schools without them being safe, the virus ripped through them and that's the union's fault?

CarlottaValdez · 05/01/2021 10:38

Our school is about 1/3 attendance and they’ve asked for proof of both parents being key workers.

HappyNewYear2021 · 05/01/2021 10:38

@movingonup20

84% of my friends school meets the vulnerable category. Those not meeting the criteria are missing by a whisker mostly. They have decided that any parent who needs a place can send their kid in because it's such a deprived catchment
What a lovely school. Very flexible and understands their own catchment area.
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/01/2021 10:38

[quote Schoolchoicesucks]@Onlyfools.

No, of course I didn't want them to close. Did anyone? I think they had to be closed. I also think that eg doctors, nurses, food production etc etc workers have to still be able to go out to work.[/quote]
So if you thought schools SHOULD close why would you leap at the chance of a place if offered? Your child had a school place before they “closed”- what you wanted to do was expel other children?

MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2021 10:41

Christina yep on that we agree. Although I can still see why it’s happening given people’s experience last time. Like pp I have more issue if people doing it clamoured for closed schools.

justchecking1 · 05/01/2021 10:42

Are all of your schools allowing all KW children to attend? Without limiting numbers?

Our school of 180 pupils has said they are only offering 30 places (with DC from one household counting as one child). We didn't get a place for next week (have to be booked every week by the week before) as we didn't fill the form in until it had been out an hour, by which time all the places had gone.

There certainly wasn't this much demand last time round!

Both DH and I are medics so one of us will have to "WFH" (impossible really) next week to look after the kids. It seems daft if one doctor has to stay home during a pandemic to allow two accountants to WFH in peace, so I really hope there's been some sort of triaging of need for the school places! No idea if that's the case though, and from this thread it doesn't sound like it.

MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2021 10:44

@justchecking1

Are all of your schools allowing all KW children to attend? Without limiting numbers?

Our school of 180 pupils has said they are only offering 30 places (with DC from one household counting as one child). We didn't get a place for next week (have to be booked every week by the week before) as we didn't fill the form in until it had been out an hour, by which time all the places had gone.

There certainly wasn't this much demand last time round!

Both DH and I are medics so one of us will have to "WFH" (impossible really) next week to look after the kids. It seems daft if one doctor has to stay home during a pandemic to allow two accountants to WFH in peace, so I really hope there's been some sort of triaging of need for the school places! No idea if that's the case though, and from this thread it doesn't sound like it.

What an incredibly stressful process and not based on need at all