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

[Crazyoldmaurice]

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.

[quote finager]@formerbabe would you take a place if it was clear your child was struggling?[/quote]
Only if I felt I had no other choice

@thecutback do you think EY providers should close?

Does anyone have a link to the list of "proper key workers"?

Scroll down here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Only if I felt I had no other choice

So how do you know if other families with your parent set up aren't in that position?

@finager

Only if I felt I had no other choice

So how do you know if other families with your parent set up aren't in that position?

Because when the March lockdown started, my dcs school had six kids in. Now it's packed...Seems like there's more dc from my dcs class in school rather than at home and because I know parents who weren't sure whether to take their kw place? If you can take it or leave it then leave it.

@thecutback

The more people that go into school, the longer this will continue for everyone.

And yet this thread demonstrates that they don't care.

And no teachers are complaining about this. But at the weekend teachers were on every thread stating that schools needed to close or we were practically sending teachers to their deaths.

[quote finager]@thecutback do you think EY providers should close? [/quote]
I honestly don't know. I just hope that people aren't abusing places, because ultimately no one wins if people do that.

@formerbabe

I know a woman who works in a health food shop and calls herself a key worker

The sale of essentials such as food is clearly a keyworker role .

Not sure health food shops sell essential food actually...

Really unfair if only a third of the class is excluded from.attending .
I returned to work today and was surprised to be informed that i am.a critical worker and work will provide a letter for my dcs school,
I work in planning for a local council.
They obviously want minimum disruption services but might be its harder for employees to ask for flexibility if their dc is allowed in school.

@thecutback

Not sure health food shops sell essential food actually...

They usually sell many basic (zero VAT rated) foods.

To be honest if you applied a liberal enough interpretation to the term 'key worker' and 'vulnerable' pretty much every child could go into school.

A reminder for this that haven't read the thread

DfE guidance for critical workers includes the statement 'parents whose work is critical to the coronavirus response'
and then goes on to list occupations. 'Critical to the coronavirus response' is the key bit.
This is difficult for schools to determine.
Honest parents will assess this themselves and be responsible.

@Nikhedonia there are Schools Staff and others saying there is potentially still an issue with numbers of DC in Schools etc on other Threads, submission of Section 44 may still happen and or not enough reduction in spread of covid.

Yes they want kids in full time or not at all. So us part time keyworkers look slack, but our school wanted two key workers to qualify. My child is the only one from his class that I could tell from drop off. He was very upset not to know anyone and be in a new classroom with new teachers. So please don't think it's easy for anyone, he's a sensitive soul. There is risk for anyone going to school and our families. It won't be normal learning either.

I don't really get why you are moaning about people using keyworker places when you also intend to?

[quote NotSoHappyNewTier]@Nikhedonia there are Schools Staff and others saying there is potentially still an issue with numbers of DC in Schools etc on other Threads, submission of Section 44 may still happen and or not enough reduction in spread of covid.[/quote]
I sincerely hope they do or it hugely waters down the argument of schools being unsafe and needing to be closed.

My friend is senior HR, apparently lots of staff have been asking for keyworker letters. Luckily the business made a decision that it's morally wrong despite being in a sector that is deemed 'key'.

Our school has very strict requirements. Both parents blue light workers or childcare / teachers. As it should be.
I was asked by a colleague today if mine were going in as I could describe myself as a key worker if I stretch it. They are not.

@Nikhedonia most have only gone back today so will be the first time many see how many turn up.
It does seem some are taking a place they don't need , yet others maybe not getting one they do.
Like poster who said she is pt but will send in other days so she can sleep !!! Yet another has suggested they only go in days they work and school have said all or nothing so can understand why they said all
Council planning giving keyworker letters doesn't seem right I am sure a lot if admin stuff can be done from home.
Its a shame if it gets wrongly used and some schools end up with large numbers in and then end up with cases and people having to isolate etc ,

• I will emailed the school to see if there's anything they can do.

Last time we were told we could only apply if both parents were key workers, and it would be allocated on a first come first served basis. I think the most they ever had on a single day was 6 children out of the possible 30, and 2 of those were mine.

I don't think they were expecting this level of demand! It seems unfair on the school if they now have to issue some sort of points system for places as it's going to open them up to all kinds of complaints, and I'm absolutely sure they're doing their best.

I expect they will start asking for proof of job role and KW status by next week, if more people need places than there are places available. I'm guessing some people just chanced their luck because they would prefer DC in rather than having no other option, and knowing the provision was almost empty last time 🤷🏻‍♀️*

Update from my school. They have clearly had a massive response from people wishing to take up KW places, and only have 30 available (school of 180 children).

All previous bookings have been cancelled. The term 'key worker' is being replaced with 'critical worker' and both parents must qualify.

Critical workers are:

1. Healthcare staff
2. Education staff
3. Rescue/emergency staff eg police, paramedic
4. Social services staff if working in a critical role eg carer, social worker

That's it. No food retail workers, no food distribution workers, no power company staff, just the list above.

Tough stance is clearly being taken now. The WhatsApp group are up in arms 😬

@justchecking1

* I will emailed the school to see if there's anything they can do.

Last time we were told we could only apply if both parents were key workers, and it would be allocated on a first come first served basis. I think the most they ever had on a single day was 6 children out of the possible 30, and 2 of those were mine.

I don't think they were expecting this level of demand! It seems unfair on the school if they now have to issue some sort of points system for places as it's going to open them up to all kinds of complaints, and I'm absolutely sure they're doing their best.

I expect they will start asking for proof of job role and KW status by next week, if more people need places than there are places available. I'm guessing some people just chanced their luck because they would prefer DC in rather than having no other option, and knowing the provision was almost empty last time 🤷🏻‍♀️*

Update from my school. They have clearly had a massive response from people wishing to take up KW places, and only have 30 available (school of 180 children).

All previous bookings have been cancelled. The term 'key worker' is being replaced with 'critical worker' and both parents must qualify.

Critical workers are:

1. Healthcare staff
2. Education staff
3. Rescue/emergency staff eg police, paramedic
4. Social services staff if working in a critical role eg carer, social worker

That's it. No food retail workers, no food distribution workers, no power company staff, just the list above.

Tough stance is clearly being taken now. The WhatsApp group are up in arms 😬

I suppose it's not critical that we eat...

I don't think it matters what criteria the schools use, if they want to take 20 kids then they need to work that out. If it's 20 kids from one class and none from another so be it. It really doesn't matter. Some people want their kids in school, some don't.

• However I do wonder if some parents cottoned on to the fact that this time they are meant to be actually taught in the keyworker bubbles so it will be like private school class sizes and a bit less chance of covid being spread.

The reality is a teacher who is trying to teach some kids in class & then some remotely. It won't be like private education.*

It will more likely be a Reception/KS1 bubble and a KS2 bubble supervised by TAs doing the online work the teacher has set, whilst the teacher sets/feedbacks/marks the online work.
The class size is likely to be quite big with a mix of year groups.