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.

@bemoreme21

So do you think a single parent who works from home but isn't a keyworker should be entitled to a school place?

@formerbabe If you read my post you would see my husband doesn't work from home and he can't. He just isn't classed as a key worker!

@formerbabe No i don't. A single parent who has to work out of the home should be entitled though because they have to keep a roof over their head!

To all those getting angry - those parents sending their children to school are only abiding by the rules. The government has set out a (very broad) list of what it considers as key workers. It has also stated that only one parent needs to be a key worker.

Anyone who meets these criteria is entitled to apply. The application is reviewed by the school, and if they are accepted it means the school has agreed they meet the necessary criteria.

It’s the Government you need to be angry with for making the key worker criteria so broad, not the parents who are simply following the rules.

It’s the Government you need to be angry with for making the key worker criteria so broad, not the parents who are simply following the rules.

I’m angry with the Government for shutting the schools at all. Having shut them it’s pretty pointless if there are a minority of children barred from the classroom. Very unfair to those children.

@CarlottaValdez

It’s the Government you need to be angry with for making the key worker criteria so broad, not the parents who are simply following the rules.

I’m angry with the Government for shutting the schools at all. Having shut them it’s pretty pointless if there are a minority of children barred from the classroom. Very unfair to those children.

Totally agree. It’s a bit of a joke saying the schools are closed, when you see the number of children still going.

I was going to post something very similar. The teacher of my DD's class posted a video for the kids at home. You could clearly see that there were A LOT of children in. I didn't even want to show it to dd because I'd told her that school was closed to keep people safe.

I'm not angry with the parents at all. Working from home with children is absolutely impossible, of course they want their kids in school. But unless both parents are key workers who can't WFH or a single parent, don't try and justify to yourself or anyone else that your child is more deserving than anyone else.
What is happening is horrendously unfair. Either schools are shut or they aren't. If it's safe for 50% of children to be in school then places should be offered to all on a rota basis. If it's not safe then schools need to be shut completely, only offering a space to as few children as possible.

@CakeQueen87

I'm not angry with the parents at all. Working from home with children is absolutely impossible, of course they want their kids in school. But unless both parents are key workers who can't WFH or a single parent, don't try and justify to yourself or anyone else that your child is more deserving than anyone else. What is happening is horrendously unfair. Either schools are shut or they aren't. If it's safe for 50% of children to be in school then places should be offered to all on a rota basis. If it's not safe then schools need to be shut completely, only offering a space to as few children as possible.

100% Bbc news just now: a school in Deptford confirming they have 5x the number of key worker children they had in the first lockdown. Just open the schools ffs

My granddaughter is in year 4 . She was the only pupil in her year when I picked her up on Tuesday 😯

@Ken1976

My granddaughter is in year 4 . She was the only pupil in her year when I picked her up on Tuesday 😯

You can’t really judge numbers based on Tuesday - the day after the 8pm announcement from Boris. Most children kept off school whilst parents decided what to do and submitted their key worker applications to the schools.

My son’s class only had one pupil in on Tuesday. By Wednesday, once the school had notified parents of the outcome of the key worker applications, there were 12.

@Doris86

To all those getting angry - those parents sending their children to school are only abiding by the rules. The government has set out a (very broad) list of what it considers as key workers. It has also stated that only one parent needs to be a key worker.

Anyone who meets these criteria is entitled to apply. The application is reviewed by the school, and if they are accepted it means the school has agreed they meet the necessary criteria.

It’s the Government you need to be angry with for making the key worker criteria so broad, not the parents who are simply following the rules.

Not sure I agree. It's clear from the news what we need to do to get through the next few weeks (or months). People know when they are being cheeky.

There's a massive difference between jobs which are technically key workers according to the guidance & jobs which really are critical. People should stop being so selfish

This is what is happening at my DC’s school:
Teacher rang me for check-in call today. Teacher said that they are working at the school, but in another room working online and currently only assisting the children that are working at home. Other staff (not qualified teachers) are assisting the children in the classroom. Same work is being set for children in school and children at home (confirmed by DC’s school friends). Class Teacher has been checking and commenting on work that has been uploaded throughout the day. Teacher said that the current set up could change if too many children are sent in during the next week or so and/or depending how many staff are self-isolating/off sick during the following weeks/months.

WunWun
‘Am I the only one who has absolutely no idea how many kids are in school? How do you find this out?’

I queried this when I emailed the school to refuse our 2 KW places earlier in the week, but did not receive a response. So I asked the teacher via phone today. Class bubbles were 15/16 children max during March-July. They currently have less than that re. DC’s class but numbers may go up during the next few days. Numbers obviously differ between classes. I’m waiting to hear back re. numbers in other DC’s class. We will review the situation in 2 weeks and may send our 2DC in if there is availability and only if the class numbers remain reasonably low.

muddyellowdog
‘Of course this is making people bitter! Imagine if it was your child stuck at home while their friends are in school basically receiving a private school style education!!!’

Nothing like a private school education if teachers are also trying to teach via video call whilst also teaching children in the classroom. Or TA’s/other staff are in the classroom instead of a qualified Teacher.

*This is what is happening at my DC’s primary school:

@WunWun

Am I the only one who has absolutely no idea how many kids are in school? How do you find this out?

In the news now but initially via teachers tweeting and via my nurse friend commenting that the school out kids both go to (hers at key worker at the mo, mine at home) that the school seemed busier than March.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/06/english-schools-struggle-with-demand-for-key-worker-places

www.itv.com/news/2021-01-07/schools-told-not-to-limit-number-of-key-worker-children-onsite-during-lockdown

What is happening is horrendously unfair. Either schools are shut or they aren't. If it's safe for 50% of children to be in school then places should be offered to all on a rota basis.

Yes, I absolutely agree with this except I would caveat that actual frontline NHS workers would still need full time places - but very ,very narrow criteria for these places. The scientists have been advocating rotas as a safer option for months and months and months. If we'd had them from the start, we very well might not be in the position we are now.

As it is currently, it seems to me it will be those who shout the loudest, rather than the most vulnerable, who get the places.

Of course no one is talking about frontline NHS workers - of course they should get a place. We're talking about people who are WFH in flexible jobs - sometimes part-time - not frontline at all - who are classified as 'critical workers' and eligible for a place. The criteria are far too broadly drawn.

At the end of the day, I think this just won't wash. If videos of the classroom show a load of kids with SAHPs (but the other parent is a key worker) or parents working part time entirely from home then the rest of the parents will - quite rightly - be up in arms.

I think they either need to give Heads discretion (with some kind of complaints referral if people feel they have been unfairly treated) - after all they'll know how to keep the school as safe as possible and who really needs to be in - or they need to just go for a rota for everyone.

@Soontobe60

My school where I teach has told the staff that we all have to come in, key worker children will be in their own classes (we’re only expecting single numbers in each class) where they can access the home learning as the teachers will be teaching online all day. They will be sat well away from each other. No break times outside, lunch at their desks. I should imagine it will be tough on the children in school tbh.

Not to mention doors and windows open to ventilate the classrooms, my DD is a teacher, her hands were blue. Children are shivering, parents are complaining but they have to do this to try and stay safe.

Children are sitting at screens with layers and layers of clothes, hats and scarves, they receive no more teaching than the children at home

@nocutsnobuttsnococonuts

My dds will be in school 2 days per week. I didnt need to use it last time but with the announcement early years can continue to open as normal im at work whereas last time I wasn't. Dh works in a supermarket and due to times of isolation for him and dd2 he has no holiday time left.

Thats a good point you make, my DD works in a nursery and all the other staff have primary children so as the nursery is still open that is their 9 children that will need key worker places at school so they can keep early years staffed and opne, last lockdown nursery was closed.

Taken from the PP link... do you think this would work again

During the first lockdown, according to Julie McCulloch, ASCL’s director of policy, there was a cap of 20% of children allowed in a school.

If numbers exceeded that, schools were advised to contact their local authorities who would help distribute children across schools to keep numbers down.

Its so difficult this time round. Luckily we got a place at DS's school.
My DH is a key worker as manages a factory in food production.
I am not a key worker but work outside the home. I work in non-essential retail and last time I was furloughed, this time I'm not as we are all still working even though the shop is closed.
If we didn't have a space, it would mean me having to leave my job or take time off unpaid, which would mean we would struggle to live, losing my full time wage.
Everybody is different, this lockdown is different, people need to earn money to survive so it isn't always as clear cut as 2 key workers only.

@Jenasaurus

Taken from the PP link... do you think this would work again

During the first lockdown, according to Julie McCulloch, ASCL’s director of policy, there was a cap of 20% of children allowed in a school.

If numbers exceeded that, schools were advised to contact their local authorities who would help distribute children across schools to keep numbers down.

This should absolutely be happening

Acidrain To me I dont think you should be taking a place because there are tons in your very situation. Depends on the school I think

When I drop off/pick up my DD(6) she is in her classroom with her teacher and TA, the children (8 of them) are sitting around one table (no distancing) she doesn't have her coat on and has never said anything about the classroom being cold. They do the same worksheets/workbooks as the kids at home but also play games organised by the teacher. Full school dinners still being provided.

So you can see how it's a more attractive offering at some schools.