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.

@Manteo

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.

Playing games is nice. Then again seeing friends is nice in first place

@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.

Absolutely not, as it would mean mixing outside of your own local area!

Not to mention unfair on the Children who need to be in familiar classes not shipped out to wherever with strangers FFS

Manteo its good that your children had a good day. It must be quite stressful for families at this time, where both parents (or 1 single parent) has to leave the home. The risk of catching the virus is so much greater now, especially in a school environment.

So it is really good that these kids are having a good time.

@Acidrain

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.

So many in this position

But not everyone has the lifeline of one KW

@IloveJKRowling

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.

100% agree with this. My friend got a place when she doesn't need one because she is cheeky and pushy.

I have noticed that a large proportion of the 'top table' kids are in.

@manteo what do you mean by "top table"?

Top groups for literacy/numeracy. I've seen Mumsnet refer to this as top table a lot so I thought more people would get that description. Basically I meant possibly kids with parents at the pushier end of the spectrum.

IloveJKRowling

Yes. Last spring/summer, the criteria for 'critical workers' was those critical to the covid response ie the reason that we went into lockdown.

So, yes, frontline NHS workers, transport and retail staff, care home staff those sorts of roles that are vital to the running of the country. There were lots of discussions at the time that, when the chips were down, the 'key workers' of the country were often those doing low-paid but crucial work, not the 'bullshit jobs' of sending emails all day.

I'm really angry that there isn't even a narrative, let alone sanctions, for discourage employers from pressuring their staff to go into work by deciding that their roles are 'critical'. This has also happened to some people wfh, when their employer has stipulated that must try to access a school place via the govt guidance.

Oh I see Manteo. Just wasn't sure if it referred to academics or popularity. The latter in our school appear to be in..perhaps the most popular kids also have more pushy parents too?!

@Manteo

Top groups for literacy/numeracy. I've seen Mumsnet refer to this as top table a lot so I thought more people would get that description. Basically I meant possibly kids with parents at the pushier end of the spectrum.

Are your dc in?

There must be more desperate parents too who will take a place, maybe not your school

Yes, I have 1 DD(6), she's in.

I just posted similar on another thread, I'm confused by the number of them!

We had places last time but muddled through largely because I wasn't f/t. Im currently using AL
but my dc will be going in at some point as I am now f/t. Personally I would love to be furloughed but that option isn't available to us because I don't think being in school or at home with f/t parents is the best educational provision at this time. If my dc struggle in school & it's start affecting their development (oldest is 7) I will probably quit my job. I don't even want or need to be f/t but there is so much work.

*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*

Besides transmission, we have no spare capacity in any school, so no we can't move children around.
Last time we could draw in staff as the 'curriculum' was suspended. School staff, when not with KWv were supporting school improvements, volunteering in other schools and hubs. This time government guidance is that they teach a full curriculum.

Thanks BraeburnPlace that makes sense, both the cap and diffence between the curriculum being suspended and not.

We haven't used our key worker place, both DH and I NHS because DD WFH can supervise,

not the 'bullshit jobs' of sending emails all day.

Oh that's actually funny.

Yea, the private sector. Renowned for employing people in roles to do very little work. Shareholders advocate heavily for this.

It comes from David Graeber's book 'Bullshit Jobs: a theory' Nikhedonia.

Well worth a read.

@christinarossetti19

It comes from David Graeber's book 'Bullshit Jobs: a theory' Nikhedonia.

Well worth a read.

Sorry, I'm a bit busy being single parent, doing a full time job and homeschooling to read. I seem to have lost all my spare time.

Um, I didn't mean now - just at some point when you do have some time!