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.

Yes - I agree some key work roles can be done from home, but shouldn't have kids around.

This week, I have a video meeting discussing a case of a child who suffered from child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, and the case history is pretty depressing, and definitely not appropriate for children to listen to. I can't have my kids around while I'm participating in this. Because I need my full attention to advocate for the victim, and not be trying to referee between my 4&5yr olds.

@Quornflakegirl

An estate agent working from home, for example, has a completely different desk job to me. I can guarantee that if I were reading and analysing your medical test results you would prefer I get it spot on without my young children breaking my concentration. If I make a small mistake it can cost people their lives. I have to be able to work with complete efficiency so my children will be sent to school.

Absolutely.

Well that’s strange because I’m a key worker (part time - can’t do my job from home) my DC has SEN and really need to be in school and I was declined a place..... I was gobsmacked.

My DP works from home but is in meetings all day. It’s not so much about childcare but I’m worried about DC falling even further behind. Especially having SEN but no.....

I’ve cried tonight because DC will lose again and the gap between NT child any my DC with SEN will be larger....

Just without the isolation and loneliness
I think any child completely on their own for most of the day should be classed as vulnerable and should be able to attend school.

Ugh so many pisstakers on this thread.
I will be teaching 'keyworker' children whilst my own children are at home. Can't access a place as DH isn't a key worker.
Even if we were entitled to a place I wouldn't send my kids because
a) as few children as possible should be in school to minimise transmission
b) schools are NOT Covid secure despite the bull shit peddled by the gov.

Actually right now school is not the best place for most children and it's very unedifying to see some posters trying to twist the rules because they basically don't want their kids at home.

@formerbabe I’m a key worker in a hospital and Dh for government working from home. Last time he home schooled (I use that loosely) as he spent 75 % of the day on video meetings and 25% writing. This time dc will go to school mostly because there’s actually even more for us both to do this time and I feel we neglected our dc last time as work was the priority to ensure our community was safe. Dd1 will stay home as she is older but primary dc will go to school this week and then we may be able to home school for a day or two a week but I’ll have to play it by ear. Key workers working from home will be a split of those not doing much and those doing a lot including having conversations that dc should not hear (like mortuary capacity being one dh was involved in).

Yes, I know a number of people who didn't use the keyworker provision last time and tried to juggle wfh and childcare/home-schooling and are hoping to/planning to use their keyworkers places this time if possible.

I think it's at least partly because being only semi-efficient at work for months was just about wingable the first time around, but they just do it again.

@selflove

Yes - I agree some key work roles can be done from home, but shouldn't have kids around.

This week, I have a video meeting discussing a case of a child who suffered from child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, and the case history is pretty depressing, and definitely not appropriate for children to listen to. I can't have my kids around while I'm participating in this. Because I need my full attention to advocate for the victim, and not be trying to referee between my 4&5yr olds.

We’re in a similar situation. Not everyone who works from home can reasonably have at home children too. Some conversations are traumatic or require life and death decision making (such as doctors). Should a someone who works for rape crisis for example be expected have their young children in the home overhearing/interrupting about whilst they support vulnerable women? It’s not just for the key workers sake, it’s for the people who rely on them.

I’m not a key worker, nor is DH. But we have one child with an EHCP. Last time we kept him off until after may half term. I’m not doing it again, the consequences for him were catastrophic - he’s still not over it yet. So we’re using a place that was available but not taken last time too...

I think they’ll be a lot of anxiety over it as I recall some parents not able to get a place last time and absolutely sure they want one this time

Not sure if case numbers will decline very quickly but we’ll see I suppose

From this thread I can see some people who definitely need places and others who are taking the piss. Those of you who are taking the piss (and you know who you are) need to think very carefully about the impact of the loss of school places for genuine key workers. If schools have to close for all because they are STILL too full and infection continues to spread, not only will you be back to home learning anyway but you will struggle to be treated in hospitals, have your food delivered and so on. Choose very, very wisely.

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.

This is what worries me BustopherPonsonbyJones.

If too many staff are ill/having to isolate they won't be able to open school sites for any children.

I think it's at least partly because being only semi-efficient at work for months was just about wingable the first time around, but they just do it again.

Yes, there was only so much we could do from home so concentrated on the basics. Then once I was back in the office I increased my hours & worked so many hours extra incl weekends. It took 3 months to catch up. I can't do that again because of financial yr end.

This thread is depressing. If it reflects reality school closures won't really work

I'm hoping what i heard a lot work today is a better reflection of the situation. I'm a civil servant (wfh). Mgt at work sent messages confirming we were key workers so could ask for key worker places but said this should be 'if you have absolutely no alternative'. I was on calls with a few other parents and none of us will be seeking a key worker place. Even those where the other parent is a key worker or single parents

Having said that, I do know personally of a friend who totally took the piss last time. She wfh for nhs in mgt / policy not treatment role. Husband not a key worker and wfh. She works part time. She used key worker provision every bloody day.

@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.

Completely agree. My kids school required you to have 2 key worker parents but other schools seem to be operating differently.

Maybe though it's just too much hassle for them to police it? It is quite a bit of work and requires honesty and some sense from parents, seems many are lacking in that department

If children start getting sick from school some parents may realise the safest place for their child is at home, even if it means the tv will be their nanny for a while

My kids school required you to have 2 key worker parents but other schools seem to be operating differently.

My school is doing that but that still is not necessarily fair as you could have to 2 key workers who are p/t & at home getting a place. There is such a wide variation in roles.

Same situation here, DH classed as a keyworker, I work for myself both full time from home and had 3 small children at home March-Sept. Horrendous.

Already all the questions on the parent chat is asking about whether both parents need to be key workers to qualify, quite a few on maternity leave whose partners qualify so are sending them in tomorrow as they "won't be able to home school effectively so it is better for them to be at school!!"" wtf!

I can already see that our school will have a high uptake and I am thinking what is the point and how is it fair on the children who stay at home and whose parents do not have the time to home school.

This all feels like lunacy. Threads on mumsnet have been baying for days for schools to close. Now that they have, everyone wants a key worker place. The whole reason we are in this mess is people not following tier rules. It’s fucking sickening.

@lorraliks

I think it's at least partly because being only semi-efficient at work for months was just about wingable the first time around, but they just do it again.

Yes, there was only so much we could do from home so concentrated on the basics. Then once I was back in the office I increased my hours & worked so many hours extra incl weekends. It took 3 months to catch up. I can't do that again because of financial yr end.

Just out of interest but wondered what kind of key worker role is involved in financial year ends? Isn’t that normally an accountancy role (which obviously wouldn’t be a key worker role)

School finance

@flamebox

I'm a key worker. In tomorrow but off the rest of the week. Don't need to send kids into school but they said it's all or nothing. So they're going in and I will be home alone

This is what I don't understand, each school seems so different on this. At our school you can only have the days you work, doesn't matter if that differs every week, fortnight, 1 day one week, 5 the next etc, just only days you are working. They've also said that those KW who are single or where both parents are KW will be prioritised over those with one parent working at home in a non KW role if uptake is too high (which again I think is pretty reasonable)

Teachers do have to get paid

It's not even about 'fairness' (though I take your point...).

It's that more mixing will continue or increase transmission of the virus into the community.