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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:
CarolEffingBaskin · 05/01/2021 00:29

The judging and berating is hilarious. You can think what you like, I give not a single fuck. My kid’s going in. The other three are not. I haven’t seen another human being outside of my family since schools broke up, and haven’t even left my house in the last 2 weeks - excepting today’s school run. I am following the rules. The rules say my son won’t be left behind again. So there we go. It’s the only fucking time the needs of disabled kids have actually been acknowledged by the government ffs.

lorraliks · 05/01/2021 00:29

What was she suggested then? A why shouldn't teachers pensions vehicles be protected as best as possible?

Original poster
Crazyoldmaurice · 05/01/2021 00:30

Apparently this time they will have to follow some sort of recovery syllabus the same as those doing remote learning will have.

OP posts:
IloveJKRowling · 05/01/2021 00:30

might mean bubbles continuing to go down, staff going off sick and zero provision being available for those who genuinely need it.

Yes, schools are only safer with only key worker kids going in if it means they can social distance and have smaller bubbles. If not, then eventually there will be outbreaks, isolations and probably not enough staff to open to anyone (as has happened in the North quite a lot already, you'd think some learning might have happened).

It remains very important for the government to invest and plan to actually make schools safer and not just assume it's going to magically happen by virtue of this lockdown.

ceeveebee · 05/01/2021 00:30

@lorraliks

So you are accusing me of bending the rules?
I had already read your other thread but decided not to post on that one - you know the one where it said that both parents had to be key workers, but that your DH isn’t? and yet you have applied for a place? So yes you are bending the rules.

Anyway, I’m off, this is not doing either of us any good

Pissedoff1234 · 05/01/2021 00:33

I have key worker status in both my jobs. Both very part time and one is wfh at the moment which I can do at a different part of the day or night or weekend if I wish so works around home schooling.

DH is also classed as a key worker but is wfh full time.

I have a 16 year old who can take care of their younger siblings while I am at work for my whole 1.5 hrs a week that I actually need to be at work.

I can however still send my 4 children into school as a key worker. Will I be. No of course not as it's taking the piss.

Nikhedonia · 05/01/2021 00:35

@lorraliks

What was she suggested then? A why shouldn't teachers pensions vehicles be protected as best as possible?
It's really not that hard to comprehend. Nothing in the post stated the poster had an issue with teachers. Feels like you are trying to create a teacher vs. parents bunfight where there isn't one.
lorraliks · 05/01/2021 00:35

No I asked for a place because as you saw on the other thread my son has anxiety & was only discharged from the SENDco the last academic year. My main concern is for his wellbeing. That's not bending the rules, I am not going to lie.
I am confused by the 2 parent thing because that wasn't the criteria outlined by the government & I actually now know 2 accountants in the private sector who have a place because they are saying they come under financial services category which I didn't know about.

lorraliks · 05/01/2021 00:38

* It's really not that hard to comprehend.*

Well explain what she was inferring then.

Feels like you are trying to create a teacher vs. parents bunfight where there isn't one.

How did you make that leap?

Nikhedonia · 05/01/2021 00:39

@lorraliks

* It's really not that hard to comprehend.*

Well explain what she was inferring then.

Feels like you are trying to create a teacher vs. parents bunfight where there isn't one.

How did you make that leap?

Fucking hell. I can see why you'd need to send your kids into school whilst you are working. You can barely comprehend these posts.
lorraliks · 05/01/2021 00:40

Do you feel better now?

Wakeupin2022 · 05/01/2021 00:42

@ceeveebee

Yes - so do people working in the private sector. Unfortunately our finance team will be homeschooling kids in the day and working weekend and evenings as they aren’t classed as key workers, and luckily finance and payroll aw those types of tasks that can be done easily from home and outside of working time....
Do you have reporting deadlines? And Payroll will need to be completed by a certain date?

I don't disagree these roles can be done from home, but surely the deadlines remain?

lorraliks · 05/01/2021 00:45

I have worked in many places where lots of financial processes can be done remotely but private sector finance is very different to school finance.

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 05/01/2021 00:48

Im not a key worker, working from home in a tier 4 area, single parent with three children ranging from 3 to 12 who all have online work to do it’s hard work so I don’t blame anyone for applying that can qualify but I do also know it will cause the virus to spread more and probably mean us who don’t qualify will be stuck in this situation for longer

infinitediamonds · 05/01/2021 00:51

Our school is strictly enforcing 2 key worker parents (based on their own definitions not government ones!) both of whom must be working out of the home. No consideration of individual circumstances either of parents or of SEN short of an EHCP. Its pretty shit. One kid will find their way through fine, one kid had just got to the stage where his MH and confidence was growing... and then he will be set a load of meaningless work he can't access again.

BunsyGirl · 05/01/2021 00:54

I know someone who has requested a key worker place because she is cabin crew for a major airline and is jetting off somewhere sunny later this week.

HappyNewYear2021 · 05/01/2021 00:55

The critical workers list is huge so not surprised @Crazyoldmaurice

lorraliks · 05/01/2021 00:57

@infinitediamonds yes I'm concerned about one of mine but he doesn't have a EHCP. If schools were normal & Covid didn't exist then I think he would be confident enough to not need the 1:1 next term which is a huge improvement. But I'm really worried he will withdraw again as it's the social aspect that boosts him.

Kokeshi123 · 05/01/2021 00:59

It's shit. On the other hand, there's another thread going right now in which parents who DO ask for time off work are being called "entitled." Parents are being put in an absolutely impossible situation right now.

Blueeyesparkle · 05/01/2021 00:59

BunsyGirl

I know someone who has requested a key worker place because she is cabin crew for a major airline and is jetting off somewhere sunny later this week.
Bookmark

Some of these parents are unreal. I really need to stop reading them as I’m getting the rage 😡

cabbageking · 05/01/2021 01:03

Every school is different. What is doable at one school is different to another.

One school mght take more if they have space and staff than another.
Some schools have lots of vulnerable children whilst others do not.

Teachers also have their own children to care for. If that school or nursery is not operating they can't work. Every school is unique in its capacity.

lorraliks · 05/01/2021 01:04

On the other hand, there's another thread going right now in which parents who DO ask for time off work are being called "entitled."

Oh yes I've seen those or the posts that say you shouldn't have children if you can't look after them, stupid.

Wheresyourclapham · 05/01/2021 01:19

Some of the responses on here! 😄😲🙄

EachDubh · 05/01/2021 01:37

I am going to stick my fingers in my ears and pretend that only those in real need, and that fit the crieria are using places. Otherwise I am risking grandparents luves, 70s and 80s to look after my kids whilst I look after yours. My eldest has started self harming again at the increased school closure and the anxiety at not getting work done as soon as it comes out. (all school work will be done days off or weekends). I honextly don't know how I would react if we had an outbreak found to be from a family abusing the system. So I will stick my fingers in my ears and tell myself that I didn't see the facebook post of the parent of a child in school doing things they shouldn't.

Wheresyourclapham · 05/01/2021 01:47

Too many kids going in defeats the object!
Keep your kids at home if you physically can. I’m a KW whose been WFH since March. 2 primary aged DC. 1 DC has an EHCP. DP is a business owner and works long hours, not a KW. 1 business closed on & off. We kept them off school last time and really struggled. In hindsight, wished we’d sent them in. Applied for 2 places this time, but will refuse them if accepted and numbers are high. It’s shit, but we’ll just get on with it.

New strain of Covid with too many selfish period getting together over the Christmas/New Year period exacerbating the problem. Unnecessary Christmas bubbles = karma for us all. Thanks 😠

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