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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:
MrsFrisbyMouse · 05/01/2021 09:13

Seriously don't understand how anyone is surprised by this. How do we think society functions? Of course most families have a parent who is a keyworker- because keyworkers form the backbone of society and keep things flowing - from birth to death and everything inbetween. They provide healthcare, energy, food, transport, childcare, education, cleaning, rubbish collection, sewage treatment, and a million and one other functions. They make up the majority of the workforce.

christinarossetti19 · 05/01/2021 09:13

I think 'abused' is a strong word.

I do think that many families really, really struggled last time, not least with not being able to work efficiently with young children around, and can't face going through that again.

Which is completely understandable from an individual pov, but so many parents are feeling like that that it's going to present a major barrier to suppressing virus transmission which is the purpose of locking down.

Looking ahead, it's worrying that schools may well be in the same situation as last term - bubbles bursting left, right and centre, children having to isolate at home at least once or sites closing because so many teachers are unwell or having to self-isolate.

christinarossetti19 · 05/01/2021 09:14

Marsha yes of course living through a global pandemic will have an effect on children.

Would anyone think otherwise?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/01/2021 09:17

So just catching up, most of the people screaming for schools to close have taken up a key worker place...right that’s fair Hmm

MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2021 09:18

I have no idea why you are so hung up on a word when the reality is the harm from this is actually far more stark and many stronger words could be used. But you do you I cba

On the issue on people taking up places if they can, I can see why. It’ll be harder to get cases down though. But I don’t really blame them after last period of closure.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/01/2021 09:19

@finager

Of course some do...many others are abusing the scheme.

Give some examples?

I’ve read many posts where one parent is a key worker and the other isn’t yet gets a place because their partner “needs to concentrate”, no shit!!! I’d love to see a job that doesn’t require concentration!
finager · 05/01/2021 09:19

But some schools do accept the criteria of 1 key parent?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/01/2021 09:19

On the issue on people taking up places if they can, I can see why. It’ll be harder to get cases down though. But I don’t really blame them after last period of closure I blame them IF they are the same people screaming for schools to close.

MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2021 09:20

Ours does 1 KW it’s why the classes will be pretty full

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/01/2021 09:20

@finager

But some schools do accept the criteria of 1 key parent?
Yep and I think that is wholly wrong!!!
Deliaskis · 05/01/2021 09:20

@christinarossetti19

Deliaskis yes I understand that. And I can see why you and others are taking kw places.

My point is that given the country has just gone in to a 'March style' lockdown where the safest thing for everyone, individually and as a society, is for people to stay at home when they can, and that schools are under a completely different remit to that which they were in March, it might be worth checking out what your school is planning to do before deciding that it's inadequate.

Yes I may be able to reconsider at a later time, when I've seen it, and am prepared to do this. I didn't mean to make this about me though, my point was that there may be a difference in perception of 'need', generally, depending on how a school performed last time, suspension of curriculum or not.
MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2021 09:21

I blame them IF they are the same people screaming for schools to close.

Yep I’m sure there’s a lot of that going on and agree

finager · 05/01/2021 09:22

And what about if that 1 key worker is working excessive hours in a hospital? Are they less deserving then 2 key workers who work p/t in IT from home?

finager · 05/01/2021 09:23

Yep and I think that is wholly wrong!!!

You can do so but it's not abusing the system is it?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/01/2021 09:30

@finager

And what about if that 1 key worker is working excessive hours in a hospital? Are they less deserving then 2 key workers who work p/t in IT from home?
If that 1 key worker has a partner who isn’t a key worker than their hours are irrelevant! As someone else pointed out a single parent wfh who doesn’t qualify is in the same position.
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/01/2021 09:31

You can do so but it's not abusing the system is it? nope but I can express my feelings that they are assholes if they were the ones screaming for schools to shut and if they push for further restrictions (that don’t impact them) when rates don’t drop!

finager · 05/01/2021 09:32

My point is there are a lot of grey areas so I don't think you can have a blanket rule on what is wrong.

But you accept that the key worker definition is enough to earn a place?

formerbabe · 05/01/2021 09:32

So based on the criteria some want to apply, anyone who finds it tricky to wfh and home school deserves a school place...not much point in having this lockdown then is there?

sashagabadon · 05/01/2021 09:33

@MarshaBradyo

I have no idea why you are so hung up on a word when the reality is the harm from this is actually far more stark and many stronger words could be used. But you do you I cba

On the issue on people taking up places if they can, I can see why. It’ll be harder to get cases down though. But I don’t really blame them after last period of closure.

This is it exactly. Parents have absolutely no faith that the schools will open up again when they are supposed to. If I hear the Unions on the radio telling us all why they need to keep schools closed until every tiny risk has been eliminated like they did in May I will be furious. I have zero trust in the unions at all. They work against children’s interests by working against the government. I am pleased to see so many kids are going in now as it will mean they have less of an excuse to keep them closed till Feb half term ( which I bet they are planning as we speak) and i 100% support parents like Marsha whose kids cannot go to school when so many others can. They are right to feel frustrated and aggrieved. I would in their shoes too.
finager · 05/01/2021 09:33

nope but I can express my feelings that they are assholes if they were the ones screaming for schools to shut and if they push for further restrictions (that don’t impact them) when rates don’t drop!

how do you know what key workers are taking places whilst simultaneously wanting to close schools?

finager · 05/01/2021 09:34

So based on the criteria some want to apply, anyone who finds it tricky to wfh and home school deserves a school place...not much point in having this lockdown then is there?

Based on what criteria, the gov definition of key workers is on the gov site?

finager · 05/01/2021 09:36

I need to go to work now!

Nikhedonia · 05/01/2021 09:36

My point is there are a lot of grey areas so I don't think you can have a blanket rule on what is wrong.

The rest of the rules are pretty black and white. Why does this allow so much leeway for people to take advantage? They can do they will.

formerbabe · 05/01/2021 09:37

@finager

So based on the criteria some want to apply, anyone who finds it tricky to wfh and home school deserves a school place...not much point in having this lockdown then is there?

Based on what criteria, the gov definition of key workers is on the gov site?

Yes but if you're a keyworker wfh I see no difference in your circumstances compared with a non keyworker wfh. Both will find it equally difficult to work and home school simultaneously.
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/01/2021 09:37

@finager

nope but I can express my feelings that they are assholes if they were the ones screaming for schools to shut and if they push for further restrictions (that don’t impact them) when rates don’t drop!

how do you know what key workers are taking places whilst simultaneously wanting to close schools?

Well some must have given how many people were calling for schools to close and how many people are taking up key worker places
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