One key worker parent - would you send your child in to school?

[Squashpocket]

My DH is technically a key worker - in the sense that his work will give him a letter confirming it, but the country would hardly grind to a halt if he didn't go to work. I am a stay at home mum.

I have a 4 year old in reception and a 2.5 year old at home.

In theory we would be allowed to send DC1 in to school, but I don't want to partly because I feel like it would be a shitty thing to do to the teachers, but also if I'm honest I like having him home and it's nice for DC2 to have a playmate.

I feel guilty about not wanting to send him in and him missing out on education/socialising because I prefer having him home.

Am I right to keep him home or is it shit to make him miss out on school when he actually could be going?

No, both parents should be key workers and working away from home at the same time. Remember there are thousands of parents working full time from home with children. Trying to juggle homeschooling and working. Being a key worker doing this dies not make you more entitled, if you are at home you are the same as everyone else.

Ok will just put this here.
I am a key worker but am very luckily able to keep my kids home because of the way mine and my husbands shifts work.
I didnt take up a key worker place at my school. I wanted to do the right thing and keep her off cos I very luckily didnt need the space.
My child has been having some extra support at school because of some concerns about her progress, because of this her teacher already knew I was a Key worker.
This morning when she didnt attend they rang my husband at 9.00 asking if she wanted to go in.
They have had very low uptake. They said only 7 in the class. And around 10 in the other classes.
So I'm not sure if its because she is struggling or if they had such a low uptake. But they asked if I was comfortable sending her in, which I already was.
My area had higher covid rates a couple of months ago than now.
And I also know for a fact that the teacher and one of the TA have already had Covid in my child's class. They were off for a few weeks last term. The other TA is really young. Early 20's I'd say.
So I accepted the place.
If you're not sure maybe chat to the schools. Some schools may be struggling with staff off. Others may be ok and keen to have the kids in, like mine was, if you are comfortable with the idea.
Our school has already been ravaged by covid. And I've previously heard the teachers talking about how many staff are off. Lots of bubbles burst last term. So I cant say for sure but I assume a lot of the teachers have already had it at the school and the kids have been fine.

It sounds like your child was highlighted as vulnerable (as in needing extra support) and yes schools have been encouraged to encourage vulnerable students in.

Im surprised its as high as 10 per class tbh. I know our school didnt have anywhere near that number last summer.

It wont make sense if schools have 1/3 in.

What would have made sense if this was to be the case would be some sort of rota.

A lockdown with 1/3 in makes little sense.

There seems (again, like last time) an expectation on here that people should detriment their own family for "the greater good"

Simply, no

There is no way some people can do their job effectively with a young child at home, so if the opportunity for the children to go to school exists as one parent is a keyworker - they will take it?

I’m a critical worker (nurse practitioner in primary care). I’m also a single parent.

My DD hasn’t been allocated a place in school as they have no capacity apparently. She’s in senior school so can be home alone whilst I work, but it’s not ideal.

I’m in no doubt that she can’t get a school place because someone has sent their kids in when they don’t really need to, despite the school saying only children with both keyworker parents at work are eligible for a place. Based on many threads on MN there are a lot of parents bending the rules...

I work in a school. We only want KW children if there is no option for them to stay at home due to both parents working, or it being a single parent home.Vulnerable children are quite rightly encouraged to attend.

Some of our staff would have much preferred fo keep their own children at home, but they have to send them to school in order to enable them to work with yours. Not a problem, all fair and good until you find out children have been sent in when theyve got a SAHP or the KW parent is on maternity leave etc.

I am sahm with to primary dc. Dh is key worker although I disagree. We are sending dc to school because dd's behaviour regressed so badly during spring lockdown. She got some support from school too when they opened. She is getting slowly better but another break from school could send her to square one again.
I don't agree that dh is keyworker but I think school would agree taking her because of her previous problems.

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants
Do you know how many of those children are genuinely vulnerable or have parents that are both 'proper' key workers? Sounds like you need to get your head to look at the eligibility criteria?

@Witches it’s 3% vulnerable children. The guidance says it doesn’t have to be both parents as key workers, can be just one so they can all have a place ☹️ Problem is, as already mentioned on this thread, the description of critical workers is so vague, you can make a lot of jobs fit the criteria.

@Nikhedonia
Why aren't teachers who are in this position handing their section 44 letters in?
The section 44 letters produced by Unions say staff will be available for keyworker children, so they’re no use.

No definitely not. DS school is inundated with children and are having to prioritise.

Apparently I'm a key worker but two of us here working full time from home so no way would I consider requesting a place.

[quote LadyPenelope68]@Nikhedonia
Why aren't teachers who are in this position handing their section 44 letters in?
The section 44 letters produced by Unions say staff will be available for keyworker children, so they’re no use.[/quote]
Get the unions to amend the letters?

I can't understand it, the teachers said it was so unsafe they weren't willing to come into work. Now parents are openly bending the rules and taking advantage and teachers and unions are saying nothing?!

I wouldn't. In the same position but keeping at home.