75% of my school are in

[ReginaPhalangee]

That's it in a nutshell. Three quarters of my school are classed as keyworker or vulnerable. Might as well chuck the other 50 in and be done with it.

Lockdown 1... 12 children.

No PPE and we've got to double our workload for the ones needing remote learning whilst we are teaching our classes. And then making phone calls to check on them.

It's the same for every school in my area.

I'd be inclined to think that your school hasn't been very stringent on the keyworker requirements. Are they allowing children of households with just one keyworker?

We were discussing this today. A lot of people are trying it on. This worries me for two reasons. In schools which are impacted, there will be no provision at all of COVID spreads. So genuine KW’s will suffer and the really vulnerable will not be seen for a while.

I don’t think numbers we are at now will come down much at all so I can see school closures to Easter + which really scares me. I don’t want that at all.

Are you primary? I work in secondary and no teachers have to come in, it’s the support staff who have to sit and watch the students on their laptops..

Does seem very unfair on the 50 that are not allowed to attend. After nearly a year of messed up schooling and isolation there is an argument that all children count as vulnerable and if parents work to support their family isn't that essential? Maybe they could all be admitted on these grounds? Would be good for the children and no doubt easier for the staff than having to prepare and monitor two separate forms of educational delivery?

@Feministicon

Are you primary? I work in secondary and no teachers have to come in, it’s the support staff who have to sit and watch the students on their laptops..

Woah that isn’t ok!

@Feministicon

Are you primary? I work in secondary and no teachers have to come in, it’s the support staff who have to sit and watch the students on their laptops..

With 75% in, no school would have the support staff for this, surely.

Feeling so glad that the numbers in ours are still tiny. I wonder what the difference is in different areas?

@Feministicon

Are you primary? I work in secondary and no teachers have to come in, it’s the support staff who have to sit and watch the students on their laptops..

How strange? Why can't the teachers teach?

@SnoozyBoozy

I'd be inclined to think that your school hasn't been very stringent on the keyworker requirements. Are they allowing children of households with just one keyworker?

The thing is, those are the Government guidelines - they say that families with 1 keyworker parent are entitled to a place.

Yes, some headteachers have gone beyond the guidance, and risked parental wrath by imposing more stringent requirements - but it would obviously be helpful if they were supported by the guidance!

@Billie18

Does seem very unfair on the 50 that are not allowed to attend. After nearly a year of messed up schooling and isolation there is an argument that all children count as vulnerable and if parents work to support their family isn't that essential? Maybe they could all be admitted on these grounds? Would be good for the children and no doubt easier for the staff than having to prepare and monitor two separate forms of educational delivery?

Have you heard of Covid? Schools are meant to be shut to most for a reason.

About 70% of my school qualifies as keyworkers, possibly a bit more. We have 50% in tomorrow, and that will only increase.

The teachers in a secondary will be teaching online those at home and school.

Similar happening around here. It appears as the government havent actually published guidance yet (gov.uk says it will be published ‘shortly’!!) that each school is making up their own rules.

Ours are being extremely strict and we have practically had to beg for a place- they will only accept kids where both parents are KW and only on the days both parents are in work which means DS will be doing the Hokey Cokey in and out of school/ homeschool several times each week as my husband doesn’t have set shifts each week. I’m concerned about this lack of stability for him but that’s what they are saying! 2 schools I know of however in the local area have given full time places even when parents only need 1 day a week or 2 days a week!
My sister is a teacher and said they had 11 KW kids last March- they got over 100 applications today!

It’s total chaos!

Our primary school of around 200 kids had about 20 in during first lockdown last March and gradually added more towards the summer who were kids with ASD etc.

It will be interesting to find out how many are in now. We only opened today but have had messages from HT stating she has list from last time but to please email or call her if circumstances have changed and a place is needed.

There are 3 primary schools in our village and i expect them to be similar.

Worst case scenario for schools and teachers I believe. Unfortunately the unions pushed for this.

@alwaysraining123

Worst case scenario for schools and teachers I believe. Unfortunately the unions pushed for this.

Unions pushed for safety. Achieved it in many schools but many are still clearly unsafe. They are continuing to push.

Well Boris told us again tonight schools are safe so why would parents keep their children at home ?
Not sure why they are closed then ....unless...

Sussex infant school here. Last time we had about a tenth in, this time around it’s over a third. Either a lot of parents have changed their jobs lately, or the key worker requirements have changed!

We were protected last time too (I’m a kitchen worker), we didn’t have to go into the hall until the children had left, 2m barrier between us and the children etc. Nothing this time, as requested by the school, we are carrying on the same as we have been since September

Well, quite shortly I expect a significant portion will be home self isolating then. Sucks. Sorry.

Yes primary. The rule is that only one KW parent is allowed rather than both. Our vulnerable haven't been counted yet - this is only KW applications.

I think that it's terrible that TAs are left to deal with children in secondary.

Yes, in theory it'd be easier to let the extra 50 in wouldn't it, but then how on earth can they call this a lockdown/school closure?

This whole thing is an absolute mess.

@alwaysraining123

Worst case scenario for schools and teachers I believe. Unfortunately the unions pushed for this.

No they didn’t.

How does the both key worker parent thing work for single parents then!?

OP sounds like your Head is not being stringent enough when giving out places?

If your workplace is not safe, put in your section 44 letter and insist on working from home.

The list of 'critical workers' according to the government changed in December.

My school has high numbers in. Support staff in. Teachers at home doing lessons.

Ours has effectively reduced by 50%. Classes of 30'are now 12 to 15s.

This is similar to summer term tbh.