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.

Our school has been very strict, both parents must be key worker to be eligible for a place, clearly stated the other parent must take over the child care if only 1 parent is a keyworker.

My union doesn't have a Section 44 letter (NASUWT).

I didn't make myself clear, only one parent needs to be a KW to earn a place for their child, not both. New guidelines.

3littlewords "Our school has been very strict, both parents must be key worker to be eligible for a place, clearly stated the other parent must take over the child care if only 1 parent is a keyworker."

Can you pinpoint me to these guidelines as my head has read it differently.

This is why we are going to be in lockdown until the summer. Keep your kids at home if you can. It's fucking hard for all of us but if you can do.

The DfE guidance is only guidance. If there are too many children for it to be safe, the Head needs to reassess the criteria.

I suppose though with how many people have lost their jobs and probably just taken anything eg. Supermarket work or delivery driving which the job opportunities for have increased which mean more people will require key worker places for their dc in school.

The unions pushed for school closures with little thought as to the realities which as it turns out is still sizeable classes, poorer education provision for all, stressed out parents, overburdened teachers, head teachers, and support staff, minimal reduction in infection risk. I hope the unions are content with their work.

Our primary its only one key worker. We as a household qualify for a place. Haven’t asked for it as i’m a SAHP but i know others who have applied in similar circumstances and been granted - i saw them do the school run this morning.

@ReginaPhalangee

3littlewords "Our school has been very strict, both parents must be key worker to be eligible for a place, clearly stated the other parent must take over the child care if only 1 parent is a keyworker."

Can you pinpoint me to these guidelines as my head has read it differently.

The gov guidelines pretty much say to take anyone. Most heads have been strongly encouraging people to think about how desperately they need the place, exactly to avoid the scenario you're in. I'd say my school has gone too far the other way, but it really is an impossible situation to know what's right.

Funnily enough I was talking to my sister,who's a primary teacher, about this earlier. She said there's far more key worker children in this lockdown. I wonder if it's because parents weren't given much notice so more have taken it up this time as they haven't had chance to make other plans?!

It seems to be a bit of a general theme on here. Close schools, it's the only way, but my child can and is going in because I can't be a KW (which is a daft term) WFH, and deal with my kids home schooling.......but everyone else keeps your kids home because it's the right and best thing to do....

I can't watch Boris talking about how schools are 'closed' - I have the rage. I can't keep my kids hone as a PP suggested, I'm a single parent. Their dad can't have them for the same reasons as I can't (school teacher).

It all feels so bleak.

@alwaysraining123

The unions pushed for school closures with little thought as to the realities which as it turns out is still sizeable classes, poorer education provision for all, stressed out parents, overburdened teachers, head teachers, and support staff, minimal reduction in infection risk. I hope the unions are content with their work.

No, they pushed for safe schools. Not closures.

There was a practically full class of year 7 in today, whereas last lockdown, there was 15 max of all year groups in total.

Utterly ridiculous. More understandable at primary, but why so many at secondary? We have parents sending their 14 and 15 year olds in - let them stay at home fgs

The poor LSAs/TAs/cleaners/ receptionists that are being put at risk because of selfish parents

70% of my school are attending tomorrow! All staffing as normal and children taught in their current class as usual. I think it's ridiculous- the numbers of cases will reflect this- it's unfair on the 30% that are not allowed to attend. Some are SAHPs with just one key worker who could easily homeschool.

@alwaysraining123

The unions pushed for school closures with little thought as to the realities which as it turns out is still sizeable classes, poorer education provision for all, stressed out parents, overburdened teachers, head teachers, and support staff, minimal reduction in infection risk. I hope the unions are content with their work.

It's not the union's fault. It's the pandemic that's closed schools. It's the government who did it in a stressful way. It's parents who are choosing to take different choices over school attendance than last year (though I don't blame them. I imagine many are really struggling with trying to keep their jobs or with concerns for their child's wellbeing).

Its because last time lots of people didn't take up the KW offer, i didn't. However i nearly had a breakdown after the first lockdown so will be using my space now. I know a lot of people who are now doing the same

This is the English guidance updated yesterday
“Children with at least one parent or carer who is a critical worker can go to school or college if required”

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision#critical-workers

Surely everyone saw this coming? No?

I knew and have said several times that this would happen.

Lockdown#1 everyone was working from home or furloughed, or wfh and had a partner furloughed. Almost everything was shut.

This time everyone is expected to be at work.

What would people like all of these parents to do? Give up their jobs? They can't just take leave as this could go on for months.

All the families I know where only one parent is a keyworker have been refused a place - to be honest I thought that was the rule/guidance.

Sounds like some parents are taking the piss asking for key worker places and the schools are letting it happen. Surely it should be a similar number to last lockdown, there can’t be that many parents that have changed profession.

Our school has 48 in out of 1,000 and says there's a cap of 50 - they are using EHCP / 2 full-time working parents neither ever home so basically no SN kids, has a social worker and 1 key worker parent who has no other choice but to send in - last time it was 2 full-time key worker parents neither could work from home. Lots of teachers there are having their requests turned down. School said cap at 50 and will turn down any requests over that. No teaching in school, child must bring own device unless none and access by themselves same remote as other children.

@Itisasecret

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.

Close friend has told us tonight that he's trying it on. Very candid and blunt about it.

He's definitely not alone.

The head clearly unimpressed and sent out letter mid afternoon about needing to apply for places.

Blimey. Our primary has specifically stated that both must be critical workers and that both much be working outside the home. Both dh and I are critical workers but he is working from home so no school place (and we wouldn't send them anyway because obviously the point is to reduce contacts as much as possible)