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.

You don’t need to have 2 parents who are keyworkers, just one according to the government guidelines.
Our school risk assessment asks for masks give worn by all. Contact your head about a more stringent risk ass.

The section 44 was not particular to one union, it is asserting your statutory rights. You don’t even have to belong to a union to use your rights.
Schools are closed to everyone because children are vectors/spreaders.

@wonderstuff

I can't believe people are going for the unions! Over a thousand people reported dead yesterday, hospitals have higher numbers of patients than in March and we're right at the beginning. If schools and everything else doesn't shut down we won't have a functional health service, which puts everyone in danger.

Do people not remember the spring when ambulances didn't come out unless you're lips were blue and people were dying at home?

If this doesn't work we're going to have our lives restricted for longer, more people will die, more people will be very ill.

Unions wanted to protect their members, that is their purpose. Unions didn't organise this half baked lockdown. Unions didn't write the keyworker list. Unions didn't fail to deliver laptops or secure broadband. Unions didn't keep our borders open, they didn't fail to enforce quarantine or force schools to stay open as they watched local infection rates rise. This is squarely on the government.

To protect their members at the expense of a percentage of young children. Young children whose education, welfare and development their members are entrusted with and paid for.

Schools are one driver of transmission, not the main one above all else.

This lockdown will not continue in to the summer in its current form, I'm sure of that. Easter max. The government will have to get more people back to work, locked down at home for the darkest, coldest months of the year everyone will need to get out for their own sanity. Sure we'll have restrictions, but tier two sort of level I'd say.

The government have said schools will open first and I'm feeling more confident parents of the percentage who are being denied access to the classroom won't accept that continuing beyond Easter while hospitality, retail etc. open up again. Full-time online learning for many proving problematic and unsuitable only a few days in.

Schools can make more use of their outdoor spaces in the summer term (at our school that's very limited but will still make a difference), I'd support vaccinating teachers as a priority and masks. They might be a bit uncomfortable for long periods for the children in hot weather though. Not rotas because I recognise the fact that keyworkers children need to be in so that wouldn't work for all to get the same time in school. Plus disruptive and confusing for the young ones and pretty impossible for working parents.

I'll continue to push for mine to return by Easter at the latest, 3 months in a year in class is not acceptable and I support all parents taking up places they're entitled to under the new guidelines.

@TheKeatingFive

There was no appreciable difference in outcomes, as tracked by the school, between the two cohorts, measured post lock-down. (Not in the UK).

Ah, ‘tracked by the school’. Convincing.

And if you’re not in the U.K. how’s that relevant to a U.K. situation?

That doesn’t apply here

I could not agree more Carlislemumof4

@JigSaw879

“ I'm so infuriated at the government for this half-baked 'lockdown' - what on earth is the point in closing schools if they're actually at least half full??”

The whole situation has thrown the exam year students under the bus. Their opportunity for qualification has been shafted, and the amount of kids still filling primaries makes me think for what? The gcse and alevel students might has well have just been allowed to carry on attending.

I agree with this actually, we’ve completely fucked their education for minimal dips in transmission and an NHS which will collapse anyway because this Govt can’t make a decision and people are entitled.

@genius1308

The LEA won't back the schools to insist both parents must be keyworkers unless the schools

I'm going to correct that...the government won't back the schools...government guidance is not fit for purpose and stipulates 'one parent' with many very grey areas.

LA's have council members to answer to, parents complaining via their MP who we must answer. Just like schools we follow leadership decisions and can't just make up our own guidance.

Bold fail...

The LEA won't back the schools to insist both parents must be keyworkers unless the schools

We are both key workers but I’m sorry I can’t blame a family with just one sending a kid in if both parents are working. That is what the government guidance says and all along we have been urged to follow the guidance.

@Toomuchtrouble4me

My school are really strict - both parents must be working key workers to have a child in school. It’s bad leadership from your head teacher.

It's not bad leadership. Parents only have to refer to the government guidance and insist on their 'entitlement' - school leaders don't have a leg to stand on, the government have completely contradicted them.

This!!!!

@Fallingrain

We are both key workers but I’m sorry I can’t blame a family with just one sending a kid in if both parents are working. That is what the government guidance says and all along we have been urged to follow the guidance.

This, it's the guidance, and if both parents are working they are perfectly ok to do so.

1st lockdown.

I worked food retail but mostly nights evenings 5-11.
Husband non essential flooring retail manager had 7 weeks furlough.
When non essential opened in june I had home school all day then work in evenings as well as batch cook and keep house tidy Manage toddler dog and 3 school age kids although in fairness teenager managed her own learning.
I was shattered..

I was let go August as only temp contract.
Husband company classed carpets as essential workers despite store being closed.
They can do telephone and online sales.
Think they can still do click and collect
Carpet fitters can still go into people's home and fit flooring.
Stores can send out people go into people's home and measure rooms.
Its all a bit bonkers.

During Nov mockdown we suffered financially as no furlough.
Basically half pay as basic pay then large chunk commission.
With a shut retail store the sales will dwindle to nothing.
He even has letter if stopped by police and I guess same could be used school to say 1 parent is a keyworker.
I wouldn't dream sending Mine in.
1 child has ehcp so could go in and home education with a sen child is much tougher with generic non specific or targeted work.

Surly we will get burst bubbles and more nhs workers off..

Our heads have urged parents as around 50% want a space.

Gavlar extending vulnerable to those without computers or quiet space won't help.
Feel sorry for teachers and heads.
So far both heads sent nice polite letters think do you really need it.
They say lea will support them in narrowing down criteria as rates infection rising locally.

@whittystitties it does say "if you can"

I'm really referring to sahp/of very part time taking key worker places which in my view is just so wrong

@Eve76
“I work in a primary , we’ve got more than half the kids in , they still eat their lunch in the hall they still que up for their lunch . Teachers are on rotation but kitchen staff are not there’s 4 in one tiny kitchen and one lady in the kitchen has to walk 3 miles to work because since lockdown the bus hasnt been running . The number of children attending is rising everyday but no one seems very concern“

This sounds appalling. What are your unions doing to help? Are they lobbying govt to help reduce the numbers of pupils in? Or to make working conditions safer for staff?

What they've done won't cause enough of a decrease in transmission. So they'll either drag this lockdown on for ever, or say closing schools didn't work and fully open them again

[quote Bramblespoint]@whittystitties it does say "if you can"

I'm really referring to sahp/of very part time taking key worker places which in my view is just so wrong [/quote]
I'm afraid I don't know any of those, apart from one who has sent her elder behaviourally difficult child into school and she also has another child with a severe disability who should get a place but can't go in right now as all the children at the school they go to are vulnerable. So she is homeschooling one and sending the other.

So it's not always how it seems.

I think this Headteacher is being sensible and fair.

www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/headteacher-sets-out-rules-after-19576372

A headteacher has told parents and carers, 'If there is an adult at home, your child must remain at home'

And she insisted those working shifts must only access key worker provision for their children on the days and times they are at work.

The direction comes after almost 200 requests were sent to Saltburn Primary School for key worker provision places.

Caroline Chadwick subsequently sent the letter out on Wednesday, stating they "simply cannot accommodate those numbers".

She added: "Equally I will not compromise the safety of my staff."

Mrs Chadwick said she is reducing staff numbers on site and increasing numbers are working from home supporting the home learners.

We must keep numbers on site low to ensure that we can safely manage the children with social distancing in place. Equally, I will not compromise the safety of my staff.

"The principle behind the 'stay at home' message is to reduce the contact between households."

The objectives of home learning are "deliberately mirrored" with those delivered in school, she said.

"With this in mind, I would like to reiterate the stance that the safest place for children is at home," she said.

"If there is an adult at home, your child must remain at home.

"I urge you to only use our on-site key worker provision when required because you have no alternative.

"Also, if you are a key worker and work shifts or as part of a rota system, the expectation is that your child will remain at home on the days you are not at work.

"With this in mind, I will be requesting shift patterns from parents by midday on Friday each week (beginning this week) so we can prepare attendance registers for the following week

How does 75 and 50 add up to 100% I think the maths class need a better attendance

Because the op is referring to 50 children not 50%

[quote BraeburnPlace]@genius1308

The LEA won't back the schools to insist both parents must be keyworkers unless the schools

I'm going to correct that...the government won't back the schools...government guidance is not fit for purpose and stipulates 'one parent' with many very grey areas.

LA's have council members to answer to, parents complaining via their MP who we must answer. Just like schools we follow leadership decisions and can't just make up our own guidance. [/quote]
At least 1 LA have sent a pretty robust letter out for schools to use.

My children's primary school has at least one third of the children in on keyworker places, many more than last time. It is going to push transmission up, and it will also disadvantage the children who are being home schooled, they will get so far behind the rest of their cohort. Friend is a SAHM and her daughter is in as her DH is a keyworker (but can work from home).

I wish ours would! They have said schools HAVE TO follow the government guidelines (giving ALL children who have one keyworker parent a place) unless they can prove that they haven't got enough staff to cover the numbers of children. I know many of our local primary schools are seriously struggling with the numbers of children still in school. Some have insisted on both parents being keyworkers but they all seem to be academys. And even those have capped at 150 children (in a 300 place school) so still 50% attending.

Nothing is happening except that it’s getting worse , starting from the 11th all teachers and teaching assistants will be back in the building the rotation is stopping . So more bodies about . I’m really worried to be honest .

I'm a SAHM/self employed business owner. DS went back to school today (the school offered him a place) after three days of meltdowns, physical attacks and smashing the house up. He has ASD and couldn't cope with the abrupt change in routine. DD is still at home with me. I feel like utter shit about it, but he was hurting himself, and for the first time in many years, I couldn't reach him at all, much less get a handle on the situation.

During the last lockdown, we were just at home, there wasn't work provided, and wasn't any expectations on him, so all we had to contend with was supporting him with the change in routine. This time he has distance learning to do, and a Teams meeting with his teachers on a morning where he saw his friends as well. It was a step too far.

The executive head, head teacher and the staff from his class discussed the situation amongst themselves and asked if I'd like him to return to school. He's gone back today, I'm hoping he'll calm enough that we can do a gradual retreat back to being home at least part if not all of the time.

I'm not a lazy parent, nor am I ignorant of the risks of COVID to everyone. Please don't assume that because on the face of it, families could easily keep their DC at home, but are sending them in to school, that they're lazy/ignorant/don't care etc. Some of us had a decision to make between one shitty choice and another (I know I'm not the only one in this position at the moment). I made the one that I thought was best for both of my DC. It wasn't a case of 'oh great, he's not my problem any more' and palming him off because I CBA to home school.