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.

It just reflects general feeling ld1 people scared for themselves
Ld2/3 not scared for themselves or family = some dont give a crap about others.
This is clearly seen in general behaviour around other restrictions. People from sept having play dates in others homes using cars etc. Back at kids activities. Off to soft play etc
The problem is they are then stuck in classes with people who are concerned but we all (school/society) take on the risk of those ones.
It's actually quite nasty as i know dc2 teacher was shielding. (But i do guess it's hard to put kids on hold for so long).
The fact kids/parents are generally not going to be vaxxed doesnt help as it with just spread through that group when everything is released, basically there is no incentive to hang on. Plus in some areas it's lower now than nov (we went up to 600/100k. ).

I think the guidance is confusing. It lists a number of sectors, such as 'financial services' as being a 'critical worker's. I think it's meant as someone working in relation to the Coronavirus or the EU transition only, rather than just 'financial services' as a whole which in itself covers so many jobs. It makes no sense that everyone working for financial services would qualify.

My DH is an accountant. He would not call himself a critical worker

I think it's subjective. I know someone who is a private tutor to SEN kids so technically a key worker but does work from home. Her DH has his own business and not qualified for furlough etc. He is responsible for paying the wages of 20 others. He can't help with home schooling but is also WFH. He is the principal earner, if his business goes under so do the family and potentially 20 others. My friend can't teach online with her very young dcs there, it doesn't look professional, it's distracting and not fair on her pupils. If she kept them at home they would be on devices during this time so missing out on learning. She's applied for a KW place and IMO right to do so.

Several of my friends have asked (and recieved) places for their children this time round, whereas last time although they were key workers working from home they kept the children at home.
This time they all know how difficult it is to homeschool and wfh and I really think people are fed up with the disruption to routine for themselves and their children.
Especially considering the 2 weeks of isolating we've had here and there since September when classes have been sent home due to confirmed cases.

Many employers are taking the piss by insisting that workers go into work when wfh is possible. If you are "lucky" enough to be at home ffs keep your children home or we will never get out of this lockdown! Please do this whether you are officially classed as a key worker or not.

It’s a shambles just like everything else in this pandemic.
Schools are ‘closed’ .... to 25% of children. Seriously there were probably that many isolating at points when they were ‘open’

Last time we had 20-30 kids in per day. This time it will be over 200 a day, nearly half the school. It seems crazy to me.

I feel desperately sorry for school staff.
Parents are being selfish and not taking virus seriously.

Yes but most of these issues apply to the rest of us as well. It doesnt lookto good when I am talking to clients on video calls when my children appear on the background either. If her DH can WAH then why cant he home school like the rest of us?

My friend's school considers all EAL children (i.e. with at least one EAL parent) vulnerable and offers them a place (around 20%-25% of the school population, and it is in the affluent area). Her children are attending, even though she works very part-time as a hobby. In our school, the criteria is two keyworker parents, both not able to wfh, and checks are made with employers. It is bizarre how different the implementation of the guidance is.

Well no it doesn’t look professional but as we’ve just had teachers teaching my children online with their own children sat next to them (infant age) I’m sure people will understand. ITS A PANDEMIC

My previous post was directed @Studychick81. It is a demonstration of why this is happening. Parents using placed they dont really need'My husbands job is too important he cant possibly teach and I'm a tutor'is a bit lame. Surely they can arrange something so she an tutor for a bit and he can supervise their children. How much tutoring would she be doing during school hours anyway? Isn't it generally all done after school? I despair.

Many people accept that there will be children in the background. Obviously if you are dealing with highly confidential/distressing/medical matters then that is different, but anything else just needs to be muddled through.

In fact many call centres where people are working from home, have a recorded message to warn you there maybe domestic noises (or whatever the phrase is) in the background.

@emptydreamer. It sounds as though your school are making up their own criteria www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision#vulnerable-children-and-young-people

I think a lot of employers' patience is running thin, unfair as that is. I noticed that my own has taken a much less positive, understanding tone in the email about school closures and work they sent today than they did back in March, and I do think people are less tolerant of children popping up in zoom meetings etc than they were when we all thought this was a strange but fairly short extraordinary situation.

Meh. Some primaries in our city are prioritising NHS staff (several large hospitals) and are not even accepting teachers' children for keyworker places, even from families with two keyworkers, as they say teachers can work from home and so manage home learning as well. It's a bit rubbish, as my colleagues will not be able to work in the school-based KW bubble on the rota. Uncollegial.

@LizDiz
Oh, did not know that, thanks! I am not a keyworker anyway... not even a worker starting from this morning.

If this is a problem what do people think will happen?

The government will have no option but to shut down further. And for longer.

I'm not sure thats great for all these non key 'key workers' and business owners with many employees. Nor is it great for the already furloughed.

But its particularly shit for NHS workers and those with health conditions.

Wankers. The lot of people bullshitting. Every last one.

@LizDiz

Yes but most of these issues apply to the rest of us as well. It doesnt lookto good when I am talking to clients on video calls when my children appear on the background either. If her DH can WAH then why cant he home school like the rest of us?

Because he has a self employed business to run and if he doesn't get x amount of sales in the business goes bust, as do their lives. He doesn't have a boss to get someone else to cover the work or paid leave to take or furlong to get. The buck stops with him.

She is also self employed working privately. She would loose clients, she is being paid to educate children.

The guidance does say should rather than must, does that give the school choice as well as the parent?

@Hardbackwriter

I think a lot of employers' patience is running thin, unfair as that is. I noticed that my own has taken a much less positive, understanding tone in the email about school closures and work they sent today than they did back in March, and I do think people are less tolerant of children popping up in zoom meetings etc than they were when we all thought this was a strange but fairly short extraordinary situation.

Tough shit. False economy. Won't solve the problem quicker by pressuring staff.

Quite the opposite.

I meant your friends school given they are using EAL as a criteria!

Well tell that to the virus maybe it’ll agree to leave those children of parents whose employers are not understanding alone.

They could perhaps form a childcare bubble. Or agree to be furloughed, take parental leave, or in the worst case except they may get made redundant.

It’s shit but that’s what’s happened to so many people already.

We are back where we were in Lockdown 1, people have to accept little people in the background.

If bubbles burst, people get sick, we will be down many key workers. Accept a child in the background.