School requested my child attend school fulltime even though I'm part time

[Goldendeliciousness]

Title says it all really. I have one child who is school age. I am a key worker who works Monday-Wednesday. The school have asked that all children of key workers attend five days a week. So my child could go in on days I am not working.

I could say no, and I probably will. But my point is, should they be doing this? I was under the impression that school attendance was to enable parents to work, but by offering childcare on days that parents aren't working this is going to put children together for longer and increase risk of transmission?

For example, if a child in my sons class displays symptoms on Saturday my son would have been exposed on Thursday and Friday and is far more likely to contract the disease. If he had been at home with me then he would be less likely, and therefore less transmission between people.

No. They are supposed to minimise the time children are in school and the amount of children. Sounds odd.

Our school hasn't said that we can't send them (I am technically a key worker, but not using a place as I can work from home to a degree), but they have said that it's possible to only send for a day or two here and there if that's all we need due to working patterns.

Same situation here. I am a key worker single parent but I only work 3 days a week (kids dad also key worker but full time). School are offering full time or nothing

Isn't it about bubbles that they need to make as secure as possible? So having children come in and out is not ideal.

Ours has an all or nothing policy, seems pretty standard around here. It's so they can order dinners and do staffing.

Our school has said the same - all or nothing. I think it’s to avoid having to coordinate which child is doing which session and perhaps to encourage parents to keep them at home if possible. It does seem counterintuitive for transmission purposes though.

You can be in a bubble and not attend full time. My youngest is in a bubble at his nursery and those children don't attend full time, the only requirement is that they don't attend any other childcare provider.

My school aged child would be home with me, his mum, who he lives with which is hardly coming and going.

Ours has done the same, it's all or nothing. I imagine they learnt last time that having different numbers of children every day was a logistical nightmare so I can understand why they are doing it, though I know it's making it difficult for parents who only need one or two days a week.

It places key workers children at a huge advantage, they get schooled five days a week. My son is in reception class and told me it was the same as the normal school day, just with less classmates.

Now my child will be at a huge advantage over my colleagues child, colleague is working from home due to being CV therefore is unable to homeschool child. This will be the same for many children whose parents are not key workers. All while my child gets full time education.

On top of that my child will now be at a much greater risk of catching this bloody thing, while I am sat at home and could be keeping him at home during my non working days like the government recommends.

Ours have said to only send if absolutely necessary. There is a booking system and each child needs booking in each day. They have to take packed lunches so ordering food isn’t an issue. I’d love to send them full-time without feeling guilty!

I'm hearing this lots.

Seems madness to me!

Absolutely agree with you that contact should be because it's necessary not some arbitrary rule that makes no sense!

I'm guessing your kids going be sick every Wednesday night?

It just sounds like the school isn't handling the situation very well. Or the school is suffering some kind of unreasonable reactions/requests from parents so they have to do blanket policy of all or nothing.

Ours is the same, on the days I work I need them in school (both keyworkers, but I'm part time) I would prefer them home on the days I don't work, but it's 5 days or nothing in my children's school.

This is making me so cross!! So my child has to have their homeschooling cobbled together around two working parents yet so many others can still have face to face schooling all week?! Just because we are WFH. It's like their education nor our jobs matter!!? What's the bloody point of closing the schools if so many are in, it's just putting those not in at a disadvantage!!

My school and my son's school have the same request. I thought it was bonkers but my Head said it was to minimise the risk of them being elsewhere. It's more important that they don't mix with other households and then bring Covid into schools than them being there on a keyworkers day off when childcare isn't technically needed.

Or perhaps they are thinking of the child and consistency etc.

Can you do some extra hours at work for a bit - I would consider doing that if you can - helps the NHS and helps you out should things go on for a long time etc.

Yep....5 days of nothing round here too....my DD only works 2 days a week but will have to send kids for all 5 days 🤷‍♀️..... can’t understand it myself

It is designed to stop people taking the piss and sending their DC in the odd random Tuesday here, every other Wednesday there. All or nothing.

If you do not need a full time place, you shouldn't really be taking it, should you?

Our DC school has said two/single keyworker parents where no other childcare is available. We are eligible, but have a childminder we can use instead.

The school and home kids should be doing the same work anyway so I don't see the reasoning for doing this. We need to minimise mixing as much as possible so they should allow part time

Mog what do you mean I shouldn't be taking it? I need childcare Monday - Wednesday. My son attends primary school, the government has said schools should stay open to key workers to allow them to work. I don't need childcare on Thursday or Friday as I am at home and available to care for my son. However the school are not allowing him to be at home on those days even though it would be safer for him and those around him. There are no childminders with space in my local area and even if there were I could not afford to use one.

For the poster who suggested I increase my hours, this isn't possible in my role and I also have a younger child who I want to be home with.

Mine is going once a week, so not all schools are doing this.

@Goldendeliciousness If the school are allowing you to take send him them then send him in. They will have their reasons. Just ask them.

It seems this is happening with a lot of schools, who can we raise this with outside of the school itself?

I agree schools should be the only childcare provider for children but making children attend five days a week is not the way to ensure this. They simply need to include that on their key workers form.

I do not agree that children should be kept at school full time when there are parents available at home. This puts children at a much greater risk of transmission defeating the point of the lockdown and the request to "stay home". It also places children of key workers at a huge advantage.

surely they offer to key workers but its their decision based on logistics and risk and choice whether that child takes that place?

Ours said the same - DH is keyworker but will be WFH 4 days a week and in school one day. I WFH FT. Whilst it's difficult with us both WFH and trying to homeschool/childcare we didn't think its right to send DS on days when we are both here and asked to send DS only on Wednesdays.

Nope - full-time or nothing. As a result, we're not sending him. Don't really understand the rationale as surely it's beneficial for them to have less numbers on the other 4 days!?