Do I deserve my keyworker childcare place and should I take it.

[Buttonmoonb4tea]

Lone parent, public sector role offering support around benefits entitlement. Usually work with vulnerable families face to face but currently carrying the same role out remotely WFH.

Children are secondary and reception. The last lockdown my youngest DC was preschool and I kept them off of nursery. But it was hell and relied on the eldest to watch the youngest.

This time the eldest is doing online school work so can't watch the youngest. Today I tried to take work calls dealing with really sensitive information, DC5 just would not accept mummy was on calls for work. Kept on asking me to draw, write, turn the TV over. It was highly stressful.

I'm meant to support service users with form filling, discussing sensitive subjects around trauma, difficult life situations along with supporting colleagues with their cases. I just can't do this with a reception age child interrupting every 2 minutes.

WWYD?

Take the place and think no more about it.

Take it.

You're a lone parent and a keyworker with a young child. I wouldn't hesitate to send him in.

Why would you not take it?

Definitely take the place. Anyone who argues otherwise is just jealous.

Take it. You need it and you are right to take it x

@Rollingpiglet I've seen so much keyworker bashing on here I feel guilty. I'm also scared of exposing DC to this new strain of Covid. I just needed to clarify I'm not taking the piss

Definitely not taking the piss, this is exactly why it's needed. Don't feel guilty.

Seems like it's a yes take it. I'm sending him in

Take the place, your role is so important at this time

Yes, take the place.

Agreed with others. Take the placers

Take it. Yes there are some people using spaces when they don't need to, but you definitely need it!

There isn’t keyworker bashing on here for people taking actual needed places (you obviously need the space and presumably don’t live your life by what Mumsnet thinks), there is frustration that many people are taking spaces when they are not needed. One keyworker parent whilst the other is a SAHP for example when clearly a space should not be taken up.

Ignore the tiny, tiny minority of the very vocal and bitter. Take your place.

Of course take it. Folk on Mumsnet don't get to decide who "deserves" a place or not.

Yes sorry @thewinkingprawn I didn't word my comment right on keyworker bashing. It's bashing those taking the piss out of the keyworker scheme, and rightly so.

It's just that I'm questioning myself as I managed to keep both DC at home during the first lockdown. But it was hell and like others have said I should take the place this time.

I had a similar dilemma - key worker but can work from home. Y6 and Y1 children. Y1 child really struggled with the home schooling in the last lockdown and was left way behind academically. This time we did 3 days of trying to support him with the remote learning and unable to get work done. Called school yesterday in desperation and they offered him a place straight away both because I am a keyworker and because he had been making progress with school last term and they don’t want him to get further behind. My overwhelming feeling was relief although I do feel guilty too. He had a great time at school today. Y6 child remains at home because he can work pretty independently.

I think there is a problem with words like 'struggling' where people assume that other people have the same level of difficulty as themselves, when this may not be the case. In some cases mental health concerns of either child or parent, or difficulty engaging with remote learning mean that children really do need to be in school. Another parent may use the same words when both child and parent are actually coping well in the circumstances. You don't always know how another family is coping in real life, let alone online!