If parents think that their children will get some kind of advantage by being in school, think again.

[OwlWearingGlasses]

I am a TA.
I am supervising 20 vulnerable and key worker children children in class (KS2 and spread across Yr 3, 4, 5 & 6).
They are doing exactly the same online work as the children at home.
Many of the children in school have challenges, I spend most of the day managing behaviour.
Children working at home have a MUCH better chance of getting individual attention.
Children working at home also have much less chance of getting COVID.
I would have much less chance of getting COVID if more children worked at home.

This post is not aimed at vulnerable children or those with 2 frontline parents. I am very happy to be supervising those.

This post is aimed at the (many) parents getting their children in on very tenuous links to a key worker space, quite a few with a parent at home who is not working (I am not kidding).

Sorry I needed to rant. I have had a very difficult day and it will be worse next week as I have another 4 in class next week.

It really is not an advantage to have your children in school. Please keep them at home unless there is no other choice.

What is the point of this petty bullshit?

@user1471543094

Seems to me like Not Sending Your Kids to School is the new I Have Went Out of My House Less Times than you have contest.

I work with a girl whose sister is a TA and is apparently Fuming that she is expected to work over this lockdown for key worker/vulnerable children (2.5 days a week). Fully expected to be sat at home enjoying herself like last time. No fear of the virus or anything, just cross she has to work.

Lazy caah 😂

Looking at the covid rates in the south east at the moment I am surprised anyone is risking sending their child in. Are people not worried about catching covid at a time when hospitals are overstretched?

Some children need school because they need the continuity, the routine, the socialisation, the familiarity, the structure, the space, the sense of self and identity, all things which attempting to replicate school at home, won’t do.

I’m sad I’ve had to point this out. If it was as simple as replicating content we could stick the entire nation in front of BBC bitesize and print off some worksheets.

Grenadines it is still better for my ASD child to have their place in school than it is to watch their mental health decline.

@Separateatone

Some children need school because they need the continuity, the routine, the socialisation, the familiarity, the structure, the space, the sense of self and identity, all things which attempting to replicate school at home, won’t do.

I’m sad I’ve had to point this out. If it was as simple as replicating content we could stick the entire nation in front of BBC bitesize and print off some worksheets.

Surely that’s the vast, vast majority of children though. So where does that leave us?

Sorry but hasn't this been done to death now? There are so many posts on this!

For some reason this time round people are being made to feel guilty for using the school provision offered to key workers. What are people supposed to do that need to go to work and have no other options? Surely a better option that using older grandparents that may be at increased risk? Working from home can also be a 'key' job - please let's stop with all the assumptions and judging of other parents. Most of us are doing our best trying to get through this, not looking for free, unnecessary childcare!

Our school has been sending correspondence starting with 'thank you to those who have kept their children at home'. Believe me, I would if I could!

The guidance says

Parents and carers who are critical workers should keep their children at home if they can.

Most spaces are probably being used by actual key workers and vulnerable children. However, some families are taking the piss.

My colleague has managed to get spaces for his two children despite working from home in an extremely flexible role. His wife works in a hospital and we are supposedly key workers but under a very loose definition.

They are definitely taking the piss, he just seems to be unable to parent based on his children's previous participation in our team meetings.

I know it's none of my business but I'm finding him particularly annoying at the moment, he seems to be enjoying feeling special as a key worker...we all do the same job ffs and I have 2 DCs at home!

Luckyrabbitfoot the difference is that some children can manage without it. Others can’t.

And when I say can’t, I mean full on withdrawal self harming sensory seeking meltdown, continuously.

Wow not a very nice post . My ds in as we are genuine key workers - he's only there 2 days as that's the days I work. Why is there so much nastiness from school staff not wanting any children in ? You can't possible speak for every school and you also can't possibly speak for every child's individual home circumstances . I have a 10month old and preschooler at home on my "days off" unfortunately he doesn't get very much one to one time at home either . So I feel guilty either way.

Just stop bitching about this. If you don’t like your job / kids then go and do something else. Stop winding everyone up. I could write an post about the need for my kid to come into school but you know what? I can’t be asked because I’m knackered from ensuring that people get the help they need. Just do your job.

Karma will see their kids bring it home to the parents, nurseries the same, should have been closed.
Education and childcare are the reasons for the spread, but childcare and economy blah, blah, blah.

"Children working at home have a MUCH better chance of getting individual attention."

hmm well not my child. Given I will be out of the house working in my clinical NHS role (now including delivering the COVID vaccine)and my dh will be out of the house in his school teaching other keyworker children and doing live lessons (3 days a week, the days ds will be going into school) so my child would be here alone, with absolutely no attention.
But you know, dont let that worry you.

You are talking about your school. I am quite clear my children are suffering due to unsustainable number of “key” worker kids so less online work/live lessons.

This is now being reported in the press, let’s hope govt do something

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/08/primary-schools-still-rammed-with-pupils-in-england-say-heads?

@Ritasueandbobtoo9

Just stop bitching about this. If you don’t like your job / kids then go and do something else. Stop winding everyone up. I could write an post about the need for my kid to come into school but you know what? I can’t be asked because I’m knackered from ensuring that people get the help they need. Just do your job.

Yeah exactly.

If you hate your job so much then bloody well leave and find something else- or did you forget that thousands of people are now unemployed and without a job to pay their bills?

Good grief.

Some children need school because they need the continuity, the routine, the socialisation, the familiarity, the structure, the space, the sense of self and identity, all things which attempting to replicate school at home, won’t do.

Yep, this is all children, they can't all go.

@GypsyLee

Karma will see their kids bring it home to the parents, nurseries the same, should have been closed. Education and childcare are the reasons for the spread, but childcare and economy blah, blah, blah.

well thats lovely isn't it. If my dc does bring it home, because I ridiculously sent him into school , then lets hope it isnt your covid vaccine that gets delayed wilst Im self isolating!

But that’s the thing @junglepie. The chances of you needing to isolate is now higher due to every Tom Dick and Harry sending their children in when they don’t absolutely HAVE to. You do have to, you aren’t in that bracket.

I really hope the DofE steps in and gives the schools the ability to tell parents to fuck right off!

Cheeky twats.

Thanks for this OP - don’t you think we are not already aware they are not having schooling as such, don’t you think we already feel guilty that we can’t afford to lose jobs to home school. Stop being so judgemental.

No one has any idea what goes on in other people’s homes and why some people may not look like they need to send kids in but do

ktp100 which cheeky twats?

Karma will see their kids bring it home to the parents, nurseries the same, should have been closed.
Education and childcare are the reasons for the spread, but childcare and economy blah, blah, blah.

Really? That's nice isn't it.

And yet McDonald's is open, Greggs is open, Burger King, KFC. I know plenty of people working in warehouses and factories for non essential items in crowded conditions. These never even get a mention.

@GypsyLee

Karma will see their kids bring it home to the parents, nurseries the same, should have been closed. Education and childcare are the reasons for the spread, but childcare and economy blah, blah, blah.

You’re disgusting.

Some children need school because they need the continuity, the routine, the socialisation, the familiarity, the structure, the space, the sense of self and identity, all things which attempting to replicate school at home, won’t do

TOUGH. SHIT!!!!

Prorities, FFS.