Why do my children not deserve an education?

[noitsachicken]

Just because we are not key workers?
My children don’t qualify for a school place, that means they won’t be educated in a classroom, by a teacher, with their peers, they won’t have time to socialise with their friends or play in a group.
They will be sat around the kitchen table, sharing a space with siblings of different ages, all with different needs, with a non-teacher parent trying to do the best they can.
Last lockdown school provision was ‘childcare’ the curriculum was suspended and there was no expectation. That is not the case this time, children who are not allowed in school are at a huge disadvantage.
I realise we are ‘lucky’ compared to others, we have access to technology and I can be home with the children, but I worry for my children, for their mental health and their education.
Why do they not deserve an education and others are prioritised for an education based on their parents job?
How long will those of us with children who are not allowed in school accept this?
I understand the reasons for closing schools, but children are not being treated fairly, if childcare is needed for those with critical jobs then it should be no more than that.

We either complain or we just get on with living.

So that’s the choice? If we complain we die I assume?

@noitsachicken

Just because we are not key workers? My children don’t qualify for a school place, that means they won’t be educated in a classroom, by a teacher, with their peers, they won’t have time to socialise with their friends or play in a group. They will be sat around the kitchen table, sharing a space with siblings of different ages, all with different needs, with a non-teacher parent trying to do the best they can. Last lockdown school provision was ‘childcare’ the curriculum was suspended and there was no expectation. That is not the case this time, children who are not allowed in school are at a huge disadvantage. I realise we are ‘lucky’ compared to others, we have access to technology and I can be home with the children, but I worry for my children, for their mental health and their education. Why do they not deserve an education and others are prioritised for an education based on their parents job? How long will those of us with children who are not allowed in school accept this? I understand the reasons for closing schools, but children are not being treated fairly, if childcare is needed for those with critical jobs then it should be no more than that.

Sorry and I mean no offence. But are you dim? I only ask because the the rest of the population is aware of the fact that there is a world wide pandemic. Just roll up your sleeves and don’t be devastated that your precious darlings are getting a supposedly sub standard-education. They are not, do your duty as a parent by doing your part in this process to get us out of the situation as fast as is humanly possible. We are lucky to be in a first world country where we have these facilities/opportunities. And also, please think about the tens of thousands of kids in this country who dint even have the facilities that you do. You are frankly, a ridiculous moaning bloody Myrtle.

Actually let’s take this opportunity to shine a light on those of you who have bagged your kids a school place and KNOW they don’t deserve it and you’ve lied to fit the criteria.

We see you. Your community sees you. And we’ll remember. And yes you’re being talked about amongst people who know you and you might find that when normal life recommences you have less friends than before.

How do you see them?

@justanotherneighinparadise

We either complain or we just get on with living.

So that’s the choice? If we complain we die I assume?

No if you complain we come down on you. Hard.

Grow up.

So what does OP want?

I think she either wants hers in or if that can happen the ones who are in shouldn't receive an education.

@wonderup

Actually let’s take this opportunity to shine a light on those of you who have bagged your kids a school place and KNOW they don’t deserve it and you’ve lied to fit the criteria.

We see you. Your community sees you. And we’ll remember. And yes you’re being talked about amongst people who know you and you might find that when normal life recommences you have less friends than before.

How do you see them?

Because funnily enough when you live in a small community and you’ve rubbed along with these people for years you know what everyone does for a living. Plus some of them are stupid enough to announce it online, normally alongside some claptrap about being blessed.

[quote ElizabethP141]@GWLTM

I’m a teacher and that’s honestly been my experience this week!

Thank you so much....you will have no idea how much that will have meant to your children’s teachers 💕[/quote]
Here's a very unmumsnetty hug!

I hope you can treat the weekend like it's a weekend. (Something tells me you won't)

Or at least get some good G&Ts down you xxxx

Stop whining.

There’s an easy solution. The NHS is recruiting. Apply. Do it for your children. They deserve a parent who puts them first.

No if you complain we come down on you. Hard.

Grow up.

Who is ‘we’ lol? The Mumsnet posse? . Perhaps it’s not me that needs to grow up?!

Well listen to the press reports!

The press reports said similar last time!!! Will it be more than last time? Yes. However I don't think it will be 70%-80% nationally across all schools.
I will wait for the figures to be released as attendance will likely need to be recorded to the DFE like last time

I can’t believe some of these answers. Yes I agree op, just look at the other threads about this topic. People are very angry about the whole keyworker status thing.

My parents deserved an education. They were sent away from their families to live with strangers. Food was rationed. Bombs were dropped on their homes. They lost all their possessions and had to sleep on floors at other people's houses.
The schooling they had was sporadic. The children with whom they were educated resented them and made things difficult.
They still managed to catch up, get jobs and so forth.
Same story for my grandparents.

I wish I could stay home with my young primary aged DC but to do that either DP or I would be out of work so we can't.

So actually I'm really happy that my DC still have a teacher. Why should it be completely shit for them? It's not the same school environment at all btw. If you were to walk around the schools now you'd see why. A bit of perspective might help you achieve a less bitter outlook.

Oh and why should it just be childcare? So I can try and complete all the school work with them AFTER work and a full day at school when they just want to be home to relax and play? Isn't life chaotic and shit enough right now. Ffs.

@justanotherneighinparadise

We either complain or we just get on with living.

So that’s the choice? If we complain we die I assume?

We just get on with it the best we can. Being mindful that none of this is life as we want it, preserving our health by being 'safe' and taking the pressures of our health workers.

You sound full of anger. I'm sorry for that. I sense that nothing said on this post will placate you.

Because funnily enough when you live in a small community and you’ve rubbed along with these people for years you know what everyone does for a living. Plus some of them are stupid enough to announce it online, normally alongside some claptrap about being blessed.

So you know who is vulnerable in your community? Their jobs are irrelevant under that criteria.

I'm not saying your feelings are invalid btw. It is sad for lots of children. Just please don't wish for those that have no choice in attending school to only receive "childcare" because that isn't fair either.

@justanotherneighinparadise Actually let’s take this opportunity to shine a light on those of you who have bagged your kids a school place and KNOW they don’t deserve it and you’ve lied to fit the criteria. We see you. Your community sees you. And we’ll remember. And yes you’re being talked about amongst people who know you and you might find that when normal life recommences you have less friends than before.

Exactly this. And to those saying “you never know what goes on behind closed doors - maybe their kid is SEN etc”: I have had direct conversations with some of these parents. They do indeed know they are gaming the system, and some are embarrassed about it. But they are following the Dominic Cummings principle of looking after number 1 and stuff everyone else. It’s really really depressing

You have read the guidance right?

All pupils are receiving the same education - but it's safer for those who can to receive it remotely for the health of the nation and stem the tide of a pandemic where our epidemic in this country is out of control.

There are guidelines of what school must offer as a minimum and teachers workload is double managing it all.

It a lot of settings tas are supervising the pupils in class doing online learning whilst the teachers are teaching every child in the class remotely.

People are very angry about the whole keyworker status thing.

I think some people are very angry about a perception that someone's kids are getting something their kids are not.

arentiskinnyet

SingleparentHomeschool
I don’t think the OP is objecting to the kids of key workers being in, or vulnerable children.
It’s the pointy elbowed middle class families who have gamed the key worker definition to send their kids in which gets to me. I’m talking about high earning families where the non key working parent is in a part time wfh creative job. That’s how ridiculous it is, in my school at least. Those families are sending their kids in. Endangering the teachers, TAs and kids who genuinely need to be there.
People are claiming that as the kids in school are getting the same remote teaching input as those at home,
But that’s not really true. For a start, a TA isn’t just anyone. They are highly experienced educators. But more importantly, they are in that school environment, where they know the thing to do is work, not mess around. And they are being properly supervised, as opposed to having mum or dad trying to ensure they get the work done while also juggling their own full time job.
I’m a single parent. The gov guidance is allowing families with 2 parents where only 1 is a key worker to take up these places in schools.
Why?
It seems to me it’s because my child’s education is not as important as these other children’s. What’s good enough for me and my kid is apparently too much to ask of other families.
The OP is right it is totally unfair. I’m not asking for my child to be allowed into school. I’m asking the rules on key worker kids to the equitable, so we can keep this period of closures as short as possible and so teachers and TAs don’t have to endlessly juggle teaching remotely with teaching overly large classes of key worker kids because the pointy elbow brigade are looking after themselves at the cost of everyone else. They are the ones who need to “be kind”.

Agree!! 👏👏

@mam0918

Why are people acting like Martyrs with self education, it requires very little the kids are doing it online with virtual teacher supervision/assistance it requires little effort from parents this time round, our kid is so busy just getting on with his lessons like he would at school (in fact better no friends to distract him) that the only difference from normal school is that we cook/feed him ourselves at lunch time and see him during the break.

This is piss easy unlike the first lockdown where you had to create lessons and teach yourself because their where zero systems in place and some things we cant teach because we dont know but your suppose to attempt to try.

Im guessing the parent moaning now just sat on their arse and didnt teach their kids anything those first 3 months or so because if you find this new far better system with actual teachers hard you clearly didnt put in the effort to do it yourself the first time.

100% this 👏👏👏

Also if there aren't enough lessons or work being provided then why not see this as a great opportunity to teach your kids stuff they wouldn't normally learn in school but is useful for real life, such as how to handle finances and other practical stuff.

When I was younger maybe 8-10ish, a few evenings a week on top of my homework my dad used to set me 'bonus work' where he'd put together a series of questions that I'd need to answer, it was really random general knowledge type stuff that you wouldn't learn in school and back then the Internet wasn't really a thing so I'd have to look up stuff in those kiddie DK encyclopedias we used to have, for example. Or it was stuff like 'name 10 countries beginning with the letter A' which seems useless but it made me study a globe for ages and learn about continents etc. I strongly believe this kind of work gave me an inquisitive nature and strong work ethic and set me above others. He'd come home from work and set me these questions in about 10 minutes. I get that it's hard keeping kids entertained but think outside the box a bit and see this as an opportunity for you as parents to really shape who they are and what they know?

I have nothing intelligent to say and not wasting my brain cells to out forward a coherent response apart from this:

Stop your whining and get on with it because your children will benefit from a parent who is resilient and resourceful rather than whinging and whining that life isn't fair.

@Mmn654123

Stop whining.

There’s an easy solution. The NHS is recruiting. Apply. Do it for your children. They deserve a parent who puts them first.

Still wouldn’t work for us as my child’s school dictates both parents need to be keyworkers. So whilst know you were being facetious I actually do have a keyworker job I’ve had to quit to home school my children.

I’m a single parent classed as key worker but WFH and my teens don’t want to go into school as one of them did last time and absolutely hated it. It isn’t like school as they know it and yes it is kids just accessing online lessons in groups of mixed age groups that don’t have their friends in it necessarily

It’s not the usual school experience you are imagining it to be and also you will prob get the lurgy if they go to school !

@noitsachicken

Why am I entitled for wanting my children to be treated the same as others? I am not blind to the situation, I understand what is going on, I understand everyone’s situation is different. There are lots of threads and news stories with schools with 50% and more of children in, people aren’t keeping their children home, parents are sending them given the chance. Schools aren’t properly closed.

Read back you own statement.

In some places there are 50% of children in. Not many.

Your children aren't be treated any differently to at least half the rest of them. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️