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.

Redinthefacegirl

Do not feel guilty about using KW provision as clearly you are one and you need it.

People who could do without and still find an excuse to send them boil my piss though. They are increasing the chances of bubbles bursting, teachers and TAs getting ill and frontline workers not being able to work.

OP many people who aren't sahp have an unrealistically rosy idea of the reality. Even more so during lockdown when you're supporting everyone else, barely get out, never get a moment to yourself, no support from leadership or colleagues, are often judged from all sides as lucky/lazy/lady of leisure/ unambitious/whatever and that pressure from school so they can keep ticking their boxes on the 'remote learning' targets keeps coming in.

Wonderful. I’m wfh full time, with a primary aged child to educate and care for. I would love to never have to tell him to be quiet because mummy is on a call. Or focus on writing a report for more than 10 minutes at a time. I know being a sahp is tough - I tried it, decided I wasn’t cut out for it and therefore went back to work. Right now I wish I wasn’t under pressure to maintain my career, and could sit at the kitchen table and Google bite size videos on fronted adverbials without also working.

Sorry I’ve not read the whole thread and don’t intend too.....but seriously? I’m a key worker so is DH, we are both working from home yet we still didn’t take our key worker’s place for our 2 primary aged kids.
I also have an almost 8 month baby and a touch of PND as she was born during the first lockdown.
We haven’t taken the places because we want to try and homeschool and protect not just them, but the staff at their school that have no choice but to go in. Also protect the nhs by staying at home where possible.
This isn’t because we are high risk. We are all low risk, however it’s because we realise 2 things.
First, there are many single parents or parents with vulnerable children that need the place more. They genuinely need it. Some kids have real MH issues and need to be in school. My kids will also get bored at home like they did the first lockdown, however that’s no where near the same as some children who are at risk of self harming etc. People use the term MH so easily that it make me laugh.
Second, the rates of positive cases were high in schools. This is why testing was suggested as a way forward. I don’t think overwhelming schools with students is going to get us out of lockdown soon.
This first week was hard, but we are in a pandemic it is expected.
As the government said “stay home”

@Redinthefacegirl

I feel guilty sending him

You should never feel guilty. The work you are doing is invaluable.

@MinesAPintOfTea

OP many people who aren't sahp have an unrealistically rosy idea of the reality. Even more so during lockdown when you're supporting everyone else, barely get out, never get a moment to yourself, no support from leadership or colleagues, are often judged from all sides as lucky/lazy/lady of leisure/ unambitious/whatever and that pressure from school so they can keep ticking their boxes on the 'remote learning' targets keeps coming in.

Wonderful. I’m wfh full time, with a primary aged child to educate and care for. I would love to never have to tell him to be quiet because mummy is on a call. Or focus on writing a report for more than 10 minutes at a time. I know being a sahp is tough - I tried it, decided I wasn’t cut out for it and therefore went back to work. Right now I wish I wasn’t under pressure to maintain my career, and could sit at the kitchen table and Google bite size videos on fronted adverbials without also working.

My younger children have spent their whole lives being told to be quiet on weekdays when at home. WFH isn't new for us as a family,my DH has worked from home for 14 years. Our house is a little end terrace, the six of us live all on top of each other really.

People have different perspectives, I get it. You think my life sounds easier, I remember the days when I was a working single mum with a little one and it seems like a breeze compared to the relentless busyness of having four and getting 3 hours sleep a night because my older teen with severe anxiety and ocd has been having a crisis again over Christmas. Trying to face another open ended period of homeschooling while supporting her, seeing my 11 year old develop some of the same symptoms (which improved hugely the 3 months she was back in school) and wondering how the hell she's going to cope with finding out which secondary she's going to in a few weeks time with no prospect of getting back in the classroom soon. Recognising my youngest two really need to be out of the house. School hassling us constantly.

I've kept things settled and calm this week by sacking off homelearning bar lots of reading and spellings, getting out to the park in daylight hours and prioritising the housework.

I'm not interested in lectures on 'taking this seriously' because I have been. For a year, while I've witnessed others including my DCs teachers not giving a fuck about social distancing, mask wearing etc. as late as the last week before Christmas.And recognise closing schools isn't going to be the fix people want it to be.

I'll carry on taking the measures we have been but with them not in school we'll be down at the park a lot more than we otherwise would be. And I want them back in for the next term!

m not interested in lectures on 'taking this seriously' because I have been. For a year, while I've witnessed others including my DCs teachers not giving a fuck about social distancing, mask wearing etc. as late as the last week before Christmas.And recognise closing schools isn't going to be the fix people want it to be.

@Carlislemumof4 I’m a teacher. I don’t wear a mask or social distance in school because it isn’t possible. I wear one in a corridor as per dfe guidance. I’m a secondary teacher. I have 2 primary DC and know it is impossible for their teachers to distance or wear masks, especially ms ASD DS’s TA. They do give “a fuck” but there’s nothing they can do.

I feel guilty sending him in and the resentment about keyworker provision is getting to me a bit

So firstly thanks 🙏
I know the term heroes is bandied about a lot , but you are truly in such a tough situation
And many people know it

Secondly I’d avoid this website as there are cesspit views and this threads enraged me in a different way , but highly highly

I hate the fact you feel guilty and hope you get a vaccine ASAP x

I'd like to point out that fewer people are being furloughed this time around. Perhaps some were furloughed in March and now are not and are not able to take the cut in salary for unpaid leave/flexi. Bosses are less understanding and if they know a worker's partner is a key worker will tell them to send the kids to school. Furlough should revert to what it was in March. It now costs employers too much to furlough their staff.

And I’m fed up of the lack of perspective
So fed up
It’s hard for EVERYONE
Why can’t people see that

But it’s a fuck of a lot harder for people who might actually catch it

@motherrunner

m not interested in lectures on 'taking this seriously' because I have been. For a year, while I've witnessed others including my DCs teachers not giving a fuck about social distancing, mask wearing etc. as late as the last week before Christmas.And recognise closing schools isn't going to be the fix people want it to be.

@Carlislemumof4 I’m a teacher. I don’t wear a mask or social distance in school because it isn’t possible. I wear one in a corridor as per dfe guidance. I’m a secondary teacher. I have 2 primary DC and know it is impossible for their teachers to distance or wear masks, especially ms ASD DS’s TA. They do give “a fuck” but there’s nothing they can do.

I should have clarified I meant not distancing from parents and secondary siblings in the yard and at the school gate. The afternoon pick up scenes over the three months would have to be seen to be believed really, from staff as well as parents.Because we've had a problem here in Carlisle with higher numbers of cases since the beginning really, though only a couple in our school towards the end of term.

Despite all that we wanted them in because they'd had such a long break. It was amazing they settled as well as they did.

Masks in the schoolyard were supposed to be mandated in the second half term (I wore mine from September) but there were an awful lot of 'exempt' people! Most wearing them would rip them off at the gate then carry on chatting in groups.

The head could have been firmer but chose not to. I got the impression the request to wear masks came more from the academy trust. I'd like my DCs to wear masks in school.

Why do your children ‘deserve’ an education more than vulnerable people deserve a chance at getting through the pandemic?

Being a parent to a child with MH problems in this mess is difficult, you have my sympathy for that. But “quieten down, dad is on a call” is pretty different to “I’m too busy with work, entertain yourself for the next hour”

Have you see the news today OP? The NHS is in crisis. Schools are a massive cause of COVID spread. How about being pleased you've just reduced the spread of a potentially life altering illness into your family

@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.

You have it backwards. The children of key workers are being sent to schools where they might contract a virus because we need their parents to keep things running. Your children are privileged to stay at home in safety.

It's certainly not fair. The key workers have to risk their lives and those of their children providing your electricity, your water, your food and medical services.

It's certainly not fair. The key workers have to risk their lives and those of their children providing your electricity, your water, your food and medical services.
This.

Not RTWT but I’ve read the OP’s posts.

Her’s my advice OP: Try looking beyond the end of your nose.

@LastTrainEast
You have it backwards. The children of key workers are being sent to schools where they might contract a virus because we need their parents to keep things running. Your children are privileged to stay at home in safety.

It's certainly not fair. The key workers have to risk their lives and those of their children providing your electricity, your water, your food and medical services.

100% this.

@Redinthefacegirl Thank you just doesn’t go far enough.

@noitsachicken I know you’re not coming back because selfish, self centred people don’t return if they’re not getting what they want. You’re not even fit to share the thread with the likes of red

@Archersandlemonade I honestly have never come across anyone in real life with this attitude. Cannot understand it at all. HOWEVER I could understand a key worker wishing that they were able to stay at home instead of putting themselves at risk by going to work each day and having to send their children to school. You're in a very privileged position. Have a little reflect on this

Both of my daughters were in school today. I feel incredibly guilty sending them and we would much rather be at home than working through the worst weeks of our careers (honestly it’s hell in the hospitals)
Yes my youngest is being taught in a small class by her teacher but she’s also anxious that I’m going to die because of my job!

I think you're getting a really hard time OP. All children deserve to be getting an education. In my kids school they have their class teacher teaching them Y3 work - yes it might be more limited than what they'd otherwise have, but it's a qualified teacher teaching the curriculum that most children in the class at home have no access to. They also have a condusive learning environment and friends.

We didn't use a key worker space last time, we swallowed it all - how staying home would help ALL kids get back to school faster and look what happened - our kids were welcomed in the pub and cinema before school which didn't let them back in until September. And even then the unions didn't want them back.

Some key workers absolutely have no option but to send their children to school and are working really hard in ridiculously bad circumstances - but most of the 200 children who were given a place at my kids school in May 2020 were not in that position and they were better off, it's why everyone that can has got a key worker letter this time because they can't bear keeping their children pretty much locked up for months. I know I can't.

And then there are those of us who work, whatever we work in..eventually it does all need doing. Many of us have been juggling this for over 6 months now in total, why we should listen to someone telling us it's a small sacrifice I don't know.

Who in society is completely voiceless, unionless, powerless and most vulnerable. Children. Who is speaking out for them? Pretty much only that Anne Longfield childrens commissioner.

Everyone feels happy now nipping to Tesco every 10 mins without a mask, grabbing a coffee and meeting a friend in the park now the children are locked up. Schools have already been closed for 3 weeks and are we seeing the fruits of our children's virtual imprisonment? No, because really you're not so likely to get covid in school as you are in Tesco.

Many teachers are fearful of their health, but many teachers are also taking the mick. My SIL has her two kids in nursery and she's on mat leave as a teacher. They're not all angelic, and they don't all care about your child. The only person that really cares about your child is you and your loved ones. So don't feel ashamed for speaking up for them, in my opinion it's a sign of a good mum!

Remember this time when you want to take your children on holiday in term time. They'll catch up just fine.

OP which 'fair' option would you prefer? The one in which all schools close to all pupils and any key workers with children have to either take time off or resign to look after their children thus resulting in even more of a crisis not only in the NHS but also in food supply, transport etc

Or the one in which all children stay in school and spread the virus to their vulnerable relatives who fill up the already full NHS which is already on its knees. The knock on effect to the economy being even worse than that from the restrictions.

Take your pick.

Well, my kids are at home without me getting zilch support. I'm in school teaching keyworker kids then coming home and doing online classroom marking, feedback and planning so my kids get zilch in the evenings too. I have a huge bubble 5 x the size of the last.

It's not forever, with any luck. Step up. Be happy yours are not in to spread it around further. Most teachers I know, myself included, have chosen to keep their kids off or used support bubbles if younger because we know what virus soups the schools are. Also I do not want to expose fellow teachers and support staff to yet more risk or widen my own already massive exposure any further.

The less in school the better. For everyone. If you want this to drag on, keep sending kids in when it's not vital.

Are you serious?

Schools are open as a childcare facility for keyworker & vulnerable children. That is all!

In fact, some children at school are struggling to access the online learning that teachers are delivering.

Schools are socially distanced, children are 2 metres apart from each other and staff! I wouldn't subject my child to that unless I absolutely had to!