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.

If it makes you feel better @noitsachicken my children and in school since I am a critical worker and they are supervised by a TA. The teachers are working from home. They follow the same as those at home. They don't have help so no parent to help them. The TA is at the front and away from them,

There you go it's not ideal but it affects us all. At least some parents can be at home with their children safe and sound.

@Bitbusyattheminute

Ds is in year 6. That's pretty much the end of primary written off for him. And cubs and all those things. But he's a white, probably mc boy in a European, peaceful country, with supportive parents. If he wants to do well, he can.

Being in year 6 and missing the end of primary is almost completely irrelevant to his life chances. A bit sad, but irrelevant.

Being in year 10, 11, 12, 13 is confusing and a bit frightening, and could genuinely impact on their lives. I wouldn't have given a toss about mine missing year 6.

It is rubbish and children are missing out. But it is what it is and we have to make the most of it. It’s the right decision to close schools and we need key workers so that we are safe and have a health service.

You don’t need to look too hard at the new sites to see why this needs to happen.

I qualify for a place for mine but haven’t taken it up because it’s manageable. We are not being sent to war. We are not in a famine. We are not having to directly witness the trauma (most of us) so let’s just get in with it. We have food, shelter, safety. All our basic needs are met. Plus most of us have technology to entertain us and keep us connected. Children bounce back. Children are, on the whole, resilient so unless there are particular vulnerabilities it’s fine and it will be fine.

If you can keep your children home please do. TA here my bubble burst in the first week back. Multiple positives children and staff. I now have symptoms and waiting my results. We had so many children in it felt like only a matter of time. Didn't realise it would only be a week. I have 4 children. The one who suffers from asthma has started coughing today.

@Number37

It’s getting to the point though where many won’t “just catch up”. This has been going on for so long that the attainment gap is getting bigger everyday.

My DC missed most of Year 4, not they are missing a massive chunk of proper learning in Y5. It’s the final year of primary and I’d like them to actually have a good base before they head off to secondary.

I agree @Number37.

If it's confirmed soon they're not going back after half-term, surely they have to suspend the curriculum again and look at repeating years or altering term dates later in the year. With this being the second closure it's just so much time out of the classroom in a year.

It's this pretence that 'schools haven't closed, they've moved online, everyone press on' I'm finding so difficult. At least the approach in the first lockdown was more realistic. Where's the honest discussion about what this is really going to mean for many kids mental health, social development and life chances if this goes on.

@carlislemumof4 spot on!

Yes, and last lockdown my kids missed out as they were in school full time due to DH & I being key workers and out at work. Most other parents furloughed and able to home school them. My kids did no learning in school and was just a 'summer camp' type childcare setting.

We are all disadvantaged on some level by this. It's not a competition.

I will add however that this time round, the children in school are doing exactly the same as the children at home, they are being supervised by support staff while their classroom teachers are at hole providing online learning to all the class.

*home, not hole

Absolutely we are all disadvantaged in some way, but I think the notion that all children are (educationally) supervised at home is not necessarily correct. If kids in school were sitting watching YouTube for 10 hours a day then (non-critical worker) parents wouldn't be pushing to get them in. Kids at home with working parents are often spending their day doing this. They absolutely have the advantage of being safe at home, as do their parents. Those that are WFH are obviously very lucky to be able to. However, I don't think that takes away from the fact that these kids are missing out. I would imagine they are far less likely to complete work without the supervision of an (non-parent) adult.

My son is in school. He is year 10. He is in one roon all day , with only those from his yeargroup (10 kids). They are on live lessons from 9am all day. No sport or socialisation.

@cherryblosm

So much of your comment is utter rubbish it’s untrue.

All chilren deserve an education.
You just can't expect others to risk their lives to provide it.
It is actually yur respnsibility by law to make sure your child receives an education.
But the Police aren't battering down your door to amke sure you do it, as we are in the middle of a pandemic.