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.

I understand your frustration I really do. I don’t agree with anyone calling you selfish

@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.

Look upon it a different way.

You and your children get to stay at home, protected from catching the virus.

Those poor critical worker children are exposed.

If it’s just Education you’re concerned with, your dc could be better educated at home.
You have access to so many resources, many of them completely free. They can learn from videos, interactive websites or print off worksheets. Your children could follow passions and interests, read books that they want to rather than the boring ones at school. You can order them second hand or download them free on a library app.
Their education need not suffer at all.

@noitsachicken

I am aware of the crisis. But children are being treated unfairly, all children should be treated the same. Childcare should be provided for those who really need it

So what is it you want, childcare or education? I provide online learning for those children not in class whilst those in class get the same online learning. I had to change all my planning on Tuesday after spending time over Christmas on my regular planning. The children in class are sat at completely separate tables, are not working collaboratively and when they play out have to keep 2m apart. It’s hardly great education, but its all we can provide on the circumstances. Do you believe that a child on a child protection plan with a possibly violent parent should be treated the same as your child? Shame on you if you do.

Wow some people. Be thankful you can keep your children safe at home.

I lost a teacher friend this week , she was 42 years old. None of this is fair least of all to the people who die doing their job. A lot of children in school are worrying every day about their parents or living in vulnerable situations. That isn’t fair either.

Schools currently are a childminding service .Most of them are just doing the same the kids at home but in school.

I think we all have to realise that in a pandemic things can not carry on as normal.

I feel the same OP. The children in my DD class who returned on Tuesday are have the same school experience as they all did in September. They have their teacher in their classroom and all their extra lessons in terms and music and sport. 18 out of 30 children went back. I know 7 where their parents are at home working but didn't want to have to teach them, fair enough they qualify for a place. But those at home have been given a PowerPoint and worksheets to go through. They're Year 2 they need supervision so many are not getting this done. A few worksheets is not the same as teacher led learning and those at home are at a huge disadvantage.

Not all schools are working this way but mine is and my heart is breaking for the ones being left behind.

I know you must feel frustrated that your children are not in school. However you are the same as millions of families.

If you want them to be in you just need to get a job that increases your risk and maybe get your child a “child in need” plan. What wait ......you don’t want a vulnerable child or a child with complex needs or you don’t want to work 10 hours digging gas mains in the cold.

In that case put your big girl pants on, suck it up, accept we are in global pandemic.

It’s not exactly the same for KW children op, but it’s not the same for different children in different families either. That’s life and this is a pandemic so we just have to do our best. I’m a TA in school with KW children. We watch the teacher Zoom from home, then complete the work such as maths booklets, reading, spelling etc. That takes most of the morning.Yes, when that is completed, we do other activities such as creative work,The Daily Mile, PSHE activities and yes they get to play with their age group. But what else can we do? Their parents need to go to work. What’s your suggestion?

I'm a TA
I have family who are teachers

From what I've seen and know in my experience the children in school are doing the same work in the same way as they children at home ..they are just sitting in a classroom in the cold without their home comforts around them.
I supervise a bubble of 20-25 children all logged into iPads doing live lessons all day ..eating at their desks...etc etc
It's not fun trust me

Wow the world doesn't revolve around your and your children. Do my children deserve to have to go to school and maybe catch COVID because I can't have them at home because I'm a key worker? Be thankful you have the luxury to stay at home and keep them safe. I can't believe you are so entitled.

So basically, because your kids can't have the school experience you want no kids to have it. To only way to satisfy you is to close schools completely then, and for the NHS to have even more staff off work.

Your life will be no better, your kids lives will be no better, but your jealousy will be calmed.
You're being ridiculous.

They do deserve an education that's why this is a sacrifice. People are being treated differently because not everyone can stay home (or your supermarket would run out of food, your ambulance won't come etc). The alternative is treatable people dying because hospitals are full. Really not sure what you're struggling to understand here so I think you dislike what is going on (understandably) and are being petulant (childishly).

It is not about prioritising children but actually prioritising their parents so that they can continue to work. Nurses, doctors, essential retail etc.

Most schools are only offering supervision. Key worker children were hugely disadvantaged in the first lockdown. They were not being home schooled as their parents were working full time. Minimum. The schools were only offering childcare. How can a six year old work the technology themselves to do 'school'?

I implore you to think of those that are continuing to work to keep your family safe and healthy and realise how selfish your comments are.

Oh and we’re all in masks with the windows open. I watch the children at home all cosy at their kitchen table with parents around and some of the kw children say they wish they could do that too. The grass isn’t always greener!

@noitsachicken

I am aware of the crisis. But children are being treated unfairly, all children should be treated the same. Childcare should be provided for those who really need it

It’s awful for everyone, in some cases families have lost loved ones.

I’ve always told my children that life isn’t fair, so it’s best not to expect it to be.

I wonder what you would be posting if one of your DC was critically ill in ICU because it had caught the virus or new strain of the virus at school?

DC's are vectors for this virus - one or even all of your DC could carry it (1 in 3 are asymptomatic) and infect or even cause death to another person.

You're at home and you are lucky to have the technology, so wake-up, think yourself very fortunate and stop being so utterly ignorant.

Also there's been no checking on keyworker status. If you say you are the school makes room the head has said its not for them to check. Its almost half full now.

@ItsJustASimpleLine

I feel the same OP. The children in my DD class who returned on Tuesday are have the same school experience as they all did in September. They have their teacher in their classroom and all their extra lessons in terms and music and sport. 18 out of 30 children went back. I know 7 where their parents are at home working but didn't want to have to teach them, fair enough they qualify for a place. But those at home have been given a PowerPoint and worksheets to go through. They're Year 2 they need supervision so many are not getting this done. A few worksheets is not the same as teacher led learning and those at home are at a huge disadvantage.

Not all schools are working this way but mine is and my heart is breaking for the ones being left behind.

Thankyou for understanding.

I am fully aware of the news, fully aware we are all in different situations.

Yes of course I am glad we are safe and healthy.

Perhaps I am wrong to question the situation

You are doing the right thing keeping your child at home. My primary school has 60% attendance still and teachers are resentful of those thing places when they could be at home. One boy is in school while his mum is at home on maternity leave with his baby sibling, just because dad is a key worker.

I think you’ll find the work set for home schooling is also the work set for children in school.

...could infect

Our school is giving the same provision to everyone. When in KW school DS 5 has a laptop and earphone. Sits on his own from anyone else. At home he sits in dining room doing the same work he would do in school. Sounds like different schools have vastly different approaches! Ours from the start has said it will be the same across the board

I'm a teacher with teacher friends

The week before Xmas I lost a non teacher friend to covid

He was married to a teacher. She was the only member of the household going out to work in a primary school he was wfh and looking after their toddlers.

She didn't realise she was asymptomatic he caught the virus from her and died within 4 days.

Yesterday I watched my friend's funeral via a video link and it was awful. He was only young and previously healthy.

I am in school with key worker and vulnerable children and I'm teaching from an empty classroom whilst they are in the next classroom being supervised by TAs watching the same google classroom lessons. Our TAs are anxious being in with the children.

I'm in school from 8-5 every day then get home cook dinner then sit with my 8 year old to do his learning- he spends his day pottering around the house as there is no one to help him work as dd's who are my childcare are in year 11 and 12 so have their own lessons to attend and work to do. He can't attend school as key worker as no breakfast club available and DH leaves for work before me.

I then spend my evening preparing work for children who can't access the live lessons, work for children with no access to technology and work for SEN child working significantly below the age of year group and can't access online learning due to needs.

I'm getting 5 hours sleep a night and have had no quality time with my family this week.

It's a shit time for parents, a shit time for teachers, a shit time for children but we are doing it so we don't basically end up dead.

Don’t be daft. I’m a key worker (teacher) and I’ve turned down both my children’s offer of a place at school. To protect everyone and because I can just about manage to try to teach and look after my child at home.

It’s shit. I hate it. I’m not homeschooling my child at anything remotely resembling the level they need. I can’t. Not whilst working from home.

The thing to remember is that this situation is largely awful for everyone.

Allowances will be made for this and no-one is going to expect children to be up to scratch educationally. My teenage daughters GCSEs have been totally fucked up as her mental health as taken a serious nose dive due to this.

Just try to remember that everyone (mostly) is finding this situation terrible.