Critical workers please

[Bramblespoint]

Are critical workers aware of this advice?

Please please follow it if you can. Lockdown will last longer if more children attend school.

Keep your children at home if you can. It's hard isn't an excuse, it's hard for everyone it's a pandemic

@Eileithyiaa thing is about nurseries, lots of parents are furloughed or don’t work and so could keep their children off, but because nurseries and childcare are open as normal, they can send their children as it’s allowed. Of course parents can’t work with a 2 year old in tow, but many are not working and childcare numbers haven’t Really dropped To reflect this. Because parents are still being charged because settings are open, they are using their place. Many Settings are already financially on the brink so to not to charge parents just isn’t an option if they want to be able to reopen when all of this is done.
The problems with this are that the virus is still spreading, it makes it more likely that either a key worker child will catch it through the setting and then won’t be able to work, putting more pressure on the system (as they are down a worker) and it dilutes the ‘stay at home’ message.

You also have all the early years staff who now need critical worker spaces for their children to be looked after.

I might work from home, but having my children at home with me and trying to homeschool them, while looking after 4 EYFS children each day is impossible.

The guidance alsonsays that school can ask for proof. I do think this needs to be exercised.
If there is a SAHP they should it be given a place. Only parents WFH FT with a child under 12 should take up a place. This is an emergency situation. I heard of couple who booked the day off, put their DC in school and went off into the hills skiing. Anecdotal... yes. But people are so entitled. This provision wasn't even offered in most if Europe. A Tory Govt actually provide a service to assist families and still people (who don't work take the piss)

Yep first week back and 2 bubbles burst in my school.

[quote Maryann1975]@Eileithyiaa thing is about nurseries, lots of parents are furloughed or don’t work and so could keep their children off, but because nurseries and childcare are open as normal, they can send their children as it’s allowed. Of course parents can’t work with a 2 year old in tow, but many are not working and childcare numbers haven’t Really dropped To reflect this. Because parents are still being charged because settings are open, they are using their place. Many Settings are already financially on the brink so to not to charge parents just isn’t an option if they want to be able to reopen when all of this is done.
The problems with this are that the virus is still spreading, it makes it more likely that either a key worker child will catch it through the setting and then won’t be able to work, putting more pressure on the system (as they are down a worker) and it dilutes the ‘stay at home’ message.

You also have all the early years staff who now need critical worker spaces for their children to be looked after.

I might work from home, but having my children at home with me and trying to homeschool them, while looking after 4 EYFS children each day is impossible.[/quote]
Yes of course I get that.
But nursery workers should take their anger out on the government, not parents. We both know that nurseries have been asked to remain open for economic reasons rather than safety, and the government don't want to provide the funding for nurseries no close.

In my opinion, it's only the privileged and poor that have a SAHP in today's financial climate. The privileged who aren't that common in reality, who have a high enough earner to allow one parent to SAH, and the poorer parents who rely on benefits, whose children could be vulnerable and benefit greatly from nursery, where they are guaranteed food etc. Most people fall into the middle of these brackets, and both parents work therefore relying on childcare, which is probably why your numbers haven't decreased.
Not because all the SAHM's are sat at home watching day time TV child-free.

For parents to be pulling their child out of nursery, they will probably have to stop working or find alternative childcare (such as CM), and that's not compatible with continuing to pay nursery fees, so the sectors would take an almighty hit.

Employers are aware that early years settings are open, and will be less sympathetic towards parents asking for furlough to look after pre-school children, whereas had Boris included nurseries in the lockdown, employees would have an argument for it.

DS's dad is a critical worker out of the home and I also have to work out of the home although I'm not a critical worker. So DS goes to school. I'd keep him at home if I could but there are no adults home to look after him.

@Waxonwaxoff0

DS's dad is a critical worker out of the home and I also have to work out of the home although I'm not a critical worker. So DS goes to school. I'd keep him at home if I could but there are no adults home to look after him.

And I think you're 100% right to take up a space. What is the alternative? You resign? And default on your bills? Ending up in poverty?

I don't know why all the people shouting for "two parents must be critical workers to get a school place" don't understand people literally have no choice but to earn money or end up destitute.

Yes it's a pandemic and the public need to be responsible in reducing transmission but not to the point of flinging themselves into poverty.

Drives me mad!

Perhaps we need to park the admin for now but give a strong message. Isn't there a quote along the lines of show me the consequences and I will show you the action?

Atm the 'consequence' of 'vanishingly rare' severe illness in school age is determining action in the context of employers that expect staff with young children to wfh such that parents risk losing their jobs if they don't send their DC to school. Perceived real risk to me and my family vs perceived unknown hypothetical risk to the wider society.

So make it illegal for employers to dismiss any parent unable to work whilst schools are closed. Full pay until employment tribunal rules post pandemic when workload allows. Action halted when schools reopen.

@KeepOnKeepingOnAgainandAgain

Perhaps we need to park the admin for now but give a strong message. Isn't there a quote along the lines of show me the consequences and I will show you the action?

Atm the 'consequence' of 'vanishingly rare' severe illness in school age is determining action in the context of employers that expect staff with young children to wfh such that parents risk losing their jobs if they don't send their DC to school. Perceived real risk to me and my family vs perceived unknown hypothetical risk to the wider society.

So make it illegal for employers to dismiss any parent unable to work whilst schools are closed. Full pay until employment tribunal rules post pandemic when workload allows. Action halted when schools reopen.

I agree that employers should have some responsibility for treating employees struggling with childcare fairly whilst we are locked down.

My company is brilliant, the MD is trying to homeschool his own 4 children as his wife works out of the home, and has publicly delivered the message that he feels for everyone in the same boat and has explicitly instructed managers to be as accommodating as possible. As long as the bare minimum is done for the business to tick over then all the non-priority tasks can be set to one side. Nobody is being monitored for time spent online, tasks are being distributed equally where possible and in situations where staff simply can't cope they are being furloughed.

I wish all employers were as equally understanding and proactive. Our workforce is over 600 people in the UK and to date, our COVID infection rate is below 10 throughout the company. That includes on-site staff too. It really does make a difference.

If real fear is not driving action but denial of the seriousness of the issue combined with piss taking - then referral to SS (back of the queue so maybe some compulsory courses on parenting whilst awaiting investigation - maybe courses on radicalisation and the danger of conspiracy theories if appropriate).

If the consequence for employers who penalised parents whilst schools were closed was tribunal and the consequence for non CW who sent their D.C. to school whilst schools were closed was referral to SS, the behaviour would be different.

Simple risk assessment.

Neither DH or I are considered critical workers but we both have very involved jobs that require a lot of calls and a high degree of concentration. That is not conducive to supervising seven year old DS2 with a full live timetable each day, especially as he is under the school SENCo and has had counselling for anxiety. We have therefore had to get his grandparents to help us. If that doesn’t work out, DS2 will be going to school under the vulnerable category. His school has already indicated that they are happy to provide places for children whose mental health is suffering.

@BunsyGirl - your actions are completely understandable and logical - but only in the context of illogical behaviour of your employers - which makes your individual behaviour illogical at a societal level (hypothetically) both in terms of keeping open the means of community transmission and preventing those most at risk due to age from isolating.

@KeepOnKeepingOnAgainandAgain My DH is his employer. He is self-employed.
Without him, there is no company. And why is it logical that a supermarket worker is a key worker. I have done the job,
it requires a few hours training. My job requires years and years of training and my employer just can’t find a lawyer with my skills to replace me. My clients are mainly local authorities and I work on some very important projects, including schemes to feed children from low income families.

I did think about putting my youngest son at school, my husband is a key worker im a sahp.
I have 3 children with Autism, my youngest son is practically difficult.
He is violent and needs constant watching which is hard on my own when husband is at work and I'm not going to lie I am struggling.
But I would feel terrible if my son became ill or he give the virus to a teacher or TA.

@KeepOnKeepingOnAgainandAgain

If real fear is not driving action but denial of the seriousness of the issue combined with piss taking - then referral to SS (back of the queue so maybe some compulsory courses on parenting whilst awaiting investigation - maybe courses on radicalisation and the danger of conspiracy theories if appropriate).

If the consequence for employers who penalised parents whilst schools were closed was tribunal and the consequence for non CW who sent their D.C. to school whilst schools were closed was referral to SS, the behaviour would be different.

Simple risk assessment.

What are you on about here? Who do you think should be referred to social services?

Our school have said critical workers send your kids in full time refuardless of your working hours. This is to keep kids in a routine

So how would you feel about teaching staff going on strike and refusing to teach any child in a school building? Hypothetical but there is nothing you could do to force teaching staff into a building to supervise children in unsafe environments. You can’t keep thinking you have the right to make all the decisions and that the people who are taking the risks will be happy to do so.

Who do you think should be referred to social services?

Anyone not keeping their child at home I think

My sister is a nursery nurse open to keyworker children. She is disgusted at the amount of children who have a stay at home parent at home. So basically she’s risking her life because of some ignorant lazy entitled parent who is too lazy to look after their own kids. We are not talking about keyworkers here but sahp parents who think the rules don’t apply to them.

Considering that the proportion of DC of critical workers, those with EHCPs and those vulnerable with existing SS involvement has not substantially increased since the 1st lockdown and that those places are sometimes not taken up - juggling shifts, kids with EHCPs not able to cope with the change to 'normal' schooling and/or at higher risk - how do you explain why so many DC are attending 'closed' schools?

Precovid times it was common for schools to refer families to SS when parents thought their child might have SEND but the school insisted they were fine. Pretending/exaggerating = safeguarding - parents don't understand what is required of them or are not willing to step up when difficulties arise. Perhaps they need help? So schools referred to SS.

Perhaps parents who aren't critical workers but are pretending/exaggerating needs and sending their kids to school in the middle of a pandemic would benefit from a referral to get some help? Especially SAH parents.

This advice wasn’t just released yesterday OP - I read this last week.

@raviolidreaming

Who do you think should be referred to social services?

Anyone not keeping their child at home I think

Wonder who they think is assessing all the children and families who are ACTUALLY at risk of harm during the pandemic? Oh yes...social workers trying to work around their kids!! Fuck sake.

@CeibaTree

This advice wasn’t just released yesterday OP - I read this last week.

No, the specific line in the critical worker guidance about keeping your child home if you can was only updated at 5.30pm yesterday. You can go to the government page about critical worker provision and see that it was updated on 8th January. Presumably it is on response to the large numbers of children still attending school.

However, if the update isn't getting out to the public it isn't much use.

The only thing way schools are going to have lesser numbers is for Boris to tell businesses they have to shut and furlough all their staff like lockdown one. Otherwise most people are working. Although we definitely have some taking the p.....

I was a critical worker but I can’t work in this. 3 of our kids are primary age, at our local school between them they would’ve had 6 combined isolation periods. I can’t wfh in my role and realistically no employer would allow this, so we’ve had to protect our main income. I know lots of critical workers who aren’t working, more than are taking the mick. I can’t go back to work either now as we can’t get a space in school without the job as they are ‘prioritising those who worked in March’ at one school and the special school is simply completely closed.