Ugh. I’m so conflicted by all of this, it’s making me ill. The constantly changing guidance just makes it worse and I’m having to make a judgment call as to whether sending my child to school has a greater negative impact than me not doing my job to the best of my ability.
I have a 5 yo and a 3 yo. DH and I are both genuine critical workers. Nobody would want us to stop doing what we do. Last time around both kids (then 4 and 2) went to school / nursery part time, on the 3 days I was on site working for the NHS. DH took all his remaining leave to keep them home for all but 2 days for the majority of that time. There were a maximum of 5 children across the whole school attending at any one time.
DH cannot work from home. I am working from home 95% of the time, playing a significant role in NHS Covid testing. I was asked to increase my hours because of Covid so now work 3 x 9 hour days and 1 x 3.5 hour day around my 3 yo’s (expensive) nursery hours.
School have given us a place for our 5 yo but have said it must be full time.
There are SO many children in school that I’m considering pulling my 5yo old out. Not because I’m concerned about him individually, but because I want to see the numbers reduce. I just can’t see how I’m going to manage to achieve my hours when I’m already working significant unpaid overtime to keep up with what needs to be done.
I read these headlines and think everyone must think I’m taking the piss.
I’ve shared my frets (probably came out as a ramble!) with the headmaster. I’m hoping he will at least consider allowing us to send the 5yo in only when needed, which would realistically be my 3 x 9 hour days. It’s so difficult for the school to know what to do as they were advised full time for anyone who qualifies.