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Todays u-turn from DfE, key workers working from home should NOT send kids to school

371 replies

Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 21:20

In case you've not seen.

Could cause a lot of people issues on Monday

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/09/school-guidance-for-children-of-key-workers-changes-again?CMP=twt_a-education_b-gdnedu

OP posts:
whittystitties · 10/01/2021 08:26

Also this sentence:

Schools have been closed to most pupils during the lockdown not because they are unsafe, but because the government is taking every possible measure to reduce cases in the community and protect the NHS. It does not undermine the lockdown to host vulnerable and critical worker children on site during this period.

So stop your gloating lockdownophiles

NaughtipussMaximus · 10/01/2021 08:30

I just wish people would be more tolerant of the pressures that we all face at the moment - parents, school staff and pupils. I don’t know anyone who has it easy at the moment.

Amen to this. We should have this stuck to the top of every thread on here at the moment. Well said @Cookiecrisps

lovelemoncurd · 10/01/2021 08:32

My friend has got a key worker place because she does counselling in her own home. The people that she sees are social media influencers and tv producers.

Is this critical work? Really? I can't even get my daughter seen by CAHMS currently.

Something needs to happen. The government needs to get tough.

inquietant · 10/01/2021 08:34

because the government is taking every possible measure to reduce cases in the community and protect the NHS well that's a flat out lie for starters Angry

A small selection of measures the government have not taken:

  • setting up a working test and trace system
  • supporting people to self-isolate
  • encouraging people to stay home (EOTHO Hmm thanks Sunak)
  • investing in schools to make them safer
  • investing in hospitals to make them safer

Calling people 'lockdownphiles' is so immature. Yes, yes - all those NHS doctors, with their years of education and experience, are just sheeple for not believing the covid deniers on Facebook

whittystitties · 10/01/2021 08:38

@inquietant

because the government is taking every possible measure to reduce cases in the community and protect the NHS well that's a flat out lie for starters Angry

A small selection of measures the government have not taken:

  • setting up a working test and trace system
  • supporting people to self-isolate
  • encouraging people to stay home (EOTHO Hmm thanks Sunak)
  • investing in schools to make them safer
  • investing in hospitals to make them safer

Calling people 'lockdownphiles' is so immature. Yes, yes - all those NHS doctors, with their years of education and experience, are just sheeple for not believing the covid deniers on Facebook

I'm not a covid denier, god you are all so black and white on here. I also do t think the government is doing everything it should.

As for this post headline, read the guidance, the headline is nonsense and that's a fact. The guidance doesn't say this at all. Stop whipping up hysteria.

RunAwayNow · 10/01/2021 08:38

Thank you for sharing that @whittystitties. I'm glad that at least the dfe acknowledge that keeping children at home doesn't necessarily mean you can keep them safe. Dh and I are both key workers, both mostly WFH but we genuinely cannot ensure our children's safety while we are working due to the nature of our roles, which involve all kinds of subject matter unsuitable for children to be around. I'm nervous that school will ask us to give up our places because we are at home. Work won't furlough us due to the essential nature of our work and expect us to be sending our children to school.

Fruitteatime · 10/01/2021 08:38

@lovelemoncurd

My friend has got a key worker place because she does counselling in her own home. The people that she sees are social media influencers and tv producers.

Is this critical work? Really? I can't even get my daughter seen by CAHMS currently.

Something needs to happen. The government needs to get tough.

I would say counselling is critical work, why are you judging her clients background? Additionally have you considered that she is relieving NHS pressure. It is fortunate that they can pay for their own psychological treatment.
whittystitties · 10/01/2021 08:40

@RunAwayNow

Thank you for sharing that *@whittystitties*. I'm glad that at least the dfe acknowledge that keeping children at home doesn't necessarily mean you can keep them safe. Dh and I are both key workers, both mostly WFH but we genuinely cannot ensure our children's safety while we are working due to the nature of our roles, which involve all kinds of subject matter unsuitable for children to be around. I'm nervous that school will ask us to give up our places because we are at home. Work won't furlough us due to the essential nature of our work and expect us to be sending our children to school.
The guidance says it's for the parent to make judgement, and that's what you are doing. Keep doing it.
Flamingolingo · 10/01/2021 08:42

It’s posts like this that I find really difficult. We have keyworker status, DH is a KW who works out of the house; not in the NHS, but as leader of a medical research facility. His work needs to continue, especially if we want new drugs in the future - e.g. the covid vaccines are the result of two decades’ work on SARS vaccines. His work will produce new drugs for both anti microbial resistance and cancer. We didn’t take a school place last time because the facility was shut down, he was working from home full time though and I was in a different role where I had more flexibility.

I work for a new employer, on probation. The employer is understanding, but there is still an emphasis on delivery. Our organisation is covered in the critical worker list, but by and large people are not asking for the status, and my role is probably not critical.

I have two DC at home, one year R, one y2. The y2 has ASD and considerable emotional regulation issues, and he thrives on the routine of school. Nobody in our ‘naice middle class area’ has a clue about DS diagnosis and his need, but the speed with which his rage comes and the unpredictable nature, and the violence of his reaction makes WFH on my own very very difficult. I have been offered two days of school to help us (so I’m still doing 3x days WFH with them, which is fine). If I take it, I’m going to be vilified in the local community. It will be seen that I’m at home, and should be looking after them, but the reality is that they are being abandoned in front of the telly for the 4-5 hours daily I am on the phone to stakeholders and clients.

peak2021 · 10/01/2021 08:42

This would have all been covered and realised if the government had been responsive to the pandemic in a reasonable time, not several weeks late as per usual. Last week of last term would have had the same provisions, it would have been realised that a large percentage of children would be in school as has happened, and the criteria could have been changed for the start of this term.

Bumpinthenight · 10/01/2021 08:45

A massive difference between the two school 'closures' (schools have never closed) is that the curriculum was suspended in March so it 'didn't matter' if children sat on their XBox all day so parents could work. This time, the children are supposed to be continuing their learning as if they were in school (including new learning. Which means parents are having to teach their children so can't work as before. Employers need to be more lenient this time round than last and from reading experiences on Mumsnet, they aren't.

The whole thing is causing stress for:

Teachers - uploading video lessons/doing live lessons, marking online work, sometimes teaching in school alongside, and also producing paper packs - to children whose parents have claimed can't go online except when on the XBox (which the learning platform can be accessed on) and you know damn fine they aren't going to do them so what is the point?! I know there are SAHP who have sent their children into school because one parent is a 'keyworker'. I also know those children are not SD outside school and have been to their Uncles (not in their bubble) this weekend. How is this right?

Parents: they know the schoolwork must be done this time otherwise their children will fall behind but they are being asked to work 100% in a situation where 100% is impossible even if the children weren't there. Employers need to cut their employees some slack. Children are 'expected' to do 3/4/5 hours of work if they are in KS1/2/3. Perhaps the working day could be juggled round so that parents have time and breathing space to get their work done when they can rather than having massive demands on them.

whittystitties · 10/01/2021 08:46

Not a u-turn at all, they've simply added clarification of their thinking, which is that they understand it's not so simple as giving everyone a name tag and assuming all work/family situations are the same

robinwisperer · 10/01/2021 08:50

It's a difficult balance, isn't it? Many key workers with younger children will no longer be able to do their key work. I imagine many will be requesting leave to supervise home education.

it's not really different to those WFH without keyworker status. most of us just have to get on or is there anything which makes a home working key worker extra special?

whittystitties · 10/01/2021 08:52

Best answer to all this animosity, kids and teachers wear masks, make teachers vaccine priority, open up school to all - ASAP

RunAwayNow · 10/01/2021 08:53

@Bumpinthenight totally agree, I think everyone has been thrown under the bus this time.

Working flexibly where possible is great. However if you're supporting front line service delivery that happens primarily during standard working hours, it's very difficult.

I just don't understand why no one saw this coming. Everything shut down in the first lockdown and there was no expectation of education. That's why it worked. The wider context is totally different this time and the government needs to make some decisions to make this work.

RunAwayNow · 10/01/2021 08:54

@robinwhisperer because if we don't do our work then services that are vital to the covid response don't happen.

famousforwrongreason · 10/01/2021 08:55

@Crakeandoryx

Mrsterrypratchet welcome to my world! I work in safeguarding and the conversations are very adult themed. Nobody seems to appreciate the discussing rape, child abuse, violence and abuse is not a good idea with primary school children in earshot.
Me too. I'm finding it almost unbearable home schooling and having online safeguarding meetings at the same time. It feels intrusive and unsafe, seriously considering getting signed off by the GP until kids are back to school.
robinwisperer · 10/01/2021 08:56

@robinwhisperer because if we don't do our work then services that are vital to the covid response don't happen.

but why don't you. Millions of parents up and down the country do it whilst WFH? If if it's a role where you work from home, then how is that different to a non key worker with younger kids who is working from the bedroom. That was my question?

Delta1 · 10/01/2021 08:59

@wonderup

I'm confused as to what's changed?
Essentially nothing. Just a line to say try and keep them home if you can. Guardian always does this. Utterly misleading headlines. It's a complete rag.
tinierclanger · 10/01/2021 09:03

"Employers need to cut their employees some slack"

You see, I would say THIS is the critical point. And not just about flexibility of hours. Employers should, where possible, be accepting lower productivity from staff WFH with kids at home.

drspouse · 10/01/2021 09:07

It doesn't say what the headline says.
It says what was already being said "only send them if you can't keep them at home".
So teenagers where keyworker parents are working out of the home: can probably stay home.
Mental health worker doing video sessions with clients in crisis and child with SEN who can't stay out of the study: probably can't stay home.

wonderup · 10/01/2021 09:11

Everything shut down in the first lockdown and there was no expectation of education.

I think the key was everything shut down, millions were put on furlough, businesses collapsed etc. I'm not sure the government want to do that again.

CaptainMarvelDanvers · 10/01/2021 09:12

Contradiction and mixed messages again.....

Ygritte84 · 10/01/2021 09:12

Is this just the Guardian trying to spin a story?

SIL is a key worker WFH and she hasn't received any guidance from her children's school yet...

drspouse · 10/01/2021 09:13

It is a spin, this is not a change from before.