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Original poster

School insisting KW children attend full-time

45 replies

Alllohaa · 10/01/2021 19:17

Just wondered how wide-spread this was. My kids' school is insisting that anyone who needs a KW place sends their child full-time whether they actually only need it 1 day a week or whatever. In addition, if you send one of your children, they want you to send them all.

Their logic is that it's the overall number of children in school that is the problem and they've argued that 'whether they're in one day or five, they could be spreading covid between school and the community'.

I know it is probably a nightmare (for consistency of teaching) coordinating children that are in on different days, but imo they've forgotten that the main priority here is minimising unnecessary social contacts. The day a child isn't due in might be the one they become contagious iykwim? Also, they are overrun with kids - it sounds like it's about 40% attendance so it's not like they have loads of spare capacity.

Please tell me if I'm missing something here. I haven't kicked off to school as a) I know they're super stressed right now and b) I now get a day off a week with no kids around! But it feels all kinds of wrong to me.

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 10/01/2021 20:05

Or if it's your child that symptoms of the Thursday they wouldnt have to isolate a whole class as they weren't a contact.

SummerHouse · 10/01/2021 20:09

I think they are roughly doubling the number of kids in each day so increasing the instances of spreading. I would accept it but it wouldn't get my vote.

winterchills · 10/01/2021 20:17

Your right that's ridiculous. It's meant to be for emergencies only. I work shifts each week different so my child is only going in when absolutely necessary! Our school have said only to send them in when really needed which seems obvious!

Maryann1975 · 10/01/2021 20:17

Oh school have said they expect dc in full time. I suspect it is because they are following a separate time table to what is being done on teams. So if they don’t go one day and switch to teams On that day, they will either miss bits or be taught the same thing twice, which isn’t really helpful to either the school or the dc.

BunsyGirl · 10/01/2021 20:22

My DCs school has two options: face to face or remote. The three classes in a year have been divided into four: two remote and two face to face. There is no option for mixing the two as I imagine that would be a logistical nightmare.

Swimmingiscancelled · 10/01/2021 20:22

Out school is the same - full time or nothing. I did send them last week but have changed our minds since rates here are rocketing, the kids are in contact with 40+ households between them. I’m only part time so DH will have to manage wfh and home school when I’m out at work.

TippledPink · 10/01/2021 20:29

Ours is the same too- it makes sense. They want the kids to keep learning. They have set up home learning and zoom classes which will be at a different pace to what the kids who go into school are doing, if they did a mix of both the kids may miss out on some stuff, or duplicate on others. I am happy to send DD all week, her education is important. Last lockdown they gave them no work except optional packs we could pick up each week and do with them, DD learnt nothing.

Scarby9 · 10/01/2021 20:29

If the children in school are essentially following the home learning programme - either independently/ with support from TAs, or as a face to face taught programme from a teacher, there should be no problem doing or missing odd days in school, even following a parent's rolling shift pattern.
Our MAT schools are offering full flexibility, even of half days - all they are asking ia to be told by the Friday lunchtime for the week ahead so that they know numbers for staffing and lunches, and can check attendance and absences.
As PP has said, we want to cut numbers in schools to reduce transmission. So long as the children are only with their family when they are not in school, and not mingling more widely, keyworker children only attending part time should help with that.

noscoobydoodle · 10/01/2021 20:31

It's the same here- all or nothing. We are both key workers but can WFH 3 days a week so only need 2 days of school and could juggle the rest between us. This is what we did in the first lockdown but we were told that it had to be totally in or out this time. There is no adult at home 2 days a week so obviously we had to choose 'in'. Similarly my friend only needs 1 day a week like in the first lockdown but her daughter is now in school all week. Whilst it makes my life and job easier as I'm not having to juggle WFH and home school on those 3 extra days, I can't help feeling very guilty about it.

OverTheRainbow88 · 10/01/2021 20:34

I reduces the amount of children in. Otherwise 5 kids could go in 1 day rather than 1 child 5 days.

As a teacher I would prefer to teach the same child 5 days in a row than 5 different kids over 5 days. That’s 5 households etc compared to 1

Meredusoleil · 10/01/2021 20:34

@fairydust11

My children’s school is the same - I’m also a part time teacher & have explained that on my days off I will have the children at home & home school them, but the school have categorically said no. If I don’t send them full time, then they won’t have them on the days I need them when I’m teaching...Yes I agree, it doesn’t feel right to me either...Where I teach we only have kw children on the days the parent/s actually working...
Same here.
DenisetheMenace · 10/01/2021 20:35

Dotinthecity

Keyworker children.....not networker children.😐“

Unless they’re at Eton.

Itsnotlikethiswithotherpeople · 10/01/2021 20:40

Our are only in part time as that is all that’s needed. School have even written to everyone asking that they consider if they need full time or could manage with part time. I agree with you it’s odd, and their logic is wrong but not much you can do.

notevenat20 · 10/01/2021 20:41

Our school is the same. You have to be full time if you want to go at all.

Therarestone · 10/01/2021 20:41

I'm in school and currently exposed to 15 children. If you take a few out some days and add others in then I'm exposed to maybe 20 children over the course of a week. Can I be kept safe too?

Itsnotlikethiswithotherpeople · 10/01/2021 20:43

Leading wise children are all doing exactly the same whether in school or at home. The class teacher is also half in school and half home based to ensure children get an equal amount of attention. So not had issues switching between home and school days

Itsnotlikethiswithotherpeople · 10/01/2021 20:43

Learning not leading

noscoobydoodle · 10/01/2021 20:54

To add, I don't think a part time place should be topped up with another student. Just fewer children in the class each day to give maximum space and lower the number of close contacts on any given day. In the first lockdown our bubble had a set maximum (6), but the days my kids were in, there were only 4 students- the 6 was across the week and reduced the number of students the staff were exposed to.

saraclara · 10/01/2021 21:13

It makes sense to me. If the classroom can take 15 children safely, and they're all full time, the class staff are in contact with 15 others over the week. If the school fills the classroom with children who each only do each do 2/3 days, the staff are exposed to 30 children over the week.

AnneElliott · 10/01/2021 21:15

My friends school is the same. And because her ex won't send their DD on 'his' days the school won't take her. So that's another NHS worker doing much sorter hours than normal.

Totally shortsighted in my view.

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