How far do you take the 'children only go to school unless they absolutely can't stay at home'?

[PenguinUnit]

My friend is in this situation.

The children's mum is a keyworker, their Dad (her husband) is not but works outside of the home in an industry still open and cannot work from home.

She is at home WFH 3 days a week.

The kids are in school on a KW place.

I personally think that's entirely right as neither parent is available. But it seems lots on here would think that wrong and that she should be looking after them instead.

What's your opinion?

Opinion is largely driven by experience. People who are currently WFH and finding that this gives them the ability to work more flexibly, in a more leisurely fashion, around other commitments, and have a sympathetic employer and colleagues who think it’s cute when a child Teams-bombs a meeting etc are likely to see your friend as unreasonable because she’s at home and surely can fit her work around looking after her DC. The reality for many people WFH though, is that they’re busier than usual, can’t work flexibly, have core hours, definitely can’t work with children running about in the background, and risk disciplinary or losing their job if they don’t meet targets or get complaints.

I think your friend is entirely reasonable if she simply can’t work effectively with her DC around and isn’t in a position to take the time out to supervise schoolwork.

They are her step children, not her children just to clarify.

Sorry I've not been entirely clear. My friend is the step mother, married to the DCs Dad who is working out of the home.

Their mum, her husbands ex is the keyworker and has got the children a place based on that.

She, my friend, the children's step mother is at home WFH 3 days a week.

It would be good if her to keep them home if she didn't mind, but absolutely no obligation. Not her children.

So the kids parents have sorted out the school?

Not really sure what it's got to do with the stepmother really.

I would be limiting the number of children in school as much as possible. If there has been a high uptake in their school then I would try and keep them home, but if they only have a few children in then that might not be a problem.

Some of the schools around here are running at about 50% full, which just isn't going to help reduce transmission rates. Whereas if there is only about 10% in then the children can social distance.

It is the age old even if you can do something (ie you qualify under KW status) doesn't mean you should

What's their plan if the keyworker bubble bursts?

@gamerchick

So the kids parents have sorted out the school?

Not really sure what it's got to do with the stepmother really.

She was asked and said no as she was concerned about the impact on her work and trying to homeschool. Her employer isn't that flexible and add into that the children aren't actually her children, she was worried how her employer would be. Which I think is fair enough.

This is for the children's parents to sort out.

@SansaSnark

What's their plan if the keyworker bubble bursts?

I don't know. Parents, Dad most likely, taking time off for the 3 days she's working I'd guess. That's what I'd think in that situation tbh.

Has the dad actually asked?

Because DP works in an industry where its difficult to work from home. None of his colleagues (all male) even asked. Now one colleague has had to, and has actually been relatively simple to sort out a solution

I agree its up to the child's parents. But I think I would probably offer given the situation.

The children's stepmother has absolutely no obligation to care for the children.

The children are the parents' responsibility.

It's not her issue to sort, that's down to the kids parents.

I am in the same position, DS's dad is a KW and I am not but neither of us can possibly work from home. DS is in school.

DS's dad's partner is working from home but DS is not her responsibility.

@SansaSnark

What's their plan if the keyworker bubble bursts?

You can ask that of any KW, it's not relevant to the post.

The step-mum is under no obligation to homeschool the kids unless she wants to.