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Original poster

I'm annoyed that they got a school place.

80 replies

eeliie · 18/01/2021 16:02

I requested a space for my ds at school when this lockdown started. I was told as I wasn't a key worker I couldn't have a space. I was still expected to go into work even though I had no other childcare option.

I saw a friend today, when I was out shopping, and she told me her dd is at school ( same class as ds) on the basis that they don't own a laptop.
She said her dd was relying on using her mobile to do schoolwork.

My ds is also using my phone as we don't have a laptop.

I have been furloughed and will probably be top on the redundancy list. Friend and her boyfriend are both unemployed and were just browsing in the shop today, together.

Am I right to feel annoyed?

OP posts:
WalkingOnStarshine · 18/01/2021 16:14

Did you tell the school that your child doesn't have a laptop? It was changed recently to allow children without laptops to be allowed into school. If you tell the school your child is learning on a phone, they should be allowed in, so I'd get in touch with them and see how you get on.

FlyMyPrettiesFly · 18/01/2021 16:15

No. If the issue was they don’t have a laptop (rather than them being available to look after their children) then why is it wrong to browse in a shop?

Fiddlersgreen · 18/01/2021 16:17

If you’re furloughed why do you need a keyworker space?

Bluntness100 · 18/01/2021 16:19

Sorry this isn’t clear. Why do you want your kid at school? Is it because you don’t have a lap top? Or becayse you struggle with home schooling?

husbandcallsmepickle · 18/01/2021 16:19

If your friend and her partner are both unemployed then their child may be entitled to pupil premium/FSM which means they have the option to go to school

Mintjulia · 18/01/2021 16:20

If you didn't tell the school that you don't have a laptop, they couldn't act on that information. It isn't their fault.

arethereanyleftatall · 18/01/2021 16:20

Do you have to go to work or are you furloughed? You've said both.

London1977 · 18/01/2021 16:21

It's ridiculous- I open the google classrooms app on my mobile and copy what they send over in a workbook. My 7 year old then does the work, I take a photo and attach it, send it back via google class rooms.

We don't have a laptop either, is what I'm trying to say, but the teacher might send 2 videos a day on top of the work, which to be honest is usually a load of rubbish, so sometimes he watches it on my mobile and sometimes he doesn't bother. For example, they sent a video today of someone reading a story. But I read to all of them every day, so I didn't show this.

I bet she has a table...

Butterymuffin · 18/01/2021 16:23

why is it wrong to browse in a shop?

Because you're supposed to be staying at home unless it's work or something urgent, to keep the spread of the virus down? And shopping on your own as much as possible for the same reason?

TheKeatingFive · 18/01/2021 16:25

Go back to the school and tell them you don’t have a laptop

Fembot123 · 18/01/2021 16:27

So you have to work or you have been furloughed? Why don’t you contact the school and tell them you don’t have a sensible device to work on? I got through lockdown one with 2 primary kids using my phone and it was poo.

JazzyGeoff · 18/01/2021 16:27

Were they kicking a few puppies and cats around as well?

Fembot123 · 18/01/2021 16:27

@JazzyGeoff

Were they kicking a few puppies and cats around as well?
I bet they’d made an appointment for vaccines too and just went shopping instead 😁
Original poster
eeliie · 18/01/2021 16:33

I was furloughed as there was no other option for me. I was expected to be in work and had to tell them I couldn't as my children could not go into school .

I contacted the school about the laptop situation but they said they had already reached a maximum amount of children in ds class.

As for the browsing... that particular shop says you should shop alone where possible and also I believe it should be for essential items only.

OP posts:
Original poster
eeliie · 18/01/2021 16:34

@JazzyGeoff

Were they kicking a few puppies and cats around as well?
I don't know what you mean but that is a disgusting thing to make a joke about !
OP posts:
FlyMyPrettiesFly · 18/01/2021 16:36

@Butterymuffin

why is it wrong to browse in a shop?

Because you're supposed to be staying at home unless it's work or something urgent, to keep the spread of the virus down? And shopping on your own as much as possible for the same reason?

Presumably this is a shop that’s permitted to be open? What were they shopping for?
Fembot123 · 18/01/2021 16:39

I can see how that situation would be so frustrating and stressful for you OP, Are your employers making redundancies?

MadameButterface · 18/01/2021 16:40

"I saw a friend today, when I was out shopping, and she told me her dd is at school ( same class as ds) on the basis that they don't own a laptop. "

let's be real here. this person is not your 'friend' (in the IRL sense of the word rather than the sense it is used on mn which seems to be 'someone I know and secretly hate and judge my arse off about every time I see her') . Her dd could have any number of reasons for being classed as vulnerable and therefore needing a place as a priority, none of which she is obliged to share with you. Or it could be that she got in before you in the 'hasn't got a lap top' category. Both perfectly fine reasons.

Her employment status is neither here nor there btw, the economy is collapsing and having a snotty attitude towards people for being unemployed is a bit shit at the best of times, never mind a time when any one of us could end up in that unfortunate position.

Fembot123 · 18/01/2021 16:42

@MadameButterface

"I saw a friend today, when I was out shopping, and she told me her dd is at school ( same class as ds) on the basis that they don't own a laptop. "

let's be real here. this person is not your 'friend' (in the IRL sense of the word rather than the sense it is used on mn which seems to be 'someone I know and secretly hate and judge my arse off about every time I see her') . Her dd could have any number of reasons for being classed as vulnerable and therefore needing a place as a priority, none of which she is obliged to share with you. Or it could be that she got in before you in the 'hasn't got a lap top' category. Both perfectly fine reasons.

Her employment status is neither here nor there btw, the economy is collapsing and having a snotty attitude towards people for being unemployed is a bit shit at the best of times, never mind a time when any one of us could end up in that unfortunate position.

Be fair, the OP had to take furlough as she had no childcare and is now worried for her livelihood too, I’m pretty sure you don’t need to tell her about the economy etc.
MadameButterface · 18/01/2021 16:42

... and also judging people for 'browsing in a shop' because 'it's not allowed' is hypocritical when you had a little stop-and-chat with them, because that's not allowed either!

HSHorror · 18/01/2021 16:43

That is rubbish op. Because im not sure how non kw who have to go in are supposed to manage.
The laptop thing is just the useless gov who didnt want to pay.for laptops.

Tbh though we have.a.laptop now and it's very slow.

1 kindle 10" is 1 50 or less.when it was on offer it was about 100
A.7* was.about 50 or 35 on offer.
A laptop is 200.
Not sure about getting teams on it though. But does have zoom.
If you are all browsing the shops many could scrape together these amounts. or cb since last march could have covered something.
Even a fire stick for £50 or less.has.internet though not the easiest to use can access oak or bitesize etc.
Though obviously there is still internet costs.

Or you.could do a post on local fb as ours has had.7 people.in about a week donating laptops to.local schools

WhydoesItAlwaysRainMe · 18/01/2021 16:43

I'd be pissed off too op. I struggled to get a place at dc school, I had to get a letter from employer with dates I work etc (NHS) but I know for a fact there are children attending who shouldn't be, makes me wonder how they got a place

MadameButterface · 18/01/2021 16:44

"Be fair, the OP had to take furlough as she had no childcare and is now worried for her livelihood too, I’m pretty sure you don’t need to tell her about the economy etc.'

exactly. it must be very stressful but getting aggy about what other people have got or not got isn't going to help beyond giving her a stomach ulcer to go with her p45.

Chosennonesneakymincepie · 18/01/2021 16:45

I agree with the Unemployment, may equal Vulnerability, possibly.
However, the guidelines are clear about who should be in it not. You could try and appeal to the school again.

Fembot123 · 18/01/2021 16:45

@MadameButterface

"Be fair, the OP had to take furlough as she had no childcare and is now worried for her livelihood too, I’m pretty sure you don’t need to tell her about the economy etc.'

exactly. it must be very stressful but getting aggy about what other people have got or not got isn't going to help beyond giving her a stomach ulcer to go with her p45.

No it won’t but it’s very human to feel the rage 😊 I agree that OP needs to focus on her situation for her own well-being.
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