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Original poster

School for kids of key worker parents

37 replies

Yufnkc · 18/01/2021 18:04

Hi all wanted to know what key worker parents are doing regarding drop off and pick up at school

My daughter is 4 at nursery and my husband and I are both key workers but have managed to change our work pattern so that we can share the looking after between us without having to send her I to nursery. At this age I'm not too concerned about her learning as we do loads of playing /learning on my days off.

I wanted to know what key worker parents are doing and how do you go about being there to pick up your kids at 3 ish pm? Have your workplaces given you flexibility? My daughters nursery isn't doing breakfast or afterschool club so I really struggle to understand how key worker parents are actually able to use the opportunity of still sending their kids to school?

OP posts:
motherrunner · 18/01/2021 19:02

Back in the first lockdown I could access a KW place as my DC’s school didn’t offer wraparound and as I’m a teacher I need my children in 7.30-5. Luckily this time they are offering wraparound otherwise I would have had to have them at home with me again and would’ve had to take them into school with me on my rota days.

motherrunner · 18/01/2021 19:02

*couldn’t access

Vanannabananna · 18/01/2021 19:07

Our normal before and after school nanny is still working. Nursery has hours of 730-6pm so we moved DD there as CM also shielding. Other parents I know using cm or arranging shifts around school or using goodwill or employer.

BanginChoons · 18/01/2021 19:08

My wraparound care is still running for kids attending school, thankfully.

PotteringAlong · 18/01/2021 19:09

Out if school club is still running so they are taking them and picking them up.

Orangedaisy · 18/01/2021 19:11

Our school is open 8-4. One of us goes to work really early, the other stays really late. Work are ok with it, they have asked all managers to show flexibility.

Greysparkles · 18/01/2021 19:12

I pick mine up on my "lunch" break.
They then stay home alone for an hour before DP gets home. Age 9 & 12

Not perfect, stressful as fuck, but doable for now

Fembot123 · 18/01/2021 19:15

I get to work a bit late and DH picks up after school

NerrSnerr · 18/01/2021 19:17

We work out our meetings, visits etc so one of us is around at pick up time and then wfh after school on those days. We are lucky we are flexible.

Bunnybigears · 18/01/2021 19:18

I'm a key worker but already worked hours that fit in with school pick up. DH also a keyworker and already worked hours that allowed him to drop off.

SnickersnotMArs · 18/01/2021 19:18

My DS breakfast club is not running. I’ve informed work and I start later. I can manage to pick him up in time for 3.

DamnShesaSexyChick · 18/01/2021 19:21

My partner takes her to school on the days I am working before he starts, and her after school club is running as normal.

MrsWombat · 18/01/2021 19:35

DS's school is still offering breakfast club and after school club.

Nowmum43 · 18/01/2021 19:37

I work in a school so hours similar but I don't have a lunch to cover the time I miss in work for drop off and picking up.

Pinkflipflop85 · 18/01/2021 19:38

We still have wraparound care. The children keep to their bubbles from the school day.

Dancingalong · 18/01/2021 19:40

Breakfast club and then fitting all my appointments in, in time to collect the kids from school. Using that as my lunch break and then logging back in at home to finish my admin. It’s not ideal by any means but it’s a mean to an end at the moment.

NothingIsWrong · 18/01/2021 19:42

I start super early, DH drops them and I pick them up then carry on working from home on paperwork that can be done from home.

imamearcat · 18/01/2021 19:44

Still doing usual wrap around care at DC school.

Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst · 18/01/2021 19:45

We use a childminder before and after school (wraparound) there's no way we could do anything else! It would be impossible for either of us to work school hours especially factoring time to get there and parked etc and the breakfast and teatime club is running too.

Someone put something on the parents Facebook page but I was wondering what people do ordinarily??

Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst · 18/01/2021 19:46

Sorry just re-read the original post!

I'm wondering why the wraparound isn't being facilitated for keyworkers that seems very odd as they are "allowed" to operate.

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 18/01/2021 19:48

no wraparound, but my work are being brilliant. I drop at 9.00, at my desk by 9.15 due to short commute. I leave at 3.10 for pick up, and do notes/reports/phone calls from home 3.45-5.30. If I'm on-call and can't WFH for the last part of the day then H does a 7-3 shift and does pick up.

Littlebelina · 18/01/2021 19:51

Ours isn't running wraparound as such but school running slightly extended hours. So one of us does drop off and other pick up (luckily work is flexible most of time)

itsgettingweird · 18/01/2021 19:55

I know some are using wraparound as in breakfast/after school club. Some use childminder as wraparound anyway and are continuing and others who are utilising childcare support bubbles.

Yrneh · 18/01/2021 20:01

My work is flexible. I set my own working pattern most weeks, long as I do the hours and get the work done they don't mind the pattern too much. Currently I do 9.45 - 2.15 to factor in drop off, catch up on write ups in the evening/weekends/first thing when DH is home.

I'm very lucky and feel thankful to be in this team all the time.

Nochristmasbreak · 18/01/2021 20:21

I go in early, he come home late. So we share the drop off and pick up.

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