The EARLIEST schools will open is 8th March!!!

[dingledongle]

I cannot believe this!

Stunned!

My kids have lost one year of school and are going to be paying for this for decades to come

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

more needs to be done to make employers who are being unreasonable be flexible

Apparently Whitehall staff who gave children at home are being expected to do half their usual work output. So said my partner, I don't have a link right now to support, but he's not a bullshitter.

I work for a Whitehall dept and this is not true where I work. I can only speak for my department with certainty, but here there is no blanket expectation of reduced output for employees who are parents. You can request reduced hrs with no impact on normal pay (so work part time but be paid full time) for a limited period due to home schooling or other COVID related caring responsibilities, which is fab but in practical terms it's hard for many of us, me included, to make that work due to the sheer amount that needs doing plus colleagues are also parents so no ones can pick up the slack. Where possible we are pausing lower priority work but there isn't much of that. Most people are just muddling through and a many are working quite late into the evening as far as I can tell. Most of us have been designated key workers and work said they could provide letters to share with schools to secure key worker spaces but advised we should only do this if no other option and pretty much everyone I know at work bar one is not using this provision, as most of us are wfh with partner around who is also wfh and though there are limitations, work are being as flexible as they can. Based on what I hear from a friend the situation at DfE (!) is a bit different - no way of reducing hours at all and high use of key worker school provision which I think is pretty shameful given it's the DfE!! They are part of the reason schools much fuller with key worker kids this time

Not about educating at home or being out of school she wasn't which is what the thread is about and clearly what I was saying. Not sure how I could have been clearer but apologies if you're confused 🤷🏼‍♀️

I agree with her and I think it's quite pathetic to read all the replies telling her she's being goady and mean etc just because she's giving a positive account albeit rather impatiently. You just don't like posters not toeing the wallowing in gloom line.

I shake my head remembering all the time posters on here pompously reminded other posters that "school is NOT childcare" prior to the pandemic, when it's quite clear that most of you just hate being responsible for your kids and their education 24/7.

I have a child with SN/SEN who had to leave school age 8 and never returned after being injured by a teacher there. I have done volunteer work with hundreds of families who recount similar experiences and no one cares about them. No one is interested as long as those SN kids aren't making problems in schools. Other parents, LA etc, couldn't care less. This is a huge problem in this country thousands of children without school places and parents who will never have the crutch of school, but if you're not affected you don't care and when someone comes on and talks about that you just tell her off for being a big meanie to you all because she was positive about how she's coping. Well now you're all affected and now you know what it's like. You'll get used to it, I did, all those other parents did. And our positive accounts are as valid as your negative ones.

And that I don’t know any who are ‘loving lockdown’.

Kids who are bullied at school, or found the “one size fits all” educational setting didn’t work for them. Kids who couldn’t learn because of distractions, kids who prefer the one to one with a parent who is able to help them than the busy atmosphere of a large class. Kids like mine for whom I’ve been fighting with the LA to get her the access to IT so she can end a day without badly cramped hands and being exhausted from writing and now can type everything and concentrate on it. Plenty are benefitting from not being shoehorned into a rigid school atmosphere.

if you think using language such as “bleating” to describe the concerns of parents who are worried about their children’s mental health and education is doing anything other than making you look unpleasant, you’re sadly mistaken.

Unsurprisingly I’m not here to pander to those who can’t look beyond their own noses or think outside the box. I’m not sure what you thought your post was designed to do, other than to make you sound superior and condescending. If you don’t like the language I use, scroll on by.

Where were all of those complaining about children’s mental health in the past few years when CAMHS services set a target to reach one third of the kids who need urgent mental health treatment, within 3 years? When parents who’s children are suicidal are told it’s a years wait for access to the service? When kids who are struggling with school so much their parents battle every day to get them just to get in the door are told they don’t meet the criteria to be seen? But we’re all supposed to rise up against the government now because mainstream kids who previously had no issues at all are allegedly struggling with some vague “mental health” problems just because school life has been disrupted? Yes, when you are complaining about something which you don’t even know is actually going to cause a long term issue, yes it’s bleating. If that offends, perhaps put yourself in the shoes of people who have actually battled for years with the lack of education and mental health problems with their kids and ask yourself if this is really, actually a problem for yours.

@yvanka

I wish people would just be honest and admit that they don't like having to look after their kids. This is not going to cause any irreversible damage to their education

This.

@yvanka

I wish people would just be honest and admit that they don't like having to look after their kids. This is not going to cause any irreversible damage to their education

What a crock of shit. School is not just about education. All the parents I know are worried about the impact the social isolation is having first and foremost. They are not supposed to spend every waking hour with their families.

I couldn't agree with you more @MintyMabel.

Honestly, I'm glad they aren't opening schools yet. The numbers are still very high. As for schooling, right now it's the parent's responsibility. I know it's tough, especially if you have more than one. But its not impossible.

Definitely this situation has made it clear just how important subjects like RME, health and well-being, and general interest in society are, even at early primary age.

It is odd and depressing the number of people who have clearly reached adulthood with either no understanding that other people’s situations differ from theirs, or no ability to engage empathetically or on any vaguely humane level with people they’ve decided they disagree with.

“Well my kids are fine, I don’t know why anyone is complaining.”
“Well I like hearing posters call everyone else a bunch of whiners, why is anyone criticising that?”
“But my kids are privately educated on our single-family income thanks to my DH’s well-paid job, I can’t comprehend why everyone isn’t in our position, maybe you just don’t like your kids?”

HerrWanksock

Supposed to? According to who? Just because our kids usually go to school doesn't mean they will lose all social skills from a few months off. Do you reckon homeschooled kids, or ones who live in tribes, or ones of the past who never went to school are/were all 'socially isolated'? No, don't be ridiculous. People are adaptable, especially children, they will be fine.

@GoldenOmber

Definitely this situation has made it clear just how important subjects like RME, health and well-being, and general interest in society are, even at early primary age.

It is odd and depressing the number of people who have clearly reached adulthood with either no understanding that other people’s situations differ from theirs, or no ability to engage empathetically or on any vaguely humane level with people they’ve decided they disagree with.

“Well my kids are fine, I don’t know why anyone is complaining.”
“Well I like hearing posters call everyone else a bunch of whiners, why is anyone criticising that?”
“But my kids are privately educated on our single-family income thanks to my DH’s well-paid job, I can’t comprehend why everyone isn’t in our position, maybe you just don’t like your kids?”

I'm baffled that you'd write that after reading what I and another poster have written about children with additional needs and their long term issues around school. Have you no insight at all?

I'm baffled that you'd write that after reading what I and another poster have written about children with additional needs and their long term issues around school. Have you no insight at all?

It’s a long thread, so I regret to inform you I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is there a HmmSureJan’s Latest Namechange Daily Digest I can use to catch up?

@HmmSureJan

Not about educating at home or being out of school she wasn't which is what the thread is about and clearly what I was saying. Not sure how I could have been clearer but apologies if you're confused 🤷🏼‍♀️

I agree with her and I think it's quite pathetic to read all the replies telling her she's being goady and mean etc just because she's giving a positive account albeit rather impatiently. You just don't like posters not toeing the wallowing in gloom line.

I shake my head remembering all the time posters on here pompously reminded other posters that "school is NOT childcare" prior to the pandemic, when it's quite clear that most of you just hate being responsible for your kids and their education 24/7.

I have a child with SN/SEN who had to leave school age 8 and never returned after being injured by a teacher there. I have done volunteer work with hundreds of families who recount similar experiences and no one cares about them. No one is interested as long as those SN kids aren't making problems in schools. Other parents, LA etc, couldn't care less. This is a huge problem in this country thousands of children without school places and parents who will never have the crutch of school, but if you're not affected you don't care and when someone comes on and talks about that you just tell her off for being a big meanie to you all because she was positive about how she's coping. Well now you're all affected and now you know what it's like. You'll get used to it, I did, all those other parents did. And our positive accounts are as valid as your negative ones.

We are in this same situation re SEN child who has been out of school for years with little to no support. It can be so frustrating hearing the government and the media going on and on about the damage being out of school is causing to children. No one ever gave a damn about my DD.

It’s a long thread, so I regret to inform you I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is there a HmmSureJan’s Latest Namechange Daily Digest I can use to catch up?

Most people do read other peoples contributions and respond don't they, isn't that how MN works? Not just pontificate into the ether as though only they have anything worth saying.

All the parents I know are worried about the impact the social isolation is having first and foremost
Kids are more connected from their own homes than they’ve ever been. In DD’s class (P7) in a school with a very mixed socio economic area, every single child has a phone and hers is constantly pinging in message groups. Her whole class meets online twice a day.

They are not supposed to spend every waking hour with their families.

Again, what about the kids for whom this is their life way before Covid and will be long after? Did you worry about them?

@HmmSureJan

It’s a long thread, so I regret to inform you I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is there a HmmSureJan’s Latest Namechange Daily Digest I can use to catch up?

Most people do read other peoples contributions and respond don't they, isn't that how MN works? Not just pontificate into the ether as though only they have anything worth saying.

Oooooh, you told ME! Burrrrrrrrn!

Like I said above: there is a worrying lack of empathy and ability to understand other people’s circumstances around. I’m not really interested in attacking you personally. If you feel that you are a shining example of empathy and are an exemplar at understanding other people’s situations then well done you, pat yourself on the back.

Again, what about the kids for whom this is their life way before Covid and will be long after? Did you worry about them?

Yes?

Like I said above: there is a worrying lack of empathy and ability to understand other people’s circumstances around. I’m not really interested in attacking you personally.

Says you given the detail you've been given about children with additional needs and have ignored entirely preferring to moan about how mean and unsupportive other posters are. Completely hilarious lack of insight

the detail you've been given about children with additional needs and have ignored entirely

What is it you want me to say about children with additional needs? (And would it help you if I stuck a face on the end of it?)

Is there a HmmSureJan’s Latest Namechange Daily Digest I can use to catch up?

Are you clumsily trying to suggest there is only one parent out there who has trouble getting the LA to provide properly for kids with SEN?

@MintyMabel

Is there a HmmSureJan’s Latest Namechange Daily Digest I can use to catch up?

Are you clumsily trying to suggest there is only one parent out there who has trouble getting the LA to provide properly for kids with SEN?

No.

HmmSureJan

If you read my previous posts you'll see that I actually have given a positive account of home schooling. I'm enjoying it.

You'll also see that I managed to do that without shitting all over other parents.

Shocking I know.

Minty mable absolutely great post.

You've perfectly articulated what I've been trying to say over many posts.

@GoldenOmber

the detail you've been given about children with additional needs and have ignored entirely

What is it you want me to say about children with additional needs? (And would it help you if I stuck a face on the end of it?)

Look I'd be feeling a bit silly right now if I were you too but it's ok, we don't need to keep playing message tennis.

Use whichever emojis you'd like

You'll also see that I managed to do that without shitting all over other parents.

Shocking I know.

But who did that? What a dramatic turn of phrase for a post just because it doesn't agree with your account of this all being so hellish.

I’m genuinely asking you. I appreciate that whatever I say you’re going to see it as the latest volley in the war of words you want to have, but genuinely. I’m asking: What is it you would like to hear me say about children with additional needs? What lack of understanding do you think I’ve conveyed? Why?