15 out of 20 children in ds class

[eeliie]

It's a reception class. So there are just 5 children who cannot attend. Is it this bad in your child's school?

There is no way 2/3 the class are vulnerable. I think all of us would be far more willing to think 'there must be something I don't know' if there were a few more in compared to last time. But the sheer numbers just shows how ridiculous it is. So to those posters upset that they are now being viewed with suspicion unfairly - blame those taking up places who don't need to. They're the ones making everyone unhappy and schools less safe.

I do think what a poster said above that it's becoming a pushiest and loudest competition rather than an in it all together. And IME it's not the poorest and neediest families who shout loudest.

This is just so self-evidently true that I really can't believe it needs saying.

My daughter has a special educational need. The school didn't pick it up, but I pushed and pushed to get an assessment with an educational psychologist who confirmed what I suspected. If I hadn't pushed and pushed there is no way she'd have been assessed. It was subtle and the school aren't at fault - I know they are busy and underfunded. But the fact remains, without a persistent parent we wouldn't know something fairly critical to her education.

The government is at fault and they are achieving what they wanted - schools basically open except in name, and pitting parents and teachers against each other to distract from the colossal mess they've made and the FACT they refuse to fund schools whilst being happy to hand over millions in profits to private companies.

There is no way 2/3 the class are vulnerable

2/3 dont need to be class as vulnerable. Some schools, depending on location, will have significantly more key worker parents. My dc school is 61% key worker children. Lots of parents who are teachers and TA’s, nurses - dental a&e two on icu, police and social workers. Plus there are lots of essential shop workers.

DS did go last lockdown, part way through, after I cried down the phone to his head of year. Difficulty with him is that not only does he not do his homework, he distracts dd2 and makes working for me more difficult.

Out of my sons class I think there are 4 inc him, but overall 19 out of the four classes in his year. I feel quite judged by the home schoolers .. my maths isn't the best but around 28 per class

19 in

28 x 4 = 112 in his year = 0.17 rounded

Is that 17% of the year
14% of his class ???😬 oh my gawd there's no hope for me helping with homework past reception

IloveJKRowling

What about the quiet children who are suffering who don't speak up in class, and less so now on zoom? What about those whose parents are too tired and overwhelmed to advocate for them or communicate with the school? Now

Yes definitely agree, my sons very shy and quiet, he will not entertain the zoom meetings. I’m so worried about him, he’s only 10 and he’s struggling with the work. He can’t take instructions from the computer, I have to constantly sit with him and tell him what to do. Iv lost my shit a few times out of sheer frustration. I’m dyslexic. The kids should be in in small groups a few days a week. There should be a fairer solution for all this. So many kids are struggling with confidence and I fear it will have everlasting effects

However, I have friends who have openly admitted that they have lied to get places. I can't see how anyone would think that was anything other than disgusting behaviour

You’ll have told them you think it’s disgusting behaviour then? Given they’re friends, and have been open about lying.

I'm classed as a critical worker and a single parent household. My ex is a massively involved dad and isn't working due to medical reasons. I also WFH 2-3 days a week although this varies.

I claimed a spot for my daughter the moment the form came out. For every day. She's an only child. She gets on far better in school and she likes the social interactions. I'm not breaking any laws by sending her and it makes all of our lives easier, hers especially.
For those choosing not to send them, it's just that. A choice. One I didn't make.
I understand the frustration for others. But I'm not keeping her out of school when I don't need to.

Her school does teach the zoom lesson live to both the children at home and in class too so it's the same teaching. The difference is the support afterwards and that she is much more focussed for the teacher rather than me.

My 11 year old is in year 7 and she’s having a really good experience of online learning she’s on teams all day with her teachers, so I’m really not worried about her.
Of course I have absolutely no issue with vulnerable or key worker children being at school but come on there is no way that 16 out of 30 children need a space at school. In the first lockdown there were 2 children in!!
In honesty if my daughters school provided live lessons with a teacher it probably wouldn’t bother me as much.
But yes you’re right I do feel bitter that my little girl is missing out on so much, she absolutely loves school and she is lonely at home and I can’t give her the attention I want to because I’m working full time.

I claimed places for my foster kids as soon as they asked. I’d already made my mind up beforehand.
We probably could keep them home, but we have no intentions of doing so.

8/25 in my class but not all at the same time. So 30%ish.

Should have said around half in school.

@Bopahula
That's right it is a choice. A choice to do the right thing for the greater good rather than to only think of your own interests. People who are sending their kids into school when they could be at home, are just making the school closures drag on longer for everyone else.

10/24 of my boys Year 2 class and seems to be the same for other years.
It seemed pointless at first but the I thought if all schools are like this then it's half the risk 🤷🏻‍♀️

If it's safe to have 50% of kids in school then places should be offered on a rota basis. What is happening is completely unfair

@Jellycatspyjamas I don't think anyone begrudges places to children with genuine needs, as the first part of the post you quote states

On this thread there’s a suggestion that parents who struggle to provide for their kids should have considered abortion - I think there are a fair few who resent the idea of vulnerable children being in school when their children aren’t.

There’s also the issue of what constitutes vulnerability and how vulnerable they need to be. Vulnerability covers a wide spectrum from kids where there are safeguarding concerns, financial hardship, SEN, significant behavioural problems, significant emotional difficulties, care experienced children, adopted children, parents with severe physical and mental health concerns, children with disabilities... the list goes on. No one can possibly know by looking at a family the full circumstances of why the school has deemed it appropriate for their child to be in school. Some schools have a high percentage of children deemed vulnerable because of the demographic of the catchment or because the school has a good reputation for supporting vulnerable children. My kids school is one of those - I didn’t place them in their catchment school, they go to one where the whole ethos of the school is about inclusion - they have excellent support for vulnerable kids and so they have a high number of kids in school at the moment. Most parents won’t know why those kids are there - my kids wouldn’t be known to be vulnerable by looking at them or knowing my family circumstances but they are. Folk assume my kids are in because I’m a key worker, and I’m sure some of them will think I’m taking the piss because my husband isn’t and I work part time.

If folk know people who have said they lied to get their child a place, challenge them about it. Or accept you don’t know their full circumstances and there may be a reason they’re kids are in that they don’t want to share with you.

"has been shown on this thread the vulnerable category is being used to cover children who are having meltdowns"

My son's meltdowns caused by anxiety involve him biting and hitting himself and attacking us. I think that makes him pretty vulnerable.

Our head teacher has openly admitted that they were very trusting and accommodated every single request for a school place which has meant there are now over 300 kids attending school and they are struggling to manage it. I am sure many /most children currently in school have a rightful place but I am also sure there are others who could be at home.

If it's safe to have 50% of kids in school then places should be offered on a rota basis. What is happening is completely unfair

Yes this. Absolutely this. In fact some children prefer being in school on a rota with lower numbers - less stressful and full-on.

And it should also be recognised that as this continues, children who may not have been vulnerable at the start may become vulnerable as time goes on. To the point where probably the vast majority qualify to be in school - and then what happens - they go back with no extra funding, no extra mitigation, and we'll be back in lockdown again. Rinse and repeat.

The government are side stepping responsibility. There is a lot they could be doing NOW to make schools safer for ALL but yet again they do nothing but platitudes.

@DancingQueen85

If it's safe to have 50% of kids in school then places should be offered on a rota basis. What is happening is completely unfair

If only teachers had suggested this to begin with!

Oh, wait...

Apart from the teachers, a couple of family members and 2 of my very close friends, no one has any idea that my dc are vulnerable or the reasons why. If I wasn’t classed as a critical worker, I may have given notice to keep them home, but I weighed up the pros and cons and how many other people would struggle if I didn’t do my job and decided it was best to send them to school.

You have no idea what is going on behind closed doors. What issues the ‘apparently normal‘ family Who live down the road are going through. Their could be catastrophic consequences if their child didn’t attend school so please try not to be so judgmental.

@Bopahula you are also a disgrace. Terribly selfish behaviour and completely pathetic parenting.

DS- 12, cried today. Had a tantrum on the bed. Got really moody about some minor thing going wrong. He’s spiralling. I am very worried.

Is he vulnerable? Yes in many ways, but critically so? No.

Honestly, I think some people are just the worst.

@DancingQueen85
As has been shown on this thread the vulnerable category is being used to cover children who are having meltdowns"
I don’t think you’d understand until you have lived the life of sockwomble or myself why a child having meltdowns might need the routine and consistency of a school place.

@Sockwomble

My son's meltdowns caused by anxiety involve him biting and hitting himself and attacking us. I think that makes him pretty vulnerable

My daughter is similar. I look back to last summer, her school deemed us to be coping despite no contact for 7 weeks (and the weeks prior to that, I had not given them any indication that everything was fine Or that we were in anyway coping). Dd tried to push me down the stairs in one of her Very bad rages. In others, hitting, screaming, hurting her me and her siblings. Dc1 very nearly moved out as she couldn’t deal with the stress. Dc2 spent nearly all of his time in his room out of the way so he didn’t have to witness the constant meltdowns, arguments and problems.

Luckily, the new school dd is in now understand our problems and have never questioned our need for a place. When I couldn’t decide what to do, they told me to send her in. I think I have every reason to use my dds meltdowns as a Reason That she needs a school Place.

Bopahula

I'm classed as a critical worker and a single parent household. My ex is a massively involved dad and isn't working due to medical reasons. I also WFH 2-3 days a week although this varies.

Another selfish entitled individual

@DancingQueen85 I completely agree. Anyone can justify anything in terms of vulnerability it seems.

No. I'm using the provision allowed. If you don't want to then that is your choice.
If you can't then raise it with MPS about how wide the bands are for keyworkers.

I'm just using what is allowed as my daughter is much much happier for it. And actually her happiness does mean more to me than the greater good stuff that gets trotted out.

I'm ok with that.