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?

And it's not pathetic parenting to make the best decision for my daughter. You just don't like that I'm using something you either can't access or won't. As I don't know you. I don't care. But I do care that my daughter is happy and her mental health and schooling isn't suffering.

I also hope that there is more funding given to child mental health services and social workers, because something needs to be done to ensure vulnerable children are fine during their isolations which will inevitably happen.

Some kids had 6 isolations between Sept and Dec. What happened to vulnerable kids in this situation? Was anything done for them then?

It seems to me that if so many kids are vulnerable out of school we have much bigger problems as a society. And what about summer holidays? They're 6 weeks long. What is done then?

50 percent in the school I work in. Hardly any in my own kids school. Similar sized schools and demographic. Just one head is more lenient.

@Bopahula
Actually the guidance says "parents and carers should keep their children at home if they can". As you can keep your daughter at home you are not simply using the provision available to you, you're going against what the guidance is advising.

Last update from headteacher said there was 120 children in from 500 had an email today saying the number of children is increasing so expect delays online learning due to more staff in school!

@dancingQueen85 I agree totally. So selfish and makes me very sad.

No and I’m very glad it’s not

School has cut list to healthcare and solo teacher only

Very few in. TAs with mixed bubbles of around six

They had far too many applications

It's just guidance. Not a directive. Therefore allowed.

I'm in a career that's tanking due to covid. It's important even when working from home I'm actually doing my role. Not trying to homeschool too.

And again. It's allowed. I'm using what's available. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Less than 20% in at my children's school as that's the max they will take.

I have crippling mental health. Am
on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Almost took a bunch of pills yesterday.
My children's school have been phenomenal- they have given them a place as they know I'm not very well.
I can't even look after my own children properly.

I'm sorry to hear that SandyBanana7, I'm glad you didn't take the tablets.

Do you have some RL support? It's really hard work with everything at the moment. 💐

It's not about you not being able to look after your own children, it sounds like accessing the support you need from school will help you all. I hope today is better for you.

@IloveJKRowling

I also hope that there is more funding given to child mental health services and social workers, because something needs to be done to ensure vulnerable children are fine during their isolations which will inevitably happen.

Some kids had 6 isolations between Sept and Dec. What happened to vulnerable kids in this situation? Was anything done for them then?

It seems to me that if so many kids are vulnerable out of school we have much bigger problems as a society. And what about summer holidays? They're 6 weeks long. What is done then?

@iloveJKRowling there is a MASSIVE problem in society with regard to vulnerable kids! You can't surely have missed Marcus Rashford's campaign about the effects of poverty on children? And that's just one of the numerous issues that put children at risk of harm.

I would highly recommend reading up on Anne Longfield's work. She's the outgoing Children's Commissioner.

Ours is just over 40% in. Defo some taking advantage and some claiming they can't cope...but middle class families with IT and a parents at home and not kids that other DC describe as needing help etc

Tbh the ones in school are doing the same work at homeschool kids but are doing it with a teacher and much more normal. 3 form entry school so each bubble is a year group. Everyone knows who is in ans who isn't

@Sandybanana7

I have crippling mental health. Am on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Almost took a bunch of pills yesterday. My children's school have been phenomenal- they have given them a place as they know I'm not very well. I can't even look after my own children properly.

sandy You didn't take those pills, that took enormous strength and courage, don't underestimate what you achieved there. And today, you still got up and got the children to school that is not to be sniffed at, sometimes just putting one foot in front of the other is all you can do and that's ok.

You are looking after your children - you have taken steps to get them a school place, you did good.

I hope this weekend goes well.

Are schools actually allowing parents to self identify as vulnerable?
I was contacted by the school (email and phone call from deputy head) and asked to send Dd in.
We are middle class, lots of IT, parent at home (as in the example of people taking the piss above). DD presents as confident. She is fairly popular and top of the class. And that’s what people will see. But, she tried to kill herself (aged 6!), she has a social worker, she has (incredibly well masked) autism. I could go on. School considered these things as markers for vulnerability. Some children will be considered vulnerable for totally different reasons. Some of these might be apparent to others and others won’t be.

I’m so so grateful that Dd is able to attend. I agree that the system is unfair. I really do. I haven’t questioned why the other children (25%) are in, but if Dd wasn’t at school then I admit I probably would be drawing conclusions and judging a bit too.

I agree that I have a friend whose child is in that people would have no idea why ( I know why). But there are others boasting about finding a way their kids in, in our school

This thread has been a real eye opener for me.

I hope we can all come out of this relatively unscathed.

Fuck me, this thread is horrible. Except for the brilliant posters who are asking how many of those complaining gave a single shit about educational equality and provision for children with SN before they perceived their own children to be disadvantaged.

I’m a SAHM with one child at home and one at school. I was hoping that any other school parents who had noticed this would be intelligent and compassionate enough to realise that the one at school must be vulnerable, but maybe not. Although I probably shouldn’t worry what anyone so dim and mean spirited thinks of me.

@jellycatspyjamas
"You’ll have told them you think it’s disgusting behaviour then? "

Yes, and as I said in my comment this kind of behaviour has to be challenged as they are not helping anyone other than themselves.

@bombaychef

I agree that I have a friend whose child is in that people would have no idea why ( I know why). But there are others boasting about finding a way their kids in, in our school

Those boasting might be trying to hide the fact their children are considered vulnerable.

If everyone who is in (in a class where 75% are in) are vulnerable that means a really large number of kids in this country are vulnerable.

We need honesty here really - either the government has made the definition so wide that people who don't really need to have kids in are in are anyway and it's a way of opening schools whilst claiming they're shut, with the issues around transmission that will bring (and still no funding for school safety as far as I know). Or we have a very serious problem with vulnerability and mental health of children - and this needs URGENT action and funding, and not a reliance on schools to plug all the gaps of underfunding of other services. Because this will never work - teachers are overstretched as it is.

The situation as it is in those schools with more than a minority in risks making the children that aren't in vulnerable because it's seriously damaging to those children to be in the minority, isolated, alone and knowing it. It's one thing to feel like you're 'in this together' it's another to be a child struggling at home and not understanding why you are in a minority really struggling whilst everyone else gets to go to school. That has really unpleasant connotations of segregation and children aren't idiots, they question of course if most children are in not them. I think it could lead to really serious mental health problems - feelings that they are 'not worthy' when everyone else is. Feelings of exclusion. Depression, anxiety and serious lifelong mental health problems.

And not forgetting that SOME vulnerable children don't have parents who have the bandwith to complain to the school, to get the LA involved. If that child isn't falling too far behind, isn't complaining, is quiet, there will be seriously vulnerable children that will fall through the cracks. Even more so if they're at home and overworked teachers are not finding the time to check on them. They simply wouldn't know if there was a problem, how would they?

Rotas for all would be much fairer, and safer for those vulnerable children.

I totally agree @IloveJKRowling

My DD is in due to having an EHCP. I don't go shouting about it to the 90 kids parents in her year.

If everyone who is in (in a class where 75% are in) are vulnerable that means a really large number of kids in this country are vulnerable But it, of course, would not be 75% in every school. Some schools might not even have 2% vulnerable.

But yes schools are massively underfunded. The role of teachers and school has massively expanded to try to deal with deprivation, inequality, many many safeguarding issues. Some of the most vulnerable students will be vulnerable because of their parents. They have parents who do not care, and see no value in education. Those children will not be in school. They'll have parents probably not answering the phone to school either.

either the government has made the definition so wide that... it's a way of opening schools whilst claiming they're shut

Or we have a very serious problem with vulnerability and mental health of children

Id say both are true. And I'm deeply concerned.