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Original poster

School breaking COVID restrictions

171 replies

Rosieposielaw · 09/02/2021 10:43

I’m a key worker and so my DC have been attending school. I have booked them onto holiday club for the February half term.

I have since found out that the school has opened this holiday club up to any child, not just those who are vulnerable or children of key workers.

I am very worried that my children will be mixing with many more households. I also think the school are breaking COVID restrictions, as other children are required to work from home. The school have told be that it is fine and allowed. Are they correct?

If not, Who can I report this to?

OP posts:
NachoNachoMan · 09/02/2021 11:42

Childcare providers eg. childminders and private nurseries are allowed to open to non-key worker parents. As this is school holidays it's childcare not school so I presume this is perfectly allowed.

Tinacollada · 09/02/2021 11:44

The number of deaths we have seen in the UK is completely appalling, and while I'm absolutely not taking away from the fact that some very young lives have been lost, that is not what is dominating the headlines is it?

Teachers are being regularly tested, children and families need support, schooling, and childcare.
that will not change

Fembot123 · 09/02/2021 11:46

If I genuinely thought my DS was unsafe going to school I’d give up my job whatever the consequences of that would be.

MintyMabel · 09/02/2021 11:46

You need to learn the difference between restrictions/rules and guidance.

The guidance says it should be for key workers. But, I know our ASC really struggled to open the holiday clubs because of lower numbers. Would you be happy if the OSC couldn't open because it wasn't financially viable and you have no holiday cover?

If you are that bothered, keep your kids at home.

Hagotcha80 · 09/02/2021 11:47

@Floobydo

I just think... how lucky are my dc that I chose the ‘right’ job so they still get to see their friends every day. I’m not going to begrudge anyone else a day or 2 of this. Or a holiday club provider the chance to boost their income.
As long as their friends have key workers for parents!
BingBongToTheMoon · 09/02/2021 11:48

P1-3 & S4-6 are going back to school (fingers crossed) on the 22nd OP. So, what difference will this make?
Or are you based in England and forgot that the rules change within the UK.

Fembot123 · 09/02/2021 11:49

I’d seen some very posts from people who don’t fall under the Keyworker umbrella but this is the first I’m seeing from the other side and it is shameful.

Fembot123 · 09/02/2021 11:51

*very nasty

Underhisi · 09/02/2021 11:53

Your kids are probably a bigger risk to those children than the other way around.

WaterBottle123 · 09/02/2021 11:56

So take annual leave and look after your kids at home.

Seriously mean spirited attitude OP

motherrunner · 09/02/2021 11:58

My children go to wraparound as well. They second all day in the class bubbles but for wraparound they mix with the ‘whole’ school as they’re only 15 of them. It’s allowed.

abc31 · 09/02/2021 12:00

Surely the difference is that it's not part of the school term, it's childcare during the holidays? Surprised it's open but I'd be grateful that there's an available option.

IcedLimes · 09/02/2021 12:12

Keep your kids at home if you're worried and let others have childcare just for a week to enable them to work like you've had all year

pommedeterre · 09/02/2021 12:12

@WaterBottle123

So take annual leave and look after your kids at home.

Seriously mean spirited attitude OP

THIS. Like the rest of us but without the home schooling?! Seems to be a lack of empathy for all the families not using school provision during term time implicit in the OP.
Updatemate · 09/02/2021 12:21

This isn't allowed. Out of school provision is only allowed to those eligible for a school place.

An out of school setting could however decide to open up holiday provision to eligible children who are not attending school, either through parental choice or the school being unable to offer a place.

Mummyoflittledragon · 09/02/2021 12:23

@TheChip

I think its only right. Those kids who have been unable to attend school are being offered an opportunity to see their friends again.

They are not at home because they are a risk to those in school, they are at home because their parents are not key workers. If they have followed the rules etc. Then that would make them less a risk of covid than the kids who have attended school

Exactly. Your post is really mean spirited op. As logically the other children should be less of a risk than yours, perhaps you should do those kids a favour and take yours out for the week. It will help with the spread of the virus after all.
VaVaGloom · 09/02/2021 12:24

@Rosieposielaw

It’s not a sports activity, it’s childcare during the half term. There will be some activities, crafts, baking, etc.

The school is an Academy.

Thanks for the link

I do see your point OP & having heard a key worker bubble has burst in one of my DCs schools last week I can see why less contacts still count

however,

it is getting frankly ridiculous that some children are allowed to attend school with other children and now attend holiday clubs doing activities, craft and baking when others, like my primary aged DC, are expected to still sit at home, do nothing except walks with the family and have to be home schooled while I am working.

They need to get a rota so all children get chance to learn and play at school and parents can work effectively.

SoCrimeaRiver · 09/02/2021 12:28

Is the holiday club run by the school or by the wider academy / an external company, using the school premises as its location? If the latter, then surely it's the same issue you see with nurseries, it wouldn't be cost effective to only run this for KW children so they're providing the child care for other parents. You may find that it otherwise doesn't run. Schools around here have no KW provision during half term as teaching staff are not available, so I'd be surprised if this isn't a commercial venture.

GCAcademic · 09/02/2021 12:33

There is some serious othering of non-keyworker parent kids in your thinking, OP. Why are "those" children any more of a danger to your children than you are, going out to work in your keyworker job?

WatchWatch · 09/02/2021 12:37

There is some serious othering of non-keyworker parent kids in your thinking, OP. Why are "those" children any more of a danger to your children than you are, going out to work in your keyworker job?

It isn't about what is fair. It's about what is allowed.

And more children = more risk.

Last week our keyworker bubble burst and my NHS trust was left without a consultant in one of the ICUs and without a senior manager in bed management and procurement.

I would love my kids to be able to play with their best friends in holiday club, it would be wonderful but it isn't allowed.

Hardbackwriter · 09/02/2021 12:37

it is getting frankly ridiculous that some children are allowed to attend school with other children and now attend holiday clubs doing activities, craft and baking when others, like my primary aged DC, are expected to still sit at home, do nothing except walks with the family and have to be home schooled while I am working.

This. A few times I've been walking past the local primary school at pick-up time and it's actually quite horrible seeing that maybe a quarter of the normal number of kids come out all chatting together and then all go on the playground next door together, playing totally normally while their parents chat totally normally and then remembering that the other 3/4 are at home with none of that. I don't have a primary aged child so I don't have any skin in the game myself but it just feels so instinctively wrong.

WatchWatch · 09/02/2021 12:45

it is getting frankly ridiculous that some children are allowed to attend school with other children and now attend holiday clubs doing activities, craft and baking

How do propose hospitals are staffed if holiday clubs don't run? More than half my department have primary aged kids.

copernicium · 09/02/2021 12:46

@SoCrimeaRiver private providers are only able to open for early years. We take any early years children because of the level of risk. We can still only have keyworker older children, regardless of termtime or holidays. And yes, it's not cost-effective and many businesses have been ruined.

TheChip · 09/02/2021 12:46

Thats because it is wrong. Rules, guidance or whatever the reason. The fact of the matter is, there are kids being singled out, left behind and expected to change their whole way of life while other kids are able to continue as normal.

Yes, their parents may work in positions that give them a place in school but to a child, they are still being left out and expected to live different because they don't have control over what their parents do.

Its bad enough that they are allowed to continue as normal, but then it's an absolute kick in the teeth that they are also being left out of fun activities.

Yeah, I completely understand the whole reason why some kids are allowed in school and have no other choice but to be in school. I'm strictly trying to look from a kids POV here.

Updatemate · 09/02/2021 12:48

I'm strictly trying to look from a kids POV here.

My kids POV is why can't they stay home and have fun with mummy and daddy like Bob is. They just don't understand. My kids would prefer to be home with us than at school, particularly as none of their friends are at school.

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