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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:
Tal45 · 09/02/2021 13:57

I agree with the OP. It makes no sense for kids to not be able to go to school and learn but they can go to school and do fun activities in the holidays.
I guess though there might be low take up for the holiday club and the only way it can run for keyworkers is to take other kids too.

Tal45 · 09/02/2021 14:00

@SpnBaby1967

Thank goodness my kids can go to school so they dont have to associate with any of those children. Dirty children those other kids, way more of a risk to my little darlings than my DH and I as critical workers.

Call the school, give 'em what for OP the mere suggestion that those children should be allowed to be around the blessed critical worker children is appalling. It's almost pointless that the Gov't even decided to implement a class system for kids based on their parents jobs.

**note - sarcasm Wink

Where did 'dirty' come from the OP hasn't suggested anything of the sort. My mum always said sarcasm was the lowest form of wit and I think you just proved her point.
TheFallenMadonna · 09/02/2021 14:08

[quote thelittlestrhino]@Tinacollada

Teachers are being regularly tested? I've not had a single test, ever![/quote]
Secondary schools should have set up LFD testing at the start if term, offering tests twice weekly to onsite staff, and primary schools using LFD at home testing for a couple of weeks.

GreenLlama · 09/02/2021 14:09

'Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but the highest form of intelligence' the last part is the quote is often let out for some reason

Updatemate · 09/02/2021 14:11

Genuine question - have you not had to self-isolate at any point? I find it quite hard to imagine doing that and then at the end thinking 'well, the lucky ones are the children who live like that essentially all the time

The kids have, yes. And they absolutely loved it. I didn't, and I don't think it's healthy or good overall. I do however think it's necessary. I also suspect my kids would get bored after an indefinite period, but they didn't in the first 12 week lockdown when DH and I were able to work opposite shifts (I was in a different role but still NHS).

I do not think kids being out of school is good. I also do not think that kids being in school during a pandemic is safe. I would prefer my kids were safe at home, though that would have implications on their socialisation. Educationally, my children are worse off in school as they are being cared for rather than being educated. But as this allows me to do my job, and that childcare has other benefits beyond education, I can accept this for now.

Updatemate · 09/02/2021 14:13

I know how holiday requests and school holidays work thanks, having both a job and children of my own.

So you're just being obtuse then?

CaughtInTheCovid · 09/02/2021 14:17

@KriekAndWaffle

I think it would be horrible to report this Op.

Don’t you realise how hard this has been for people? Why do you get to carry on as normal and people who are probably hanging on by their fingernails trying to home school and work are begrudged childcare

This. Fed up with ‘key workers’ feeling hard done to when actually for the most part their lives have continued the most normal as possible with secure jobs.
motherrunner · 09/02/2021 14:17

@TheFallenMadonna I’m a secondary teacher. I’ve never had a test either. We haven’t got a testing site set up as we haven’t got the space, a non-porous floor or volunteers to staff it.

OliRules · 09/02/2021 14:20

Half-hearted lockdown leads to half-hearted results. Either lockdown completely (and re-define essentials) or let everyone use their own wisdom. The former may be better but it hasn't happened yet.

MarshaBradyo · 09/02/2021 14:24

It’s hard when activities are so curtailed for same dc each time. Can’t wait for this stage to pass.

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 09/02/2021 14:28

School is not childcare. Half term club is.

Childcare can continue as normal. School is open only for keyworker kids.

None of this is against the rules. Keep your child at home if you don't want to use half term childcare.

DoYouRememberTheInnMiranda · 09/02/2021 14:30

When someone talks about a hairdresser staying open despite the law it is very rare for people to argue that we should consider how tough the clients who are illegally using them must find it to not have their hair done and how we should be sympathetic to that and let them continue.

Unfortunately, this is a similar risky situation, if the school is opening for a holiday club and if that's illegal (which some of the posters on here seem to think) then it's illegal for a reason, not just to spite us non key worker parents with kids at home. It's raising the risk to key worker kids and ultimately everyone to allow mixing, just as hairdressers are.

I know it's easier for the OP to sound smug because she's had a school place all along and so many people want one, but the rules are still there for the benefit of us all

Maryann1975 · 09/02/2021 14:36

@ceeveebee

Some very emotional reactions on here OP is factually correct in that holiday clubs are not allowed to open for any child who would not be eligible for a school place ie key worker or vulnerable. Whether people agree with it or not, that is a fact
@ceeveebee is right. Childcare For school age children is only For key workers and vulnerable children. However much you agree or disagree with this, that is what the government have decided. It sucks for those left at home, it really does. The only positive for a child being at home is that they are less at risk of bringing COVID home to their families, but I know many families where they are willing to take the risk of this as it’s so horrendous for the child physically missing school. As a childminder, it has been made clear that our insurance would be invalid if we were to take in dc who are not entitled to a place, I would think the insurance company who insure after school clubs would have similar thoughts tbh. (I’m in England if that makes a difference?)
Gwenhines · 09/02/2021 14:37

Your post is awful. It really comes across as though you believe children of key workers and non keyworkers who have remained out of the classroom are somehow inferior or dirty and shouldn't be allowed to mix with those that have been in the classroom.
Surely the fact they've been at home makes them safer. So their parents should be calling for you to take holiday to keep their children safe.

MarshaBradyo · 09/02/2021 14:37

@ArchbishopOfBanterbury

School is not childcare. Half term club is.

Childcare can continue as normal. School is open only for keyworker kids.

None of this is against the rules. Keep your child at home if you don't want to use half term childcare.

Is this correct or what other posters are saying?
Updatemate · 09/02/2021 14:41

MarshaBradyo

No, it isn't correct. If you want childcare for school age children, your options are an in your home nanny or a childcare bubble. Childminders taking school age kids, or any other child care provision with school age kids can only take key worker children.

The gov.uk link posted earlier explains it and links to further/ other guidance.

Maryann1975 · 09/02/2021 14:42

@ArchbishopOfBanterbury Childcare can continue as normal. School is open only for keyworker kids
Childcare for early years children can continue as normal. Childminders are not permitted to accept non critical worker or non vulnerable children at present.
We can accept all early years dc, regardless of parents jobs or family circumstances.

in England - (I’m not sure of the rules elsewhere), any childminder looking after children who would not be entitled to a school place (and not just the schools interpretation of the rules, but the actual ‘has a critical worker parent or is vulnerable) Is breaking the terms of their registration and is therefore working without insurance.

pommedeterre · 09/02/2021 14:47

I really don't think childcare can continue as normal in half term! I think the club is wrong.

BrrrIsland · 09/02/2021 14:57

*MarshaBradyo

ArchbishopOfBanterbury
School is not childcare. Half term club is.

Childcare can continue as normal. School is open only for keyworker kids.

None of this is against the rules. Keep your child at home if you don't want to use half term childcare.
Is this correct or what other posters are saying?*

It’s not correct I’m afraid. This (below) was sent out by my local authority today (perhaps they have been following this thread Grin)...

The current restrictions on face-to-face education and childcare will therefore remain in place over the February half-term holiday up until this date This means that if you were planning to operate a holiday club over half term, you may do so, but only for children who fall into one of the 'eligible' groups (ie those who are classed as vulnerable, or whose parents are key workers; and also any early years children).

BrrrIsland · 09/02/2021 15:00

The above was sent to all schools in our borough by the way.

VaVaGloom · 09/02/2021 15:00

@updatemate Educationally, my children are worse off in school as they are being cared for rather than being educated. But as this allows me to do my job, and that childcare has other benefits beyond education, I can accept this for now

No they are being educated as the curriculum has not been suspended as it was last time. At DCs secondary school all lessons are live online so full timetable doing the same work either at school or on computers or from home (though at school they are in bubbles for break times etc to socialise)

At DCs primary school expectation from school (and Government) is 5 hrs of schoolwork per day. One hr live taught lesson by one of the year group teachers at home. Rest of the 4 hrs is down to parents to print, cajole and submit (often while attempting to do their own work). Zero contact with other children. DC in school are doing the full curriculum and playing with other children, they are being taught by one of the usual Yr group teacher but in a much smaller group than normal so more opportunities to answer questions & get support with their work.

So no @updatemate your children are not worse off in school especially if they are primary age.

strawberryforever · 09/02/2021 15:01

@CaughtInTheCovid
Don't feel sorry for myself but I really disagree that my life has been "normal". Going to work in an environment where nearly all my colleagues have had covid, some have died, others have long covid and wearing PPE all day is not my definition of normal. I do have a secure job though.

Hammonds · 09/02/2021 15:06

My kids go to private and this lock down the school is much fuller than the first one. There was uproar when the kindergarten was closed. It was opened sharply.

If you need to earn money to live - then every ones job is critical.

Fembot123 · 09/02/2021 15:13

@ceeveebee

Some very emotional reactions on here OP is factually correct in that holiday clubs are not allowed to open for any child who would not be eligible for a school place ie key worker or vulnerable. Whether people agree with it or not, that is a fact
Is it?!
Fembot123 · 09/02/2021 15:16

‘My mum says’ wtf 😳