Who qualified for school last time?

[Wednesdayafternoon]

This is a completely hypothetical/information only query. Not scare mongering before I get accused!

My son wasn't in school in the last lockdown so it never applied to me so I don't know what the rules were.
My exH works in a children's home and I work in a call Center in the finance/insurance sector. My colleagues told me that last time they were provided with a letter to give to school to secure a place for them to go. Although we can wfh, there's no possible way we could watch children as we take incoming calls all day. I'm currently working in the office as I am having technical issues with my equipment.
I am living with my parents but my mum watched my 1 year old. She's late 60s, she wouldn't be able to do the home schooling etc.
Ds1 behaviour can be difficult and I'm very concerned what lack of school would impact on him.
How likely would all of the above secure him his school spot in schools did close from your own experience?/what do I need to do to ensure he goes?

Like I said, no scare mongering just after experience

I think I will try my hardest to send my children to school if we get locked down again.

I am fully prepared to play the mental health card because honestly having to home school them to the standard the school expect will send me into a mental breakdown!!

My kids cannot seem to view home as school at all, no matter how much I try.....

My eldest son was entitled to go in every day as he goes to a SEMH school and these never closed during any of the lock downs. My younger two fall into the vulnerable category due to being on a CIN plan (due to problems caused by DS1). They both stayed at home during lock down 1 which was my choice. Second lock down, one went in 2 days a week and the other went in full time as myself and the school thought this was for the best.

I don't see how the 'both keyworkers' rule would work for many single parents. The non keyworker may refuse to have the children, refuse to supervise remote learning or not be able to provide a safe environment. Many may only see children EOW normally or there could be high conflict between parents. These situations are hardly rare.

I've been able to wfh throughout. Ex is a key worker but it's a moot point as not regularly involved.

The first lockdown I pressed on but the second lockdown I asked if DD could go in two days a week (technically I do qualify as a key worker but it felt a bit tenuous to me). The school was lovely and said she could come 5 days if I wanted (I work 5 days a week). Those two days were the saving of us both I think- she got to see friends and I could work guilt free without having to homeschool after work til 9 in the evening.

Like PP said I think everyone will send their kids in if there's another lockdown.

@Senmumm2021 I know that, I’m a teacher, I wasn’t suggesting denying a place for a child who meets the criteria. My comment was in reference to someone saying they were a keyworker but would insist on a place even though both parents weren’t keyworker.

@Svara

I don't see how the 'both keyworkers' rule would work for many single parents. The non keyworker may refuse to have the children, refuse to supervise remote learning or not be able to provide a safe environment. Many may only see children EOW normally or there could be high conflict between parents. These situations are hardly rare.

It was done on a household level here, if parents were separated it would be one key worker for a single parent was the requirement (if that makes sense). It seemed to vary by school a bit, I wonder if there'd be more centralised guidance next time, although I don't think they will close schools again.

Schools won't close again, especially not primary. I would bet my house on it!

If they do it will be temporary due to outbreaks in schools or school staff being off.

I'm a teacher and my class absolutely NEED to be in!!

@LadyPenelope68 there's only a requirement for 1 to be a keyworker

@LadyPenelope68 The rules last time was one parent had to be a key worker as laid out by the government. My school adhered to that rule. The local primary school made their own rules up. The head said after last time if I needed a place for my kids then he would accept them. I would have assumed as a teacher you would have known the rules.

@Senmumm2021 not all areas, the Local Authority I teach in had the ruling it had to be both parents.

I don’t think anyone can answer definitively because all schools had different rules. Ours was strict and had a quota. Places given based on priority to vulnerable children/ all adults in place of residence being keyworkers and being outside the house on the day. Too many people wanted spaces, I expect it would be even worse if it happened again

@PreacherTeacher the Local Authority I teach in had the two parent rule in both lockdowns. Many LA’s stuck to that.

@LadyPenelope68 the government set the rules, not LAs

@Senmumm2021incorrect, the LA can override the rule with Public Health backing if in an area with higher than average rates.

What @Senmumm2021 said the local LA cannot over turn the government.

Mine did.

We qualify on two fronts - I’m a key worker - public sector lawyer with cases in court to deal with. My son has suspected adhd and is classed as educationally vulnerable - there’s no question of homeschooling him effectively, especially not whilst doing an essential job.

My exh isn’t a key worker but he’s hopeless and tends to give up contact all together when there’s a lockdown

Both times our school had a strict two KW parent rule

One important issue is that some sharp elbowed parents were able to obtain letters from their employers citing they were key workers when they were not considered such under the government definition of critical workers.

Meanwhile parents with fewer resources and less social capital were isolated from school and their children were arguably affected worst. All from a government that promised levelling up.

And I haven't even mentioned safeguarding.

@PreacherTeacher
What @Senmumm2021 said the local LA cannot over turn the government
Incorrect, they can with Public Health backing, it happened where I teach and many posts on this thread are saying the same happened in their area.

@Cuck00soup

Totally agree with you there, appalling that the sharp elbowed type parents managed to secure places over those children who really needed the places. ☹️

If you read the schools guidance at no point does it say they must offer all children with one key worker parent a place. It says those children can go to school but parents and carers should keep them home if they can. In these things it’s the precise wording that matters

People will abuse any system. 🤷‍♀️ My kids school had kids in that had younger siblings at home being cared for by grandparents but were sent in because it was easier.

We all need to work and I need my kids to be in this time as they can not be left home alone while I am in school.

Fingers crossed that they will not close schools. Some kids live with monsters and school is the only escape.

I did as I work in a school. No idea if the rules would be different this time but your circumstances wouldn't have given you a place during previous hub provision in my LA. It was very strictly 2 key worker parents or a key worker single residential parent and it was only provided when both parents were actually working out the house so if on different shifts the dc would be expected to be at home . Most of our dc were in the vulnerable category we only had 1 dc in my group (primary 1-3) so 7 classes who was not in the vulnerable category and their dc was lone parent school staff like me.

@Cuck00soup

One important issue is that some sharp elbowed parents were able to obtain letters from their employers citing they were key workers when they were not considered such under the government definition of critical workers.

Meanwhile parents with fewer resources and less social capital were isolated from school and their children were arguably affected worst. All from a government that promised levelling up.

And I haven't even mentioned safeguarding.

Yep. And I don't even blame those parents either, but the whole thing was an inevitable consequence of a policy that judged some children worthy of education and socialisation but others not.

Totally agree you can't blame parents for the situation. Or schools.