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Original poster

Will you send your DC to school if they're open for keyworkers only?

389 replies

BlowDryRat · 20/12/2021 09:31

Hopefully this won't happen but if it does (probably with hours' notice like last Jan Angry)...

DH and I both qualified as keyworkers (medical supplies) for all the previous lockdowns. We could WFH though so kept the DC at home so they weren't taking up spaces really needed by others and to minimise the risk to the school staff. The DC got on with it but both struggled socially and DD in particular fell very behind academically.

Now that everyone who wants a vaccine has had at least 2, if there's another partial school closure I'll be prioritising my DC and sending them in.

What are you planning to do?

OP posts:
RobinPenguins · 20/12/2021 13:01

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Has key worker provision for parents who have key jobs such bullshit- how many key workers on this thread have admitted to wfh, if you worked from home your child should have been at home, I don’t care whether public or private sector. The absurdity of that key worker list never fails to amuse me!
Being able to work from home doesn’t = being able to work from home with a small child. Working and looking after my 2 year old for 4 months in the first lockdown nearly killed me. I couldn’t do my job effectively and while some people might be sneery about the definition of a key worker because they lack the imagination to see it’s more than doctors and nurses, plenty of “front line” workers rely on me to be able to do their jobs properly. Because I had a small child at home with me, because I stupidly didn’t take up the key worker nursery place, that was jeopardised at times.

Oh, and I was not able to request to be put on furlough for childcare because key workers couldn’t.

AchillesLastStand · 20/12/2021 13:02

Does anyone know if SEN children are automatically entitled to a place? My DS is In Year 3 and is SEN with a support plan in place. If they close agains he won’t learn anything at home. My DH is a keyworker but I’m not. Thanks

MarshaBradyo · 20/12/2021 13:03

@DumplingsAndStew

I think they need to be much more strict on the criteria for having children in school if there's a lockdown. Sending to school should be a final resort, if there is no alternative.

For the first time, yes, I would be intending to send my child into high school as they are vulnerable. Unfortunately, I don't think this is something my eldest's college offers.

I see you will send them.
Whammyyammy · 20/12/2021 13:03

My children are grown up and have left school. But I found the whole exclusion of some children due to their parents careers was unfair.
Why should some children not receive any education because their parents aren't key workers (loathe that terminology)?
And then you had those that played the system.... I think our village school had 75% attendance. I felt so sorry for the 25% that were excluded.
One in, all in. Or close completely

Makingnumber2 · 20/12/2021 13:03

Both DH and I are school staff. If my DC’s nursery is open she will be going in. My DH can do his role from home but not whilst simultaneously having to look after a 3yo.

Makingnumber2 · 20/12/2021 13:05

@AchillesLastStand at my secondary school we invite SEN students with support plans or EHCPs in to the hub, alongside key worker students and vulnerable students (LAC, children on CP or CIN plans, children under CAMHS or with known/diagnosed mental health needs)

AchillesLastStand · 20/12/2021 13:06

@Makingnumber2 thank you.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/12/2021 13:08

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Has key worker provision for parents who have key jobs such bullshit- how many key workers on this thread have admitted to wfh, if you worked from home your child should have been at home, I don’t care whether public or private sector. The absurdity of that key worker list never fails to amuse me!
What about non key workers like myself who can't work from home? People seem to think we don't exist!
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 20/12/2021 13:09

Being able to work from home doesn’t = being able to work from home with a small child. Working and looking after my 2 year old for 4 months in the first lockdown nearly killed me yes I agree- but killed many of us, many of us non key workers- our jobs, livelihoods matter too.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 20/12/2021 13:10

Waxonwaxoff0 that’s the point I’m making

Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/12/2021 13:12

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Waxonwaxoff0 that’s the point I’m making
Lucky DS got offered a place because his dad is a key worker but we just fly under the radar, there's this assumption that if you aren't a KW your job can be done from home. I'd like to see the guys at my factory making furniture in their living rooms! Hmm
Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/12/2021 13:13

And my industry was never shut down at any point, we have always been told to operate (manufacturing) so no furlough option in the second lockdown, we were insanely busy.

RobinPenguins · 20/12/2021 13:14

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Being able to work from home doesn’t = being able to work from home with a small child. Working and looking after my 2 year old for 4 months in the first lockdown nearly killed me yes I agree- but killed many of us, many of us non key workers- our jobs, livelihoods matter too.
Yes they do. Which is why schools and childcare should not close to anyone. That’s what everyone should be pushing for, not gatekeeping who counts and who doesn’t.
Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/12/2021 13:15

Agree schools should not close to anyone.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 20/12/2021 13:15

RobinPenguins I agree- my point is that list was such bollocks it’s pointless closing the schools anyway, 3 quarters of people would go in

middleager · 20/12/2021 13:16

Well said, Robin

timanddaisy · 20/12/2021 13:17

I think this is all kinds of wrong.

The focus shouldn't be about schools closing / keyworker places. It should be about how do we keep schools open but increase safety for the staff, children and families using them. Surely??!

Am a primary teacher. I absolutely DO NOT EVER want a return to online learning. It was horrific as an educator and a parent to 2 school-aged DC.

Whoever said it would also be pointless as most children would be in anyway was correct.

Just ignoring the fact that schools are hotbeds of infection has led to this shitshow. Absolutely NOTHING has changed since the first lockdown to mitigate it and protect staff or children. Nothing.

The focus should be increasing funding for ventilation, resources and better buildings. A long term solution instead of quick fixes that don't work and piss everyone off.

And I speak as a teacher who caught it at school last week just in time for Christmas...Sad

Whammyyammy · 20/12/2021 13:18

@waxonwaxoff0
"What about non key workers like myself who can't work from home? People seem to think we don't exist!"

Because they simply don't give a sh*t about you. So long as they're ok.
I bet most of the people calling for lockdown will be furloughed or WFH on full pay and still blag school places as they've fudged the system, as I witnessed last time.
You're not a 'key worker' and therefore not as important as them.

PickledPeppa · 20/12/2021 13:19

Both DH and I are classed as keyworkers but we were able to keep our DC at home during previous lockdowns when schools had a limited capacity. I imagine we would do the same again.

I worked in school during the previous periods when schools were only open to some children. The first time around we had around 10 children attending in the entire school (2-form entry). The second time around there were over a hundred.

The children who attended were given access to the same home learning as every other child in their year group. The only exception was possibly EYFS who had more practical activities set out for them.

Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't a case of having normal classes with their usual teacher and TA. The teachers in each year group took turns to be in school, with the other one overseeing the home learning. The school's risk assessment also meant that only a limited number of children could be in each bubble due to social distancing rules. Too many children meant that some were in mixed year groups and with no familiar member of staff.

Personally I would much rather schools stayed fully open. Last time around we had a lot of vulnerable children who needed to be in school but were being kept at home. It's also incredibly difficult to monitor the welfare of children at home when you're relying on what the parents are telling you over the phone. I'd much rather take my chances with covid and have every child in school.

Comedycook · 20/12/2021 13:23

NOTHING has changed since the first lockdown to mitigate it and protect staff or children. Nothing

Triple vaccinations

RobinPenguins · 20/12/2021 13:28

Absolutely NOTHING has changed since the first lockdown to mitigate it and protect staff or children

Vaccinations anybody?

Senmumm2021 · 20/12/2021 13:32

I'm not a keyworker but both of my DC are eligible for places regardless and absolutely will be going.

Covidworries · 20/12/2021 13:35

@comedycook

Under 12 yr olds havent been vacicnated, most secondary have only been able to have 1 vacc so far.
Where are their protection and mitigation

jesuistot · 20/12/2021 13:36

My DC school was thankfully very fair last time with organising and allocating places.

I have heard (anecdotally) of other schools where it didn’t seem to make a lot of sense. Eg. Families with ONE key worker parent and one SAHP being allocated a full-time school place, families where second key worker parent only works one day per week or just weekends being allocated full-time schooling over children with SEN attending. Schools like these ending up with 80%+ of pupils in and the minority of home schoolers really suffering.

But again I had only heard of these cases anecdotally so hopefully it wasn’t widespread.

timanddaisy · 20/12/2021 13:38

@RobinPenguins

Absolutely NOTHING has changed since the first lockdown to mitigate it and protect staff or children

Vaccinations anybody?

Yeah, OK. But...

Primary.

No vaccinations for the majority of the people who use our school.

I'm triple vaxxed. Still got it.

All the other stuff that might make a difference - masks, better ventilation - nope.