Just in tiers with it all now ....

[dancemom]

New Thread, same old situation....

Apologies guys, have misread our school newsletter🤦 re schools returning. P4 in composite P3/4 classes to continue remotely, but P3 children to attend school next week.

@anon444877 SEN kids have been thrown under the bus by SG. No schooling at all since before Christmas. Rest of UK kept SEN schools open. SG should be ashamed of themselves. The strain on parents - I'm one of them - is immense. And there's still no word when we can expect some respite

As for socialising with others next week, unfortunately can't do that when I have dropped off wee ones in nursery because I then have older DC to help supervise them with home schooling, walk a dog etc. No time for chatting to various folk.

@WannaCapybara

Will I suppose it depends if employers are dicks or not; working from home should be a totally separate issue from kids being at home. I'm not working from home because my kids are here, I'm working from home because that's what's required right now under the law.

"employers must not ask or direct an employee to commit an offence by requiring travel for work which is possible to be done from home."

Yes, but if someone has been homeschooling, they have HAD to work from home (or be furloughed or take leave or whatever) even if that isn't necessarily fulfilling the requirements of their job. But rather than making them take unpaid leave or whatever, some non-dick employers have shuffled admin/ paperwork/ online provision onto parents to let them be able to do something, while others may be doing the on-site work that they should be doing. I'm sure they would now love to get back to doing their actual job which can't be done from home, but according to JS as they have been working from home, the employer should continue to provide that opportunity (even if it doesn't meet the requirements of the business in the long term, or use the employees skills most effectively). I'm sure most sensible people will ignore that - as you point out, the law says you don't have to wfh if your job can't be done from home... But it just suggests that it hasn't really been thought through, and the people making the pronouncements from the podium don't really understand how difficult this all is to juggle for employees and employers alike.

[quote Gil55]@anon444877 SEN kids have been thrown under the bus by SG. No schooling at all since before Christmas. Rest of UK kept SEN schools open. SG should be ashamed of themselves. The strain on parents - I'm one of them - is immense. And there's still no word when we can expect some respite[/quote]
I'm sick of this government I wish we no longer had devolution - NS is far too big for her boots IMO. All she does is wait for Boris to make an announcement and then tightens the restrictions that Boris has said. It's so frustrating. She'll be building a wall next (out of taxpayers money of course) and it will be like the old East and West Germany - but we will be South and North - it's appalling the way this government has no real opposition. Heaven help us after the next elections because no doubt she will get another landslide victory.

I don't think it's that they don't get it or can't empathise: most MSPs will just have normal lives like ours with the same childcare issues etc.

I think it's that they have to deliver broad statements in the hope that as many people as possible find a way to do what's being asked. If they chip away at their own guidance then it'd be like Swiss cheese legislation and nobody would stick to it at all.

If you establish a principle you can probably expect a certain % of people to agree, but if you don't really establish one because of so many caveats and exceptions, then nobody will.

Some SEN schools have been open. My sister works in one and it is open. Not all the pupils are in though as many have life limiting conditions and are CEV.

[quote Gil55]@anon444877 SEN kids have been thrown under the bus by SG. No schooling at all since before Christmas. Rest of UK kept SEN schools open. SG should be ashamed of themselves. The strain on parents - I'm one of them - is immense. And there's still no word when we can expect some respite[/quote]
Totally agree, it's shocking and unacceptable. We were promised after the last lockdown that ASN kids would be a priority, what a joke.
It's awful to see how much ds is regressing and it's only going to get worse the longer this goes on.
I've emailed SG repeatedly about this, sent tweets and had hee fecking haw response. Absolutely raging with them, getting angrier by the day with their decisions and I was a huge supporter at the beginning.

@LoopyGremlin

Some SEN schools have been open. My sister works in one and it is open. Not all the pupils are in though as many have life limiting conditions and are CEV.

It's definitely a postcode lottery as none in my council area are open other than to keyworkers. No actual lessons just working on teams via ipads.

But they have the broad principles. Stay at home. Work from home if you can. Don't travel unnecessarily.... Why do "parents" need extra telling of these principles as if it's assumed we will otherwise think "wahey, lockdown's over as little Findlay is back at school... I'll pop round to Mary's for tea and then we can go and lick the tomatoes in Asda in the next council area" . No one thinks that children getting back to school changes these broad restrictions. So adding in little extra bits of guidance to weigh up and decide to ignore just seems a bit patronising and micromanaging. Why don't they assume we can manage our lives to balance all the conflicting calls on us and our time, while sticking to the overarching restrictions as well?

BBCONEANDTWO can you believe that I have gone from a keen Sturgeon/SNP/independence supporter to like you wishing we didn't actually have devolution.

Just had the most appallingly dismissive email back from the lackey of my local SNP MSP. They don't give a shit about our situation and can't even be bothered to pretend to care.

@NotAnActualSheep

But they have the broad principles. Stay at home. Work from home if you can. Don't travel unnecessarily.... Why do "parents" need extra telling of these principles as if it's assumed we will otherwise think "wahey, lockdown's over as little Findlay is back at school... I'll pop round to Mary's for tea and then we can go and lick the tomatoes in Asda in the next council area" . No one thinks that children getting back to school changes these broad restrictions. So adding in little extra bits of guidance to weigh up and decide to ignore just seems a bit patronising and micromanaging. Why don't they assume we can manage our lives to balance all the conflicting calls on us and our time, while sticking to the overarching restrictions as well?

I have no issue with them saying it, but I do wish they'd START by saying it to employers. Not saying it to individuals then saying 'and employers please duty blah blah blah'.

The onus should have been on employers all along, never on the employee. I started a new job not long before we went up a tier, and felt pressured into going into the office when I shouldn't have been. Thank god lockdown made them see sense. I wasn't comfortable at all, but as they all were I just looked like I was making a fuss. When my colleagues parents were both in hospital with Coronavirus I think he finally caught up to the fact that it's a real thing.

I think it must be up to local authorities to decide about SEN schools , I know our schools are in as are the ones in our neighbouring authority.

My kids school have offered to extend my DDs provision to have her go full time from next week - she’s P5 and in mainstream but has complex additional needs. I’m so thankful for a flexible head teacher.

@MaxNormal

BBCONEANDTWO can you believe that I have gone from a keen Sturgeon/SNP/independence supporter to like you wishing we didn't actually have devolution.

Just had the most appallingly dismissive email back from the lackey of my local SNP MSP. They don't give a shit about our situation and can't even be bothered to pretend to care.

I know - I was so happy when SNP won and thought that NS was one of the best politicians of our time I really really liked her - I'm so shocked at how much I dislike her now. She's on a total power trip and a one party government worries the hell out of me for our democracy going forward.

@NotAnActualSheep

But they have the broad principles. Stay at home. Work from home if you can. Don't travel unnecessarily.... Why do "parents" need extra telling of these principles as if it's assumed we will otherwise think "wahey, lockdown's over as little Findlay is back at school... I'll pop round to Mary's for tea and then we can go and lick the tomatoes in Asda in the next council area" . No one thinks that children getting back to school changes these broad restrictions. So adding in little extra bits of guidance to weigh up and decide to ignore just seems a bit patronising and micromanaging. Why don't they assume we can manage our lives to balance all the conflicting calls on us and our time, while sticking to the overarching restrictions as well?

Sorry, I'd missed what JS said. The people that are carrying on as normal and with no disregard for others, have and will do that despite what the SG or anyone else say. I'm with you on this- of course parents won't socialise just because their kids are back!

starry I don't have a list of all the councils that have provided less provision for parents of kids in special schools, Edinburgh certainly one, and I'm only on an edinburgh group but from Twitter there are definitely other councils too. lunch is right - postcode lottery.

@Jellycatspyjamas

I think it must be up to local authorities to decide about SEN schools , I know our schools are in as are the ones in our neighbouring authority.

My kids school have offered to extend my DDs provision to have her go full time from next week - she’s P5 and in mainstream but has complex additional needs. I’m so thankful for a flexible head teacher.

That's great news @Jellycatspyjamas 🎉 I remember you had a very sad wee girl earlier in the week. Sounds like you've got a great HT!

and as for the parents who've endangered others by sending covid positive kids in starry, it's hard to understand that level of carelessness but I've heard a similar story, a mum calling up to collect her DS from a school a friend works at 'oh I'll just be in to pick him up, he's tested positive'. Grrrrrr.

that's great jellycatspyjamas - it's a shame there is still so much variation in the level of support people have received.

I don't have DC at a special school but I've got close family that have had them in special schools for some time and I know how much those parents and children desperately needed that continuity and support.

Totally agree with others that are sick of the SG. I am a lifelong snp supporter and loved ns and pro independance. I loathe what she is doing to our young people the social damage alone is immeasurable. The way she says she will never apologise for protecting the most vulnerable in society, the elderly. Well who let her make that huge moral decision I'd argue a child in a council flat, no WiFi, mentally ill or addicted parents, no heating, no school for food and heat is extremely vulnerable. I honestly can't believe there is no sign of our schools reopening let alone the NHS treating anythi g except covid. I've repeatedly written to Kate forbes. Ns and JS, had a patronising reply from Kate forbes. I am so angry and feel so impotent about the whole situation and it seems never ending. I think I may have to abstain from voting as not one msp or party is even vaguely challenging her never ending damaging lockdown

The SwinneyBot was wheeled out to say it today, because he takes one for the team as deputy FM, but as the shortbread senate minister for education he should also have a deep understanding of the mental health impact on the children and parents NOT returning next week.
Why he didn’t use the broadcast to speak directly to those NOT returning and try to give some guidance/hope/answers around that issue, but instead the time was used to ‘telt’ any parent who wants to go wild in the takeaway queue/party outside in the pishing rain with one other parent/take their time in the supermarket over which cheese to buy (inevitably for a child’s sandwich anyway) from Monday.
Someone please save us from this bunch of souped-up councillors.

@Coconut80

Totally agree with others that are sick of the SG. I am a lifelong snp supporter and loved ns and pro independance. I loathe what she is doing to our young people the social damage alone is immeasurable. The way she says she will never apologise for protecting the most vulnerable in society, the elderly. Well who let her make that huge moral decision I'd argue a child in a council flat, no WiFi, mentally ill or addicted parents, no heating, no school for food and heat is extremely vulnerable. I honestly can't believe there is no sign of our schools reopening let alone the NHS treating anythi g except covid. I've repeatedly written to Kate forbes. Ns and JS, had a patronising reply from Kate forbes. I am so angry and feel so impotent about the whole situation and it seems never ending. I think I may have to abstain from voting as not one msp or party is even vaguely challenging her never ending damaging lockdown

A child in that position would be in school. Do you know of a specific case or are you talking generally?

That's great news @Jellycatspyjamas* 🎉
I remember you had a very sad wee girl earlier in the week.*

I did indeed, she’s much happier to know there’s space for her but the head as said she’ll keep things flexible at her end so if my girl is struggling she can take a day or two at home if need be.

The head and the school have been fantastic - really sensible and child centred in their practice. They’re very open that their preference would be to have the kids in sooner rather than later.

I can't keep up with these threads at all.

The news about possible furlough extension is good.

I do wish they'd START by saying it to employers. Not saying it to individuals then saying 'and employers please duty blah blah blah'.

I agree. Though I can see it is really difficult for employers. If an employee's job is to audit widgets, and in the office they can and are expected to audit 20 per day, that will be their "job". They can do the auditing at home, but being separated from colleagues, combined with their crappy Internet, plus not having access to work systems properly, means they can only audit 15 (or 12 if they are having to homeschool too) are they doing their job? Yes, the employer, knowing WFH is now here to stay could pay to upgrade the Internet or improve access to the systems from home, but it is still likely the employee will be less efficient at home than in the office.

So the employer will have the choice of (for example) employing more staff, increasing the cost of the audit to his clients (possibly losing business), cutting the employee's salary to reflect their reduced efficiency, or insisting that the employee comes to work in the office at 100% efficiency, hence "doing their job which can't be done from home".

That's a lot of things to weigh up, all with pros and cons to different people. The employee may be happy to return to the office, or they may not be. But if the SG has taken away that flexibility and says to the employer that no one can work from the office because they can all do something from home (even if not their full job) it may result in the employer having to make business decisions to comply with that. And that decision may not be in the interest of the individual employee.