Key workers

[Whywhywhy1]

Are we still non the wiser as to what a key worker is definitively? Also do both parents have to be key workers for children to be allowed into school or just one? I don’t understand what this has not been addressed?

I've just seen an email from LA "suggesting" schools also provide sessions when parents can contact us for support.

I think people are actually quite worried about the fallout of all this from a safeguarding POV and where the buck might stop.

I don't think they knew all of Weds at all PleaseStopCrying. I think decisions are being taken and information is changing at very short notice

I don't think they knew all of Weds at all PleaseStopCrying. I think decisions are being taken and information is changing at very short notice

He must have known for most of Wednesday though that he was going to announce school closures. I appreciate that the situation is changing constantly but its simply crap leadership to say you will let everyone know this very important information and then fail to send it to them.

It can hardly be sent out on Friday as the schools simply wont have time to work out full logistics and put staffing into place, unless they basically say all tecahers have to be in on Monday. However that still doesnt account for knowing how many children they will need to cater for food and resource wise.

We are saying everyone one in on Monday, why wouldn't you? There will be work to be done even if no kids and they can always be sent home.

Catering is an issue because we can't get the delivieries but the small local butcher we use has promised to stock our freezer on Monday. So, we'll have meat, if no veg.

As already mentioned. I work in an SEN school where all the students (300 approx) have EHCP’s. How can we possible provide them with adequate care and consistency with limited staffing.
We cannot accommodate the children of staff whose schools have closed, due to no room and for their safety too.
Answer that Boris!!

We are saying everyone one in on Monday, why wouldn't you? There will be work to be done even if no kids and they can always be sent home.

Because some staff are vulnerable. Some are careers for vulnerable people. And ALL workers are being asked to work from home if possible to reduce the transmission of this disease.

Netflix will have to keep going or there will be riots!

We are saying everyone one in on Monday, why wouldn't you? There will be work to be done even if no kids and they can always be sent home.

Because lots of staff will be in the vulnerable groups and or self isolating. That's the reason so many schools were running on skeletal staff before Wednesdays announcement.

You cannot just expect everyone in work and what happens when more pupils turn up than you have the staff for all because there has been no clarification on who or what counts as eligible??

Okok, we are saying everyone in except the ones self isolating. We might have a few more than we need but not many and there is still lots of planning to do for the coming weeks.

We are all (who are able to!) going in on Monday. Because we don't know how many of our children will come in. Most meet the "vulnerable" definition (PRU), which actually means they are likely not to turn up. But we are very worried about them. We are still making plans...

We were expecting kids of NHS staff and were planned for that. The addition of vulnerable kids and those with EHCPs and key staff potentially being much wider ranging screwed up the plans.

This is the list of key workers that has been issued for schools in Northern Ireland by our education minister. Quite shocking, looks like we will be having very high numbers once you factor in vulnerable children too

Looks like some schools have taken it upon themselves to provide their own definition of key workers so that parents know where they stand. Not sure how I feel about this - on the one hand I understand parents want to put plans in place ASAP, on the other hand it’s no good telling parents one thing if the government then announce something different (eg are key workers ALL NHS staff inc admin, or just the frontline staff?)

I found it astonishing that Johnson didn’t address this (or exams) today given how many questions yesterday’s announcement gave rise to. I found it even more astonishing that not one member of the press raised it, instead wasting time with basically the same repeated questions which gave Johnson free reign to talk generally without commitment. They must have been briefed not to ask, as they must have realised that these were the questions people really wanted an answer to today. And that scares me because where is the accountability if the press are being dictated to as to what they can and cannot ask?

We've been told by the school where I work and the school my DD goes to that only children with two keyworking parents or the children of a keyworking single parent will be accommodated. However the Guardian is now reporting that this is not the case and schools are mistaken. If they are indeed mistaken about this then the numbers of children schools are anticipating and have spent all day planning for are going to be a significant underestimate.

Planning can be done from home. The government are advising that anyone who can work from home should. They're urging everyone to follow the advice and saying that enforcement measures won't be needed if anyone just follows this advice.

Tbh, I wish they'd just bring in the enforcement measures. I never thought I'd ever want police on our streets monitoring movement, but tbh too many people seem to think they know better than all the medics and scientists in the world, and are literally putting lives at risk.

Yes we're a PRU too TheFallenMadonna. We do have a lot of staff off self isolating but those who remain are really hoping we can get most students in. We won't but staff are being really positive and creative about ways to achieve it.

I found it even more astonishing that not one member of the press raised it*

Likewise about 6 questions relating to lockdown procedures but not one question relating to a very crucial document he promised over 24 hours ago. I was baffled and also wondered if they had been briefed not to ask.

I can understand the ehcp because some families will be close to breaking after 3-4 months.

However many children with an ehcp will also be some of the most medically vulnerable

There is literally no sense in most of this. They should have worked out policy on how to detonate the bomb before they threw it.

I wonder if the government were actually planning on waiting until today to make the announcement but had their hand forced by the Scottish and Welsh governments making their announcements.

I think that's exactly what happened PerfectParrot.

As @tootiredtoconga says, the Guardian are reporting that now only one parent has to be a key worker, but I don't know how legitimate this is.

I want it to be made official so my child can go to their normal school while I'm working, rather than having to go to a primary within my academy trust.

Did Wales and Scotland plan for vulnerable children and key workers ?

I haven't seen any guidance from LA but a lot of schools have already told parents they will only be supporting families where both or the only parent is a key worker. If it is only about supporting key workers that would make sense as the non key worker spouse would be the same as any other non key worker.(ie not entitled to support)

Our LA have just (yes at 9:30pm) promised to provide local guidance with list if there is no govt list by tomorrow lunchtime

Off topic slightly but as a key worker (teacher) should we go in if on the list of vulnerable people (diabetic/asthmatic etc)

No, piece we should be protecting you.