Schools

Here in North Somerset key worker groupings are being informed that Head Teachers will decide on Monday how many pupils will be allowed into each school based on the eligibility of the pupil and how many staff are in attendance.

The education sector now has the recourse to play a key role in this crisis and many I am sure are hoping the profession really can "step up to the plate", as much may well rely on that happening.

If they have to be at home, then their parents will cope and do schoolwork with them and make sure they get fresh air and exercise too, but it certainly isn’t helping ( confusing) when all we hear on the news all the time is that the children of key workers will go to school.
Did the government always know it would only be a percentage or did they expect schools to try and accommodate all the children of key workers and are now being unpleasantly surprised that they won’t?
Dare say we shall find out, but at the moment it’s unclear on that point.

Hope your gchidren all get sorted Lemongrove

Boris failed to mention this didn't he!!! (it was probably in the small print)!!

Am not criticising teachers btw ....it is what it is, difficult all round.

Agreed bikergran
All our different grandchildren have key worker parents.
One DGS has been told not to come in again, and the others
Have been told they may be contacted ( to attend school) on a part time basis, but it’s not at all certain.Their NHS working parent was all prepared to work more shifts to help out, but now may be not able to do any shifts at all.
So although the government wanted it to happen, the teachers say they are not prepared to go ahead with it.I think the unions may have been putting pressure on the teaching staff over this matter.

haven't read through all the thread but was anyone aware that the children that can! attend school because of a parent being a key worker is limited to a percentage!

My dd is a single parent and a key worker(hospital)

Today she has had to wait to see if her her child was in the percentage that they are allowed.

So some children will not be going to school as the number that are allowed has been reached.

How the pupils were chosen I really don't know.So for example there may be 50 children eligible but only 25 places. or that was what it was at our local school.

Amazing work too kaycee. How hard for your DD and DIL not to be included when they are doing such amazing work too. So difficult to know where you draw the line. My DS's company work maintaining and installing air conditioning units in hospitals, air ambulance and 111 centres. Of course he's not a key worker but they are all vital jobs.

So pleased you are sorted kissngate. Such valuable work that your daughter is doing. Those children certainly deserve a place so she can concentrate on what needs to be done.

It does feel strange not putting in a good share of taking care of our beloved GC.

They are at boarding schools because their parents are both in the Navy , so son is working at home with great difficulties to maintain his role. Mum is at sea so not here to help out.

It is not easy , as they finished today. My grandson has a very prescriptive day laid out by the school we just hope the internet can support him , sister and Dad.

Everyone has their own difficulties to sustain. Not an easy time for any of us.

Everyone is affected. My DS and DIL are not key workers but their children (3 and 6) will be off school. We can't help as we usually do with holidays as we are over 70. They will manage of course but their input into industry (Ford Innovation) will be seriously impeded. {My DS's main priority at the moment is driving his team at Ford to produce ventilators and he is working hard to make that happen, not easy when you are working from home with a 3 & 6 year old needing attention.} This is about immediate affect on long term growth - it is not just about key workers although I admire and appreciate their efforts (as does my DS). Everyone is playing their part -we need to acknowledge everyone's input.

Annapops - update - nursery been in touch normal service Monday. They have enough staff and key worker children to open so our gc can go in. I would rather our DD didnt have to go in but she works with frontline scientists developing a vaccine and they need all the support they can get.

Hi Kissngate, my DD is a frontline social worker and GD private nursery have been instructed by our local council to remain open for key staff. There is no way DD can work from home except maybe some paper work during the evenings. Our council will be checking eligibility vigorously in preparation for Monday. SIL works away. As soon as his company shuts down, which it will, DGD loses her place and will be expected to stay at home. I would much rather she was home.

It didnt surprise me that our daughter would be determined as key worker (private sector large Pharmaceutical Company) but she has two underage schoolchildren (4 & 1) and the nursery closes today and isn't reopening for approx 12 weeks. Her company needs her to work so we offered to look after them but it isn't ideal and we were hoping that the Govt would instruct some nurseries to provide a service even if it was mornings only.

I have just found out from my teacher DD that if a parent is at home working or otherwise they will not be granted a school place. This is County Durham so unsure about other authorities. I would much prefer my GC to be at home rather than be exposed.
Some children sadly will have as yet undiagnosed conditions and will be unknowingly extra susceptible to this virus. Just last year DD lost a little boy in her class due to an unknown heart condition. It can and will happen. Children are safer at home.
Some workers in the key worker list will be able to work remotely as is the case of my probation officer DIL. The reopening of schools for key workers who are frontline is what this is for.

If I were a key worker and had children, I would do everything I could to prevent my children having to go to school.

To be honest, there are going to be so many redundancies over the next few weeks (unless Sunak really does find a magic money forest) that most families will probably have one adult at home. Who knows what will happen when they get ill?

That's what I think Kalu. Every one of them is a potential carrier, so the other children and the teachers are at risk. The idea of getting children to keep 6 foot apart from each other is ludicrous. I wonder what will happen when one of the people (either pupils or staff) become infected and the others have to self-isolate for two weeks. My bet is that schools won't be open for long, before everybody is self-isolating.

My concern is for the children who are more at risk still having to attend school as their parents are key workers. Not so, those children protected at home.

Yes I bet you would

Yes gilly do that - if he were my neighbour I’d tell him.

I’ll nip over and tell him shall I ?

Yes I’m thoroughly nasty . Happy now ?
Good

Gilly regarding your policeman neighbour - of course his children should not go to school if his wife is a SAHM.

I can't imagine why he's not sure what to do!

In these exceptional circumstances, it's not a privilege for some children to to go to 'school' (it's really emergency childcare not education) so his children are the winners by being in the safety of their own home with their mother.

I feel bad for the parents who have to send their children so that they can continue to provide vital services e.g. NHS, transport, supermarkets, utilities, etc.

It's not as though those at school will be gaining any advantage regarding exams etc, in fact I feel sorry for them.

Trisher. You are so right. I have witnessed many teachers desperately upset. I also am certain it will be really difficult running the schools with the children of key workers in whilst also probably trying to put together distance learning resources for students who are at home.
Why in this time of horrendous crisis would anyone verbally attack teachers?

Exactly! The link Elegran posted makes it crystal clear that schools are only being kept open, so that essential workers have childcare. The priority is the country, not individuals. My guess is that hardly any secondary age pupils will be in school.

He’s not sure what to do . Very confusing

If his wife is a stay at home mum it's a no brainer. They should stay at home away from infection.

Gillybob.It is not a 'them and us ' mentality as far as teachers are concerned.These are unprecedented times.Please cut them a little slack.The ones in school are not favoured .With home packs ,virual links and the activities in school they are trying there damn best for all their pupils.It's a fact if some staff are idolating ,ill or their childcare isn't availableEach school is doing the best day by day.