NHS keyworker and school place

Verve_2

Hi, I’m a nurse in a GP surgery, my husband is also a keyworker (non NHS) and we have 2 children. I’m worried about them going to school in terms of not socially distancing but also in terms of their education - the school are only supervising and not teaching. This is not working well for my secondary school child who needs a lot of help! If my husband were to continue working and me stay at home to look after the children, would I be able to receive any financial help from any of the currently available help or am I forced into working as the school will technically “supervise” them even though this is not my choice? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

Jeremy535897

I sympathise but short of leaving your job I don't see an option for you. I suspect there will have to be provision for catching up for most pupils when this is over.

Verve_2

Jeremy 535897 - thanks for your reply, much appreciated!
Selina2000 - wow! I don’t need the school to help me with health and safety, both the government and school are saying the safest place for our children is at home. As a parent, and despite being a nurse, I am entitled to want my children to be safe and furthermore, as safe as other people’s children who are able (whether that is through choice or because of the current circumstances) to stay at home and keep them safe.  Secondly, I didn’t say I thought I could teach my children better than a qualified teacher, I’m not a teacher and have full respect for the work that teachers do. I actually said the school are “not teaching” at our school, they are “only supervising”.  They also do not have their normal teacher so think I am in a better position to understand how my children are reacting to the current situation, the work they are expected to do the effect that is having on them and how to help them to deal with all of the above.  Also, you are not aware of the needs of my child, I have a child who needs extra help, so maybe you should be more careful before getting angry.  I merely asked a question for concerns I have, no different to anyone else in this situation. Try to be a little kinder and best wishes 

7Phil

You are definitely in a bit of a catch 22.
I am not sure what role you and your husband play but at the end of the day, and in this crisis, you must look after yourself and your family first. Then, help in whatever way you can.
Obviously the school shut-down has a massive impact on all of the schooling of all kids not just in the UK but around the world. As a society we will have to work out how to cope with that effect but at the moment it's an issue for a few months time.

I *think* the current fall back if you need to stay at home is only to seek SSP, but that will depend on your circumstances.

I know you face some difficult decisions here. If you need to stay at home because your child has additional needs then no one else has the right to judge you for making that choice.
Whatever you do, and whatever decision you need to make, please be confident you will have the general community's support.

Verve_2

7Phil - thanks for your reply, I really appreciate the non-judgemental response! The previous poster has since removed their post so hopefully will reflect on that. Best wishes to all

7Phil

I know which poster you are talking about and I have actually had to draw their attention to another of their posts to someone else's query that I also felt was thoroughly out of line.
I'm sorry we can't provide any further definite answers for you but I hope that you have found it helpful to get just a little bit of reassurance.

HornetSaver

@Verve_2 if your primary concern is that you don't want your kids going to school, curious if either yourself or your husband have the ability to tweak your shifts in order that one of you is at home at any given time? One thing I'll say about current circumstances - an hour is an hour and a day is a day. Concepts like "Saturday and Sunday are the weekend" or "that's earlier/later than I want to start/finish" don't really seem to hold as much meaning right now.

Educationally, I think every child in the country is going to be disadvantaged relatively equally. The only thing I think you can do as a parent is try to ensure that current three-r ability is preserved - that they're doing some suitable reading, writing and arithmetic to at least keep them stimulated.