Frontline NHS worker’s child ‘turned down’ for school spot

KEY workers are being turned down for school places across the region as demand for spaces soars, it has ben claimed.

Schools said they were struggling to meet the demand for spaces, which they said is ‘much higher than in lockdown one.’

One mum said: “I’m a frontline NHS worker and been declined by my child’s school. Now I’m questioning whether to go to work or stay at home and not help save lives because my children need me.”

A teaching assistant has also been refused spaces for her children because her partner isn’t a key worker, yet he still has to work – leaving her unable to teach at her own school.

While mental health worker Ewa Fcia said her son didn’t get a place at school because she works remotely from home – but she’s unable to do what’s required when he’s there.

“I work in mental health in the NHS.

“As it’s not physical health I work remotely from home,” she said.

“Because I work from home my son didn’t get a place in school.

“However, it is not possible to do any kind of therapy with anyone with a four-year-old at home as he will interrupt any appointments that I will have via video link with patients.

“I will struggle to see patients as I normally do now.

“How is that protecting NHS services?”

Others spoke of how much busier schools are compared with the last lockdown, with some now choosing to keep them home because of the numbers.

Among them is Katie Cowley, a teacher who lives in Rochdale, who said some parents at her children’s school had been outside ‘talking about what a lovely day they have had at home with no children.’

She said: “I was amazed at the amount of children in when I dropped mine off.

“As a teacher myself I have no choice but to send them in, I am genuinely worried for their safety and may now decide not to send them in, I am so worried for them and myself.

“I don’t need full time provision, there are times when I could keep my children at home and successfully fulfil my duties as a teacher and parent, but to access that provision I have to send mine in full time.”

Sir Richard Leese, deputy mayor of Greater Manchester and leader of Manchester council, said schools are doing as much as they can in ‘almost impossible circumstances.’

He said: “We are facing lots of very angry parents at the moment because of the circumstances they are now in. Schools are on the frontline of dealing with that. What we can do is instead of bringing arbitrary rules to solve a government created problem, is support our schools in having to make the best judgements they can.”

The Department for Education says it expects schools to ‘work with parents’ to ensure that anyone who is entitled to a school place can access one.