Childcare on INSET days

[LloydColeandtheCoconuts]

Hello,

I'm interested what parents with children do on INSET days? Especially teachers. We go back Sept 2nd and DS returns Sept 4th. I looked at possible childcare services and there was nothing! That I saw anyway. Time off wouldn't be an option especially after a 6 week holiday ! I think my lovely family will help out now. So a relief.
What do others do? For future reference just in case my family can't help.
Thanks in advance.

I use my childminder. She does our wraparound care in term time and does inset days as well. She doesn't work during the holidays, but she does do inset days.

Just a word of warning about Sitters. They don’t DBS check their babysitters. Whilst some might have one for another reason, don’t assume. Fairly shocking in this day and age.

Our primary school had an external childcare club (catered mainly for this school but not legally connected) which did full days for Inset days.

Otherwise some childminders who did the school drop off/collection would take in extra children on inset days,

Child swaps with other working parents.

You take leave once, but have about 4 extra DC in your house.

Only works if you have reliable friends!

Or find neighbours with teen DC (especially if they're off to the much shorter terms of universities) and hire them as a daysitting big brother/sister

Definitely make friends with some other working mothers and trade childcare eg if you are teachers and have school hols off they will be grateful for you having theirs a day or two in a half term if they can't get time off.

I have friends who are teachers who do this for me and I have theirs on inset days

Ivestopped
Wow! That is shocking! Thanks for telling me. That changes things now.

DH has a couple of week days off as works weekends. I can work from home. DS is 15 so can mind DD2 (8)

I can work from home.

DD2 has a friend whose mum can also work from home who will have DD. Says the 2 girls together are easier (but noisier) than just her DD.

Take mine to school with me. Luckily the uniform is similar to theirs so they don’t stand out. The headteacher is fine with it as it’s not often I do it

'there always seems to be INSET! I never really thought about their impact on working parents until I had my own kids'

There was an absolute revolution (for the better) when the head of KS came back from maternity leave. Communications improved enormously, as did reminders of anything that made a difference to the standard school day.

DM travels 200 miles to look after DD.

Added bonus is that she is an ex TA so will do training to get DD back up to speed after the long break.

(Thats Teaching Assistant not Territorial Army. Although I guess both are interchangeable.)

My husband! Or my parents. Mega pain as ds having a three week settling in period to reception... starting with an hour.. eventually building to a full day...

Logistical nightmare! But have had about sorted it!

Regarding Sitters - they don't DBS check but only employ people in the childcare industry who are DBS checked for their jobs. Except ones who are employed as Nannies as they don't need to be. I have been asked to provide references for my staff wanting a job with them and it's quite an in-depth reference. If I needed to i wouldn't have any problems using them and think it's quite a good idea as you are getting someone with experience plus first aid trained rather than using the 18 year old from next door. The only downside is you have to sign up and pay a retainer so if you only use them a handful of times a year it may not be financially viable. My friend who works for them is booked every weekend of the year and has regular families.

Mammy
Yes, the same with us last year - although DS' was only a 2 week period and that was bad enough! It really did take some military planning!

*tapdancing
*
Thanks for the clarification regarding sitters

hello there if you are looking for childcare for Inset and Polling Days please contact Kids in Charge based in East London area. visit www.kidsincharge.co.uk or call us to book your place/ show around 0208 530 7075.

Our schools don't go back until 7th Sept in 2020!!! That is seven full weeks of holidays plus whatever inset days the schools decide to put in at the start of the term :-( Sorry not really answering but I checked our dates and jealous! Last year's holidays seemed very long... This year an extra week!