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Original poster

Have the government forgotten about grandparents?

117 replies

Argeles · 24/08/2020 05:37

My parents usually look after our children while my Husband and I go to work (pre-lockdown).

As we are a couple and my parents are a couple, we are not allowed to form a bubble.

So, what will happen on the 1st September when my Husband and I have to physically return to work?

My parents are very concerned about breaking the ‘bubble’ rules, and we are very worried as we have no other childcare options. I know of at least 7 other families in my DD’s class who are in the same situation too, and know there will be many, many more across the country.

Is a government announcement on this imminent, or have grandparents been forgotten about??? I can’t believe there hasn’t been any information on this!

OP posts:
Original poster
Argeles · 24/08/2020 06:32

@IgnoranceIsStrength

Yes it's awful. We have to leave the house and be on our journey by 6.45am, and the nurseries here open at 7.30 or 8am.

Both of us are on new contracts and so there is minus zero chance of any flexibility whatsoever from either school.

OP posts:
Original poster
Argeles · 24/08/2020 06:35

@EleanorOalike

I may have to, but none of us are comfortable with the idea - including my parents, who are telling us not to! We have also increased our working days for financial reasons, and so we're going to look into how much a nanny salary would be.

OP posts:
EleanorOalike · 24/08/2020 06:39

Do you have a commute or do you need to be in school at 7am?

If you commute then look for a nursery or childminder closer to your place of work, beg your elder child’s school to admit her to breakfast club and ask around if any parents in her class could drop her to school with their own child.

If you are getting into school super early, then explain to your employer that in these circumstances it’s just not possible and ask if you can arrive later (or you and your husband take turns for early starts). When I was working in Secondary my official start time was 8am but most of my colleagues with young children arrived closer to 8.30am.

“Nanny urgently needed” might solve a lot of these issues though, if you get the advert in today!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
reefedsail · 24/08/2020 06:39

You just have to find other childcare, as you would have had to if you didn't have local grandparents.

You surely can't think your school would let you teach remotely because you didn't start organising alternative childcare arrangements back in March?

Original poster
Argeles · 24/08/2020 06:39

@CrazyCatLady12

Leaving our jobs is not an option whatsoever. I only returned to work in January after 5 years at home as a SAHM, and only our financial circumstances propelled me back to work. If I could stay at home again, trust me, I would.

I have spoken to nurseries directly, and they have all told me they are full and not accepting any new children. My eldest DD would still need to be looked after and transported to and from school, and so a nursery place wouldn't resolve this issue.

I think our best bet is offering to teach online.

OP posts:
latticechaos · 24/08/2020 06:43

@reefedsail

You just have to find other childcare, as you would have had to if you didn't have local grandparents.

You surely can't think your school would let you teach remotely because you didn't start organising alternative childcare arrangements back in March?

Don't be silly. At no point has the op said she wants to teach remotely has she?

Don't make things up.

hopefulhalf · 24/08/2020 06:44

I do sympathasise but as others have said I don't think the goverment have forgotten , I think this is by design not accident. They absolutely do not want those aged 55-70 catching this thing, this is where it really differs from flu the morbidity and mortality of this age group is much increased.

latticechaos · 24/08/2020 06:45

Hahaha - the op HAS now said she wants to teach online. So I have to give Flowers of apology to @reefedsail

How can you teach online op when schools are back??

CrazyCatLady12 · 24/08/2020 06:45

Good luck with that then. You obviously know your employers, but I wouldn't have thought that will be an option while schools are open as normal. It sounds to me that a nanny or childminder is your best option. I appreciate its an extra expense but with any luck it won't be required long term and your parents will be able to resume free childcare in the longer term

earlydoors42 · 24/08/2020 06:46

Child minder?

Original poster
Argeles · 24/08/2020 06:47

@EleanorOalike

Thank you for this, we will definitely speak with our employers about early starts. We have to commute for about 40 minutes each way. One of our friends said she could drop off and pick up our eldest DD, but she was expecting this to be at around 8am, and pick up by 4pm. We were also reluctant, as we thought it was breaking rules, but we may have no choice.

OP posts:
FippertyGibbett · 24/08/2020 06:47

Just go back to your usual routine.
Just about everyone else has .

noitsachicken · 24/08/2020 06:47

You have left this very late to organise! Your parents don’t want to provide childcare, but it sounds like you are just hoping they will change their mind when they are forced into a corner!
Why would your school be happy with you teaching online when all the children are in school? Who will supervise the class?
Either one of you gives up work or you have just over a week to find a nanny or childminder! Good luck!

Original poster
Argeles · 24/08/2020 06:50

@latticechaos

Our school has already said that if any of us are in quarantine upon returning from overseas, then we must teach online. Each classroom has an Interactive whiteboard, and each student has either a laptop of an Ipad, and so the students would remain in a classroom, and the lesson would be delivered by myself and received either on the whiteboard or on the students' devices. A member of staff would supervise the class (just as per usual when a Teacher is absent).

OP posts:
latticechaos · 24/08/2020 06:51

@FippertyGibbett

Just go back to your usual routine. Just about everyone else has .
Did you rtft???

The GPs can not offer the childcare.

latticechaos · 24/08/2020 06:51

[quote Argeles]@latticechaos

Our school has already said that if any of us are in quarantine upon returning from overseas, then we must teach online. Each classroom has an Interactive whiteboard, and each student has either a laptop of an Ipad, and so the students would remain in a classroom, and the lesson would be delivered by myself and received either on the whiteboard or on the students' devices. A member of staff would supervise the class (just as per usual when a Teacher is absent).[/quote]
Are you in an independent school?

Original poster
Argeles · 24/08/2020 06:52

To clarify, it's not that I want to teach online, but my school have said that doing so is an expectation (such as for those who are in quarantine), and I would also happily do this. That is what I meant.

OP posts:
Original poster
Argeles · 24/08/2020 06:53

@latticechaos

No.

OP posts:
Thelovelyflower · 24/08/2020 06:53

Government guidance from 13th August:

2.6 Can I look after my grandchildren?
People from two different households can meet indoors, which enables you to spend time with your grandchildren. At this time, we still advise that people from different households avoid close contact so childcare should only be provided if it is possible to socially distance from your grandchildren. If you have formed a support bubble with your grandchildren’s household, which is allowed if either you or they live in a ‘single adult household’, then there can be close contact and social distancing is not necessary.

boatyroo · 24/08/2020 06:54

To be honest with the situation involving your grandmother, I probably wouldn't be comfortable at the moment either. Your parents would be devastated if she caught it from them after being so careful all this time.
A nanny may be the best option, I appreciate it's a big financial hit, but hopefully only temporarily. Have you contacted all nurseries for your youngest near your work and en route? And childminders near work?

Carycy · 24/08/2020 06:55

I don’t understand why you haven’t looked into alternative childcare. You both work so it’s not like you are single parents struggling on a minimum wage. That is what most people have to do. What do you expect the government to do?? Pay for your childcare because you are used to getting it for free. Either ignore the rule or pay for the childcare. We all have to make a few sacrifices. You are luck you have been able to stay and work from home all this time. A lot of us haven’t had that option.

TW2013 · 24/08/2020 06:58

You still though won't have anyone to supervise your toddler. There should be a number of sixthformers no longer able to go straight to uni. Could you look into recruiting one of them if you can't find an existing nanny/ childminder?

Original poster
Argeles · 24/08/2020 06:59

@Thelovelyflower

Thank you for this. This is why my parents are apprehensive, yet at the same time, they are telling us not to get a nanny or a childminder, as they don't want the children at increased risk!

OP posts:
EleanorOalike · 24/08/2020 07:01

I almost am loathe to suggest this as I know it is contentious, painful etc...but... could your youngest temporarily live with their grandparents?

It seems it might be easiest to do this until you can get a nursery place/childminder/nanny. Then you’ve only your oldest to sort out and you’ve already had an offer of help. At the moment the 2.5 year old shouldn’t pose much of a risk to your parents.

I only suggest it as this is what some of my NHS friends and others who work in health and social care have had to do...and for much longer periods sadly.

Italiandreams · 24/08/2020 07:01

Less places in wrap around care/plus more people requiring them , this was always going to be a problem . Thinking about how many grandparents are on the playground everyday, that number of childcare places just doesn’t exist. I feel for you OP, I think people will be using grandparents because they will have no choice but I also respect that yours don’t want to and there is nothing wrong with feeling like that.

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