To expect pre-school to sort out childcare during holidays

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My toddler will be eligible for 30 free hours' childcare from September. We have two options for pre-school: one at the primary school near us and one at the private nursery he goes to now. It's great that they offer this, but the only problem is that both do not have any childcare cover during holidays. My husband and I both work and do not get enough holidays to cover 13 weeks; plus, it would be nice if all of us could be off at the same time!

Holiday clubs etc. do not cater for three-year olds and we do not have any family that could look after our child for a whole day. My sister lives abroad and says their pre-school offers paid childcare all year round. AIBU to think that it's ridiculous that pre-schools are not sorting out cover during school holidays? What are we supposed to do?!

Bonkerz

RTFT! Or just read the op. Her child is currently at nursery. Op DOES need to move her child because this nursery only offers term time only hours. It's a bit unusual, but it is there in her op and subsequent posts.

OP I understand the issue and feel that you have been judged too harshly. My DS2 is three and at pre-school. He previously went to day nursery so holidays were not an issue. His pre school is term time only. DS1 is going to holiday clubs but they won't take kids until they are at least 4. DS2 isn't four until the end of August! It's causing us a reall headache.

Do you really expect this?? I uses to be a preschool teacher, and we deserve a break too! There is a difference between preschools and nurseries. Nurseries tend to stay open all year round, whereas preschools are only term time. If you can't find childcare now, what are you going to do when your child starts school? Welcome to the world of parenting.

Are you for real? You expected to pop out a kid and have someone else raise it during office hours?

Pay a childminder.
Pay an au pair.
Reduce your hours.
Get a term time job.

spring you'll always get that. Always. On here, in RL; everywhere. We are the only couple in DS2's class where both of us work full time, you can imagine the bullshit opinions on us.

Dont have kids if you dont have the time to take care of them or the time to sort for someone else to take care of them. They are your responsibility. Nursery is only responsible when they are in it. Organize your own life

FIND A CHILD MINDER! That's what everybody else in your exact situation does.

Jesus!

Op, if you are fed up with the complete and utter total fucking ignorance on this thread, you can ask for it to be deleted. You don't have to put up with every single halfwit on Mumsnet jumping in to have a bash at you.

Writermom22 Wed 24-May-17 21:13:06
Are you for real? You expected to pop out a kid and have someone else raise it during office hours?

Yes, she did.

And?

I had a lovely childminder around the corner who would take my babies through the holidays. Then once school was back and as I worked shifts she had them before or after school. I paid her as I was working at the time.

I didn't get any of that free gubbins when mine were small. Had to pay for play schemes, nurseries, beg off friends of kids. No parents to help. It's incredibly hard. And so glad I no longer have to do it. Yes you should thank your lucky stars that you're getting 30 hours a week in term time.

What next? Looking after your own children? Blimey that's radical.

It's called parenting and I think you need to start acting like one.

Op

Pre-Schools are term time only and most fit in with school hours 09.00-3.00 and most close in the holidays.

Nursery offers full time care 51 weeks of the year 07.30-6.30 or 8.00-6.00. Children age 3 plus are in the Pre-School section of a nursery.

All Early Years provision (apart from Nannies) have to follow The EYFS curriculum!

You deal with child care like the rest of us working parents. Nursery, Nanny, After School Club, Childminder, Holiday Play scheme and sometimes relatives.

OP - I think you may be being a bit unreasonable here about expecting the nursery/pre school to sort it out the lack of childcare over the holidays but you raise a valid problem that will affect many people. It's surprising that they don't offer the option for paid childcare over holiday periods for over 3s, but I can imagine that it would not be feasible for them to take on the extra staff for this and it's a big shame that most people on this thread seem to be taking the opportunity to have a go at you rather than getting heads together to try and offer creative solutions to your particular circumstances. I think you do need to think creatively about this one and be very proactive in trying to find local childminders who might be able to cover the holiday periods. Perhaps you will be able to find someone who will be able to act as a childminder or nanny for you during this time. The nursery may know of people, or a local agency. When my DD was at nursery a couple of the staff were available for private holiday care. Also perhaps get in touch with local colleges/universities - perhaps those that offer childcare or education courses may have students who will finish their studies at least in time for the long summer break and are eager to take on some part time work over the holidays. Or perhaps other local parents as well. It is clear that you will have to pay for something, or take on reciprocal childcare arrangements with another parent when you are free. In any case, I think your best bet is to put out your feelers - ask people, ask the nurseries, ask your childcare centre, ask local schools etc etc and you are bound to find something that will suit you. Good luck!

It's called parenting and I think you need to start acting like one.

Yes, because as we all know 'parenting' is not compatible with being a working mother.

What an incredibly stupid statement.

Haven't rtft, so I presume others have pointed out to op that the 30 free hours are funded by government, and they only fund term time only ie 39 weeks a year. It is funded early years education, not funded child care. The nursery DD was in used to 'smooth' the costs so that we paid the same every month, but I suppose that depends on the nursery ( it was only 15 hrs then). But in any case op, you pay for the hours you need over and above the free ones! Are you signed up for childcare vouchers at work? That gives a bit of help, depending on how much you earn.

He's probably progressing to Montessori which would only be open term time. As a parent you are responsible for your child it isn't up to nursery to sort this for you.

Are you for real pre school is responsible for term time YOU are responsible for holidays, do what the rest of us ordinary people do work it out or pay for it yourself, welcome to the world of parenting

metmacy, might I suggest reading OP's posts, if not the full thread, where she makes clear the unusual circumstances of the nursery where her DS is already settled and she already pays?

To be fair to the OP she's not complaining about paying for childcare, just the lack of availability during the school holidays from the ages of 3-5. And those saying she should have thought of this when she out her son in the nursery, I can imagine she simply didn't think 2 years ahead, a lot can change in two years. I know I don't think in that much detail that far ahead. I do agree though that the title is a bit misleading.

My current private nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round, including all bank holidays except Christmas Day and New Year. Just look around and find one that offers more hours. The 30h weekly entitlement is only during term anyway. My nursery either asks parents to take kids only during term, or extends the funding pro-rata throughout the year.

THIS THREAD IS EYE WATERINGLY FRUSTRATING.

READ THE OP'S POSTS PROPERLY.

READ THE OP'S POSTS PROPERLY.

READ THE OP'S POSTS PROPERLY.

AAARRRGGGHHH!

Thank you for putting into (shouty) words just what I've been thinking and saying

Families who use pre schools who I know tend to have a sahp or Granny takes them there. People seemed surprised when I didn't even entertain the idea of pre-school as we are both at work. We're really lucky to have flexible employers and a year round nursery, otherwise I don't know what we'd do.

I do sympathise. As a manager of a Pre-School, I can confirm that the rate we will be paid for the 30 hrs will, as always, be way below what we need to get by on. (As graduate Early Years Practitioners on the minimum wage, it is a disgrace - pre-schools are currently the poor relations). Most of my staff are mothers themselves, who have their own children off in the holidays. However, there are some nurseries who can offer the "stretched" 30 hours, where your child can attend all year round, for fewer hours per week - it is worth asking your local council. As some contributors have pointed out, a childminder offering the year round entitlement may be worth considering. This is a major flaw in the government offer, that most parents have to work over the school holidays. Good luck with finding the right childcare!