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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect pre-school to sort out childcare during holidays

341 replies

Springishere0 · 23/05/2017 13:39

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?! Angry

OP posts:
helpimitchy · 23/05/2017 13:59

🤣😂🤣😂😂🤣😂

whosahappyharry · 23/05/2017 14:00

What were you expecting to happen when he goes to primary school?

Februaryjones · 23/05/2017 14:02

Yanbu OP. I feel exactly the same now DD is at primary school. Why aren't they arranging her childcare during the holidays? It's discusting.

Mummysh0rtlegs · 23/05/2017 14:02

I know you are all enjoying slating the OP, but there is an issue here. Until now the 15 hours offered to 3 and 4 year olds has been offered as education. The 30 hours for those working over 16 hours and earning under £100k per person is childcare. The idea being to help people into work. There is then a gap between the pre-schools that are being asked to offer it and it actually enabling people to work. At school age there is wrap around care, holiday clubs and camps. Those aren't available for pre-school age, you'd be hard pressed to find a childminder for 16 hours a week during every school holiday. I think pre-schools will need to offer more wrap around care (I know some already do) and holiday care if they want people to go back to work in an affordable way.

I have worked full time with kids, been a SAHM and I am now a WAHM (24 hours a week from home around my 1 and 4 year olds). It is all a bit of a minefield actually finding help when you need it. It isn't about paying for it but the actual availability of care.

PhilODox · 23/05/2017 14:04

Well, whosa- the teachers will have nothing to do in the holidays...

BrieAndChilli · 23/05/2017 14:05

You need either a rivate nursery who is open during the holidays (but the free hours will still be only term time) or find a childminder that will do holiday care.

Original poster
Springishere0 · 23/05/2017 14:05

He is currently not in pre school, but in private nursery where we pay for him to go all year round. But when he turns three, he'll have to change to preschool, with different teachers, who have all school holidays off and they therefore do not offer any additional childcare during school holidays.

The 30 free hours are offered by government to encourage both parents working. I only get the legal minimum holidays, so how can I look after my child during school holidays?

When he goes to proper school, he'll be older and he'll be able to go to holiday clubs.

In the meantime, while I am grateful for free childcare, it seems they have not thought of what parents are supposed to do during school holidays. I have no choice but for him to progress to preschool when he is three and therefore losing cover during school holidays.

I have found no option for paid childcare during holidays. If anyone has any great ideas, please let me know.

OP posts:
BoomBoomsCousin · 23/05/2017 14:07

I'm surprised that the private nursery doesn't, in my experience most do. But you are right that the approach to childcare in this country is piecemeal and poorly thought out for the needs of families.

Februaryjones · 23/05/2017 14:07

How do you think other people look after their children in the holidays? We're all in the same boat.

Mummysh0rtlegs · 23/05/2017 14:08

Why do you have to change? I don't understand, if I was still working outside the home my son would stay in day nursery. I can't afford that with the work I do so he goes to pre-school and I work evenings and weekends.

BoomBoomsCousin · 23/05/2017 14:09

BTW the 30 free hours isn't offered to encourage both parents working. It's offered because it's supposed to be good developmentally for the child.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 23/05/2017 14:09

So does the private nursery only take 0, 1 and 2 year olds then? Otherwise I don't understand why he can't stay at his current nursery?

strawberrygate · 23/05/2017 14:09

He doesn't HAVE to progress to pre school. Find a childminder or a different nursery ( find it a bit odd that you're saying the nursery kicks them out at age 3)

GaelicSiog · 23/05/2017 14:09

OP, this isn't exactly a problem exclusive to you. Other parents manage perfectly well.

Count yourself lucky you live in a country with 30 free hours at all.

wickerlampshade · 23/05/2017 14:10

send them to a private nursery all year round. you get what you pay for.

Wtfdoipick · 23/05/2017 14:11

Are you sure the private nursery does not have a preschool class, I've not come across any that don't.

JassyRadlett · 23/05/2017 14:12

But when he turns three, he'll have to change to preschool, with different teachers, who have all school holidays off and they therefore do not offer any additional childcare during school holidays.

Why can't he stay in his current nursery? Ours is offering the 30 hours (sort of) and they all have to work to the EYFS curriculum.

sleepyhead · 23/05/2017 14:12

Yes, it's the free childcare vs free pre-school education conundrum.

Before dh lost his job and the whole thing became moot, we were in the situation that we couldn't access the "free childcare" because as working parents we needed the flexibility of 6-6 care. Our council refused to fund enough places in private nurseries to meet demand as they said the funding was for "pre-school education" and there were enough council nursery places.

If the op is able to access a 6-6 private nursery that also offers the free hours during term time then that's her obvious course of action, but that's not something that is automatically available to everyone.

AppleOfMyEye10 · 23/05/2017 14:12

Where I am we have school terms and during holidays there are aftercare clubs available for this exact situation. The price you pay is just worked out according to the number of weeks you require and the same as the fees you pay per term.

ExplodedCloud · 23/05/2017 14:12

Surely you don't have to move him? Or can't you get 30 free hours at his current nursery?

FrenchMartiniTime · 23/05/2017 14:12

it seems they have not thought of what parents are supposed to do during school holidays

Because it isn't their problem, it's yours! Jeez

Maybe you should have thought about this before having kids OP?

callymarch · 23/05/2017 14:13

Dont understand why he has to leave private nursery with year round care when he turns 3. Mine were in private nursery right up until they started school. 8am to 6pm if i had wanted or needed those hours.

SoupDragon · 23/05/2017 14:14

Is it wrong that I guffawed out loud at this?!

I did too.

I have found no option for paid childcare during holidays. If anyone has any great ideas, please let me know.

Yes, you find a private nursery that does all year care. All three of mine attended one, as did many of their friends and many many other children.

Or you find a childminder who drops off at your chosen preschool. I know several that do this at the preschool near me.

ForeverFaithless · 23/05/2017 14:16

Parental Leave - many of us have to resort to this unpaid leave to cover the long summer hols, even when they are at school.

Vroomster · 23/05/2017 14:16

Just keep him in the private nursery? Why do you have to change to the pre school? The free hours are term time only.