Is it time we all helped to provide voluntary child care

[Maryjane3227]

So I've read all the frustrated threads from parents wishing their children could return to school, and working in a school I know that September could mean "blended learning"(part-time hours in school, continuation of home learning).
How many mumsnetters would be happy to give 2 hours a week voluntarily to their communities to help with the child care provision that will be required if/when children are not in school come Sep?
If for example church halls or empty office spaces could be used, and all the necessary legal bumpf was completed, how many of us would help out for the good of everyone?
Or is this mess someone else's problem to sort out?

On the basis that the vast majority of families were unable/unwilling to provide an adult (any adult) to help out at one Brownie meeting a term (i.e. 1.5 hours), when I tried to run a rota, I don't think you'll get anywhere near the number of volunteers needed.

@heartsonacake

No, I wouldn’t do it. It’s a nice idea, but it’s just a fantasy that would never be achievable.

At the end of the day, if you choose to have children childcare is your issue to sort out.

Oh aye yeah. We all already do that. It's just that now ft education has been taken away. Silly us not having a back up plan for that.

I didn't say it should be run by people who are fucked financially. Just people who felt they could spare the time.
I was imagining that some Primary aged kids might need 1 or 2 days a week if their school is running alternate days of school for different year groups in Autumn.
I fully see what another poster says about it being just as risky as full time school because of children interacting with adults from different households.So it probably would never work.
It was just a genuine question, thinking aloud.
Interesting to read the replies. So many different people out there.
And yes, those if you who said this type of thing shouldn't be done by women, I agree.
Maybe there needs to be a dadsnet.

I would. I work ft but if there was any need for it on a weekend I could spare a couple of hours. Why not!

So basically you want to open a free nursery school/playgroup? well you can do that but not only will you need DBS but all the other rigmarole required by Ofsted... Oh, and who would pay for all the insurances?

just as risky as full time school because of children interacting with adults from different households

Only the same as using a child minder the other 3 days a week which is what I'm planning to do.

Wouldn’t that be pointless? If there are let’s say 10 people a week looking after the same children (makes up 20 hours), any infection would spread like wildfire. can as well open schools as normal, the risk would be much lower

Nope, don’t really like kids other than my own

Nope, I wouldn't sign up for that. Why would I look after other people's children for free!

Rules against reciprocal child care should be relaxed - urgently, as we find our way out of this crisis, but also long term.

Two friends should be able to look after each other's children for several hours each week without anyone else needing to get involved.

YABU. I don't have children yet a few years ago I volunteered as a brownie leader locally.

The girls were delightful but their parents treated me like the hired help.

I've been working all the way through, so no thanks.

I taught for 10 years and I am NEVER working with other people's children again. Some parents are mental!

It might be something after-school clubs could look at

Nope. I don't think leaving kids with unqualified randomers is the solution. Childcare isn't just showing up - a lot of prep and resourcing goes into it. Who does all that? Then there's behaviour management policy and procedure, safeguarding etc. Everyone would need a DBS check and they'd need PPE in place for dealing with any accidents or illness. As PP have pointed out, they'd be veritable hotbeds of transmission.

No problem, happy to do it as long as you don't mind me telling several families that their DCs can't come to school any more.

I wouldn't because there's a pandemic. I'm not even caring for my own grandchild. Both me and ds want me to be alive to see her grow up.
So we aren't taking chances.

How would it work with safeguarding? I suppose if parents needed the care, they'd take it up, irrespective.

Nope not for me. My kids are home educated so not something I’d want to join in on.

I would not leave my child with a succession of volunteers, to be honest.

I have a full-time job, but even if I were free, I have no experience at all of looking after children - I've never even babysat. I wouldn't have the first idea what to do with a child left in my care.

And there is a Dadsnet, it's a topic on this site.

Well, OP, most men have already had the foresight to secure unpaid childcare while they work and have been doing this for years, so this issue disproportionately affects the mothers of their children.

The notion of women providing even more unpaid labour to ensure there is no disruption to the men's careers during this crisis is not something I'd support.

Voluntary childcare would give schools even more leeway to not pull their finger out and open quickly.
Plus, expecting people to do two hours of voluntary child care would put people a d their families at extra risk of being exposed to the virus. And what about DBS checks?

I've worked in education for many years. Primary and secondary school is hard work. I would rather home school my two, than support 25 children. Enjoyed supporting in colleges and universities. But children are definitely hard work!

Right. So maybe there needs to be more government subsidised childcare. Not just as a response to Covid 19, but in general. Something that can provide professional standards of childcare/help with homework and go beyond the typical hours of an after-school club.
Perhaps it can't just be a mums army or dad's army response but has to be part of what the Dfe provides for kids under the age of 10.
I hope schools are back full time in Sep, it would be simpler for me. But if they aren't, there are lots of people who won't cope (including me) because we don't live near family and friends already juggle.