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?

No thanks. I find other people's kids really annoying. I'm happy to cut my cloth to pay for the extended childcare I will require.

Not a chance. I wouldn’t want the stress and worry of looking after other people’s children, I certainly wouldn’t trust someone random to look after mine just because they lived near me, and it would be distressing and unsettling for the children to have no continuity of care.

Not a chance! I don’t have my own offspring through choice...I don’t want to spend time with someone else’s!

There's lots of guiding and scouting leaders that have dbs checks but I suspect they're all in similar positions of needing childcare themselves.
I wonder if teenage babysitters etc could volunteer with small groups of primary aged children if the programme was set and then use the experience as ?course work etc for their own studies.

No way would I let a group of random untrained, unlicensed unpaid men pr women look after my children in a 'church hall' all day. What exactly do you think they would be doing with them, teaching them? Sorry its a really dangerous idea, would rather plonk them in front of the TV and wfh.

You cant normally count teenagers in your ratios of adults to children. They need supervising too. I used to be a brownie leader and my teen help was self harming so i had all the safeguarding for that too. Poor love.

*I think if the way we deal with part time schooling is by using a variety of grandparents, friends, childminders, play dates, community helpers to get through the week....we may as well just open schools fully because the transmission points will be really high with the former. The whole point of 'Stay at home' and school bubbles is to cut all that right down to bar minimum (in theory).
I agree with what @hayfeverhellish said there.

I’m a childminder, if parents Want me to look after their child it’s £5 per hour. I’m full with my regular children and have had so many enquires for people desperate for childcare including one who has told me in the past there is no way they would ever use a childminder because we are untrustworthy. There’s no way I’m taking in extra children from families I Don’t know and therefore don’t feel I can trust at the moment. They will have to wait for the after school club to reopen or hope that school magically sort the issues out.
I think the government should be throwing money at the problem, just like private businesses (like me) are having to do.

Children don’t need childcare from random volunteers although all the parents I know all work full time do wouldn’t have any availability. Children should be back in school full time from September getting an education from qualified teachers.

*God no
*
smug owner of adult children>

ditto! Not a chance.

I have a current DBS and have always worked with children and young people.
My own children are young adults now and I can juggle my other commitments.
I’d happily help out in a structured school setting.
Listening to reading, small groups, play activities, for an hour or 2.
Church hall all day ? Sorry, don’t think so.

I’m so angry about the school situation and incredibly concerned for all the ‘ invisible’ children out there who need to be safe and back in school.

It’s not great having children at university or attempting to enter the work force right now but I feel incredibly sorry for all the families with school aged children too.

Can we also remember how some classes treat supply teachers who are actually trained to stand in front of groups of children. And actually not just supply teachers, but fully qualified members of staff. If pupils spot a weakness they will run amok! There’s no way I would subject my completely capable teenage dd to that without major support behind her. I’m a Brown Owl and know how hard some adults find dealing with half a dozen noisy girls. There’s no way this plan would ever work!

I have a full DBS, am a qualified first-aider, and over the years have spent many hours volunteering in my DC's school.

There is absolutely no way that I would sign up for this.

Why on earth should people be working for free so that strangers can go out and be paid for doing their work? Childcare is undervalued enough as it is. Why make that worse by expecting women people to do it for free?

No thanks! I do other things but I wouldn't be signing up for that.

Same for me. I really wouldn't enjoy looking after children I'd much rather do something else worthwhile to help out.

I don't get how 15 different people each providing 2hrs a week of voluntary childcare to a group of kids is any safer than those kids being back at school being educated by their regular teachers

No. I sacrificed earning money to stay home with my children, no way im giving up my free time so others, that usually look down to sahm, can go back to work .

No thanks. Also where you say empty offices etc yeah not quite that simple. Rent to pay, utilities, insurance, fire alarms, legionelle tests, staffing ratio, toilets, waste disposal etc. Guess what I rent out 😀

It's not so much that I wouldn't sign up, it's more than I wouldn't sign my children up to that type of childcare.

I’d do it. I’ve been furloughed and was feeling pretty useless so I’ve taken on some volunteering already and would happily take on more. I think we should all pull together for the common good.

It's not so much that I wouldn't sign up, it's more than I wouldn't sign my children up to that type of childcare.

Err no, I work, and am infertile.
People with children are lucky, even with childcare issues in my eyes..would love to be in that position. (no, I'm not saying it's easy either...I do sympathise...)

Yes. I have a 4 year old and would join a collective.

Me and a few friends are already sharing childcare. I won’t be taking on any more kids! Think I’m going grey! 😂

That's a no from me.

I definitely would, I do have a toddler but until I can get a job he could be looked after by his fran and grandad for a few hours, assuming that is permitted

I'd be happy to volunteer to help deep clean the school as well, I'd that was helpful

Bucking the trend here! I’m retired, I’m a Cub Leader so technically I do look after other people’s children for 2 hours a week!

I miss the Cubs terribly....where do I sign up