Holiday camps cancelled- what are key workers supposed to do?

[Dishwashersaurous]

My children’s holiday camp provider has just emailed to say that despite thinking that they were going to run, they have been told by department for education that they cannot run.
I booked these days in September.

I understand that if dfe say that they cannot run then they cannot.

But my aibu is what am I , and millions of other parents, supposed to ?

We’ve been just about coping but I was clinging on to the summer camps to enable us both to work normally.

Grandparents are not legally allowed in the house.
No where is open.
I can’t take anymore leave/ unpaid leave etc, nor can my husband as it’s been used up in the crisis so far.

My friends with primary age DC’s are using a combination of grandparents, annual holidays and wfh.

One we use is hoping to open as usual but not yet confirmed. Another was hoping to open early (6 July) to help parents who's kids can't go to school but they've just been told by DfE they can't.

Like so many, We do a mix of hol, grandparents & holiday clubs over the 6 weeks. We're just keeping our fingers crossed by then restrictions on seeing other households have been relaxed otherwise DD will be watching tv/running feral while we WFH. We're lucky we can both WFM, those that can't will be royally screwed over.

Lots of families dont have grandparents able to help. Mine included and it really grates on me when that is rolled out. We use nurseries/holiday clubs etc because we don't have family support

Is it really govt rules that holiday camps can't run? The two we use are both saying they hope to run but can't confirm. We can't use grandparents as they are 70+ and have only 2 weeks leave at the same time (has to be booked 12 months in advance and can' t be changed) so we're going to struggle if there's nothing at all.

Our holiday clubs have confirmed they are not opening, following guidance from the DfE. One of them is an outdoor forest one 🤷‍♀️ We have pooled our holiday and are covering 4 weeks between us, and winging it for the part weeks at the start and end. That leaves us with no holiday for the rest of the year, but grandparents are all over 70, so not an option. I have no idea what the government is thinking, I gave up trying to understand a long time ago. I can only assume they think the magic childcare fairies are going to look after all the keyworker children.

People will use family and friends. It's already happening.

Ooh can I have a magic childcare fairy please!

I've continued to provide childcare for my GC. I honestly don't see the difference between me having them and them being in contact with teachers and other pupils.

I was on the shielding list, but with what we now know my specialist Nurse doesn't view me as being high risk. That and treatment options opening up.

Being over 70 is no longer alone, considered vulnerable.

People are going to lose their jobs. I'd advise anyone to do their own risk assessment. This is going to be with us until a vaccine is found.

In Italy we have holiday camps running, but by god the prices now are eye watering. 200 euros for one week for one child 8.30-4pm. Last year is was 220 euros for two weeks! And we have a three month holiday. And have been home since Feb. I have been WFH with kids. I will probably have to go back to work in August so we are splitting holidays and praying for a miracle in the last three weeks of the holiday when we have nothing in place. One good thing here is the government have said you have a right to four weeks parental leave for covid, so that helps somewhat.

We are running socially distanced schemes in “bubbles” of 15. Maybe it isn’t profitable for some providers to do this?

Our neighbours have been looking after their grandchildren for a while now. No one bats an eyelid as their parents have to work / we understand there is no other choice. Do what you have to do to get by.

Maybe it really is that the centre of power can’t imagine life without a nanny

Supercat- that’s what they had planned, but now saying that they have been told they cannot run.

If I could use family/friends/random local teenagers for holiday childcare, does the govt really think I’d choose to fork out many hundreds of pounds for holiday clubs instead.

Same issue here, little one usually in private nursery but that’s closed still until August most likely. No clubs for big one. GP1 going back to work now things are starting to open, GP2 in a different country. 2 full time jobs.

And grandparents won’t do anything- they have done their own risk assessment and they won’t be happy to do anything. Not an option

Sorry, I should have clarified. Grandparents over 70, and in poor health. They'd struggle to do much more than a few hours babysitting at the best of times. I'll be damned if I'm going to put their health at risk because the government can't tell its arse from its elbow. I've no doubt that there will be a last minute announcement that clubs can run- but that will be too late for most to actually, you know, prepare, and hire staff. Which is why most, but not all, have already called it now.

This is the guidance covering childcare settings www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures

the government have not killed off enough grandparents yet so are looking to up the numbers. It is ridiculous nonsense and any claim to be following sciences is just lying.

Family, friends, out of work people who might otherwise be staffing the holiday camps are your options.

Bugger have DS booked into one - should I expect an email?

His normal decided not to run weeks ago.

I'll have to quit work or take loads of unpaid (if they'll let me) as am expected to be returning to 'normal' now ☹️

This is so poorly thought out.

Ours already said it’s not running. I really don’t see what people are going to do, perhaps ask for unpaid leave, no idea if it will be granted.

What a mess.

@supercatlady surely holiday clubs come under 'childcare settings' mentioned and therefore are allowed to open. Whether they do or not is obviously up to them.

Oh, well there's your problem:

6.3 Are before and after school clubs allowed to operate?
Providers which are registered with Ofsted or with a Childminder Agency which have before and after school clubs on school premises and can ensure they follow the protective measures guidance, are able to operate.
This is only the case for registered providers which operate on school premises. All other out of school settings are not able to reopen.

It clarified further up that before and after school includes holiday clubs. So anything not on school grounds isn't running.

My parents have a very large garden and have suggested the children Play in the garden and garage if weather isnt great. Ive said id put up the tent. Thankfully we dont need that as both mainly wfh atm. But if nothing changes in september it Might be the only option.

We are very sorry to say that we will not be able to run our camps this summer. This is a consequence of the Government’s updated statement last week that ‘holiday providers are to remain closed for the time-being.

We have put in a huge amount of preparation for this summer, and, after making significant adjustments to our programme and operations (see below for details), were confident that we could offer Ultimate fun in a safe environment. The latest government statement has made it clear that we do not currently have a mandate to run and there are not likely to be changes in the near future, despite our lobbying of MP’s, Department for Education and the media.