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.

We were hoping to send DD5 to the holiday club held at DD1's nursery but they have informed us that they aren't allowed to run it. They sent me the guidance and it says that unless they are on school premises then they can't operate. Hopefully there will be a change before the holidays otherwise we will be using grandparents (no vulnerability issues but against the rules) but I realise how lucky we are to have that option.

The club I usually use runs on school premises and is Ofsted registered so I hope it will be OK because otherwise, the only option I can see is my H giving up work. What a palaver.

I imagine Govt won't decide more than 3 weeks in advance, so I would expect an announcement on holiday clubs at the beginning of July.

Not sure why childminders are such a ridiculous suggestion though
Or a summer babysitter - there are plenty of students in this country, doesn't need to be an au pair.

We are at the point in this whole thing where you just need to assess your own risk - if grandparents are relatively young and in good health then there is very little risk to them helping you with childcare in a couple of MONTHS time.

The Government need to let holiday clubs know in what shape or form they can run in the summer, people need to make plans now! What on earth are working parents supposed to do?

Our local before and after school club is running there holiday camp for the summer, just not allowed to open at the moment offering before and after school care?

Why is a childminder such a strange suggestion, they are already open and can take children of all ages and will mostly have small numbers of children in so any risk is lower.

No one is coming to check whether grandparents are doing the childcare so just do that. It's shit, but it's necessary.

My parents live in a small village 1.5 hours away. The rest of the village would notice if they suddenly had my 3 dc living with them in the summer! I’m hoping things are lifted so dc can stay with them because we’re exhausted from work and homeschooling - both key workers but dh is working from home so school won’t have them.

Our region (Scotland) are continuing to provide hubs for keyworker DC. I've been on our rota every week throughout (teacher) and although the rota continues through the summer apparently now it will be staffed by out of school club staff and childcare services 🤷‍♀️. Neither myself or my colleagues really minded being on the rota through the holidays- no one is going anywhere and it's nice to get a bit of normality every week. Wonder why this can't just be the same everywhere 🤔

I dont understand this.

On the one hand we have the government saying theyll be running holiday camps. On the other we have holiday camps bei g told they're not allowed to open

DSs school always run a holiday camp. .At Easter it was only for key workers. In worried it will be the same again over the summer..If so no idea how we will cope. We've heard nothing it about it either way at present.

@ivfgottostaypositive Many people don't have the luxury of young, healthy grandparents who don't work and are in a position, and willing to provide childcare. And I don't understand why the government thinks that people being forced into ad hoc childcare arrangements, potentially with vulnerable members of the population, is less of a risk than the entirely outdoors, ofsted registered holiday club we use, which runs on the site of a nursery. I've no doubt they may well change their minds in a few weeks time, but that will be too late for the clubs to organise opening.

Oh and we cant use grandparents as they're over 3 hours away

I’ve already phoned all childminders- about after school and extra in the summer- no one is taking on anyone new!

They are allowed if they can keep children in bubbles of 15. Maybe they have decided that they can't manage that.

Agree with ivfgottostaypositive

@m0therofdragons you need to not care what the village thinks, how do they know you’re not in a bubble with your parents? If anyone questions then they can be told MYOB or that you’re now a single parent and you’re in a bubble with them.

@Genevieva Only if they run on school premises. If they don't run on school premises they are explicitly not allowed.

Why is it being a twonk to suggest childcare? My 18 year old has been asked by two families to work for them this summer. Plenty of people avail to work in the uk including I assume professionals from the summer clubs that are struggling to open.

I don’t think the look after your own children is being an ‘oracle’

These things are a privilege not a right.

There is another active thread where the OP has been told to go back to work, full of posters chorusing "put your DC in a holiday club". Where are these magical holiday clubs?

A couple of my friends have asked if dd(15) would like to look after their dc in the holidays as they are struggling with holiday clubs. Do you know a sensible teen who could help?

New girls- could your daughter come to me. I have investigated all sorts of childcare and none is available

I thought this was still being discussed by DfE and that some more guidance is expected this week.

Article dated 17-June-2020 www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/article/holiday-club-and-out-of-school-providers-in-talks-with-dfe-over-reopening-plans

So there may still be some hope.

I've just seen this petition, might be worth a punt

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/327895/sponsors/new?token=YjxXrZ-cw5lsn9cxjBJS

The thing is, people keep mentioning 'keyworker children' etc etc...as more people go back to work the keyworker argument is moot. Just because someone isn't a (now defunct term) keyworker doesn't mean they can give up their job.

I think when OP mentioned the policy makers can't imagine life without a nanny was a bit on the nose but pretty spot on. I can't imagine Boris contemplating sticking Winston in a summer camp in a few years, can you?

The whole thing is a mess.

@Davincitoad What a spectacularly unhelpful comment. Ok, so all the doctors, and nurses and firefighters take leave over the summer holidays to look after their children. Marvellous plan. 🙄

My childminder is running now and so I have booked in for a few days over summer. Holiday clubs near me are possibly running but one at 40% of usual intake and one saying probably only key worker / vulnerable.