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.

[Serin]

So many bored students at home.
So many families needing help.
There's got to be a solution there somewhere.

[Yurona]

Childminders? Both mine will go to our childminder who has checked that it is ok

[Dishwashersaurous]

Serin- but how do I find a student. And then feel confident that they can look after my children.

I explicitly choose a holiday camp because I thought that was the best option for my children

[randomsabreuse]

Even though my mum was a SAHM I loved my occasional days at local holiday clubs. Meant I could spend time with other children.

Yes a student solves the "childcare" issue if you are lucky but doesn't exactly help with socialisation which many children are needing.

[TuckMyWin]

The suggestions on this thread just highlight how batshit the policy is. It's apparently not safe for an ofsted registered holiday club to operate within the social distancing guidelines, even if they operate entirely outdoors, because they are not on school premises (nursery premises doesn't count). So instead, we're going to force people into arrangements with grandparents who are only a bit vulnerable, random students or teenagers with no childcare qualifications, who may well be working for more than one family, and ad hoc arrangements with other friends and family, which will also lead to multiple households mixing. Anyone who can't rustle up one of those options will have to take unpaid leave, or, if their employer is not accommodating, quit. Which will not at all lead to staffing issues on hospital wards, for example. Totally logical.

[Brandaris]

Isn’t anyone worried about the neglect/abuse this whole thing is going to create? Desperate parents trying to find any kind of childcare so they don’t lose their jobs?

All these suggestions of students etc, I don’t know many students and I wouldn’t trust one who I didn’t know with my children. Holiday clubs, childcarers etc are all much safer options as there are safeguards in place and training- a random 18 year old won’t necessarily have a clue or be actually a safe option for a full working day five days a week!

[Bakedbrie]

Barracudas website is showing a closure for summer camps.

[dreamingbohemian]

Can you reply to their email asking if any of their staff would be interested in providing childcare over the summer?

If there's a university near you, they most likely have a student jobs board you could place an advert on.

[Freddiefox]

The DFE are meant to be supplying government guidance on the 4th July. The current advice is they can not open. I think they are trying to stop wrap around care, but will introduce guidance for summer hols.

[Mintychoc1]

I would raise this with your MP.
This is going to be a national problem. I expect something about it will be announced about it at the next update at the end of the month.

[Notcontent]

It’s a huge problem and not everyone has grandparents or other family who can help out.

The “just hire a student” solution is only possible if you are working from home. No one in their right mind would leave their kids at home alone with someone who has no childcare experience, etc.

[Dishwashersaurous]

Funnily enough I don’t live near a university.

I’d put in place robust childcare and Now the government says that it cannot run. It’s ridiculous

[dreamingbohemian]

I don't think people should automatically discount students. Some will have plenty of experience and can provide references.

[TuckMyWin]

Well, maybe they should have explained that then, because all the holiday clubs I've looked at have taken it to mean they can't open, and cancelled. 4th July would lead them only a week or so to actually find staff - the nature of the sector means that most staff are temporary for the season. Excellent foresight from the government, as ever.

[drspouse]

Our DD school holiday club is running and it's taking KW from other schools (though fingers crossed siblings at other schools will be priority as our DS needs to go too).
But that is on school grounds.

[Newgirls]

Plenty of childcare students will be off this summer. Yes far better if you are in the home of course. Let’s hope 4 July brings real solutions.

[drspouse]

Incidentally our former CM rang about something else and mentioned she's not working at the moment, I imagine she had no KW children, and was bored out of her mind!
I imagine there might be CM who have space in the holidays?
I believe they are allowed to run for school age children.

[trilbydoll]

I know an agency nanny is a really expensive option but is it a possibility for the relatively short amount of time you need to cover? Then you'd know they were professionals etc.

I'm not sure how you find a student, maybe people ask neighbours or coworkers and get a friend of a friend or something?

[Whattodo1610]

Write to Dominic Cummings and ask what he would do .... then just do the same ... sorry

In reality, as pp has said, I’d be asking grandparents .. it may not be ideal but that’s all you can do. After all, there is nobody actually policing who comes in your house ...

Common sense must prevail ... needs must ...

[Kokeshi123]

This is insane. Wouldn't holiday camps with young staff be safer than grandparents?

[Adelais]

We had an email from dds school A few weeks ago saying that they were planning on running the holiday club so I’ve booked her in for 2 days a week. Really hoping they don’t cancel it now.

[Dishwashersaurous]

I don’t mean to shout but

I can’t afford a nanny- I don’t have savings to pay more than I earn!

Grandparents won’t help!

Childminders in my area are not taking anyone on!

I don’t know any teenagers and even if I did I wouldn’t leave my children with a teenager for a whole working day.

The government is screwing me and millions of people over and they don’t care

[GoodbyeToCare]

Our hub schools are staying open throughout the summer for key workers children (I'm in Scotland).

Perhaps there will be a similar provision in your area?

[SusieOwl4]

@ivfgottostaypositive

the problem with that is that the government will be accused of killing everyone ( not the virus) if things spike again .

Although deaths are down the rate of infection is still high and obviously they are watching what is happening in china as well .

This is the same with the 2 metre thing - damned if you do - damned if you don't .

It is a balance between health and economy on every level - everyone was going absolutely bonkers about even considering schools going back - now everyone is going bonkers about them not going back .

if you were pm - what would you do ? risk a spike and just say the NHS is ready let them deal with it ? or try and keep infections and deaths down while all the scientific research is going on ?

[Scruffyoak]

Extending family bubbles is useless to me. I have no family here or within 4 hours drive. No idea what I am going to do :(