What happens to children over the summer?

[Randomfires]

Have I missed something because I’m sure the government said that there were to be childcare schemes set up but I can’t find anything further on this since early June.

Husband and I are keyworkers and the local holiday summer schemes are all closed. Some of the schools are doing a play scheme but not ours. Really confused as to what we’re meant to do when schools shut in 3 weeks.

Ours only confirmed its opening yesterday, even then its for block bookings only and only 3 days a week. Ours is open to children who don't attend our school too. Perhaps a different local school may accept your children?

Some holiday schemes are open (but taking reduced numbers).
Some childminders are taking children.
You can employ an au pair/nanny to work in your house.
You can "child swap" with another family (i.e they have your children one day, they have yours another day).
If you can wfh, you can try to juggle work and childcare.

You can employ an au pair/nanny to work in your house righty-ho I’ll just go and book that, cheers 🙄

Mines big now so not as bad, but I'm at work 5 days a week and I will just have to book annual leave and get grandparents and aunts helping.

We don’t have family close by - my child will go and stay with them for 1 week but they’re elderly so can’t do more....

A school local to me has opened up its holiday scheme. Only school in the area that offers it and currently it doesn’t have enough children to make it viable. Maybe a number of parents don’t realise holiday schemes can now run.

@Randomfires

You can employ an au pair/nanny to work in your house righty-ho I’ll just go and book that, cheers 🙄

Not sure why that got such a sarcastic response. Depending on where you live, there are potentially plenty of university students/furloughed staff/people recently been made redundant that you can pay to look after your child while you work. If your usual holiday scheme isn't open, it isn't open - you'll have to look for other options.

Depending on the number of children you have a nanny can actually work out cheaper than summer holiday schemes

Holiday clubs, childminders or babysitters like any other holiday. No Government schemes - summer school seems to have been completely dropped.

What do you normally "do" with your children in the holidays? That is what you will do this time too.

My sons school have sent a email today with every holiday and sports activity type of care open in the county. The only care missing off it was the sports centres so seems everything else is open

Totally agree with seasonfinale the summer holidays aren't a new thing!

Hire a university student, my DD's are doing childcare for families in your position (have been since April, homeschooling and music lessons too!). What do you normally do?

I guess annual leave or childminder? Same boat everyone is in.

Which part of the country are you in op? Maybe check your local council website if there's anything running but I think you might end up having to sort it yourself. I know some childminders are up and running so you could see if any around you have spaces

Contact your council's children's services department. They should have the information for local childcare throughout the summer.

I'm another for summer holidays aren't a new thing, and conveniently the government has decided the need to shield ends on the first of august. But I can appreciate there is a significant lack of communication about the normal holiday clubs which would be running.

I think it’s fairly obvious from the phrasing of the OP that normally they would use holiday summer clubs...

I’m not sure what I wasn’t clear on in the original post!!

There are no local play schemes open.

I would usually use play schemes for a few of the weeks.

I have a 4 year old child. I don’t think hiring a random ‘furloughed worker’ who isn’t DBS checked really works, do you?

Nor does hiring a nanny which is a process which takes time. And money. Our local community centre scheme is usually £100 a week.

What do you normally "do" with your children in the holidays? That is what you will do this time too

Oh thank God @SeasonFinale, you’re going to sort it out so the community playscheme is going to open? Thanks.

The summer holidays aren’t a new thing but the schemes she uses are not open because of the virus. So... changes things doesn’t it?

I think some people are deliberately obtuse. Normal summer arrangements aren't available for a lot of people right now.

Personally I wouldn't be happy hiring some random uni student or person on furlough to look after my kids - there's a reason why nurseries and nannies and childminders have to be trained and registered and insured!

Can you look further afield for different holiday clubs? I know people who are having to use new ones because the usual aren't available.

No, I’m not going to hire some random uni student to look after my kids How is that an acceptable substitute for all the holiday clubs that usually run?

And what exactly are these uni students supposed to do with the kids? Get under the feet of parents working from home?

It’s a shitshow that will cost women’s jobs.

Randomfires, I can only imagine how stressed and frustrated you are feeling.

It's just a suggestion, might be wildly impractical, but do you have a local facebook page, or do you have friends that might have a teenager (or several teenagers so you have buffers) that they can personally recommend that could care for your four year old?

I used to do quite a bit of all day babysitting back in the day (including one that I'd never met the woman, she'd rang the wrong number, and she was desperate and I ended up looking after her kids for twelve hours so she could do her first day of work, lol). I know my 16 year old would be willing and capable, and maybe you can get yourself a team of teens?

I'm not trying to be an arse, and I'm sorry if my suggestion isn't helpful - I'd be wigging out something chronic if I were you.

Oh, and things I did with the kids - took them to the park, took them to feed the ducks, took them to the library, took them to the museum, arts and crafts, took them to the swimming pool, took them to holiday things run in the malls for kiddos, read them stories, fixed their food, made sure they had their nap. . .