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.

I’m frontline nhs, my husband is also a full time Keyworker. The school nursery my DC attends usually run a holiday club for EYFS and KS1 children but that’s been cancelled and grandparents can’t help out as my mum has severe anxiety as a result of the prolonged lockdown and can’t leave the house. They are too far away for me to take DC to them. So my normal options aren’t available and with a preschool child I can’t access any local clubs as they are aimed at older children. So my husband and I are burning most of our annual leave for the year to cover the childcare between us. It’s a rubbish situation and I would much prefer use my leave to go away for a nice long holiday to recharge after the pressures of pandemic but there’s nothing else we can do.
OP I know how you feel!

You can’t do a private DBS check
Even if I wanted to hire a random to look after my 4/5 year old paying the minimum wage would be about £60 a day. The community scheme was £100 a week.

@SeasonFinale

Well down for spectacularly missing the point that the 'usual' clubs etc aren't opening! The OP wouldn't have posted otherwise.

And, like many posters on here, I fail to understand how worrying about how you can carry on doing your job whilst having children so asking for advice on a parenting site would make some people so ANGRY!!!

Are any private nurseries providing summer childcare round you? My DS' old nursery put a post out today advertising their summer childcare.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

I don't think they are being obtuse - I think they are just stupid.

I know others have said but keep checking your borough council and parish council websites.
Our parish council advertised on Monday about their summer play scheme.

Well a random Google found this:

www.gov.uk/after-school-holiday-club

And a random search of a few postcodes I different areas found schemes.

Your post was clear, OP.

Hopefully some play schemes will open, but it really is incredibly difficult.

We have a childminder so will use her, but she's only available 2 days a week. I am wfh so will have to work around the kids. They are 6 and 8 and the 8yo has ASD so quite demanding. We usually use a holiday playscheme for some of the time to mix things up and also reduce costs.

I am lucky I have a good enployer and if necessary I could get unpaid leave in the summer.

The childminder has taken on a few new children during lockdown as a lot of families are keeping their kids home.

I hope you can get something sorted.

Uni DD usually works full time through the summer at one of the commercial play schemes (much more than £100pw). Scheme is not running this year. She has just been offered at nanny/au pair role for a family friend who uses the scheme plus annual leave usually but has neither available this year.

I don’t think she would have got or taken the job for an unknown family.

@SeasonFinale

Done that and I get this:

"Sports facilities and pitches
New leisure centre project
Find out about our project to deliver a new pool and leisure facilities
Leisure centres
Information on Council owned leisure centres
Sports pitches
Information on how to book a Council owned sports pitch
Skateparks
Information on local skateparks owned by Council
Playing Pitch Strategy 2017-2031"

That is ALL - guess I need to drop them off at the nearest sport pitch or skate park then!

@SeasonFinale well done you. It still doesn’t mean that when I put my postcode in and it directs me to my local council that the play schemes magically open....

Have you checked with other local schools? They may say they are only offering places to their own pupils, but if they have spaces they may offer to other people.

Some childcare nurseries offer places to slightly older children during the holidays, although will probably be more than £100 a week

My local council have offered and said nothing. It's looking extremely unlikely the holiday club in our local area will open. Eurgh..

Hire a student. My dd s are doing childcare for families in your position

Can I ask how they are doing this without insurance, Ofsted registration etc? Is it cash in hand work?

I looked into childcare as I'm self employed and my work has reduced due to the pandemic. There was simply too much red tape, enrolment and insurance costs to make it a viable temporary option.

@SunbathingDragon

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.

I really hope people aren’t planning on doing this.

Why Most babysitters are students.

@SmileyClare

Hire a student. My dd s are doing childcare for families in your position

Can I ask how they are doing this without insurance, Ofsted registration etc? Is it cash in hand work?

I looked into childcare as I'm self employed and my work has reduced due to the pandemic. There was simply too much red tape, enrolment and insurance costs to make it a viable temporary option.

Nannies & babysitters don’t have to be Ofsted registered. If they earn under the tax threshold then it’s very simple. If over then they are either employed or self employed depending on the circumstances.

Mumsnet: The site where posters suggest dragging any old teenager/unemployed stranger off the street to care for their most precious possession whilst at the same time pile in on other posters when there’s even a sniff of (benign) neglect such as feeding beige food, allowing iPads in restaurants or clothing children in Florence&Fred!

Randomfires Wed 08-Jul-20 17:23:38
And, like many posters on here, I fail to understand how worrying about how you can carry on doing your job whilst having children so asking for advice on a parenting site would make some people so ANGRY!!!
..
I agree, there is nothing to be angry about. It's a real worry for many people even in 'normal' times, ten times worse now.

Pay no attention to them. I hope you find a satisfactory solution.

there's a reason why nurseries and nannies and childminders have to be trained and registered and insured!

Nannies and babysitters don't actually have to be any of those things. Nannies often are registered and trained - mine is - but anybody you employ to look after your children in your home is a nanny. And it's a nanny's employer who needs insurance (easy to obtain).

I think people are offering solutions but many are choosing to say why they can't use that solution.

Good luck OP - I also can find nothing open in my area.

I am going to try the Facebook post to see if any childminders have vacancies for furloughed people's children that won't need the childcare at present. Otherwise friends....naturally some holiday leave is always taken.

Unfortunately, this is SO DIFFERENT to usual years..... normally surprise surprise we don't have children home full time from March to also cover with either furlough/wfh/holiday or unpaid leave...with a bare few weeks now in school. Basically DEMAND for childcare is higher than usual (due to usual schemes not opening) and SUPPLY of childcare provision is much lower than usual due to some providers not opening at all or taking reduced numbers due to 'the virus' etc.

I suspect the «what were you planning on doing anyway?» answers are coming from non keyworkers who have been WFH with children not allowed in school for months now. If OP or her husband are WFH, then yes, just do what everybody else had to do and look after the DC while working.