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.

My daughter is waiting to start uni to do a pgce course. She has also previously been a helper at brownies. She is enhanced DBS checked and would welcome some paid employment over the summer to put towards her uni expenses. I realise we are unlikely to be near you to help you specifically but there will be others in her situation or similar no doubt. Surely even if it was for a few hours a day it would help.

[quote ResumetonormalASAP]@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

I don't think they are being obtuse - I think they are just stupid.[/quote]
You are too kind. I think they are being sanctimonious cunts.

OP, have you tried calling or emailing the childcare team at your local council?
Or post of your local facebook page? Lots of childminders are listed in childcare.co.uk too.

Can you take unpaid parental leave? I know it's not ideal, but I am taking two weeks of this in the holidays. It's a statutory entitlement, 18 weeks from 0-18 years old for each parent for each child. I have to give 21day notice and must be taken in blocks of a week at a time. As I understand it, employers can't refuse it:

www.gov.uk/parental-leave

@Neednewwellies

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!

You don't actually have to just use a hook and take whoever gets caught in it. You can check references, require an existing DBS, use young people you already know and trust, or contact a local college that provides childcare courses to see if they have any suitable students.

you can check references

From a university student they would probably be from a friend or a family member

request an existing DBS

Someone with an existing DBS probably is already employed

use young people you already know

I am not on first name terms with any

contact a local college

who will not hand out names and phone numbers - data protection?

My daughter had the equivalent of a DBS done when she did voluntary assistance at a community childminding holiday programme, has done first aid certificates, and has references from numerous people who she has babysat for, from newborn up to age 14, some with special needs. Some teenagers are far better qualified to mind children than some parents, quite frankly.

@SandieCheeks Why hmm Most babysitters are students

Not round here they aren’t. Quite apart from anything else, babysitters legally are adhoc and look after the child in the child’s own home. That doesn’t help when you want regular ongoing holiday childcare and, especially if you are used to summer camps, you won’t be wanting the children in your house whilst working. That’s before I even start on the fact that everyone I know of in RL only uses a babysitter their child is already familiar with (often from the local nurseries or an ex nanny) and is confident that at the least they had paediatric first aid training.

How stressful for you OP, no helpful advice I’m afraid just completely baffled by some of these responses!

People are being a bit harsh on the OP here, clearly there is normally a plan and this year the plan, like for many, has gone out the window and she’s not sure what to do. Lots of people in the same boat doesn’t mean we can’t offer advice.

OP my only possible advice (which could be obvious or not possible) would be to search far and wide. Council website, neighbouring councils websites. It may involve travelling but there may be a scheme further away. The school down my road normally does a play scheme but this year isn’t - neighbour is having to use a play scheme two towns away. Spaces as many are unaware they’re happening. Failing that, child swaps - can you ask a friend in exchange for helping a friend another day?
Hope it works out

Apologies if someone has already suggested this but do you have a Facebook page for childcare in your area? Both the areas I’ve lived in have had a page, eg This Town Childcare. It seems to be where people with the knowledge hang out and they can often recommend DBS checked babysitters and so on, as well as childminders with availability.

I feel your pain, we’re lucky as I’m on mat leave but our childminder isn’t accepting children who attend other settings and my DPs are vulnerable/shielding. Normally my DPs are kind enough to help out when our childminder is on holiday. I know shielding is due to end in August but I suspect a lot of people are in the same boat.

Exactly @mbosnz. I think your daughter is the sort of person people are thinking about when suggesting students. People are usually quite happy to let other parents look after their child on a play date but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are actually a suitable person.

Normal holiday clubs not open here as well and the ones that are have bubbles of only 15 children per setting. This means only a tiny minority of kids can actually use them. I guess my kids will be spending the next 6 weeks watching television, just like they have the past three months seeing as I’m a full time working mum

I'd also like to point out that my 4 year old is challenging and bored after basically 6 months without any other child contact. She'd be ok in an environment with multiple other children but is sick of adult attention just now. Somehow doubt a babysitter would get her under control!

I'm also struggling to find stuff to do with the DC within the limits of what is open! Got safari park booked asap (2 weeks wait) but no swimming pools, sports facilities, parks are rammed, museums not open. Budget isn't so much an issue as availability.

A lot of summer schemes don't do long days for 4 year olds (in reception) so you're limited to nursery based schemes anyway. I looked into it last year when trying to get a job but was really struggling to identify options for a late August birthday until they were actually 5 without the added impacts this year!

If she is 4 are there any spaces in childcare nurseries near you?

@Immigrantsong

I didn't wish to cause offence but of course you are correct!

Do any nurserys nearby run summer clubs? My girls go to one that is for school aged kids but attached to a private nursery. They are running as normal with extra hygiene measures in place. The other thing that is def. running here is the sports camp that the community arm of the premiership football club run. That might be worth a look. Also, some of the drama ones are running. I'd maybe ask on a local FB site.

It's going to come down to taking leave for lots of people I think. My partner had to take leave to cover any days I worked (KW) during lockdown. Luckily our child went back to school in June, but she wasn't on the KW list (had to be both parents). When I was working not at home, he had to take at least part of the day as leave.

Just having an ad hoc student in for childcare would be much pricier than a play scheme I would have thought?

Even at £7ph (below minimum wage) that would work out around £315 per week to cover a 9-5 working week.

I actually think the hiring of students is open to abuse and I am amazed at the large amount of people recommending this.

By daughter is one year in on an early years BTEC and has worked in a nursery through the year and gained a lot of experience. Throughout the year she has done some babysitting. She is obviously DBS checked because of her course. But most people of her age would come through DBS clean because they are so young. It is not the end of the road in terms of checking.

She is being approached to work with tiny kids for long periods of time with just a quick handover. She is amazed that parents would do this. It is because they are desperate. She is coping but many wouldn't. It is a real difficulty and I totally understand why the OP is dubious about this.

I have to bid for my annual leave a year in advance. So I was allocated leave for summer 2020 last year. Im in the process of bidding for summer 2021 now 😳. I cant take any more than the two weeks allocated last year. That leaves me with five weeks to cover. Im a single parent so can't take unpaid, I need to pay the mortgage. There are no schemes running and as one of my children is 13 she is too old for child care but SEN mean she isnt suitable to be left on her own especially with her 9 year old brother. My family work as do my friends. The person that usually helps out has used all their leave during lock down to look after her own children. I have a partner who doesn't live with us but their job is shifts and like mine allocated months in advance.

Finding a solution isnt as easy as barking it at someone on the Internet.

Wow some people are right arseholes on here.

I hope you get something sorted OP. Is there any chance any friends might be in a similar position and you could share out some of the childcare? My little one is a toddler and in nursery and has been throughout with DH being a keyworker but the anxiety I felt for a few days when we weren't sure if she was going to have provision was awful. I was worried I would have had to quit my job. I really feel for you and everyone else who has been having such stress because of childcare. It's always women who suffer the worst as well.

It’s not at all the same as any other school holiday . Many of the summer clubs are closed including the school summer club that my DS usually uses. Personally we are okay but I feel you pain OP.

Do you have any friends who won’t be Pworking? I’d be happy to have my friends’ kids along with mine for one day of the week. If you can find four or five friends who would agree to a day (or two) each, that’d cover your week.
I’d actually welcome the extra mess and noise because my kids have been away from their friends and cousins for so long xx

@friendlyflicka I agree!! I seen a woman on fb ask anyone on her friends list if they could have her lo age 3 I think it’s disgusting that people would do this completely open to abuse