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.

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

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

Or even, four friends who do work and you all take one day a week to have all the kids. Then you would only need one day per week off work?

There appears to be a group of mnetters totally oblivious to the fact normal childcare options aren’t available for many parents. I would take a look at the au pair website if I was stuck. We’re both key workers so dc are going to stay with grand parents for one week and dh is working from home plus we’re tag teaming annual leave so I’m taking 3 weeks (one at the start and 2 at the end and dh is doing the same with one week when we’ll be off together). Usually they’d have 2 weeks of holiday club activities but ours are all closed too.

Christ, I'd be embarrassed if I were unable to read these words "... the local holiday summer schemes are all closed. Some of the schools are doing a play scheme but not ours" and understand what they mean.

Just to add, babysitting is very different from daytime childcare. And most children are either now totally used to their parent/carers being around all the time and are bored out of their heads. Both of which makes caring for young children much more challenging even for the experienced.

Likely the students used will not harm your child. But your child might also not have the best of care.

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

Given that the poster was asking what was happening with holiday clubs then it's pretty obvious that is what they usually 'do' with the children in the holidays but given that the holiday clubs on their area aren't running this year (hence the point of the post) then they quite obvioulsy can't do what they normally do in the summer holidays!! So, a pretty unhelpful suggestion don't you think.

Paying someone/nursery maybe more expensive than a play scheme but maybe cheaper than unpaid parental leave which maybe the only other alternative

Our local area have had holiday clubs confirming one way or the other over last few days.. About half aren't opening... Mostly private set ups are...
I found asking on local Facebook page gave some new options to at least cover a few weeks.. Might be worth a go

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

No, but a substantial number of holiday schemes across the country deciding not to operate this summer is!!

My 19 year old, who is an experienced baby sitter but nothing more, is doing some childcare over the next few weeks. 3 to 4 hours a day for 3 days a week for an 8 and 6 year old. I think that is as much as she is up to, to be perfectly honest ... childcare is not an easy job! I certainly wouldn't be happy for her to be doing full time childcare for 6 weeks and I'm sure the parents of the children concerned wouldn't be happy about it either.

So "get a university student to do it" isn't helpful either, in OP's case.

Likely the students used will not harm your child. But your child might also not have the best of care.

They might have the best care that can be realistically accessed at this time.

We've luckily got a nanny starting who will cover most of it. We're also taking annual leave.

Back up option would be to ask for a local teenager / our babysitter if she would look after them (aged 4 and 6) Not perfect but pretty sure they'd have a good time playing in the garden, watching dvds, going for walks, picnics etc.

Lots of the village teenagers are available from the WhatsApp chat, and there are a few 20yr olds living at home unexpectedly who are also covering for other families.

Where i am a nanny costs around £8 an hour, so not more expensive than most playschemes.

*Likely the students used will not harm your child. But your child might also not have the best of care.

They might have the best care that can be realistically accessed at this time.*

I get that. But that is why the OP is not leaping at the student opportunity. It is risky.

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

Summer holidays are not a new thing, but this summer is completely different to normal summers.

I run a holiday club/playscheme that normally takes 120 kids for at least 2 weeks per child over the summer.

Due to the lateness of the guidance and the chopping and changing of rules we're not opening this year.

Being sarcastic and nasty to people in a new situation says far more about you than it does anyone else.

@Jamhandprints play schemes here are £15-£20 per day per child. Even for 2 dc it’s cheaper. Nanny’s here are also £10 per hour minimum.

If you live anywhere near a university and they run education courses all those students will be DBS checked and you can advertise for a student to do childcare for free on the university jobs board.

We used to pay £30 per day plus an allowance for petrol/activities. Student was self-employed. DD loved her and much preferred the arrangement to holiday clubs.

You are very lucky to have such cheap play schemes, are they subsidised? Maybe that is why they are not running.

@m0therofdragons

There appears to be a group of mnetters totally oblivious to the fact normal childcare options aren’t available for many parents. I would take a look at the au pair website if I was stuck. We’re both key workers so dc are going to stay with grand parents for one week and dh is working from home plus we’re tag teaming annual leave so I’m taking 3 weeks (one at the start and 2 at the end and dh is doing the same with one week when we’ll be off together). Usually they’d have 2 weeks of holiday club activities but ours are all closed too.

They're not oblivious. Not only is it in the OP's post, but there have been countless threads about it.

Clearly they are just the type of Mnetters who like to be horrid to the OP for no reason. They'll be the same ones that deliberately misunderstand vagina instead or vulva or brought instead of brought in threads where they focus on that rather than the OP's, often serious, question or dilemma

They're sticking the boot in because they can

It's hilarious how some posters have been quick to try and make the OP look stupid but have ended up looking like idiots themselves.

I hope you get something sorted, OP.

@m0therofdragons

There appears to be a group of mnetters totally oblivious to the fact normal childcare options aren’t available for many parents.

Indeed there are. Some (one in particular) have/has posted numerous times on this thread and previous threads where people state they are returning to work after furlough and cannot find childcare and schools are closed - her simple answer on here and previous threads is do what you usually do. Now either that person doesn't work and is really out of touch with what is actually available now or is employed as a parrot and is unable to change her go to phrase!

@ineedaholidaynow

You are very lucky to have such cheap play schemes, are they subsidised? Maybe that is why they are not running.

We couldn't afford to order food, drinks and other supplies that we may not use several weeks ago (when we'd have to place orders) when the government at that point were saying we couldn't run.

A lot of the places opening have already taken payment from people in the hope they'd open. That was a risk we weren't prepared to take.

One locally has been quite open about the fact they wouldn't have been issuing full refunds if the government rules hadn't changed.

Good luck OP I hope you manage to find safe and workable childcare.

Please ignore the stupid/the nasty and the ignorant ('do what you usually do') posts - some have far too much time on their hands and very little useful suggestions in their brains.

Can you and your DH take a week’s unpaid parental leave each? (Check the eligibility requirements on the gov.uk website) Plus paid annual leave? That’ll cover at least half the holidays

I can see both sides!! Yes you expect to make your own arrangements normally but certain options arent open now.

different but related point i think there is also an assumption that everyone has grandparents and a cast of other family members who are keen to look after children. ditto that every parent can take 2 weeks off over summer. we can so neither of these things for chikdcare.

A few clubs are open in our area and DC eill just have to go them and we will have to bear the cost.

Yes, I agree, these holidays are totally not like normal ones. Normally I would use a playscheme, of which there are usually loads of locally. This year I can't find anything.

I asked the council and they have no idea about local provision either.

I can't take annual leave to cover all the holidays, as I'm a key worker, so needed at work.

It's shit. Sorry I have no idea what the solution is.

Scotland is providing free summer holiday childcare for key worker children. I don't know why England is providing nothing (no paid option in many areas)