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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What happens to children over the summer?

384 replies

Randomfires · 08/07/2020 16:28

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.

OP posts:
cheshirecat777 · 08/07/2020 18:34

meant that to read * do - not so!!

Kolo · 08/07/2020 18:42

I run a holiday club each school holiday. We weren't sure whether we would be able to open for summer; we've had to close the wrap-around business since March. However, guidance came out last Wednesday which gave us permission to open (if we can meet the rules for re-opening). So for me, it's been a very recent development that we can open this summer, and I imagine lots of providers are similarly in the position of going through the process of working out logistics. It might be that more providers decide they are able to open in coming weeks. Absolutely rubbish in terms of notice, but we can only do what we can do. We're working all hours to go through the guidance, perform risk assessments, check our staff are available, check we can create bubbles.

We have been required by the LA to report to them every week throughout the lockdown about our capacity, so I assume they're collating and centralising this information in order to provide information to parents. My advice would be to call your LA to see if they've done the same.

RainingMeatballs · 08/07/2020 18:44

I don’t think it’s as simple as people being obtuse. My initial reaction was surprise as here there’s more clubs opening than not. It didn’t occur to me tbh that outside a city there may be very few options. People tend to present what they know. Over the years I have used clubs, employed other mums unofficially, a lady I knew well from church, a term time nursery staff member and a friends nanny when she was away. They were all creative solutions that worked for me, but I’m sure the OP will have a reason why each one can’t work for her.
The only real answer to the OP realistically is ‘oh no, poor you- isn’t it unfair?’ because none of us know her circumstances and area enough to find an answer. Personally I’d post on Facebook to find out what others are doing locally. Maybe even some staff from the community scheme are up for working,
Or childminders. Put out feelers

c1JSU · 08/07/2020 18:45

I don’t suppose any teaching assistants/student teachers at your local school could help if approached?

MorganKitten · 08/07/2020 18:45

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?

That’s why you look at those who work in childcare. I’ve had several parents of children I worked with before furlough approach me about working for them over the summer.
I work with children and teens, DBS checked, paediatric first aid trained and a ridiculous amount of extras, I’ve got a few jobs for the summer with the kids lined up and given my staff numbers to parents who need help. The parents know and trust us already so it’s good for everyone. And picking up my godson the other day a parent at the school asked me.
So it’s not all random furloughed people, there are those who are qualified if you look hard enough.

lyralalala · 08/07/2020 18:46

@RainingMeatballs

I don’t think it’s as simple as people being obtuse. My initial reaction was surprise as here there’s more clubs opening than not. It didn’t occur to me tbh that outside a city there may be very few options. People tend to present what they know. Over the years I have used clubs, employed other mums unofficially, a lady I knew well from church, a term time nursery staff member and a friends nanny when she was away. They were all creative solutions that worked for me, but I’m sure the OP will have a reason why each one can’t work for her. The only real answer to the OP realistically is ‘oh no, poor you- isn’t it unfair?’ because none of us know her circumstances and area enough to find an answer. Personally I’d post on Facebook to find out what others are doing locally. Maybe even some staff from the community scheme are up for working, Or childminders. Put out feelers
It's deliberately obtuse to answer a post containing the sentence "...sthe local holiday summer schemes are all closed. Some of the schools are doing a play scheme but not ours" with snarky retorts about the summer holidays not being a surprise and questions about what the OP normally does
HasaDigaEebowai · 08/07/2020 18:47

take annual leave, take unpaid leave, use local teen for babysitting?

californiasealion · 08/07/2020 18:48

It really wouldn’t be at all appropriate for a teacher or TA to care for a child in this way.

Cutesbabasmummy · 08/07/2020 18:48

My parents are having my son. We have no other options.

BrieAndChilli · 08/07/2020 18:51

@SeasonFinale

What do you normally "do" with your children in the holidays? That is what you will do this time too.
I normally send mine to the school holiday club that runs the first 2 weeks of the holidays - that’s not running. Another option is the sports camp at the leisure centre - that’s not running but they might possibly do something for a limited number of keyworker children. They go to MILs for a week in the summer - we are in wales and she is in Devon. Not sure if they can go as she is in a bubble with another family member.

That’s all the options in my small town. Me and DH take annual leave. It’s a lot of juggling.

I’ve currently furloughed so am thinking my employer will keep me furloughed until September which will solve my problem but there are lots of people in similar situations.

BlueEyedPersephone · 08/07/2020 18:54

For all the stupid people...... the OP is right there is NO childcare in some areas, not for key workers not anything...... government doesn't give a shit and we have a nine week holiday so what the fuck are you supposed to do if you work full time and you don't have family help???? Just give up your job, cos they aren't going to let you take 5 weeks unpaid leave......

womanvsfood · 08/07/2020 18:55

I am in the same boat as OP and have no real idea what we'll do yet. School have only just confirmed that no holiday club will be running and those running from different schools (a very limited number) are reserved for children from those schools. I have managed to find four days over the entire 7 weeks, with a forest school type set up, but this is only 10-3 so not ideal for childcare anyway.

I am not prepared to leave my children with random strangers/students, particularly when the usual range of entertainment options - soft play, museums etc are likely to be limited. Plus I just don't currently have the time or bandwidth to find someone, interview them, check out their references, provide an induction and so on.

Also, I'm often puzzled when I read these threads that so many people are able to just take extended periods of annual leave, if they have it, or unpaid parental leave. I get that it solves the childcare issue but there's no way I could be away from my job for that long - no one else is going to be doing it in my absence!

womanvsfood · 08/07/2020 18:55

I am in the same boat as OP and have no real idea what we'll do yet. School have only just confirmed that no holiday club will be running and those running from different schools (a very limited number) are reserved for children from those schools. I have managed to find four days over the entire 7 weeks, with a forest school type set up, but this is only 10-3 so not ideal for childcare anyway.

I am not prepared to leave my children with random strangers/students, particularly when the usual range of entertainment options - soft play, museums etc are likely to be limited. Plus I just don't currently have the time or bandwidth to find someone, interview them, check out their references, provide an induction and so on.

Also, I'm often puzzled when I read these threads that so many people are able to just take extended periods of annual leave, if they have it, or unpaid parental leave. I get that it solves the childcare issue but there's no way I could be away from my job for that long - no one else is going to be doing it in my absence!

Madasahattersteaparty1749 · 08/07/2020 18:56

My sons amazing TA does nannying through the holidays. We don’t need it but she’s highly in demand. A few TAs at our school also do evening babysitting as well, but don’t nanny, as they have their own families.

Ask at school/nursery or other parents for suggestions of local people.

Grobagsforever · 08/07/2020 18:58

The fact you're key workers is not relevant. All working in Parents have this problem. I've worked full time with kids at home for 14 weeks now.

You'll have to juggle/swap/use annual and parental leave

Grobagsforever · 08/07/2020 18:58

The fact you're key workers is not relevant. All working in Parents have this problem. I've worked full time with kids at home for 14 weeks now.

You'll have to juggle/swap/use annual and parental leave

womanvsfood · 08/07/2020 19:02

@Grobagsforever

The fact you're key workers is not relevant. All working in Parents have this problem. I've worked full time with kids at home for 14 weeks now.

You'll have to juggle/swap/use annual and parental leave

But what if you just can't be away from work for such an extended period? Two weeks would be the absolute max I could do, DH probably less than that at the moment.
SunbathingDragon · 08/07/2020 19:02

@Grobagsforever

The fact you're key workers is not relevant. All working in Parents have this problem. I've worked full time with kids at home for 14 weeks now.

You'll have to juggle/swap/use annual and parental leave

Sometimes it is relevant being a key worker because it’s not usually possible to work at home with that sort of job. If both parents have shifts where they have to be in their place or work and they are at the same time, somebody needs to look after the children.

Most people get around five weeks of annual leave and four weeks per child of parental leave. It gets easily used up.

Wolfsony · 08/07/2020 19:07

Do people really not use babysitters? Has there been a rash of teenagers attacking young children? Get recommendations off other mums. There is no other option this year unless you can tag team with another mum and take their kid for some of the time too.

HasaDigaEebowai · 08/07/2020 19:08

I know its really difficult but the summer holidays coming up can't be a surprise surely. Mine break up tomorrow Confused

womanvsfood · 08/07/2020 19:10

@HasaDigaEebowai

I know its really difficult but the summer holidays coming up can't be a surprise surely. Mine break up tomorrow Confused
Not a surprise, but solutions clearly haven't exactly presented themselves over the last few weeks either!
june2007 · 08/07/2020 19:16

Childminders,
Nursert,s sometimes have holiday clubs.
My school is running one.
Look for a qualified childcare worker who can look after from home.
Nanny/Aupair expensive but you can find from an agency, if not advertise locally.

RedskyAtnight · 08/07/2020 19:18

Sometimes it is relevant being a key worker because it’s not usually possible to work at home with that sort of job.

"Keyworker" covers a huge range of jobs; many of which can be done at home. I presume OP was using "keyworker" to highlight that she couldn't just take the summer off as leave.

SimonJT · 08/07/2020 19:19

@Wolfsony

Do people really not use babysitters? Has there been a rash of teenagers attacking young children? Get recommendations off other mums. There is no other option this year unless you can tag team with another mum and take their kid for some of the time too.
No, my sons adopted, children with poor attachments in their early years do not cope at all well with new care givers.
Porcupineinwaiting · 08/07/2020 19:24

Round here people use babysitters @Wolfsony. Usually older teens or young adults from families they know or friends of friends. Not DBS checked.