To think children's centre management are a bit lazy.

[Welikebeingcosy]

All last year I kept asking the children's centres when they would reopen when the restrictions were all lifted and they kept saying they hadn't been told anything and that it could be September and then it could be January. But they never opened despite groups being given permission to reopen (we were in tier one here). I mentioned to them that they were allowed to run groups under the rules and they were like 'oh we haven't seen that, we will have a look'.
I thought I'd try and ask them again seeing as the roadmap has been released.
The woman just told me 'we haven't been given a date'. But the WHOLE country has been given a date. And the rules even state that indoor children's groups can reopen from next week up to fifteen people (not including under five's). So why are they just sitting there waiting for Boris Johnson to call them up personally and tell them to reopen or are they using it as an excuse for a nice long holiday? I even had my MP chasing it last summer and they told him they're providing support online so are fulfilling the need.
Rant over. Just drives me mad that they get away with it.

I don’t think it’s just a children’s centre thing. From
Monday, gyms and swimming pools can open. Are Gateshead council opening their gyms and swimming pools? Are they balls...

There may be other reasons they are not opening yet. Staffing levels / vulnerable staff or whatever, if they have a service online then they are providing some service.

Most of their staff are in their 20s...
I'm just wondering who are they waiting for a 'date' from?

@PotteringAlong it's so annoying. Especially for tax paid or subsidised things.

Part of me feels it is an excuse to keep staff on furlough and save money for as long as possible.

I totally agree, and I also put the question to my MP last year.
Maybe if staff at one or two centres were shielding etc that could be a reason, but all the centres round here are closed. Many of them have outdoor space so could do outside stay and play etc.
I agree. Laziness.

@PotteringAlong

I don’t think it’s just a children’s centre thing. From Monday, gyms and swimming pools can open. Are Gateshead council opening their gyms and swimming pools? Are they balls...

Don't get me started on Gateshead council!

They even kept the outdoor playground shut for a good few weeks longer than they needed to in the summer. I have no faith in them opening the children's centres and playgroups that come with it even though I know the person who runs one of the playgroups is eager to get it up and running again.

Yes exactly they all have outdoor space! There doesn't even seem to be any transparency about why they have been totally closed during all the times restrictions have been eased and why they are still staying closed despite the rules stating those kinds of places can reopen.

@ParadiseLaundry so is it the council who has the final say on children's centres?

Yes they are ran by the council, it's really not down to the 'lazy' staff

I think it's Public Health England but happy to be corrected on it. That's what they said when we asked about it anyway!

What a surprise. The people who are getting paid regardless are not in a rush to get services up and running again. Our local council run pool hasn’t open at all for swimming lessons since the first lockdown. Funny how the private pools manage to get the kids in for lessons!!

I assumed it must have been a council decision as they seemed so reluctant to open them along with all the leisure centres , as Pottering said, and parks.

@Poppercot

What a surprise. The people who are getting paid regardless are not in a rush to get services up and running again. Our local council run pool hasn’t open at all for swimming lessons since the first lockdown. Funny how the private pools manage to get the kids in for lessons!!

My thoughts exactly.

I'm also wondering if they'll ever come back and put the swings back that they took down to ensure social distancing!
I take my comment back about lazy staff- just wanted to understand who makes these decisions and why.

The local council here did reopen the swimming pools and leisure centre last year and charged people to use an entire lane, but of course have cancelled all the toddler activities since.

Toddler groups where I live are saying September for probable restart of these sorts of children's activity sessions. Not sure if it's a "how do we manage demand if we can only have X number of children", "how do we manage if a mum attends who is pregnant and therefore hasn't been vaccinated?" etc. September is the furst full term time after all restrictions are lifted in June.

It will be local authority children’s services that run the children’s centres. They may commission them out to a charity like Barnado’s, but ultimately they have responsibility.

September wow what a joke. As if a sign up sheet and enough activities throughout the week to give everyone opportunity would be so difficult to manage. I mean that's what they're paid for. Not sure I've even seen more than 15 adults at a children's centre group anyway.

All council owned buildings have to be reopened in accordance with the councils own risk assessment and so things are only opening slowly. It’s one of the reasons I’m still working from home. The teams have to demonstrate a business need and then teams are being put in a priority order to get things reopened. Children’s centres will have complex RAs to navigate and therefore won’t be in the first group of buildings to reopen.

Don't forget they close for the summer, so if they don't open soon there wouldn't be any point anyway.

You'd think if they'd have nothing to do all year other than click share on the odd Facebook status they'd have had time to get ahead with the risk assessments by now.

I don't think they close in the summer here...

Literally every private business would have to fill in a risk assessment though and they have all managed it.

I don’t think it’s the staff, but the council.

Last summer I could go to the bookshop opposite my local library, and then sit inside the coffee shop next door (and even get 50% off through EOTHO!) but the library didn’t even open for click and collect until the end of August.