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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School want DD to go to a childminder

99 replies

RosieLemonade · 12/04/2021 12:36

My DD is 4 and goes to a school nursery 830 till 12 every day. I only work part time so I can pick her up Monday and Tuesday. My mum has her Friday. DH had been working from home and had her Wednesday and Thursday. Not ideal but similar to lots of WFH parents. However he is now back working in the field so to speak.
DD's great grandparents have offered to have her on those two days. Previous to covid they had her on those days anyway. They are both fully vaccinated plus 3 weeks.
However school has said that as my mum is my childcare bubble then they cannot allow DD to go with them. It needs to be a professional. I am unlikely to find a CM who can go pick her up at lunch time. Also it is something else to pay out for which I wasn't expecting. AIBU to feel a bit annoyed?

OP posts:
Shoppingwithmother · 12/04/2021 12:39

I suppose it’s not an option for her to go all day Weds and Thursdays and have Mon a d Tuesday at home with you? Does it have to be 5 mornings?

sunflowersandbuttercups · 12/04/2021 12:41

Can her great-grandparents have her all day instead of her going to nursery?

RebelByLight · 12/04/2021 12:41

It's a bit ridiculous, I agree. Is there anyway your mum could collect her and hand her over?

headintheproverbial · 12/04/2021 12:44

It's not for the school to enforce these provisions. Their duty is to release YOUR child to the person/s you nominate, not to police your adherence to Covid rules.

Overthebow · 12/04/2021 12:44

I can see why it’s annoying, but it is breaking the rules to have more than one childcare bubble and the nursery will want to reduce contacts as much as possible to keep everyone safe. They are within their right to ask that you keep to the rules, even if you don’t agree with them.

RedMarauder · 12/04/2021 12:44

The school has to comply with the law so YABU.

Unless you can change the times she goes to the nursery so your mum, you or her dad can pick her up then you are going to have to do what they ask.

RebelByLight · 12/04/2021 12:45

Or, could your DH or you request to wfh in the morning, collect her and drop before going into the office?

RebelByLight · 12/04/2021 12:46

the nursery will want to reduce contacts as much as possible to keep everyone safe.
How is a childminder with other kids less risky than two fully vaccinated adults?

Jumpers268 · 12/04/2021 12:47

I don't understand? So they won't release your child to your grandparents, but they will release your child to a childminder? Surely the risk is the same?

RedMarauder · 12/04/2021 12:47

How is a childminder with other kids less risky than two fully vaccinated adults?

They aren't.

The school however has to comply with the guidance they have been given.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 12/04/2021 12:48

@headintheproverbial

It's not for the school to enforce these provisions. Their duty is to release YOUR child to the person/s you nominate, not to police your adherence to Covid rules.
I think nursery have a duty to comply with the law, even if it makes no sense.

It's not their fault.

skeggycaggy · 12/04/2021 12:48

I don’t think the school can enforce this TBH. And it makes no sense from an infection risk POV anyway that they are happy for her to have 2 sets of childcare providers as long as one of them is paid for.

spanieleyes · 12/04/2021 12:49

Schools are having to deal with a multitude of often conflicting rules and regulations- many of which seem pointless. But deal with them they must.

Gladioli23 · 12/04/2021 12:50

What if you were in a support bubble with your mum and a childcare bubble with the great grand parents? A household is allowed to be in both.

SakuraEdenSwan1 · 12/04/2021 12:51

The school are talking crap and are overstepping hugely.

Dishwashersaurous · 12/04/2021 12:51

Nursery has to comply with the law.

Even if the law makes no internal logic.

It's currently legal to pay multiple different people to look after children. But only one unpaid carer for childcare

xyzandabc · 12/04/2021 12:51

Is there any way the great grandparents (or you) could also do the pick up on the Friday? Then hand her over to your mum?
If so, change your childcare bubble to the great grandparents as far as nursery is concerned.

The nursery are only following the guidance but it is so hard for many parents to find solutions that work for them.

Tal45 · 12/04/2021 12:51

I'm all for following the rules but this makes no sense. Someone you pay is not safer than someone you don't. Could you tell school that DD's grandparents are now her childcare bubble and ask them to pick her up on Friday as well and just drop her at your mums? That's what I'd do if they don't mind.

SakuraEdenSwan1 · 12/04/2021 12:52

Guidance is not law @RedMarauder

skeggycaggy · 12/04/2021 12:52

Can someone point me to the law that says schools must ensure that their families childcare arrangements follow the law? I’ve tried a google but not found it.

ginnybag · 12/04/2021 12:54

I'd second a previous poster - tell Nursery your mum is in your Support Bubble, and you are now forming a childcare bubble with the GGrandparents.

That lets them 'tick off' a legal explanation and move on.

PaquitaVariation · 12/04/2021 12:55

It’s not up to school to police this. They should be releasing her to whoever you nominate. The great grandparents could be spending all afternoon outdoors with her for all they know which is completely within the guidance.

MintyMabel · 12/04/2021 12:57

Can someone point me to the law that says schools must ensure that their families childcare arrangements follow the law? I’ve tried a google but not found it.

I don’t think they do either. In all of the numerous dictats we’ve had from school, not a single one has said they won’t hand kids over to people outwith a childcare bubble. The law right now says people can meet with young children outdoors anyway, doesn’t it? I’m really surprised a school feels they can over-step in this way.

Stompythedinosaur · 12/04/2021 12:57

If your mum lives alone she could be a support bubble (and count as a member of the household) meaning the ggps could be a childcare bubble.

Cowmilk · 12/04/2021 13:02

Start paying your grandparents for the child care they provide. Or your mother. Then register them as self employed. Or move them to your home.