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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:
DarkMatterA2Z · 12/04/2021 14:08

Tell the school to bog off. I'm fairly sure this is guidance at most, not law, and they shouldn't be sticking their noses in where they don't belong. That time has passed.

notalwaysalondoner · 12/04/2021 14:12

The people saying the nursery has to comply - the nursery doesn’t get to enforce. Compliance would be having the nursery’s own standards in line with government rules. Parents choosing to break childcare bubble guidelines is not in the nursery’s remit even if they’re releasing the child to them. So they are interfering beyond their boundaries. I can see why they think this might be up to them, but it’s not.

ThisIsMyID · 12/04/2021 14:14

If the great grandparents 'move in' with you, then they are in your bubble. Can they move in with you? Even temporarily? What proof do you need that they've moved in?

Bluetable · 12/04/2021 14:14

Can anyone point to this supposed law which says that anyone going to nursery can only be cared for by a professional outside of nursery when their parents aren't available?

IdblowJonSnow · 12/04/2021 14:15

I agree that school are overstepping and that your DD would be less safe w a childminder w kids from other bubbles!
It is not their job to police in this way.

Lweji · 12/04/2021 14:16

It is stupid.

However, in order to convince them (apart from saying it's stupid) could you change your childcare bubble to them? At least officially? And they'll hand out your DD to your mother on Friday?

Or, could you or your DH pick up DD and take her to your grandparents?

Swordfish1 · 12/04/2021 14:18

@BigRedBoat

Tell nursery you have employed great grandparents as nannies and therefore they are now professional childcarers.
This
Rukaya · 12/04/2021 14:19

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

school has no business telling you this and you can tell them that your arrangements are none of their business. They are massively overstepping their role here.

Dddccc · 12/04/2021 14:19

Ds school are only allowed to do 2 households max and won't release children otherwise I agree with this as higher risk if every child mixes with 3 household on top of school bubbles it is crazy

HosannainExcelSheets · 12/04/2021 14:19

Pay one of the grandparents a nominal amount as a nanny. They are then a professional. Problem solved.

TatianaBis · 12/04/2021 14:20

Totally unenforceable OP.

amylou8 · 12/04/2021 14:23

School are seriously overstepping here. Tell them one grandparent is a support bubble and the other a childcare bubble. Or tell them that the second grandparent collecting is just doing the school run and having outside contact as is allowed, and dropping your DC to either you or the other childcare bubble grandparent.

pennylane83 · 12/04/2021 14:25

Surely childcare bubbles are now irrelevant given that as of 12th April

all childcare and supervised activities are allowed indoors (as well as outdoors) for all children. Parent and child groups can take place indoors (as well as outdoors) for up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number)

Meaning that you child can do swimming with one set of kids on a Monday, football on a Tuesday, ballet on a Wednesday etc etc - these will all be different sets of children your child can socialise with both indoors and out so for the nursey to dictate to you who can and can't pick up your child is really none of their business.

LadyHedgehog · 12/04/2021 14:27

Can't you just tell school the GGPs are walking her home to her dad?

Heiferr · 12/04/2021 14:33

@Dddccc

Ds school are only allowed to do 2 households max and won't release children otherwise I agree with this as higher risk if every child mixes with 3 household on top of school bubbles it is crazy
The child going to a childminder would also equate to 3 households though. And at a childminder they’d be mixing with children from more than one household.
89redballoons · 12/04/2021 14:34

Does your mum live alone? If so, your household can be your mum's support bubble and your DD's great grandparents can still be your childcare bubble.

Original poster
RosieLemonade · 12/04/2021 14:38

@Dddccc

Ds school are only allowed to do 2 households max and won't release children otherwise I agree with this as higher risk if every child mixes with 3 household on top of school bubbles it is crazy
But many children will be back at indoor hobbies this week. Potentially mixing with 15 other families.
OP posts:
Original poster
RosieLemonade · 12/04/2021 14:42

Sorry, forgot to say my mum doesn't live alone.

OP posts:
MNWorldisCrazy · 12/04/2021 14:48

Yes, tell them one set of GPs is your support bubble and the other is your childcare bubble. Problem solved 👍🏻

They can't argue with that!

Spanglebangle · 12/04/2021 14:48

Just tell the nursery whatever lie you have to to make them happy. They are clearly on a power trip. They cannot Withhold your child from her caregivers.

FireflyRainbow · 12/04/2021 15:03

School cannot police it. Just say that's who is collecting her. What are they going to do, kidnap her and keep her overnight

FireflyRainbow · 12/04/2021 15:06

When my sons school get petty like this I quote child law then they magically change their mind.

lightofthetrees · 12/04/2021 15:06

Say your mum is a childminder!!

Changechangychange · 12/04/2021 15:12

@yomommasmomma

Sorry but my view would be pay for childcare for your child. Grandparents doing regular child care is too much, but great grandparents is ridiculous!!! How old are they?
They could be anything between 55 and 105, so I don’t really see why it’s relevant? They are obviously young enough to offer to do it.
LaceyBetty · 12/04/2021 15:18

@yomommasmomma

Sorry but my view would be pay for childcare for your child. Grandparents doing regular child care is too much, but great grandparents is ridiculous!!! How old are they?
How is this any of anyone's business but the great grandparents'?
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