A key worker with no childcare!

[mummytoone2018]

I was hoping someone might have some advice please! I am a single parent and a nurse, the nursery I use has recently closed it's doors due to Coronavirus to all children including those of key workers.

A few surrounding nurseries are following suit. I have found one that I will be visiting. My concern is that my little one will take a long time to settle somewhere new and by the time I have uprooted her to a new nursery and got her settled they may have shut themselves anyway.

My manager states that I may have to take time off as unpaid if I can't work due to childcare. Obviously we don't know how long this would be for and being a single parent I just can't do that.

Does anyone know where I stand legally or what options I have?

Thank you and sorry to anyone that is being affected by this crisis!

No help but I'm in a similar position. My husband and I are both key workers, he does 24 hour shifts and I work for the NHS. Our nursery has closed and it's ultimately left us with the only choice of me taking unpaid leave which we can't really afford to do.
Hopefully someone will be along soon with some advice!

I'm in the same position. I'm a single mum and an NHS critical worker with no other childcare options for school age kids. My kids school wont let us in because they have decided to expand the nhs guidelines of self isolation to any illness in the family - not just new cough or fever. My kids are well but one has a runny nose and a cough that has lasted much longer than 14 days although is slowly getting better. We have been cleared by 111 but the school wont let me take them in.
It's a school which prides itself on community spirit but clearly that is totally fake when they actually have to put their money where their mouth is.

Do you have a union ?

Yes! Do you think it best to speak to them?

Of course!!! They should be advising you- this is an unprecedented situation I don’t think any of us on mn know what all Employers can and can’t do-
I doubt employers know

Thank you OnlyFoolsnMothers
From looking at my unions website it appears I am entitled to the time off but probably not paid 😩

My daughter has been told she cannot have school care as two of her children have asthma. it feels just like an excuse

Have you rung round all the nurseries that are open? Many may be happy to take a paying key workers child....don’t worry about her settling kids adapt

We've been told in our trust that if we take time off for childcare we are paid for the first day, then unpaid from then on. They were very quick to send it round in an email, so clearly anticipated this.

Hi, sadly nationally more and more nursery’s, preschool and childminders are closing there doors to all children including those of key workers, the general reason being unable to remain open on reduced income and afford to pay staff and the increased risk to there own health. Daily I read of childminders no longer prepared to put money before health, not willing to take unknown families on at this time. My sons school have now said they will only care for children where both parents are key workers due to the numbers of children still in when 1 parent is at home working. I would phone your local early years team / local authority and they should be able to point you in the direction of any providers open and able to offer spaces as they are asking On a daily bases who can help etc.

The LEA are open for this sort of thing at the moment, we've had a similar issue in our village and the people affected we helped very quickly.

Personally, I think it's appalling - if childcare providers don't provide childcare, nurses and doctors will not be able to work and significantly more people will die.

Definitely worth checking for other options. My nursery are accepting children not normally registered with them, as long as one parent is a keyworker and no adult at home to provide care.

I disagree no other country as told the previously under valued and under paid childcare providers to stay open! only in the UK all other countries have had to care for there own kids. yet all of a sudden here they are really important but what is appalling is key workers are wanting childcare too be free to them as they are a key worker and are
un willing to pay the providers for the care they have provided so no wonder they are closing there doors too them

Have you called the council? Around here there are a specific group that will help (your nursery might know who that would be for you), they have multiple options including certain childminders. Good luck!

I’m in a similar situation, cannot work as no childcare. We get one week paid emergency leave, then I’m on annual leave next week and after that I will take unpaid leave.

Contact your MP describe the problem say you are unable to work due to Covid 19 and ask if you qualify for 80 % pay but you really prefer to work and how about some help finding suitable childcare.

@Apple40 I don't know anyone who has asked for free childcare? I'm definitely paying as normal.

We are both key workers in the nhs, my daughter can go to school, however my friend who works in the school herself very much frowns upon us sending her. It’s tricky. Because she’s my friend, I have felt compelled to remove my daughter from school. I am finding it impossible to work from home.

School have removed any staff who fall into a vulnerable category. They’ve increased hygiene measures. I think they need to step up to the plate.

Talk to your union, obviously.
And look into nannies and childminders.
I don't suppose you have any family members (under 60 with no underlying health conditions) who could do childcare??

I wondered if it’s because the government are paying 80% of staff salaries as well as the early years funding plus some nurseries continuing to charge parents whilst they are closed meaning it might make better business sense to close rather than open for very few children. The sectors been underfunded for years and there’s little trust so I can see how it could happen. It’s a great shame for vulnerable families and a kick in the teeth for key workers though.

Just to be clear I have never asked for free childcare, I am more than willing to pay what I have been paying previously.

My employer has made it clear that for the moment it would have to go unpaid if I take time off. The union seems to echo this. Unfortunately I have no family members that can help as any that could are under 12 week lockdown.

Fortunately a lady who works at the nursery has volunteered to help me on some days voluntarily to support the NHS.

I hope everyone gets sorted, it's a mess for everyone!