Covid 19 and reopening

[stuckasachildagain]

Just wondering if any childminders are in 2 minds over reopening? Obviously families are requiring childcare to start again and childminders have an ongoing obligation to their clients But...
Childminders work from home, that means allowing a mixing of several families within what should be their own "safe space". Young children unable to socially distance touching furnishings, walls, bathrooms and them etc. Possibly increasing risk to their own family, How are people feeling about this and is anyone deciding to keep closed or limit to 1 family only etc?

My auntie is staying closed and looking for alternative work. The childminder I had lined up for August has decided to stay closed until a vaccination happens. Currently looking for another but not having much luck!

In my experience, they aren't happy or willing to continue working. But much like anything, I'm sure loads are open and eager to start working again.

Oh that's hard! It must be upsetting when you thought you were sorted. This is what I mean, they are scared (with what could be said good reasons) but still have a job and contracts to fulfill. How to balance it? 🤷‍♀️

Honestly I'm not sure. I'm a single parent teacher. All my family live far away or work themselves, their father is completely useless. I'll be expected in very soon and have no childcare. I have a bad feeling this will all hit women in the workplace very badly. Yes some men, but many, many women.

But what can we do?

Will you not fall under the essential workers category and be able to use a hub or similar? Obviously not if you have under 3yrs I suppose.
This is exactly the situation I've been thinking about. Where are you based? Scotland?

Seems to be a misalignment then! I am going back but all but one of mine are staying off!

2 year old, 5 year old (reception age in part time) and a year 8. Year 8 will be ok, no full time place for 5 year old as they are keeping places for those who have used it all along and no more. No after school clubs or breakfast clubs. Nursery may be open for 2 year old but on a part time basis.

I am tearing my hair out trying to figure all this out. My only rational idea has been to resign and become a childminder! I'm in England so if you're willing to do a long drop off I may be available 😂

Hopefully some childminders will come along with more insight and give us some hope!

My maternity ended last week. I haven't managed to interview any childminders. Have been furloughed until end of first week in June and boss wants me back. So I am dreading it!! Don't want to just drop him off with a stranger I haven't properly interviewed and settled him with.

The anxiety is driving me nuts. My employer just told me to "sort it".

violet my head has the same attitude. His wife is a sahm so I'm not surprised he thinks childcare is easy at the moment. The government need to be firmer with employers and if it carries on we will see many parents in unemployed. I've been forwarding my head the childminder rejection emails and offered to bring them in. The other night I actually cried as I felt so trapped, and I haven't cried since my teen years!

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat are you not nervous about them restarting? How are you working things eg changing, toys etc . Thanks

I feel for those of you trying to get back to work and agree employers need to be more helpful and understanding of what is happening.

No I’m not nervous. Obviously I don’t want to get ill but really, the statistics don’t worry me.

Since I’ll only have one to begin with, I don’t need to worry so much about their contact With each other or watching water bottles/ toys in mouth etc. Drop off and pick ups at the door and lots of hand washing!

Open for 2 families right through both sets work on covid wards. All well so far.
Hand stainzer remove shoes bags etc put in own colour coded box. Everyone wash hands. Play limited number of toys....easy clean...every child has colour coded cup, cutlery, playdo. Most play is outside all toys cleaned at night along with surfaces. Toys left to dry in sun. Chairs cleaned and out in sun. Throws on chairs washed each night. Through day lots of hand washing.
Children have normal cuddles and contact

I have been opening all the way through but only for current families, I felt the risk was too higher to take on unknown families who i dont know and if they will be honest over child illness at the moment as this always a problem with new families until they realise you are not a mug.

Some good points and practical ideas there. Thanks. It's all beginning to put my mind at rest, thank you.

I've been closed since March (no key worker families) but decided to open up to 1 family last week. It was absolutely fine once they'd arrived & I stopped thinking about it . I had doorstep drop off, own hand towel and regular hand washing then a clean with antibac in the obvious points such as toilet, door handles etc but nothing crazy. TBH if any of the children coming into my house have unknowingly got it, chances are they will pass it on and vica versa. The biggest question mark isn't what the kids are exposed to but their parents - we have literally no idea if they are being sensible or careful and have to hope for the best and trust them.

I will be reintroducing a 2nd family back on 1st when my youngest will also go back to school - none of my other families need or want to come back yet and I've lost a few permanently. My biggest concerns at the moment are
a) what happens if at the last minute school don't open on 1st? I'll be over numbers and even if I wanted to, 7 kids with 5 needing homeschooling would be hideous!
b) what happens financially if I or a minder gets Covid? With the SE grant (which incidentally after I deducted tax and NI was just over half my average wage not 80%) and a significantly reduced income may and June, I was just about managing but if I have to close for 2+weeks it will be a disaster for me and my families.

I've never wanted to be employed but really wish I was right now!

Just dropping this document link here for anyone interested.
Early Years guidance issued by Government today (24th May 2020) for those providers in England.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-early-years-and-childcare-settings-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-early-years-and-childcare-settings

I won't be re-opening until the government deem it safe for my partner and my own family members to come into my house, and I'm amazed they're expecting us to happily accept the children of other families before then.

Due to the layout of my house I'd only be able to take one child anyway, which wouldn't be great for the child and and it certainly won't pay the bills. I'm now looking for alternative work, as are a few other childminders I know.

@Rhiannon13 I've already dropped 2 days childminding for another job as I can't afford the uncertainty and I know a few others who will be stopping or reducing significantly come September (one to go back to teaching full time and one is setting up as a cleaner in the day and just doing wraparound). I suspect many other will be doing likewise

@Rhiannon13 that's exactly what I was thinking. It's not safe for other people to come in to my house and mix with my family but I've to take other people's children and just hope for the best?!
I don't know how to let my parents know, how to decide who to allow and who not. All parents are needing to work for obvious reasons.
I know the risk is small but it's mainly my family who are worried and surely I have to take on board their views too.
Aargh!!!

I've been open throughout however today I'm now questioning that decision and the honesty and integrity of parents using my setting. Mindee was dropped off this morning and mum told me mindee might not be in tomorrow as it's dads weekend to have said child and he's planning to take him to the seaside 😣 with his Aunty and cousins. So that's a minimum of a 3hr journey in a car with two different sets of households. I've had to tell mum that if the child goes that he will not be welcome for the next 14 days as it's not just my family being put at risk but those of my other Mindees. The amount of requests for childcare in the last 3 weeks tells me that either lots of other settings are staying closed or that they cannot reopen because they have been crippled financially and parents are in such a panic awaiting news on schools and if they open what time tables they'll get. It's a massive logistical nightmare and I feel so sorry for all the parents having to juggle everything