Schools closed, what next?

[Sparklypurpleunicornsaremyfav]

So they've just announced schools are closing which I have to admit has made me feel better but I work in retail, non essential and come in close and physical contact with customers. As of yet we aren't being given any precautions to take to minimise the spread of the virus. I'm scared that I don't know who I'm coming into contact with, before anyone says anything I don't for one second think anyone would deliberately come into store knowing they'd had contact with the virus. But it still worries me what I could bring home. So when do you think or will they close shops like mine?

the people who need child care should use their normal provision if possible
As all our local sports etc groups are shutting the "normal provision" won't be there. But our school holiday club has some TAs on staff so there may be the possibility of doing joint provision.

the people who need child care should use their normal provision if possible.

What normal provision?

Everything is shut. No holiday clubs, no after school clubs, nothing around here. It's all been cancelled until at least May 1st.

10 children are key workers children in a whole standard secondary school? That’s remarkably low. Have you looked at the definition of key workers??? It’s wide and surely more than 1% of secondary school
DC.

@doghairismyglitter if you are really struggling speak to your children’s school. We’ve been told to take key workers children but if someone is desperate we’d help them

10 children are key workers children in a whole standard secondary school? That’s remarkably low. Have you looked at the definition of key workers??? It’s wide and surely more than 1% of secondary school

DC's school is only expecting that because it's only children where both parents are key workers or the lone parent is a key worker. Then from the number that are entitled to come in there are some who are with family, some who've already made arrangements, some whose regular childcare is still available etc.

It's only the children with both/lone parents as key workers and who have no other options who are going to be going in.

They did say in the announcement they were expecting very low numbers of children and that's why all schools won't be staying open the whole time and resources will be pooled

I'm happy to provide childcare for key workers kids and our vulnerable kids. I will work in my holidays, it will probably be on a rota basis so the load will be shared. We will follow safety protocol, but, ultimately it is the only thing I can do. We need the key workers doing their job. I'm happy to do my part. Unlike lots of people, my salary is protected. I will just take extra precautions with my own kids.

Thanks @Forflipssake2 but my two sons nursery is a private one and they aren’t even staying open for key workers.
I wish the government would provide some guidance on what single parents do if they have no income coming in from work anymore due to no childcare??? Has anyone heard this mentioned anywhere? I privately rent and am very anxious indeed about how to keep covering my overheads with no wages!

What normal provision?

Then the government need to tell the important normal provision to open, its their job and not schools job.

You can ask for a rent holiday. Speak to your landlord. I am tending to think many with jobs paid for by the government will be fine in this. It will be unbelievably hard for everyone else who is self employed and who doesn’t have work or is laid off from work. I realise many will be working hard but government paid employees are not facing ruin or devastation.