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Covid

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Original poster

Keyworkers childcare fees

32 replies

Reuben24 · 21/03/2020 16:58

I'm after some advice.

Before I begin, I really do emphasise with all at this unprecedented time. I'm a lone parent key worker and i want to stay home during this time with my child 4yrs but can't. I'm not sure it's fair that certain key workers should have to work. I'm a police officer so fully accept that i have to.
My son's nursery has closed its branch and offered one further away or has said that he doesn't have to attend and i don't have to pay. But if the gov are saying us key workers have to work, Surely this would mean they will pay my nursery fees? After all I am putting myself at risk and my son also for still sending him nursery.

I literally have no support as my dad is in isolation for health conditions and my mum is a nhs nurse.

This has not been clarified can someone sign post me to the answer. Thanks

OP posts:

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/03/2020 16:59

Can you contact the local authority and see if any schools have availability?

kimlo · 21/03/2020 17:00

but you always pay for childcare?

CaryStoppins · 21/03/2020 17:01

Your LA might be able to offer you a space in a school.

Original poster

Reuben24 · 21/03/2020 17:02

I wouldn't have to pay if i could stay at home, but im not given an option. My preferred option would be to stay at home.

Re local authority for local school, he's not of school age.

OP posts:

ooooohbetty · 21/03/2020 17:03

Why shouldn't you pay if you already pay when you go to work?

Irial · 21/03/2020 17:06

but if you go out to work, you will get paid? which is how you pay your nursery? like normal?

SarahInAccounts · 21/03/2020 17:06

You will have to continue to pay child care, why would you not? I don't understand why you think it should suddenly be free.

Freshnewus · 21/03/2020 17:07

I don't understand...
Did you work and pay for nursery before the CV issue?
Then surely... You continue...

You need to work as normal, to keep the country going. Those who aren't working aren't just having a holiday, they have been forced not to work to control the spread of the virus.

unhappyclap · 21/03/2020 17:08

I think the fact that you have been offered childcare elsewhere makes it difficult to say you want to stay home because there is no childcare.

It could be argued that it's not good enough that you don't want to pay the fees as you would be paying them anyway.

Also as such an important keyworker, it might be hard to wriggle out of. The country could have more emergencies/crises in the future and in a way you have signed up to work during these times.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/03/2020 18:39

Oh I didn't see that you wanted your fees paid- I misread that there was no places for him

Why on earth should anyone pay your childcare fees?

Who paid them all the preceding months when you were working?

Notnowokay · 21/03/2020 18:45

Op, am I right in thinking you no longer want to work and want to stay home instead? Or are you scared for your ds, which is understandable. Are you seeking reassurance?

LittleLittleLittle · 21/03/2020 18:48

To put it bluntly OP if you pay for your child to go to nursery you carry on paying. As your son is 4 you get the free term time hours, so your fees are reduced.

CaryStoppins · 21/03/2020 19:23

Don't you already get 30 hours free anyway?

PeppaisaBitch · 21/03/2020 19:30

People who aren't working might not be getting paid (like myself) you will still be getting paid so you use your pay to pay childcare. Same as always. If you would rather quit and not be paid and be a stay at home mum. Do that.

Freshnewus · 21/03/2020 21:16

Good point to the PP.

Some of us STILL have to pay nursery fees, yet have been sent home on unpaid leave.

(Yes hopefully we will be able to receive the 80% pay. But for those who are self employed, we will be required by our nursery contracts to pay fees, whole earning £90 odd a week...)

WinterCat · 21/03/2020 21:25

I can see your point but many people have to pay and their child is at home.

namemypuppyplz · 21/03/2020 21:47

Are your fees not just remaining the same?

FYI to a pp, we don't get 30 hours in Scotland yet. It's not uk wide.

Original poster

Reuben24 · 21/03/2020 21:55

Ok thank you all for your views It will hit us all. I get 30hrs free but I will need to send him full time as my mum and dad are my childcare support but dads in isolation due to health conditions and mum is nhs nurse.
The difference between full time and 30hrs terms time is £800 a month. A few100 is fine but i can't sustain that for 3 mths. The nursery has no idea and as more people call in sick its not fair on my colleagues that i only work 20 hrs at this time. (I need trave time and 30 hrs is 9-3pm daily. My only options as i see them are
My dad
Borrow money for childcare
Work 20hrs and negotiate how i will make up another 20hrs when this calms down.

The purose of this post was to see if anyone in similar had seen anything documented on a solution.

Thanks not to those who say we signed up to this. No one signed up to corona virus. In 15yrs inc the riots i delivered blood sweat and tears for my occupation and have given more than i have ever received.

OP posts:

Pluckedpencil · 21/03/2020 22:16

That's a shitty situation actually. I would ask you employer. Lay it out for them that you need them to find a mechanism to pay you a bonus or overtime or whatever they want to call it to fund all that extra childcare you now don't have due to your mum being an nhs nurse.

Pluckedpencil · 21/03/2020 22:17

If they really need you they should find money. Why should you pay to go to work for the greater good?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/03/2020 22:20

I think you tell your employer that you require flexible working due to childcare. Can you ask to be reduced onto 20h pw and your salary adjusted for that?

Keyworker1 · 21/03/2020 22:30

Firstly, thank you for all that you’re doing and sacrificing to help the people of this country.

To those people who are sat there saying you should just pay it because you paid it before, please think about what this person is doing to save you and your families. Yes she paid it before but she is being asked to work in a dangerous situation, exposing herself to illness that cannot be cured, away from her family and forcing her child to be exposed to the same.

There is no extra money for this. In fact in real terms for the last 10 years she has had a pay cut unlike the private sector which has just been promised to receive up to 80% of their salary. Everyone is fearful and anxiety is high but if you were being asked to do it would you? Or would you rather spend your days enjoying the company of your wonderful children?

If we can subsidise the unfortunate people who have lost work to the tune of 80% of their salary are we not able to subside someone who is putting their life on the line for the good of the many?

After all, we will all be paying back the 80% with a tax rise at some point. That includes any key worker who equally will now not get their promised pay rise for a profession that either educates your children or saves your life.

If I could pay the fees for you I would.

Original poster

Reuben24 · 22/03/2020 06:20

Thank you keyworker1 xx

OP posts:

Finfintytint · 22/03/2020 06:36

Police officers have access to low interest loans. I’d look at that option in the short term and carry on working.
Failing that, I’d ask for temporary flexible working if you really can’t afford it.

helloblossom · 22/03/2020 06:43

Contact your council/LEA and see if a local school could take him. My friend has been offered places for both her primary aged child and her pre-schooler (not registered with the school nursery or anything). She is unlikely to need to use the places as she can juggle it. Hopefully if more parents do as she is this frees up spaces for real need like yours.

I know it will be an unfamiliar setting for your child but so would a different nursery and my experience of early years education is that the staff are just amazing.

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