Key workers what are you doing for wraparound childcare?

[TinnedPearsForPudding]

Ok, let me justify using the emergency childcare as I know I will have to. Both DH & I are NHS keyworkers. DH works 9-5 in central London & I work 10 hr shifts close to home
School is open 9-3.30
My shifts are either 10-8 or 12-8
DH out of the house 7-7

Childminder closed
No before or after school childcare
Very strongly advised not to ask older parents for help.

What are others doing please?

Our school is still running breakfast and after school club. Could you find out if any in your area are?

Only other alternative is a nanny. Maybe the childminder would be interested if she's had to close?

Thankfully my DD’s school is opening 8.30-4.30. That’s my usual working hours but school is close to hospital so my manager has agreed to let me go in 15 mins late and leave 15 mins early but I won’t get my usual tea break mid morning and will lose some of my lunch break so still seeing same amount of patients per day

Any way DH can work from home to collect from school?
If he worked 7-3 from home, he can cover after school, and your shifts cover before school.
Is this an issue every day? Or do you work some weekends, and 4 days a week?

To be honest I rarely get the tea break and a full lunch anyway so it probably won’t make that much difference

Find another childminder?
I'm a cm and have school age key worker children coming to me because I can cover the longer hours.

Surely your work has got to be flexible here. If they want you in and you can’t get wrap around they need to change your shifts under these exceptional circumstances.

I’m a keyworker and my child ares evaporated over the weekend due to people getting scared.

I’ve just text my boss to tell him he needs to get ready for a whole lot of changes in my shifts etc. Because I’m doing the very best I can. He said he’ll do whatever he can to help.

Many nurseries and after school clubs are registering new children of key workers for exactly this.

My ds will be home but his after school club is opening for breakfast club, day care and after school club. Have a look in your area at these private establishments to find one who can collect for you. Worst case scenario your DH might have to come home an hour early.

Some interesting suggestions, thank you

We have no wraparound care. Previously school had a breakfast club but this is not being offered. At the moment school is 9-3.

We are short staffed because of people in 14 day isolation. Either me or my husband are going to have to pick up the kids, which is a massive headache in organisation for our departments but there is nothing else. I am considering splitting my hours a little (so go back in in the evening if I leave to pick up) and early starts on the days DH does drop off.

Luckily traffic is light so I can get from hospital to school quickly. I wait to see how efficient drop off is.

My kids are going to our childminder - luckily she is staying open to key workers. It might be worth ringing around local childminders as those staying open may well have spaces as they can no longer be open for non key workers.