What do I do for childcare over Easter?

[DebbieFiderer]

DH and I are both keyworkers, me in healthcare and him in food retail. No way of working from home. At the moment the kids are going to school on days we are both at work, but neither school have confirmed if they are staying open over Easter. If they don't, I don't know what I can do. My parents aren't elderly but they are 69/70 and shouldn't have to have them. A friend has offered to help but that would be risking exposure for her family, same issue if I used a childminder. I don't mind leaving them alone for a couple of hours if needed (Y7 and Y4) but I'm not sure it's ok to do that for a full day. So what do we do?

Schools are being asked to stay open over easter for key workers. I'm not sure how its going to work or be funded yet but we are preparing for it.

I keep seeing that in the press but haven't seen anything official, and the schools haven't seemed to know anything about it when I've asked.

Can you ask work to be flexible so you do opposite shifts?

How sensible is the year 7? Even if you have a sensible 12 year old that could be a long day at home alone, do you have a close friend or family member that could pop in to check on them a couple of times or sit and have lunch with them?

Our LA are sorting something out. At least one school is operating as a holiday club the others might choose to stay open depending on how many they have in.

My cousin is a primary school teacher and has been told they are working over school holidays

Can't really do opposite shifts, both of our roles can only really be done during normal working hours - I'm in a community role and his shop isn't 24 hours. The Y7 is sensible, but I just feel it's not fair to expect her to also be in charge of her sibling. People popping in isn't exactly compatible with the later announcement, my parents could facetime regularly but it still doesn't seem ok. Fingers crossed the schools will clarify soon, even if it's just the primary school open that will help.

We are staying open over Easter, including the bank holidays. What I don’t get is what do you do at the weekends? Surely retail and NHS workers have to work then?

The DFE are currently looking at ensuring schools join together to form hubs that will operate for the duration of the lockdown including over the Easter holidays for precisely this circumstance. Give it a couple of days, OP and I'm sure you'll hear.

DH works alternate Saturdays, always off on Sundays. I do occasional weekends but mostly weekdays due to my role. Luckily my weekends going forward are mostly Sundays, and I am trying to request off all the Saturdays that DH is in.

What were your childcare plans for Easter holidays?

I don’t understand why you’re happy for teachers to be put at risk but not your friend?

I'm in a similar situation. Had planned cover with annual leave but may well need to cancel this. This is a useful heads up.

I work in a school - we are staying open for children of key workers .

I mean - staying open over the holidays for children of key workers .

We haven’t been told what our arrangements are for Easter holidays and we probably won’t be until the government says we have to stay open.

Our school will remain open as now. Staff on a rota. That's what DoE has asked them to do

Original childcare plan was for my parents to have the kids as usual.

FamilyofAliens, I get what you're saying, I'm not happy about it, but I don't see what choice I have. Anyway, the point about my friend is now moot as she has, understandably, withdrawn her offer.

I work in a school and my understanding is that all schools are open over the Easter Holidays. The government have said they must stay open. As far as I’m aware school staff fully support this and expect to be in schools over the Easter holidays.