How can businesses slowly re-open if schools don't go back?

[trumpisaflump]

I've been thinking about this all day. A few of my friends are taking great delight I think in forecasting that schools won't go back until August (Scotland). And even at that it will be part time classes to allow social distancing. So an I wrong in thinking if this is correct them business will not be able to return as families/parents will have children at home?
It's been going through my mind all day and I don't know how we can have one without the other. Any ideas?

Ronnie those parents and carers should have already been eligible as the guidelines state only one person needs to be a key worker.

Only in England. Both parents need to be key workers in Wales.

Yes Nigel - an army of talented 18-22 year olds could help so women could work. Mine has dbs from working at kids clubs.

couples could work, you mean.
Or single parents. Not women.

Correct in Wales both parents have to be key workers unless single parents then just one parent

I meant it as a carry on to earlier comments that it will be women who lose out on jobs more than men. But yes I agree - single parents of any gender will need to find alternatives if not the ones to suffer here

Ah i see what you mean. But i think it's always helpful to reframe childcare issues as being ones for both parents to solve.

After Chris Whitty's comments at the briefing yesterday, I don't think schools or any one will go back anywhere for a long, long, time.

So now I thinking that the government will have to extend furlough, put other schemes in place. Rishi is setting up some extra funding for various businesses next week. This will go on all summer. Yes, I know, but I can't see another scenario.

Schools will go back in September, if the R number remains under 1 by then, after seeing the effects of loosening some of the social distancing, like letting us see a few other people now and then, like family in small groups.

It's awful.

@SophieB100 there is no way we can afford to furlough this many people all summer. The economy would be destroyed and the future would be so bleak. I think most people will need to go back to work by the end of June or there will be so much anger towards those not working.

SophieB - yes in an ideal world but I think the gov will decide we can’t afford that. We shall see.

I know businesses will be broke, I know we can't afford to do it.
I know all this and agree with you both.
But I still think it'll happen.
We'll just have to wait and see.

So unsettling and worrying.
Take care.

Maybe get a nanny? Just a suggestion for if this goes on longer term.

I think the government are going to have to reassess their criteria for some benefits (i.e scrap the fact that BOTH parents need to be working a minimum of 16 hours to qualify). If schools go back on a part time basis with one of my children attending the first part of the week and my second child the opposite end of the week I will never be able to return to work - we can't afford to live off one wage!

Welsh Ministers are meeting to discuss phased return

The majority of the workforce do not have childcare responsibilities so a gradual return to work will mean those without kids in school I guess. My kids are adults so I'm keen to get back, I'm bored at home!

Now this KAWASAKI virus has emerged a few people are saying schools shut till September but that is just rumour I suppose.
Scotland have different holidays anyway so they might be?
Schools open or shut is difficult all round.

The majority of the workforce do not have childcare responsibilities so a gradual return to work will mean those without kids in school I guess

Trouble is those people arent all likely to work in the same place.

So if a shop opens and only 1 out of 5 staff members doesn't have kids then what?

The two aren't inclusive of each other.
If people need childcare they pay for childcare, if they don't then they don't.
If you can't afford childcare then you are like thousands of others who can't work due to no childcare.
Businesses aren't responsible for employees childcare.

It is going to be an interesting issue writing as someone to whom the state never gave a penny of help for childcare since I had my first baby in 1984, not even childcare vouchers etc - I suppose I did get child benefit for a time.

So we had to pay a full time daily nanny which cost 50% of each of our net salaries in 1984 and when all 5 children were at school someone paid from 3 - 6pm each day to do school collection and then full time in the holidays. Really difficult.

I hope the state might let where both parents work full time parents at least set all their childcare costs against their tax bill at long last. I have wanted that since the 1980s but it has never happened. I doubt what will happen.

What parents can do I suppose is hire someone to look after children perhaps collaborating with other parents in doing so or find a private school which is prepared to open which has small classes as that might be cheaper than losing a career.

@SarahTancredi I guess it could be those that can open will be allowed? The economy needs to keep running as soon as possible and that shouldn't change because some people have children. It is better for everyone (including those with children) if things can open asap so that the economy survives.
Those with children can either remain on furlough or use a nanny or maybe family childcare (if we are allowed to see family at that time) or if the child/ren have 2 working parents then perhaps both parents can do a phased return managing shifts around each other. It isn't perfect of course, but I think companies should be allowed to open asap if social distancing can happen.

But companies are not going to get a greenlight to open then stay shut becuase of staff members kids.

Schools need to open along side childminders and nurseries to facilitate that.

Exactly what @Devlesko said. School is great but it isn't childcare. And it isn't fair for childless people to have their income stopped for longer than necessary because other people don't have childcare.

What we need to be very watchful is that employers assume women with children will prefer to be made redundant whereas plenty are more than willing to hire an au pair or find a nanny or their childminder is up in business or their husband sorts all that out.

But if childcare isnt open then what?

Are u supposed to hire a complete stranger with no background checks to look after kids? If nannies and childminders remind closed or on furlough they cant work so who's left? Grandparents which surely defeats object?

I answered that already in my response. Options could be.

1. Using family members (if we are allowed to mix in a small bubble at that time)
2. A nanny (who are still allowed to work at the moment in lockdown, I am one and am still working )
3. I wonder if childminders may be allowed to open sooner than nurseries as they are a smaller setting.

Like I said, I'm a nanny and am highly professional. I hold an up do date clean DBS, first aid certificate, am ofsted registered and have a degree in education. I don't know any nannies without a DBS. It is up to parents to check these of course but it is a bit of a stretch to say we wouldn't have background checks. I wouldn't recommend any parent hire a nanny without checking their background.
It may not work for all, of course, I just don't think there is a simple solution.