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?

I think they will have to open up to more working families. But by request.
So childcare not teaching.
If people and workplaces are coping now they can cope for the other 6w. And realistically many people may cancel their summer holiday time off anyway so you could have only 1 parent off rather than 2 that gains you 1-2w.
I think the issue might be great er in cities and london where more couples might be working full time.
In our area i dont think there is 1 couple in our year where both parents work ft and cannot wfh.

With 2 parents schools 6h30min
2hr lunch break so 4hr 30 so both parents could reduce 2h 15 min.

Depends on the age of the child. 7+ they can read for an hour. watch the bbc bitesize thats maybe 30 min.

So t he issue is mainly under 7yo and roles where you have to go into work. (I think anyone who can wfh should continue to and businesses could get a rebate/tax or something to encourage them).

Many restaurants willbopen hal f staff anyway as might shops.
So imo the issue of the school childcare is blown out of proportion.
Most places are shut bec use there is no work not because the schools are shut.

Xenia seriously are you suggesting the same as the poster who suggested random teenagers, that people should leave their children, CHILDREN FFS in the hands of unqualified, unchecked, unknown random strangers, who would no doubt be looking for full employment rights.

There is a reason I chose to use a nursery / wrap around care rather than a childminder, I do not want to put all of my trust in a single individual.
I am of the view their will always be people who have an off day or who just are in the wrong job. In a nursery setting I hope they are weeded out. Much harder to spot things aren't right with an au-pair, nanny or childminder.

blackbear it is absolutely awful that abusers exist and it truly saddens me. But most of us aren't.. I'm extremely professional and it is hard when people have those views.
And to add, where i live, 2 local nurseries have temporarily closed within the last 6 or so years (one only last year) due to abuse. It can happen anywhere.

Hugglespuffed I know and I truly believe 99.9% of childcarers are excellent professionals.
I just trust that the rare one who neglects or abuses is more likely to be found out in a group setting than behind a front door

No, I am suggesting you do what we did - you advertise (we had a lovely sixth former doing Saturday and Sunday morning care at our house), you do interviews, take up references and hire someone. Most working parents already have to hire someone to collect from school and look after the children to 6pm anyway.

I know what you mean @Blackbear19 I took offence and I shouldn't have. Sorry!

I know lots of people who had babysitting/ childcare jobs when I was younger. There was no having to register, no ofsted.
Quite often the parents (usually mums) would mind each others.
My dd would do a good job over the summer, has first aid, been active with scouts and explorers, experience looking after her niece, the junior dept at school. She's only 16 herself, but would do a really good job.
She had a job working in a nursery doing music activities, but obviously not going to happen now.
There are lots of responsible teens who could provide childcare, but it wouldn't be allowed.

This question was asked at the briefing.

Hancock said he didn't have a date.

Did anyone else think he basically skirted the question?
The member of the public asked something along the lines of this... 'can my parents look after my children if schools aren't open and I need to work'

He said 'we can't say when schools will be open yet'

That is like someone saying

What is your favourite fruit?
Well I quite like coffee.

There is still no obligation to register anyone who works in your house - that is the vast difference between a childminder who looks after a child in their own house and someone who comes to your house to do it.

www.gov.uk/guidance/childminders-and-childcare-providers-register-with-ofsted/nannies-registration

Thanks Xenia

I'll show it to dd, she was so disappointed that she couldn't take the job she was offered, although only 16 she wants to save for college, America more than likely.

On Anglia News coach companies arent getting help. Some of those coach companies transport kids to school.

Hugglespuffed no worries. But I'm glad you understand what I mean.

I saw another thread where teachers were saying they would refuse to go back until there is a vaccine......

Could be a while

I couldn't see a thread about teachers and coronavirus? Can you link?

Yeah yeah devlesko we all know you look down on anyone who 'outsources' childcare because your people are you so family minded unlike the rest of us sheeple.

It always ends up with ' stay at home v working from home' arguments.
Not something that is helpful when some people are trying to juggle both at the moment whatever your views.

Our Headmaster is a bit obsessed with safeguarding training : I'm a mere minion myself but had a training course every year about it and they take it very seriously indeed.
It's something to bear in mind and so important to try to stop child abuse not just ' red tape'.

Segmentationfault

Just because it isn't my culture doesn't mean I look down on others. Did you miss the bit where I said my own dc are struggling without their childcare.
It's not about not agreeing with childcare, it's about not putting others at risk. For businesses to open irrespective of some staff not having childcare atm.
What's your solution?

If staff don't have childcare, they won't be able to go onto work, which means some businesses won't be able to open die to staff shortages though.

If businesses do not reopen we won't be able to pay wages of nurses and teachers so we have to come up with some solution other than only the child free work.

If businesses do not reopen we won't be able to pay wages of nurses and teachers so we have to come up with some solution other than only the child free work.

This. I don’t always agree with xenia but this is it in a nutshell.

The furlough scheme is in place until the end of June (with the option of further extension). I don’t think schools and most businesses will open until after that. The government said again today that it was still too soon to say when schools will open.

Schools ARE open. I expect that the range of children able to attend will widen as and when it is safe for everyone. My primary was open all holiday, will be open bank holiday, and provides meals all week for fsm children. It's intended that those who are most in need of working will be allocated places first when it is deemed safe by the government. It's very frustrating and worrying but just chucking everyone back in school with a bit of perspex between the 35 desks in a room built for 20 isn't going to cut it.

In the meantime, I don't think Xenia's suggestion of chucking your kids at any old person to childmind is a well-thought out one, given that safeguarding is a non-negotiable with OFSTED, parents and sane people.

And where I live in the Fens there are plenty of positions field working. In my local farm- they advertise locally and a whole bunch of my village sixth formers are all doing it, as well as plenty of locals. Please don't throw out that nonsense about foreign workers only in the fields - it's total bollocks. Yes there are Europeans working. They live here, how very dare they! Yes, some people live in caravans onsite. They're young, unattached and able to do so cheaply. There are some gangs - our local police worked hard to eradicate one - but there are very many farms who employ directly or through reputable agencies.

Childcare doesn’t have to be ‘any old person’ - with so many looking at job losses by June - we could be looking at a fantastic work force to help with childcare for those who need it. If you don’t need it, lucky you!

I am not against anyone working in fields. In fact a bigger threat to the NHS is not covid 19 but obesity, diabetes etc linked to too much food and not enough moving around.

Childcare for most working parents has always been someone you advertise for or use an agency and then hire. It is what we did from 1984 until about 2010 so i have plenty of experience of hiring people either full time looking after our baby in the house (coming daily) or a few hours every day after school. You can get some really nice people but the big issue where both parents eg earn £20k a year before tax is the cost if you now need someone all day in term time for children aged say 5, 7 and 9. One of my adult children jokingly suggested her boyfriend currently on furlough (and allowed to take a second job) could do the care for the 2 year old in the flat next door where both parents are desperately trying to do their full time jobs from home - they apparently do one hour on working and the next minding the 2 year old from dawn to dusk - not easy in a flat with an active toddler.