If schools go back before the Summer, do you expect holiday clubs to run?

[dairyfairies]

That's it basically. Probably nobody knows but I worry about school returning slowly during end of May or June (and thus having to return to the office) but then not having access to childcare during the school hols.

Anybody else fretting about it?

Yes, all the working parents I know are worrying about this.

No idea, and it might be location dependant

I'm hoping school will run through the holidays to some decree so they can catch up.

In my dh school they already have staff allocated for holiday club so I would imagine if schools are open they would be too as working parents won't be able to work if they aren't which will cause problems for businesses. It is highly unlikely school will run during the holidays as some staff don't get paid for holidays and it is the only holidays staff get not like they can take annual leave anytime like other jobs.

If schools go back, then yes so should holidays clubs. I honestly think the government have made a rod for schools backs here. Expecting schools to be open every holiday and bank holiday for 'free' childcare is becoming the new normal. Many childminding/holiday clubs need the business.

The holiday clubs near where I live aren't linked to the school other than they hire the premises to use. The one that is at the school I work at instantly folded when the lockdown was announced as they also ran after school clubs (football, dance etc) and so they had no money coming in. Hopefully they will be able to restart but who knows how many will be able to?

Probably nobody knows

No, definitely nobody knows.

We’re just going to have and see. But, yes, a huge worry to lots of us.

I would think private holiday clubs will ie those not attached to a school

I'm imagine most teachers whether or not they have gone in to the school in recent weeks to provide care for key worker children will be prepared to give up their summer holidays so I can't see schools opening July and August.

@Hedgehog44 schools will not be open during the summer holidays.

To be honest I'm expecting to continue to work from home with DC here until September. My childminder was expecting full fees even though I was furloughed and she was closed so we had to give notice.

My company also implemented "temporary" pay cuts up to 50% - if they don't reinstate our normal salaries by July when the mortgage holiday ends I simply won't be able to afford childcare through the summer

Yes. If schools are fully open by the summer holiday then I'd expect private holiday clubs (that often hire school buildings) to be operating.

The Education Minister has already announced that schools won’t be open over the school summer holidays.

Hope so 🙏🏼

The holiday clubs near where I live aren't linked to the school other than they hire the premises to use.

same here. And one of the DD's has very complex special needs - only one provider locally has ever felt able to cater for her. That's even more of a worry for me.

My local one is planning on opening for May half term but with a maximum of 20 children, they've been taking bookings. They haven't been told they can't yet as lockdown hasn't been extended.

This is such a difficult one.

We run a summer holiday club and have already taken quite a lot of bookings for this year (pre Feb half term & Covid being a thing in the U.K.).

But we just don’t know if we’ll be running yet.

Even if schools are back, what will the demands be on social distancing... that will affect whether we can run the activities in the way we feel gives the children the best experience.

Number of children we’re able to take - we’re only profitable at a certain level so better off not running if we have to cut numbers too much.

Worst case for us is we plan to run as schools are back / restrictions lifted then a sudden lockdown happens and we lose a lot of money.

It’s only a second business for us so whist we are fortunate not to rely on the income, it’s also not worth our time to lose money on it.

But we don’t want to let our families - many of whom have been coming every year for many years - down.

Impossible to tell at this stage I think.

If schools are running, i expect clubs to allowed run. But some may have hone bust or not be economical to run.

I hope so.

I don't actually need the childcare, but it would be good to able to send the kids a few days. More for the sake of the kids than anything else as they love it.

It will also make my working days a lot easier.

I’ve been thinking this too

I don’t see how they can but also not sure how they can’t if people need to work

The ones we use are private companies using school premises. I'd hope they run as normal if schools have been open, potentially people may have lost their jobs / realised they can work from home and demand might be a bit lower so they can spread the kids out a bit more. Who knows. But if schools are back I see no reason for my two not to spend a day running around outside with holiday club.

As key workers if schools do not open during the summer holidays and private clubs do not open where will the children go? Obviously not to the grandparents as planned?

I hate to widdle on anyone’s potatoes but not country coming out of lockdown has gone straight back to full classrooms. It’s going to have to be a staged return.

And that staging is going to have to remain in place long term to allow for social distancing.

So nothing is going back to full capacity until there is a vaccine. I would suspect that schools will be open in the Summer- for the children of key workers as they are now. This might be provided by holiday club providers.

I’m essentially not expecting DD to go back to nursery at all between now and starting school on Sept. I am going to hazard a guess that she won’t start on a full timetable and this makes me sad for her.

Highly unlikely that schools will go back before September. Even then it will possibly be staggered. If they go in June, it will definitely be staggered.

The academy I work for is part of a huge trust, that oversees High schools, SEN schools and Primary schools.

Our Chief Exec has told us this week that any news about schools returning is untrue - no one knows. She doesn't know, no one knows. She thinks that there possibly may be a staggered small intake after half term - but she hasn't been told this - none of them have. They are waiting for advice from the government, and it is unlikely to be forthcoming for at least 2 weeks. And the government has said they will give a minimum of 3 weeks notice.

We've been advised to push ahead with online learning etc., until the end of July, rather than focus on planning for a July return, although that will happen if we get notification.

Sorry, last paragraph June return, (not July).