Confused-How can people go into work when no childcare?

[Sleepdeprived42long]

I’m confused about something-how are people with young children able to go into work following Boris’s info yesterday? What’s happening to their kids when there’s no school, childcare provision and they’re not allowed to go to other families? Obviously talking about non-keyworkers.

I think bj was pretty clear and did say that if you don't have childcare and you can go into work then you need to be discussing this with your employer

Using common sense, I think it's fairly easy to guess that most people have worked that out. It doesn't help much if your employer tells you that unfortunately childcare arrangements aren't their problem.

The impact of lack of availability of childcare is however a government problem.

I think at this point it's about the people who CAN, should go back to work. There are plenty of people who don't have children, or older teens and those who can share the child care with their partner. They very much should go back to help out the economy.

Also, if you have children, you do have a right for flexible working... that needs to be discussed with your employer. Everyone has a unique situation that needs to be addressed individually, there is no one size fits all.

I just want to re-iterate what someone already said here that working from home with a 9yo is fairly easy for me too. She is self reliant, and can do her homework as long as I set the computer up for her. She follows the school homework and also does BBC bitesize daily lessons. She can't be the only one. We actually are also doing ok with our 5yo. The number of people who have older primary aged children and also can work from home must cover a lot of the primary aged parents.

My employers are trying to work out staffing numbers, with a comment at the bottom that nannies and childminders are working. It's in our contract that we have 24 hours to sort out childcare, if not, take unpaid leave so they have the funds to employ agency temps. This is public sector, so I reckon many will have to take unpaid leave.

The lack of childcare is an issue the gov needs to consider with regards to reopening childcare etc. Primary school children can't really be left alone for periods of time which is why they have opened earlier than secondary. Secondary children can be left ;in the most part) for longer periods. Which will increase employees flexibility around going to a place of work and doing less at home.

But your employer not being flexible is an issue with your employer, not the government. The furlough scheme is being extended, however they are also asking employers to contribute more towards to this after a certain amount of time. Again if your employer pushes back, that's something you need to take up with your employer. I suspect the industrial tribunals will be busy in the coming months with cases of unfair dismissal etc

@DateandTime it was literally one of the first questions asked.

People are using friends and family for childcare if they absolutely need to.

Agree with an earlier poster about women bearing the brunt of this. I read bbc news story yesterday about a couple both expected back in work with no childcare options and my eyes rolled so far back into my head when it was the woman saying she'd possibly have to quit the job she loved to do the wifework childcare

@concerned7777 I said I was disgusted that the government don't understand the role of a childminder as reflected in the initial release that lumped us with nannies. This has been cleared up in the guidance which states childminders are a early years setting so the June 1st date applies to us too.
I didn't mention the longevity of the virus?
I will be returning to work as a childminder on the 1st for my vulnerable children.

But your employer not being flexible is an issue with your employer, not the government.

It is the government's problem if their planning is based on the assumption that childcare will not prevent people from working.

I suspect the industrial tribunals will be busy in the coming months with cases of unfair dismissal etc

The people who are likely to have the most difficulty finding childcare - people on low wage jobs that can't be done from home - are going to find it difficult to fund employment tribunals.

I don’t mean to be rude but why are childminders and nannies so different?

What % of employees have kids in nursery or primary?

Both my secondary kids could stay at home on their own. I don't want them to, often, or long term. But they could!

@onemorepringle nannies are employed by the family to work in the families home, they can be Ofsted registered for financial reasons but they aren't inspected and don't follow the EYFS.

Childminders are self employed and work in our own homes. We follow exactly the same EYFS framework as preschools, nurseries and maintained school nurseries.
We have to be insured, registered with Ofsted and other agencies, are inspected by Ofsted etc.
We have to have regular safeguarding and first aid training as a minimum but the vast majority of us have additional high levels of continued professional development and training.

I myself have a honours degree in early years, teacher status and have been awarded outstanding in all of my inspections.

Sorry for the long post but I am really passionate about educating people about our profession.