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Original poster

If they put a stop households mixing...

232 replies

musicalfrog · 19/09/2020 19:40

What do those of us relying on grandparents for babysitting do? Could those in already restricted areas shed any light on this perhaps please? Thanks.

OP posts:
Namechange313 · 19/09/2020 20:36

I’m finding it hard too OP, however I’m going to have to break the rules and let DDs grandparents look after her this week whilst I’m at work. I Understand it’s against the rules but there is literally no other option at all, I cannot physically take DD to my workplace nor can I leave her home alone (shes 18 months) I live in a village with only 2 nurseries and both are very full with a waiting list.

It’s alright setting all these rules but people will be forced to break them when faced with these problems

Hercwasonaroll · 19/09/2020 20:39

I'm a teacher and having to break it. Even in a local lockdown area. I literally have no other options.

SellFridges · 19/09/2020 20:40

It’s not allowed anyway under any rules. So you carry on, assuming you’re ok with that.

I wouldn’t blame you either way, but it’s really quite obvious that this wouldn’t be allowed. Mixing households is only allowed in a) support bubbles or b) where you maintain social distancing.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 19/09/2020 20:41

One of our teachers was in tears Friday about this (nth east). She was off for a lot of last year as her daughter was in hospital, just getting back into it.

Hercwasonaroll · 19/09/2020 20:43

Pretty much everyone I know is using grandparents. Nursery allow grandparents pick up/drop off. Estimate 50% grandparents at school/nursery. Government are in lala land if they think people aren't doing this.

LittleRa · 19/09/2020 20:48

I’m a north east teacher who uses grandparents to collect my DD a few days a week- at first I assumed we’d just carry on as usual as I didn’t really see what else we could do, but on Friday those of us with “informal family childcare arrangements” were told in no uncertain terms by our Head teacher that we must find alternative arrangements and as school employees and council employees we must not break lockdown rules. If we are unable to find alternative arrangements we must tell our school on Monday in order for contingency plans to be put in place.

Original poster
musicalfrog · 19/09/2020 20:51

@LittleRa

I’m a north east teacher who uses grandparents to collect my DD a few days a week- at first I assumed we’d just carry on as usual as I didn’t really see what else we could do, but on Friday those of us with “informal family childcare arrangements” were told in no uncertain terms by our Head teacher that we must find alternative arrangements and as school employees and council employees we must not break lockdown rules. If we are unable to find alternative arrangements we must tell our school on Monday in order for contingency plans to be put in place.
Shock
OP posts:
Italianmoma1983 · 19/09/2020 20:52

School, Childminders and nurseries will stay opened I’m sure

LittleRa · 19/09/2020 20:54

@musicalfrog I know. Luckily for me my DD is school age so it’s just a case of the school pick ups (though still hard go arrange at last minute) but others have pre-school babies and toddlers looked after all day by grandparents.

There was also some discussion amongst local Heads about whether schools should refuse to release children to grandparents or other parents from other households etc, it or was ultimately decided that schools are not law enforcement and therefore we should advise and encourage and support parents to follow the rules rather than enforce or call the police etc.

HariboFrenzy · 19/09/2020 20:55

@LittleRa

I’m a north east teacher who uses grandparents to collect my DD a few days a week- at first I assumed we’d just carry on as usual as I didn’t really see what else we could do, but on Friday those of us with “informal family childcare arrangements” were told in no uncertain terms by our Head teacher that we must find alternative arrangements and as school employees and council employees we must not break lockdown rules. If we are unable to find alternative arrangements we must tell our school on Monday in order for contingency plans to be put in place.
What contingency plans would these be then??
LittleRen · 19/09/2020 20:56

I am in the same boat as of Tuesday. Only two days a week but I have a 2.5 year old and two in school... my parents do my childcare. No way I can find a nursery I like at such short notice.

Plussizejumpsuit · 19/09/2020 20:56

I'm in NE. Gateshead Council released a statement saying they wanted the gov to include informal childcare in the allowed childcare. They didn't allow this but I do wonder if people actually continue to use informal childcare if the police would actually do anything about it?

I don't think there is enough paid childcare places whether that's nursery or childminder to take the place of family childcare even if people could afford it. It will obviously hit the poorest hardest too.

BikeTyson · 19/09/2020 20:57

Not allowed here in the NE. Not a massive issue for us as only use 1 day of grandparent childcare for me to cover which I’ll have to do with annual leave (and maybe unpaid leave depending how long this goes on for) but I have a number of colleagues who had to take leave on Friday because this was dropped on everyone at short notice and they needed to try to work out what the fuck they were going to do. It’s infuriating. Many people can’t afford paid childcare and even if they can, it’s in short supply at the moment.

I think it will backfire because I can foresee a lot of people having to break the rules for this, if the alternative is losing their job in the middle of a severe recession. And once they’ve broken the rules for one thing it’s a shorter step to break them for another and another.

potatoofftheblock · 19/09/2020 20:58

@musicalfrog

What do those of us relying on grandparents for babysitting do? Could those in already restricted areas shed any light on this perhaps please? Thanks.
Pay for it instead Angry
Nixen · 19/09/2020 20:58

This is a massive lesson in why people shouldn’t be relying on family to provide their routine childcare!

LST · 19/09/2020 20:59

My mum has never stopped providing childcare and won't stop now.

uglyface · 19/09/2020 21:00

Someone in our area wrote to our MP back in May, just before schools were due to return. She replied that if you are a key worker you can access your normal childcare arrangements in order to allow you to do your job. I know this doesn’t help everyone, but might do for some.

A few weeks ago I enquired at the nursery DD21mo attends one day a week what it would cost and if they have the space to take her full time in the event of rules changing. They don’t have space, and the full amount would allow us to pay our mortgage OR bills, not both. It’s the only nursery both early and close enough to allow us to get to work on time (we live in a rural area).

LittleRa · 19/09/2020 21:00

@HariboFrenzy Well I think for me it would be to leave slightly early to be able to collect my DD myself, as I say mine is one of the less disruptive ones (eg I would have to leave 30 mins before the end of the children’s school day to collect DD, a TA would cover those last 30 mins and dismiss the class- not ideal because I get my work done after the pupils leave and don’t usually leave until 5pm, and also means I’m not there at dismissal time to see parents etc). Contingency plans for those who have childcare issues for throughout the whole day.... no idea!!

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 19/09/2020 21:00

Pay for it instead

Do you think nurseries and childminders can just magic up spaces for the tens of thousands of kids who are looked after by grandparents?
As I said above... one nursery in our village, it’s full. Two childminders operating, both full. School wrap around care not currently operating, and when it does there’s a waiting list.

BikeTyson · 19/09/2020 21:01

This is a massive lesson in why people shouldn’t be relying on family to provide their routine childcare!

Helpful Hmm I guess we should all have used our crystal balls to factor a pandemic into our career and family planning decisions.

Redwinestillfine · 19/09/2020 21:01

We are not letting grandparents help out anymore anyway due to the increased risk to over 70's. I don't know many who are.

Hercwasonaroll · 19/09/2020 21:02

This is a massive lesson in why people shouldn’t be relying on family to provide their routine childcare!

Demand would massively outstrip supply.

Many people couldn't afford to live without family childcare either.

What an uninformed post.

clareykb · 19/09/2020 21:02

North east here managed to sort out after-school care for our twins by upping the days the go to after school club but we would have been screwed if they were nursery age. Can't think of any nurseries with 2 places ready at 24hrs notice.

DCIRozHuntley · 19/09/2020 21:02

This is a massive lesson in why people shouldn’t be relying on family to provide their routine childcare!
Fuck off

LST · 19/09/2020 21:03

@redwine my parents are in their 50s