If they put a stop households mixing...

[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.

I'm in the Northeast, NHS front line workers both of us! I work part time and hubby works full time. Our parents look after our little one 1 (at the maximum 2 days per week depending on our shifts) according to rules we can't use our parents for childcare.
We will continue with our normal arrangement and breaking the rules (we haven't broke the rules until now) but sending our child to nursery or childminder is bring more people into our bubble and it's safer. (I am being tested regularly for covid as I go into care homes and wear full PPE).

The alternative is no restriction then the world and his wife are kicking off about nothing been done about covid

Well no, not really. The alternative is all the current restrictions (I’m talking about a local lockdown area here) but with one exception - that people are allowed into your home for the provision of childcare while parents/primary caregivers are at work whether paid (as is currently allowed) or unpaid (which is not).

Is troll hunting still banned? Asking for a friend.

@rwalker

The alternative is no restriction then the world and his wife are kicking off about nothing been done about covid .

🙄 of course that isn’t the only alternative.

Tech as nannies can work as the home is their work

And cleaners and workman in houses etc

So guess for childcare it is ok To do what you are suggesting

@Nixen you haven't got a clue what you're talking about. I can afford my child thanks. However due to shift work/long commute y DP and I can't meet strict nursery hours. Family childcare (not grandparents I might add) is our only option.

@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.

In Greater Manchester, what people have done is carried on anyway. Because the regs didn't do anything to increase the number of childcare places, and shockingly enough people providing unofficial childcare didn't regard doing it all in the parks with no bogs in varying weather as a viable option.

I'm in Greater Manchester and my mother is providing childcare as she has done throughout lockdown. People need to be sensible, not necessary to follow rules to the letter, do what works for you without being reckless.
When did everybody lose the ability to think and use common sense??

This whole situation is what happens when nobody who can't afford a nanny has been included in the decision making process.

I’m in Glasgow, we’re in week three of local lockdown. Our rules are:

Children should continue to attend school and nursery, and informal child care (e.g. grandparents caring for their grandchildren) is not affected by the new restrictions - as long as the children being looked after are from the same household.

Maybe that’s the rule in some other areas too? I hope so.

@Nixen

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

Why would you look to promote a society where willing grandparents wouldn't be encouraged to? When ds was a baby we paid for 2 days childcare even though GP offered to do it all between them as we needed a backup for holidays etc

My mum worked lots of jobs when we were kids as money was tight and she sees looking after ds almost as compensation for that. They have the time and the love, why should people in that situation be discouraged in 'normal' times?

Maybe that’s the rule in some other areas too? I hope so
Not here (NE) unfortunately, it’s expressly forbidden. But the Scottish government seem to be taking a much more proportionate approach to children under 11 so I’m not really surprised

@Nixen

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

You love are an arsehole.

I think you would just have to break the rules. There would be no choice.

I think it's absolutely fine to rely on family for childcare in the sense of having that as your usual arrangement. It can often be the best option. Obviously anybody whose usual arrangement is removed will have a period of disruption and scrambling to adjust to a back up plan. I don't think it is Ideal to have children based on the assumption that family can always help or to say that there could certainly be no alternative, that seems a bit complacent. It's reasonable to hope that all will be well, but it can't be guaranteed. Many are not lucky enough to have family to help, and they obviously sadly know that could become the case for anyone.

@CherryPieface

I’m in Glasgow, we’re in week three of local lockdown. Our rules are:

Children should continue to attend school and nursery, and informal child care (e.g. grandparents caring for their grandchildren) is not affected by the new restrictions - as long as the children being looked after are from the same household.

Maybe that’s the rule in some other areas too? I hope so.

The areas of England under extra rules all forbid it afaik. Probably still ok elsewhere. Meanwhile, there simply aren't enough childcare places. So people continue to use family childcare. And you'd need shit for brains to disapprove.

Dear Mr Cummings, I am a key worker in County Durham. I can no longer go to work in ICU/school/insert kw job of choice as I can no longer use my family for child care. Please advise.

It's caused huge rows as dp is a rule follower.

What’s his alternative solution?

For those of us in England not in areas where there are local stricter guidelines, we do have gov.uk guidance that allows grandparents to look after children. It says this (in the document Coronavirus Outbreak FAQS):

2.7 Can I look after my grandchildren?
Yes. People in groups of up to 6 can meet indoors or outdoors, which enables you to spend time with your grandchildren (although whole families may not be able to meet up at once). We recognise that grandparents and other relatives often provide informal childcare for young children, and this can be very important. Although you should try to maintain social distance from people you do not live with wherever possible, it may not always be practicable to do so when providing care to a young child or infant. If this is this case - and where young children may struggle to keep social distance – you should still limit close contact as much as possible, and take other precautions such as washing hands and clothes regularly.

The problem is where restrictions have tightened (eg NE) I think this is no longer allowed? And could be a problem for all of us if restrictions tighten everywhere.

I’m in a local lockdown area and frontline NHS, all my colleagues are continuing to use family for childcare, work won’t grant emergency leave so what choice do they have? It’s absolute madness, the government don’t seem to have a clue!

In that situation I'd ignore the restrictions tbh.

I may be missing something but if the grandparents are youngish and no vulnerable, it seems like going to them would cause a lot less risk of passing a virus between households than a childcare group? It seems that even those who are normally at nursery might be better off with family if possible, just in terms of virus spread. Am I missing something? Is it extra precautions taken by 'professionals'? Or is it just they are worried that if people can use family for childcare they will end up mixing households too much under that premise when it isn't really necessary childcare?

@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.

That's dreadful!!!!!!! What contingency plans are our in place? Honestly, some people have no idea

@Brieminewine

I’m in a local lockdown area and frontline NHS, all my colleagues are continuing to use family for childcare, work won’t grant emergency leave so what choice do they have? It’s absolute madness, the government don’t seem to have a clue!

And this is where thing are going relatively 'well' and child isn't having to isolate for an indeterminate amount of time due to a high temp that probably isn't covid but you can't prove otherwise because no tests. It's just crazy. 🤯

@Nixen

Many people have family looking after children even when they can afford it. How dare you spout your bullshit you sanctimonious idiot!