Child self isolating

[IDontBelong]

If one of my two children, a 2 year old, has been told to self isolate because he was in close contact with a nursery worker who has now tested positive, am I right in thinking there is no option but for me to stay off work too to look after him?
I am a single parent.
I take it grandparents are not an option. They are over 70. I work part time.
Whether they'd be willing to do it/ I'd be willing to let them do it is another matter. Is it even allowed?

If you are bubbles with them its allowed. Whether it's wise is another matter.

bubbled

Thank you.
My parents live with my sister who works out and about with the general public. So do I (teacher).
I bubbled with them over lockdown when we were all wfh but I don't think it's a very sensible bubble now.

Yes, you are supposed to find childcare from within your DC's bubble. You aren't supposed to send him/her to another childminder / babysitter if they aren't in your bubble, to stop the chain of infection. As the above said, it's whether or not it's wise to send him to your parents. I wouldn't but my parents are over 70. Also DP and I could take it in turns to WFH / take holidays to cover the 2 weeks.

I think this is going to be a common issue. Do you have any neighbours / friends with similar age DC that you could form a bubble with, to share childcare? As I think this is going to go on all winter.

Thank you. Food for thought about forming another bubble. I will think carefully about who would be best/ most useful/ would want to bubble with me- someone I trust too of course wrt risk and everything else, who else lives there...... It might take a village to raise a child ordinarily but right now I need to be more strategic and exclusive.

I suppose it's easy fir me to say, from outside your situation but I'd maybe look for another single mum in your DC's nursery group and ask them if they want to split the 2 week self isolation between you.

In school we have had some self-isolating and positive cases among pupils but when it comes to being a bit more directly affected I'm finding it all a bit if a shock and confusing. Being alone definitely adds to the problem. My staff bubble at work, my bubble at home, the kids' bubbles. So many bubbles.

Good idea Dugee. I know one. She lives ten miles away (rural area here) and she has more children than I do, but it's worth talking to her about it.

But after the two weeks I can change bubble again?
I kind of thought your bubble had to stay your bubble as far as practicable.

The one you know is already in your child's bubble, via your children being in the same bubble, I think / guess. It might be more practical to think in terms of childcare bubble, rather than family bubble if it isn't reasonable for those family members to provide childcare.

Excellent, thanks for your post. I'm not able to see the woods for the trees at the minute so I appreciate your ideas.

I think the sudden 2 week isolations are going to be an absolute pain in the arse for children, parents and employers alike, over the winter. Good luck, hope you get something sorted.