Childcare exemption?

[Waxonwaxoff0]

Anyone heard anything about whether the "no mixing" of households means childcare as well? I have a family member supposed to be looking after DS in half term while I work.

I need to know this too, I am in tier 2 it appears...

Yes, tier 2 here as well. I know childcare reasons were exempt under local lockdowns but not sure what will happen here. What a nightmare.

Just asked on the other thread for Tier 2. Nightmare.

In the same boat here, if my mum can't drop my daughter at school I can't work all for the sake of 25 mins 15 of those is mum walking her to school.
I already changed my hours so I can do the pick up, I don't have anymore flexibility.

In tier 2 I would imagine so. I'm in GM and there was an exemption that came in a few weeks ago to make this possible and Matt Hancock specifically said words to the effect that childcare bubbles will apply in future local lockdowns. It is supposed to be strictly between two families. Not sure about tier 3 though.

Below is from the MEN
He asked the PM to make sure that access to childcare remains available.

"The crucial thing about our measures, is to keep the economy moving as much as possible," the Prime Minister replies.

@YellowishZebra

In the same boat here, if my mum can't drop my daughter at school I can't work all for the sake of 25 mins 15 of those is mum walking her to school. I already changed my hours so I can do the pick up, I don't have anymore flexibility.

It looks like tier 2 allows mixing households in outdoor areas and gardens so Your mum walking your DC to school should be fine.

I imagine childcare will be exempt.

I have a grandparent who proved after school care two days a week and my other son goes to a childminder three days a week.

The Government knows that they can’t put an end to childcare because so many people wouldn’t be able to work as a result.

Just pay your mum a quid a week - job done

Looks like I'm in tier 2 as well. Ds supposed to be going to my dps for most of half term as we have very little annual leave left. So really hoping this is still allowed.

People will do it anyway, I can’t imagine people giving up their jobs for this (ie no one I know will!)

I rely on a member of my family to get to and fro work two days a week (including needing to sleep at their house) so I will be screwed if this has to stop.

I'm going into a tier 2 (Nottinghamshire) and I'm hoping they alow childcare to remain as like others I rely on grandparents to do a few school runs.

I'm hopeful it will be as the other areas that have been in local lockdown before now have continued to allow childcare so surely Nottinghamshire will be the same?

I haven't seen anything confirming either way though, hoepfully it'll be clearer after the press conference tonight. (probably not!)

Last time they said this to us (Birmingham) in September they quickly clarified that 'informal childcare' arrangements for working parents were OK to continue. I imagine they will say the same thing again as they want us working!

@QueenofmyPrinces
Pretty sure that will have to stop

Looking at Tier 3, it has in the exemptions:
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1105/pdfs/uksi_20201105_en.pdf

"Exception 3: informal childcare
(4) Exception 3 is that the gathering is reasonably for the purposes of informal childcare provided by a member of a household to a member of their linked childcare household (see paragraph 8)."

Paragraph 8:
"Linked childcare household
8.—(1) For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, a “linked childcare household” means a household that is linked with another household for the purposes of informal childcare in accordance with this paragraph.
(2) Where a household includes at least one child aged 13 or under (“the first household”), that household may link with one other household (“the second household”) for the purpose of the
second household providing informal childcare to the child aged 13 or under in the first household
if—
(a) neither the first household nor the second household are linked with any other household for that purpose in accordance with this paragraph or a provision of any other regulations made under Part 2A of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, and
(b) all the adult members of both households agree.
(3) The first household and the second household are “linked childcare households” in relation to each other.
(4) The first household and the second household cease to be linked childcare households when neither household includes a child aged 13 or under.
(5) Once the first household and the second household cease to be linked childcare households, neither household may be a linked childcare household with any other household. "

So to me it looks like there will be an exemption that can be used in most cases.
I do wonder though about the situation of having paid childcare come where that childcare provider is not a registered childcare provider.

Thanks @nannynick that's very helpful. We are in Tier 2 but I assume it applies to us as well.

Today 18:44@QueenofmyPrinces: Pretty sure that will have to stop

I will have to hope that Bubbles are allowed and I will bubble with my family member - that’s what I did last time.

TBH though - I have to go to work and that is the only way I can get there so if rules say I can’t do it then in reality I will have no other choice but to do it anyway.

Looks like formatting went a bit wrong, that's a problem with Cut&Paste from legislation to Mumsnet.

I have not looked at Tier 2 but my assumption is that if Tier 3 allows it then so do all the lower Tiers.

they have yet again forgotten that some children are not capable of looking after themselves at 13 due to disabilities. twats. My 14 year old can not be left due to her disability.

hoping that this includes respite care for disabled children.

@nannynick that’s really useful. Do you happen to have a copy of the level 2 version too please?

So whatever happened to not allowing grandparents to pick up children in case they spread the virus?
Just incase you didnt know, schools arent SD. Its nothing like what the government are feeding you.
Goodluck!

@nannynick

This link is great thank you.

I am struggling with interpretation of the linked childcare household. As I read it you could interpret this two ways;

1. You can still have a childcare bubble - but only utilise this specifically for childcare you don't become "one household" for all intents and purposes. Which would seem very odd as your kids will have spent time with the other household effectively making you one household anyway?
2. They become your "linked childcare household" which means they are exactly the same a linked "single adult" household and you effectively become one household?

I am still so confused and this is still so open to interpretation - any thoughts anyone?

@GiveMummyTheWhizzer I agree it could be interested both ways. I think it was intended to say the households can only mix at times when childcare is being provided- but it doesn’t make that crystal clear!

*intepreted

Informal childcare is in the high risk regs too. I've not read the lower ones yet.