Can grandparent stay over for childcare?

[Crayolalala]

We’re in Tier 2, my mum in Tier 1. We need childcare for half term coming up, my mum was due to come and stay. I know we can form a childcare bubble but my husband and I will be working at home throughout the week so is it actually ok for my mum to come and stay to look after our child even if my husband and I are home? We’d all be free in the evenings so it feels a bit like we’d just be having my mum to stay which is against the rules! It’s a 2 hour drive so not an option for my mum to come and go each day.

Anyone know?

2 hours is not that far away. I used to have the travel that far for work of a morning. I think the legal/guidance answer is probably no you shouldn’t. Are people doing it though? Yes, probably

There little difference between her travelling to get the kids everyday and her just staying with you.

Do whatever is easiest for you all.

@LouiseTrees

2 hours is not that far away. I used to have the travel that far for work of a morning. I think the legal/guidance answer is probably no you shouldn’t. Are people doing it though? Yes, probably

Seriously?! 4 hours travelling a day, every day is quite a trek!

No that’s not allowed, that’s just having her to stay.

The legal test is whether the gathering is "reasonably necessary" for the purpose of the informal childcare. I would agree that it's unreasonable to expect someone to drive for 2 hours each way every day. I guess the argument would be that you could avoid the need for a gathering in the evening by booking your Mum into a hotel or Airbnb. If that would genuinely be completely unaffordable for you, I think your case that it's reasonably necessary for your Mum to stay at your house is stronger.

No. Childcare bubbles are not appropriate for interactions while the parents are in the house in any case (unless the childcare is being provided elsewhere).

Where do you get that from @StatisticalSense? Can't see anything in the legislation to back up your interpretation. The legislation refers to what is "reasonably necessary". I can see that in the case of an older child you could say it's not reasonably necessary to have a third adult in the house for childcare. But if (say) the OP has a two-year-old it's pretty clear the parents wouldn't both be able to do a full day's work without childcare.

I personally wouldn't, I would share the childcare between DH and I and just juggle it. Many people have had no choice so have to make it work. I assume the child is school age if off for half term? I personally wouldn't ask my parents to break rules and put them at risk in this scenario.

Depends on the age of the dc. If they are babies/toddlers then it's necessary, whereas if they are 8 plus there's no essential need for childcare as you are both in the home and can give them activities to do before you start work/lunchtime. (People coped without childcare homeschooling whilst working for months, even preschoolers).

If it's going to be a struggle maybe do a combination of you both adjusting your working hours and Mum staying in a b&b and her taking DC out as much as possible.

Alternatively ask another parent to help out and you can return the favour when they need help with childcare.

Yes I think it is allowed

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1105/pdfs/uksi_20201105_en.pdf

Is the legislation you can become linked households for this purpose

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.

Then indoor gathering exemption is

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).

So yes it is fine.