Informal childcare bubble

[Foxinthechickencoop]

Hello, if I have created an bubble for the purposes of helping each other out with childcare. Are we allowed to mix, as families at the weekend when childcare is not required?
All children at the same school and class ‘bubble’.

No, childcare bubbles are just for childcare not socialising.

No childcare bubble only applies for the times that actual childcare is being provided. Adults shouldn't be mixing. It should only be the child and the childcare provider that mix.

Be careful of making childcare arrangements with non family if it is for more than 2 hours a day and there is a reciprocal arrangement. It's against the law (I only discovered this recently). You can only make informal arrangements with close family or children need to be with an ofsted approved provider

No, as per the legislation, childcare bubbles can only be used to provide childcare, and only if the childcare is necessary for work or education purposes. In other words, you can't use your childcare bubble household to babysit while you go out in the evening to get a break:

"...for the purposes of informal childcare, for children aged 13 or under, provided by a member of a household to a member of their linked childcare household (see regulation 13).
(13) Paragraph (12)(e) only applies where the childcare is reasonably necessary to enable a parent, or a person who has parental responsibility for, or care of, the child in question, to work, search for work or to undertake training or education."

‘The adults should not mix’ .... my parents have the kids part of the time in my house! And we have to work from home according to Boris so yes we mix. Not popular according to some on here but yes we have also seen the parents on a couple of other occasions. And my parents are having them overnight when we are not working (not every night obviously - one off). I await being told I am ‘part of the problem’.....

My DS is only a year old. Are you really suggesting I just plonk him on the doorstep and walk away so adults don't mix? I go in when I drop him off and pick him up. I really don't see an issue with that!

@tappitytaptap

‘The adults should not mix’ .... my parents have the kids part of the time in my house! And we have to work from home according to Boris so yes we mix. Not popular according to some on here but yes we have also seen the parents on a couple of other occasions. And my parents are having them overnight when we are not working (not every night obviously - one off). I await being told I am ‘part of the problem’.....

We'll, you're breaking the law. But it's up to you whether you define that as 'part of the problem'. The legislation is very clear that childcare bubbles are specific and limited.

For example, I can't form a childcare bubble with my Mum and Dad, because my sister also has children and may want them to look after her children. Each household can only link once as a childcare bubble, so that means I can't ask my parents to look after my children. It's the law.

@Lougle

No, as per the legislation, childcare bubbles can only be used to provide childcare, and only if the childcare is necessary for work or education purposes. In other words, you can't use your childcare bubble household to babysit while you go out in the evening to get a break:

"...for the purposes of informal childcare, for children aged 13 or under, provided by a member of a household to a member of their linked childcare household (see regulation 13).
(13) Paragraph (12)(e) only applies where the childcare is reasonably necessary to enable a parent, or a person who has parental responsibility for, or care of, the child in question, to work, search for work or to undertake training or education."

Where did you find that? The new legislation I read didn’t give any specific restrictions on the reasons for childcare. I’d be surprised if it was specifically limited to work and education. What about medical appointments, for example? My friend’s parents are looking after her DD while she goes to a hospital appointment, this surely can’t be technically illegal? She can’t take her DD with her and this isn’t an appointment she can cancel.

It makes sense it’s just for work purposes only otherwise people would just use the clause to see family and friends.

Only the children can go, not the adults so drop off and collection.

We are forming a childcare bubble with friends, we're basically providing ad hoc after school care for each other.

The adults won't be mixing, and we won't be having them over on weekends unless they need time to catch up on work (which isn't out of the question).

@tappitytaptap not so much "not popular" as illegal, as Lougle has pointed out. I would keep it quiet if you're doing this, all it might take is a disgruntled "mate" to dob you in and you'll get a visit from the PCSO

@nanbread The overnight or the parents being in my house? They have to be in the house, their house is not near my sons school and ours is....

And as a PP said it does not mention the childcare having to be for work...

@Frazzled13
Actually, rereading the legislation, it's a bit confusing. The regulations say:

"(f)for the purposes of informal childcare, for children aged 13 or under, provided by a member of a household to a member of their linked childcare household (see regulation 13)."

But regulation 13 says:
(13) Paragraph (12)(e) only applies where the childcare is reasonably necessary to enable a parent, or a person who has parental responsibility for, or care of, the child in question, to work, search for work or to undertake training or education.

As it stands, regulation 13 doesn't apply to informal childcare. But regulation 12 (f) suggests that perhaps it was intended to.

@lougle the bit I’ve found reads like you’re only allowed to use formal childcare for work reasons (exception 16d is restricted by 17) but 16e is the informal childcare exception and that doesn’t seem to be restricted.
But that seems more like an oversight if they’ve restricted one but not the other.
I could be reading it wrong though

Yes, it's a bit confusing. I think it's been rushed through and that's why there are inconsistencies.

@tappitytaptap the bit where you said you have seen the parents a couple of other times to I.e not when you are working, and the bit where they have your children overnight when you’re not working are the illegal parts. Of course one of your parents can be in your house whilst your in it though to facilitate you working from home, but they shouldn’t socialise with you whilst they are there.

Regardless of covid, if it's for more than 2 hours a day it's illegal. People have been prosecuted

@Racoonworld at no point does it say that only one of your parents can provide childcare

@Wherearefoxssocks.
If you go in then you are breaking the rules. I dropped my DD off at my mothers this morning. Left her on the door step. Said hello and left. When my mother drops her home later the same will happen in reverse. There is absolutely no reason for you to go indoors. All indoor mixing is banned other than providing childcare. Its not difficult to stick to the rules.

@WB205020 there is just no way I'm leaving my non walking DS on a doorstep. Let them arrest me if they like.

@tappitytaptap no it doesn’t I just assumed only one would need to do it at a time but obviously if there is a reason why that’s not possible they can both do it. I was more referring to the other things you mentioned being illegal.

@Wherearefoxssocks

My DS is only a year old. Are you really suggesting I just plonk him on the doorstep and walk away so adults don't mix? I go in when I drop him off and pick him up. I really don't see an issue with that!

No of course you don’t plonk him in the footstep, that’s ridiculous. What you should do though is hand him to you mum (or whoever your childcare bubble is with) on the doorstep and not go into the house.

Doorstep*

@Frazzled13 is correct, it clearly stated that the exemption only applying for work or training is in relation to registered childcare and not in relation to informal childcare. That doesn't have a restriction.

The adults shouldn't meet socially- so you shouldn't go in for a cuppa when you hand the kids over, but you can of course have a handover!