Xmas & childcare bubbles

[DrainageBitch]

We've been having childcare from MIL and FIL every couple of weeks. They live 80 miles away, so not local. They come and stay for night and have kids after school for 2 days.

Over Xmas can we go and stay with them for a couple of nights?

We're all in tier 2.

Will they be caring for your children while you work? That’s what a childcare bubble is for.

Which tier are you in?

Ignore that last comment as you answered it.

I thought in childcare bubbles you are only suppose to have contact with the children and only with the adults at hand over time?

They have been doing so, and will be after Christmas, rules permitting, due to the school's after school club having been cancelled. We will however not be working on Chrismas Eve or Christmas Day.

@DrainageBitch

They have been doing so, and will be after Christmas, rules permitting, due to the school's after school club having been cancelled. We will however not be working on Chrismas Eve or Christmas Day.

Then you have your answer. The childcare support bubble is to provide childcare to enable you to work.

Childcare bubbles are supposed to be drop under 14s at the door and collect from the door.
That is how we have been doing it.
Means DD age 11 has seen her nan but DS age 14 hasn't. And I haven't been in my mum's house.
It isn't like a support bubble it is so you can use a relative like a childminder.

@BlueJackel : Childcare bubbles are supposed to be drop under 14s at the door and collect from the door.

Is this clarified somewhere official? I have only been able to find vague definitions of what's allowed.

Only allowed for childcare, not allowed to mix otherwise. My parents also do childcare for us, and will have the children overnight from the 23rd to 24th, but we can't go round on Christmas day

Sorry my screenshot missed the relevant bit

The childcare rules don't say anything about you having to be out at work etc though. My husband is front line nhs and out the house for 14 hours easy a day most days, my parents are my childcare bubble to support me (still on mat leave) as with a baby who doesn't sleep and my anxiety, I'd be no state to be alone with my baby all day every day.

It's probably not in the spirit of the rules but technically isn't breaking them. No one in either household sees anyone else

Childcare bubble rules specifically say you should not all be seeing each other together - they can look after your children but you cannot be there at the same time.

You might be able to form a childcare bubble to provide or receive childcare from one other household if you live with someone under the age of 14. However, you must not meet socially with your childcare bubble, and must avoid seeing members of your childcare and support bubbles at the same time, unless otherwise permitted by gathering limits in your tier.

From government website

However, you must not meet socially with your childcare bubble

Thanks, I think that clarifies it.

@Ginfilledcats

The childcare rules don't say anything about you having to be out at work etc though. My husband is front line nhs and out the house for 14 hours easy a day most days, my parents are my childcare bubble to support me (still on mat leave) as with a baby who doesn't sleep and my anxiety, I'd be no state to be alone with my baby all day every day.

It's probably not in the spirit of the rules but technically isn't breaking them. No one in either household sees anyone else

I think you have a different kind of bubble- the bubble for parents with a baby under 1. That is different from a childcare bubble for parents with children over 1.