Trying to make plans for possible nursery / primary school closure - help!

[SchnitzelVonCrummsTum]

I'm going to change my user-name after this post as this is going to be necessarily quite identifying. But I really need to bounce this off someone other than my DH. I'm trying to think of a way to keep all the plates spinning if nursery and school close and would appreciate advice.

DH is a principal GP with zero job flexibility. Works approx 6 days per week at the moment and on work days leaves the house at 6am and returns around 8-9pm.

I am a full time academic, I direct a degree course and I have no deputy. I have about 6 hours of live teaching per week, as well as the need to pre-record around 4 hours of material. Alongside this I have pastoral commitments and a number of other roles. I have no deputy - if I don't do my job, nobody will teach or look after the students, they will complain and I will be fired. I can't take a sabbatical, unpaid leave or anything else - I am not allowed to do this.

I have 4 kids, 12, 10, 8 and 1. The 12, 10 and 8 year old will largely manage their own learning (8-year-old will need more support). 1-year-old obviously needs constant supervision.

I managed to juggle everything for 6 months in 2020 by working until 2 or 3 am each day and all of the days that DH was off, but that was when the 1-year-old wasn't mobile and my teaching commitments stopped around June so that made things better.

I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of trying to do everything and keeping everyone safe and happy again. Does anyone have any ideas or can you give me a slap and tell me to pull myself together?

You are both key workers, you are entitled to school places. Your students are counting on you. If you prefer them not in school hire a nanny, the older ones will be mostly self sufficient so as long as they are able to care for your youngest you'll be able to manage ok

@sparkles715 - yes, that was my original interpretation of what I'd heard on the news (so I didn't really pursue it further last time).

Probably a stupid question but I wonder why the government is allowed to mandate that university education continues then? I can't think of any other industry where the govt has said: right, you're not critical, but you're not allowed to close either and students must continue to receive what they're paying for. Given that part of my job involves teaching medical students it's particularly confusing as obviously we can't stop training them at the moment!

@Sparkles715

My kids education is very important, the government is insisting universities are open so the op needs to work.

Good luck OP. What a tough situation. Hopefully the key worker places works out for you but failing that I would really consider a nanny. Depending on where you live there are lots of nanny’s looking for work at the moment. Even if you could only get someone for a couple of days that would hopefully allow you to get your recorded sessions sorted.

Other option for the one year old might be stick them in the sling whilst you teach? You could stand and walk around the room a lot, if the baby was facing forward they might actually find it quite entertaining! I’ve done a fair few work meetings like this, it’s distracting but better than having them grissle away next to you.

@movingonup20 - yes, I'm determined that whatever happens, I won't let the students down. They've had a shitty 12 months, they deserve the best experience we can give them in the circumstances.

Those who can need to sign up, even if it's just one day a week.
usforthem.co.uk/our-campaigns/…

I'm afraid I don't have any great ideas, other than what's already been suggested, but just wanted to say that I sympathise, OP. I'm a secondary school teacher, as is DH and we have three DCs who are 7,5 and 2. I'm not really sure how we managed the first long lockdown - we both had to live teach up to 5 hours a day and it was basically impossible with a one year old, as youngest DC was then. If primary schools close again, I'm going to try and pre-record more or set work rather than live teach so much. Can you use the comments/chat function of the platform you use (we use Microsoft Teams) so that you're there and responding to students, but could also have your youngest dc with you?
And yes, try and lower your expectations. What we are trying to do is essentially impossible.

I think you would definitely count as a key worker as far as your nursery is concerned. Another option is seeing if any of the other nursery parents want to form a childcare bubble with you so you take it in turns to look after each other's children. There will be many others desperate for help. That's what me and various parents did every time our nursery closed due to isolation requirements last terms. Good luck!

Hi, I think you are classed as a keyworker as you work in a University, therefore you are entitled to school places for your children. Ask your employer for help, somebody on t.v. yesterday was saying that you might be able to ask your employer to furlough if you can't work due to childcare issues.

@BlairCorneliaWaldorf - yes, nanny would be the ideal. I'll chat to nursery tomorrow about what their plans will be re closures and fees ... And will dig out the Ergo, I think the 1-y-o would actually love that ...

@missmillimentscardigan - good idea re: chat function, I could probably do a live chat with my MSc students without any issues and try some additional flipped-classroom stuff to get them to lead the seminars with less input from me. You and your DH have all my sympathy xx

@mswales - that's a good idea, will message a couple of other nursery parents this evening to see whether they're also going to be stuck if it closes ...

Can your 12 year old look after the 1 year old while you teach? Not all the time but for the handful of live teaching hours

Wow OP! I admire you! Well done for being such a strong person. I have friends freaking out with far less on their plates

Myself included.

You would surely be entitled to key worker places at schools. Not sure how that helps with a one year old and nursery if nursery is completely closed? They cannot charge if they are closed; I don't think? Look for temporary child minder? Don't put pressure on yourself for home schooling. Take care and good luck!

I think a nanny might be your saviour here, even if just part time temporary. Maybe a member of staff from the nursery if it closes?

@CrotchetyQuaver

I think a nanny might be your saviour here, even if just part time temporary. Maybe a member of staff from the nursery if it closes?

I was going to suggest the same, nursery workers will often do babysitting and your dc knows them.

Childminder for the 1 year old?

I honestly think we should all be talking more to our employers to say this is not reasonable and they need to push harder for support to allow carers to be furloughed. I'm very willing to go above and beyond because we have to help each other but two full-time jobs are just not possible if you want to do them well.

Thank you so much for all the support and ideas. The school has indeed announced that it is closing now.

My colleague just sent me this link - in Wales, I would be considered a key worker. I will talk to HR tomorrow.

gov.wales/coronavirus-critical-key-workers-test-eligibility?fbclid=IwAR1-j753rWVfaM3ke15epTBBoB3RVsNo2qrhm5JKUAWPgWghqKUTNO72nlE#section-43312

Wow under the Welsh guidance I would be a critical key worker!

Good luck @SchnitzelVonCrummsTum. Hope the conv with HR goes well.