Will childminders and nurseries close?

[duploid]

I know nobody will know for sure until Boris speaketh, but anyone have any intel on whether nurseries and childminders will stay open?

(I've searched existing threads and didn't see anything)

I wonder if the key worker provision will mean that both parents have to be key workers working outside the home- I think that this is the rule in Scotland?

@Looneytune253 last time, very initially they closed nurseries but not childminders then a day later they closed everything

Dreading it if they do. DS goes to a childminder with one other child, DH works out of the house, I technically can work from home, but cannot work with him at home. I can do odd hours but definitely not a full day during office hours, we are both working on the covid response so are classed as critical workers, but I won't be able to do my job, and if we try and we can't share it as DH cannot work from home. Argh.

@StacySoloman

I'm a childminder and to be honest if schools close I will close too whether I have to or not.

Do you have a reason for this? I'm assuming any closure you've implemented would impact you financially.

I'm a childminder and to be honest if schools close I will close too whether I have to or not

As long as you don't charge anyone if you're choosing to rather than being forced into closing.

I desperately hope nurseries can open. I could just about cope with my 4yo off but adding in a 1yo to the mix just creates carnage. There has not been a single case at any of the three nurseries in our group, the numbers are small and they have worked so hard to create a good environment. It would be far better for my 1yo to be in nursery than being ignored while I try to work.

Last time childminders and nurseries stayed open for children of keywords and those classed as vulnerable. Myself and hubby are both key workers. We would be knackered if it all shut, neither of us able to go to work or nobody to look after DS.

@StacySoloman. Are you vulnerable just out of interest?

No I'm not vulnerable but I have school age children on my own. It is too difficult to work and home school them.

As a childminder we have chosen to close if primary schools do. Mainly because we have our own children who will need educating but also because the children will care for will all have atleast one parent at home. Our local schools policies are that both parents have to be keyworkers and we don't have any families that use our services that fall into that group.
Financially I'm terrified.

That’s totally understandable too @StacySoloman @bonkerz

Why? If my daughters childminder closes we will be looking after her toddler while she works. There is no alternative. If we dont she has no one and may loose her job.

@whatwouldyoudo85

Then how is my daughter supposed to to do a full time job from home with a toddler

The same way that those of us who use childminders/nurseries will be doing it. With great fucking difficulty.

It sounds like you want everyone to struggle because you are.

Dreading 8pm. Handhold for everyone else going through what we are going through.

I honestly am praying that early years setting remain open, DS needs the interaction with other children and last time was a nightmare, I was often staying up till past midnight to complete my work and I can't do it again.

Here for a hand hold too. Dreading the news of nurseries shutting and praying they don't. I'm a single parent to a 3yo and it's not possible to do my job with her around. I work in education but not classed as a key worker. Last time my private nursery shut even to key workers. I feel so sick. No chance of furlough either.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Very easy for you to make flippant comments having got older children 1000% this The closure of nurseries isn’t to protect the children it’s to protect the adults and wider society

And so it should be Why should your childcare trump other people's lives?

It's easy to say when you have young children too, if you are bothered about doing the right thing.

Handhold for everyone with little ones in nursery or childminders. Let's keep this thread supportive and not snippy. We don't need that on top of all the other stress.

Will playgrounds at least stay open if nurseries close??

Why should your childcare trump other people's lives?

There’s a bigger picture, parents need to work and you have to look at where the virus is spreading, as a society lets engage our brains and understand it’s adults that spread this virus and older children!

Due back to work after mat leave on 18th Jan with my little one turning 1 next week and starting nursery on 11th. We have a 3 year old as well. I'd been so looking forward to going back but I dont see it as possible if nurseries are closed. I'm hoping it's for the minimum amount of time in which case I'll extend my unpaid leave but any longer and I guess we'll have to look at getting a nanny if that's allowed. We are in a childcare bubble with my parents but my mum still works 4 days a week. Sending big hugs to everyone and keeping everything crossed for good news

During the last lockdown my childminder remained open for families where parents were both key workers. I’m hoping the nursery my daughter is at now will stay open for children of key workers.

@GypsyLee because if nurseries close that’s it. No more job for me. No key worker spaces offered last time. No childcare bubbles allowed. I will be unable to work as long as it lasts. Let’s hope I get a 6 month mortgage holiday with 0% interest added eh?

@bunanarama

Due back to work after mat leave on 18th Jan with my little one turning 1 next week and starting nursery on 11th. We have a 3 year old as well. I'd been so looking forward to going back but I dont see it as possible if nurseries are closed. I'm hoping it's for the minimum amount of time in which case I'll extend my unpaid leave but any longer and I guess we'll have to look at getting a nanny if that's allowed. We are in a childcare bubble with my parents but my mum still works 4 days a week. Sending big hugs to everyone and keeping everything crossed for good news

I am in exactly the same position - go back next week, one year old meant to be starting at nursery next week (settling sessions this week) and a three year old at a school based nursery. Hand hold!

By the skin of our teeth!

Woohoo thank fuck for that