Your childcare solutions if schools close again?

[forinborin]

Need thoughts please.

I am really panicking now about whether to hire a nanny from January in the light of a possible lockdown and schools closing. Starting a new project in a senior role from the beginning of Jan, will need to be switched on all the time - absolutely no chance it can be done with small children to be homeschooled and entertained in parallel if the school closes. With Christmas and new year, there's barely any time to find anyone. I lost my job before due to childcare responsibilities when schools closed in 2020, so a thought of something similar happening again just causes a panic attack.

If I hire someone though, it will be net negative to me (in terms of the cash flow), so probably will have to let go immediately once schools reopen (which also doesn't sound very fair).

What would you do?

Can you be upfront about the short-term nature of the gig? Someone may actually want that sort of arrangement.

I’d speak to the school. Tell them your predicament and hope they take pity on you and let them go. There were some tenuous key worker links last time anyway and individual circumstances also taken into account. Eg some struggling single parents etc.

Do you have another parent on the scene?

@olivehater

I’d speak to the school. Tell them your predicament and hope they take pity on you and let them go. There were some tenuous key worker links last time anyway and individual circumstances also taken into account. Eg some struggling single parents etc.

and there were some key workers who didn’t get spaces too.

@NoSquirrels

Do you have another parent on the scene?

No, he has his own life and is not too interested.

I’d hope schools is the last to be locked down, and if it is it’s due to teacher shortages not full closures, so likely couple of weeks max (I could be wrong!)

You’d be better hiring a tutor for a couple hours a day (online), so you can focus on work guilt free.

So you’re a single parent household? Just trying to understand your set-up.

@olivehater

I’d speak to the school. Tell them your predicament and hope they take pity on you and let them go. There were some tenuous key worker links last time anyway and individual circumstances also taken into account. Eg some struggling single parents etc.

I am definitely not a key worker even at a stretch (well, key for my family eating and being housed, but not in a wider sense). Last time the school said no, they were running at 50% capacity already with genuine key worker children.

@NoSquirrels

So you’re a single parent household? Just trying to understand your set-up.

Yes, single parent with 100% residence and unfortunately no family in the UK either.

Their dad might have his own life and not be interested but he’s still responsible for 50% of the childcare! Don’t let him get away with you shouldering all the burden.

What about an au pair?

@Loftyloft

I’d hope schools is the last to be locked down, and if it is it’s due to teacher shortages not full closures, so likely couple of weeks max (I could be wrong!)

You’d be better hiring a tutor for a couple hours a day (online), so you can focus on work guilt free.

I don't think a couple hours will help (and the children are just too young to be able to follow an online tutor for a few hours). I genuinely need to be 100% present for work between 9 and 6. I know it sounds like small problems in the context of the bigger things, I just cannot decide what to do, some sort of a will paralysis.

Bugger! That really does make it hard.

I think yes, I’d start with school - but obviously this isn’t guaranteed until they say yes/no to opening or closing- you won’t get any certainty at the moment.

This is also the problem with trying to hire someone now.

So that leaves speaking to your new employer proactively and upfront now to discuss what mitigation’s or work patterns might work temporarily in the event of a school closure and whilst you sort out tutor/babysitting in your home.

@Foolsrule

Their dad might have his own life and not be interested but he’s still responsible for 50% of the childcare! Don’t let him get away with you shouldering all the burden.

He won't do it, never has. It is not like I can force him. And he moved a couple of hours away anyway.

Hire a nanny. I wouldn't worry about letting her go, the situation you yourself are in is appallingly unfair. What can you do?

For us, we'll probably mind a group of kids in each others houses one day a week to share the load. But I expect that wouldn't work for you as its a bit less reliable as a solution.

@NoSquirrels

Bugger! That really does make it hard.

I think yes, I’d start with school - but obviously this isn’t guaranteed until they say yes/no to opening or closing- you won’t get any certainty at the moment.

This is also the problem with trying to hire someone now.

So that leaves speaking to your new employer proactively and upfront now to discuss what mitigation’s or work patterns might work temporarily in the event of a school closure and whilst you sort out tutor/babysitting in your home.

Yes, probably will need to flag it to the new company. I just feel like such a massive failure now.

I jumped through so many hoops to get this project, and now apparently will start my track record with negotiating concessions on day 1.

They are not even an employer, I am a contractor/ consultant on this project.

If schools close then that means pubs, shops etc will also close. So a fair chance you'll be able to find lots of last minute help to suit the duration you're looking for. I'd wait until the actual announcement then find someone short term and be clear about how long you need them for.

@TolkiensFallow

What about an au pair?

Au pairs I think can do only limited hours, can't really ask them for 40+ hours... and are supposed to be on some sort of an "enrichment" programme such as a language school?

@roses2

If schools close then that means pubs, shops etc will also close. So a fair chance you'll be able to find lots of last minute help to suit the duration you're looking for. I'd wait until the actual announcement then find someone short term and be clear about how long you need them for.

Actually yes, a fair point.

It's so stressful isn't it, and not knowing. I also start a new senior job on 4th January and am so stressed thinking about schools being closed. Hope you find someone and hope even more for all our sake that schools don't close

I honestly don’t think they’ll close schools this time.

@whyarentiskinnyet

It's so stressful isn't it, and not knowing. I also start a new senior job on 4th January and am so stressed thinking about schools being closed. Hope you find someone and hope even more for all our sake that schools don't close

Same start date here. Yes, it is the uncertainty that is the worst. Even if they announce today that the schools close for X weeks from dd/mm/yyyy, at least that would give some firm ground - at least, I will understand for how long I will need to bridge the gap.

@farfallarocks

I honestly don’t think they’ll close schools this time.

Our school already closed 4 days early due to understaffing. I also thought there's no way they'd be closing schools again, but now not so sure.

First lockdown I kept them home despite being key workers and I struggled, it was a nightmare.
Second I sent them in 3 days a weeks, again, we’re key workers.
If there is a 3rd I will send them in 5 days a week and not feel one ounce of guilt.

I will cry in the garden shed regularly like last time.
I will work from home and make sure the 8yr old is safe & loved.
This time I will not pressure to do the lessons & work for the job resulting in long days for 7 days a week. Last time broke me.