Essential childcare only in tier 4

[PlumbNormal]

Please tell me that you don't think this means nurseries will be closed? ie does essential mean only open for keyworkers? I can't find clarity in the published guidance

The nursery workers at ours looked so stressed out today. They are obviously still working through things.

This was my nursery’s guidelines. We won’t be able to send our child.

Our nursery has sent out an application form. The list of key workers is huge and they have said only 1 key worker required.

They have also said that if you don't meet a key worker status but have other circumstances such as relying on grandparents, single or concerns then to provide details and they will assess it.

Our nursery is the most expensive in town but have proven to be fantastic throughout and go above and beyond!

The geographical disparity emerges then. Here's our criteria which is much stricter than the first lockdown.

I think it's up to the local authority to interpret the advice...

@PlumbNormal

I think it's up to the local authority to interpret the advice...

Yes our local authority has a huge list of key workers,my DH works for the LA and the list they have for their own council workers is also big.

The guidance has also said its up to the nurseries to decide ours has been open throughout so is very good and well set up for bubbles etc whereas some other nurseries in the area may find it more difficult within their own set ups.

Nothing from ours yet. The disparity between regions and nurseries is so maddening if you end up on the stricter end!

@ATieLikeRichardGere

Nothing from ours yet. The disparity between regions and nurseries is so maddening if you end up on the stricter end!

It’s just rubbish all round.

We’re only able to use a place in nursery if both parents are key workers AND neither WFH.

Most childcare is essential in practice or we wouldn’t be using it. I find it quite upsetting in a way because there are lots of other things that we accept have to carry on regardless and the fact that this doesn’t make the list is just because the people making decisions don’t actually appreciate its importance and or perhaps because women feel expendable or something. I don’t know. I find it genuinely upsetting.

I agree @ATieLikeRichardGere, doesn't it just flag up all those entrenched inequalities that we've been pretending are better?

@ATieLikeRichardGere

Most childcare is essential in practice or we wouldn’t be using it. I find it quite upsetting in a way because there are lots of other things that we accept have to carry on regardless and the fact that this doesn’t make the list is just because the people making decisions don’t actually appreciate its importance and or perhaps because women feel expendable or something. I don’t know. I find it genuinely upsetting.

I do find it depressing it just isn’t seen as a key part of infrastructure, when we need childcare for work (and our children need some form of socialising and play for their development and mental health too!)

Imagine if it was something like home Internet access we were told would be off the menu because of covid restrictions. What would happen to all the people working from home and relying on it? Would we be told ah well never mind, muddle along as best you can, maybe you can get informal tethering from somewhere? Would we get pointed towards ‘EmployeeClub’ to tell us to have a conversation about flexibility with our employers and find a balance that works for everyone? Or would the government accept that of course you can’t have a million+ people working effectively from home with no internet access and make whatever policies they need to make based on that?

But childcare, no, that’s just a luxury.

Haha that’s made me laugh.“EmployeeClub”!

“My employer is requiring m me to work 98 hours a week. I am exhausted and really worried I am going to make stupid mistakes that will jeopardise safety. What should I do?”
“Try doing some home baking with your employer! Here’s a lovely (and healthy!) recipe for stuffed celery sticks.”

I've just found out our nursery are staying open for key worker children (they closed last time around) and as our son is classed as 'vulnerable' (adopted with additional needs) he has been given a place. I could cry with relief but also feel a little bit guilty, like I shouldn't be sending him somehow, even though he is entitled to it and it would have been massively damaging for him to not be there.

@poppet31 I understand what you mean. I want to reassure you though that should not feel guilty. This is completely correct and great news for your DS.

Oh that’s great news poppet31. I don’t think you should feel guilty at all for sending him - he clearly needs it.

Our nursery has said they can accommodate my DD in a keyworker space with our jobs qualifying under Category 3. I feel immensely relieved but also really guilty. I am trying to remember that if they didn't have room for her due to children of higher category keyworkers then they wouldn't offer the space, right?

@FourSeasonsTotalLandscaping

Our nursery has said they can accommodate my DD in a keyworker space with our jobs qualifying under Category 3. I feel immensely relieved but also really guilty. I am trying to remember that if they didn't have room for her due to children of higher category keyworkers then they wouldn't offer the space, right?

I haven't gone through the nursery guidelines, but it could be due to rule changes. They had to operate with very small bubbles last time which was really limiting and nobody had had the time to rearrange buildings and spaces to fit in more groups so some places had a bubble of 8 in a room that might have usually held 30

@FourSeasonsTotalLandscaping

Our nursery has said they can accommodate my DD in a keyworker space with our jobs qualifying under Category 3. I feel immensely relieved but also really guilty. I am trying to remember that if they didn't have room for her due to children of higher category keyworkers then they wouldn't offer the space, right?

Yes they are told to operate a priority system so KW 1/2 first.

I think it's also dependent on your area my sons nursery has loads of spaces as they operate over 2 sites and only opened the second one when they had enough to do so!
Due to be the same this time around only if they have enough numbers will they be across 2 sites

I got a response from my MSP. She has sent an enquiry to the Scottish government asking them to reconsider nursery children and explaining my situation as I start a new job in January. She said that the SG is receiving 6000 emails a week so I’m not getting my hopes up.

@Whitewhite wow that is so much better than the response I got from mine - yours sounds good!

My msp has said they are challenging the govt to present consultation, clarity and detail on their proposals.

I’m seriously pissed off that I’m classed as informal childcare (Nanny) and that the government basically sees me as a glorified babysitter. I appreciate I don’t follow curriculum or do paper work etc but I do a damn sight more than a babysitter.

None of my families are key workers so not essential so I now can’t go to work again under the criteria set out. Oh yeah unless I take their children to my house where I have no facilities, toys etc for them. Not to mention this would go against my insurance as well. It’s utterly ridiculous!

Does anyone in Government actually have kids? It really doesn’t look like it.