Family Shared Childcare

Social distancing relaxed for people returning to work to rely on family members for childcare

Why the contribution is important

I will be unable to return to work if asked if I am unable to let my mother, 56, into my home to look after my daughter

by LucyM on May 05, 2020 at 01:29PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.5
Based on: 11 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Eileen May 05, 2020 at 13:37

    My son and his wife are both key workers but normally I watch my grandchildren when they work so when new normal comes in would like to be able to see extension of family bubble to allow me to continue soonest. At present lucky they go to hub school and nursery as mum and dad hours mean they work till after 6

  • Posted by Eileen May 05, 2020 at 13:38

    My son and his wife are both key workers but normally I watch my grandchildren when they work so when new normal comes in would like to be able to see extension of family bubble to allow me to continue soonest. At present lucky they go to hub school and nursery as mum and dad hours mean they work till after 6

  • Posted by kathleentaylor May 05, 2020 at 13:39

    Grandparents can help with childcare and schooling so this should be an early “bubble” consideration.

  • Posted by kenmac May 05, 2020 at 13:39

    Unless kids are allowed back at school, there is no hope for many people to get back to work. Allowing a wider group for childcare (not just family) would help. But the key issue is that the kids need to be back at school.

  • Posted by alogan May 05, 2020 at 13:52

    Many grandparents are under retiring age, in good health and usually offer child-care to their grandchildren. It would be good for this option to be re-instated. For some of us it is our normal 'work' Even if parents are working from home, their ability to be productive is hugely constrained if they are also looking after young children.

  • Posted by ElsieC64 May 05, 2020 at 13:54

    We usually provide childcare during holidays for our grandchildren whose parents are both key workers. My concern is that as they will still be working on the frontline that we will be unable to do this during the summer break from school. What will be the threshold of infections to be deemed safe for this to happen?

  • Posted by forest May 05, 2020 at 13:59

    Wholeheartedly agree with this, not only does it help people get back to work but it will lift the spirits of grandparents and kids who are missing each other so much. I personally don't care if the schools are closed for longer if it means we can start seeing both sets of grandparents again. I am currently trying to work from home with 2 kids as are so many others and it's near impossible to get anything done, it would help us all if grandparents or other close family members could share the child care

  • Posted by franko May 05, 2020 at 14:00

    I would like to think the government would look at extending ‘the family bubble’ to allow my mother to look after kids whilst myself and wife who are both key workers can effectively go back to work. We are still going to work but I’ve had to change my shifts and take annual leave and parental leave to accommodate this. We have chosen not to send our kids to the ‘hubs’ as our kids are too young and the hub did not have proper nursery provisions in place and besides, I did not want my children being ‘cannon fodder’ so that I could go ‘save the world and do my job’. I would like to think grandparents as long as they are not at risk could collect my kids from school again as long as social distancing Is maintained. I’m just unsure how you can enforce a 3 year old to social distance also.

  • Posted by Baxter2020 May 05, 2020 at 14:09

    Childcare is critical issue and how we manage that whilst maintaining other measures is a challenge. Extending the family bubble/over 70's issue to help in a 'shared family childcare'. It would be helpful to have individuals who care for a single family child/children within a home (nanny/childminders) being able to work - this helps to keep limitations off contact but still offer some childcare options.

  • Posted by sarahglen3 May 05, 2020 at 14:28

    It would be great if we were able to extend our social 'bubble' to allow grandparents to help with childcare, however I am sure the hubs will remain open over the summer holidays to allow key workers to continue to work. Childcare will become an issue when non key workers are asked to return to work before the schools fully open, so dependant on the situation of each family grandparents should be allowed to help then, and people who can work from home should continue to do so to avoid the need for childcare. If some children do start to attend school part time and are also being looked after by their parents and grandparents this increases the risk of the virus spreading. Although children are not as vulnerable to the virus they will carry it back to grandparents and their 'bubble'. Reopening school should not be rushed, and should prioritise vulnerable children who require to be safeguarded.
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