Creches - Lockdown III

JDD · 06-01-2021 8:21pm #1

Just thought I'd start a separate thread on creches from the schools thread, as it isn't really like with like.

Do you know if your creche is closing yet?

Are you an essential worker, and if so, will your creche open just to take the kids of essential workers?

Personally if the government are recommending that creches take the children of essential workers so that essential work is still carried out, and the creche decides to fully close, I don't think the government should allow the creche to access whatever special payment scheme they had in place last year for them.

Will you send your child in at all - essential worker or not?

I am in the essential worker category. A colleague is pregnant and doesn't want to send her child into creche given the risk at the moment. Last year, we were allowed to work hours outside of normal office hours and in some circumstances e.g. where you had to homeschool your children, they allowed you to work 50-75% of your hours on full pay. Now that policy seems to have changed - our employer has said that she needs to either send the child in, or take annual leave, pregnancy or no pregnancy. That seems a bit unfair to me?

angela1711 · 06-01-2021 8:52pm

I am not too sure if I am still classified as an essential worker. My sector was removed from the list a few hours ago, then it was added back on and now the list is being updated ? Well I am an office worker for a business that was/is considered essential but I’d say if they don’t go for a complete closure I will either request to work from home or else not work at all. Almost 8,000 cases today it’s just becoming a bit to risky. I really don’t want to go to work and meet with a dozen of people everyday. I’d say I will be taking my child out of the Creche one way or the other.

Van.Bosch · 06-01-2021 9:10pm

angela1711 wrote: »

I am not too sure if I am still classified as an essential worker. My sector was removed from the list a few hours ago, then it was added back on and now the list is being updated ? Well I am an office worker for a business that was/is considered essential but I’d say if they don’t go for a complete closure I will either request to work from home or else not work at all. Almost 8,000 cases today it’s just becoming a bit to risky. I really don’t want to go to work and meet with a dozen of people everyday. I’d say I will be taking my child out of the Creche one way or the other.

The list of “essential work” is pretty extensive if you ask me. I would read the idea being that it’s for HCW etc but the list means many others could send their kids in. Will be interesting to see how it unfolds!

salmocab · 06-01-2021 9:14pm

Van.Bosch wrote: »

The list of “essential work” is pretty extensive if you ask me. I would read the idea being that it’s for HCW etc but the list means many others could send their kids in. Will be interesting to see how it unfolds!

What if one parent is essential and the other isn’t? Seems like a lack of information. People will just say they are essential crèches will be open as normal and people will be surprised when there are cases related to crèches.

angela1711 · 06-01-2021 9:22pm

salmocab wrote: »

What if one parent is essential and the other isn’t? Seems like a lack of information. People will just say they are essential crèches will be open as normal and people will be surprised when there are cases related to crèches.

Well my husband had a serious car accident a while ago so in no way would he be able to care for our toddler on full time basis. If I have to go to work then our child needs to go into the Creche. Husband is able to care for him for a very limited period of time. My employer is beige very reckless when it comes to managing this whole Covid situation. We don’t even have a cleaner or any sort of disinfection processes which they of course claim to have in place on their social media. We had a customer today who walked in with his mask half way down on his face walking around everywhere feeling somewhat entitled because he is “the boss” friend. I am fed up at this stage and don’t want to keep endangering my family’s, Creche workers or anybody else’s health.

angela1711 · 06-01-2021 9:37pm

salmocab wrote: »

What if one parent is essential and the other isn’t? Seems like a lack of information. People will just say they are essential crèches will be open as normal and people will be surprised when there are cases related to crèches.

Also I personally know a girl that works in our local Creche and she told me that some people are sending their kids in claiming to be essential workers but they don’t even work ðŸ™„

Plumbthedepths · 06-01-2021 9:44pm

I’m genuinely surprised if the crèches remain open. A crèche worker can’t go to Penny’s for a jumper because it’s deemed unsafe but are expected to work in a mixed household environment for several hours .

Gemma1982 · 06-01-2021 9:46pm

The list of essential workers is being amended this evening. Will be very interesting to see what is included in the updated version.

salmocab · 06-01-2021 9:48pm

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

I’m genuinely surprised if the crèches remain open. A crèche worker can’t go to Penny’s for a jumper because it’s deemed unsafe but are expected to work in a mixed household environment for several hours .

Kids in crèches don’t have the boundaries that school kids have.
Lots of the kids kept out of school for safety reasons will be in crèche instead.

Plumbthedepths · 06-01-2021 9:54pm

salmocab wrote: »

Kids in crèches don’t have the boundaries that school kids have.
Lots of the kids kept out of school for safety reasons will be in crèche instead.

As I said genuinely surprised if they remain open, staffing will be an issue.

angela1711 · 06-01-2021 9:54pm

Gemma1982 wrote: »

The list of essential workers is being amended this evening. Will be very interesting to see what is included in the updated version.

When I dropped my lad off to the Creche on Monday morning I could generally see the scare on the minders faces. They kept asking me about our Christmas and it was only when I said that we had a quiet one, stayed at home and didn’t meet with any family they had somewhat relaxed.

I am not from Ireland so maybe they assumed that I might have some family staying over for Christmas. I really hope the list of “essential workers” is reduced to an absolute minimum at this stage as things are pretty serious. A good number of cases in our local town.

Gemma1982 · 06-01-2021 9:55pm

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

I’m genuinely surprised if the crèches remain open. A crèche worker can’t go to Penny’s for a jumper because it’s deemed unsafe but are expected to work in a mixed household environment for several hours .

It’s a balancing act. The reality is that if they shut crèches, a huge amount of the workforce simply can’t work. Even for parents working from home, that is definitely do-able with a primary school aged child. It is not possible with a two year old.

angela1711 · 06-01-2021 9:58pm

Gemma1982 wrote: »

It’s a balancing act. The reality is that if they shut crèches, a huge amount of the workforce simply can’t work. Even for parents working from home, that is definitely do-able with a primary school aged child. It is not possible with a two year old.

Completely agree and I would go as far as to say that it’s almost impossible with any child aged idk 6-7 and under? Surely they’ve no concept of work, responsibility or anything really. I can’t even go upstairs to fold a bit of laundry without having my toddlers company never mind trying to work for a few hours.

Van.Bosch · 06-01-2021 10:09pm

What about all the informal/unregulated childminding that happens in people’s homes? Like childminders or Grandparents etc - is that allowed, it says existing arrangements can continue for essential workers.

I guess we need to see the revised list.

pc7 · 06-01-2021 10:12pm

Ours is open but didn’t send them this week, felt numbers too big, so juggling them between us while we work. I was on old list of essential and did think I’d send them 18th of peak Xmas surge had passed. Now I’m not sure if I’m on list, hopefully we get our fees back even.

TheValeyard · 06-01-2021 10:14pm

Ours are open. Kids will be going to creche. Both of us are working, zero choice.

bee06 · 06-01-2021 10:20pm

The crèche my son goes to (for ECCE) it’s open for essential workers only. Luckily I’m still on maternity leave for another few months. It’s hard enough for my husband to WFH with me minding the kids full time. Can’t imagine if we were both working.

angela1711 · 06-01-2021 10:25pm

Van.Bosch wrote: »

What about all the informal/unregulated childminding that happens in people’s homes? Like childminders or Grandparents etc - is that allowed, it says existing arrangements can continue for essential workers.

I guess we need to see the revised list.

Well I’d say weather it’s allowed or not these sort of arrangements will continue no matter what.

angela1711 · 06-01-2021 10:33pm

bee06 wrote: »

The crèche my son goes to (for ECCE) it’s open for essential workers only. Luckily I’m still on maternity leave for another few months. It’s hard enough for my husband to WFH with me minding the kids full time. Can’t imagine if we were both working.

I can well believe you. There was an incidence where I had to work from home. My sick husband tried to keep our toddler downstairs while I tried to do a bit of work upstairs and I couldn’t focus on anything. I am also dealing with money and it was bloody difficult trying not to make any mistakes while having to listen from the constant screams coming from downstairs

salmocab · 06-01-2021 10:37pm

I’m hearing that non essential workers are to be refunded for January fees or not charged obviously if it’s not paid yet and crèches are to take only essential workers kids. Be interesting to see how many are suddenly not essential when the money is coming back.

degzs · 06-01-2021 11:03pm

If one parent is essential and the other WFH can the child go to creche?

Princess Calla · 06-01-2021 11:14pm

angela1711 wrote: »

I can well believe you. There was an incidence where I had to work from home. My sick husband tried to keep our toddler downstairs while I tried to do a bit of work upstairs and I couldn’t focus on anything. I am also dealing with money and it was bloody difficult trying not to make any mistakes while having to listen from the constant screams coming from downstairs

Maybe invest in "noise cancelling" earbuds. Himself did that.

It's not easy. I don't think anyone has a "perfect" situation as they all come with their own challenges.

bee06 · 06-01-2021 11:28pm

angela1711 wrote: »

I can well believe you. There was an incidence where I had to work from home. My sick husband tried to keep our toddler downstairs while I tried to do a bit of work upstairs and I couldn’t focus on anything. I am also dealing with money and it was bloody difficult trying not to make any mistakes while having to listen from the constant screams coming from downstairs

It’s even worse at the moment as my husband was off for two weeks and 3yr old got used to having him around. I have to lock the kitchen door to keep him away from the office. The tantrums have been unreal.

Acey10 · 06-01-2021 11:29pm

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the creches and how difficult it is for them at this time, the communication and support from the department is non existent with many staff having families of their own. Young children are less likey to engage in social distancing and good hygiene habits, and the staffdont know where the child has been, who they have mixed with etc outside of creche. In my opinion if its not safe for children to be in school or creche that means all children. the Government are concerned about the economy more than health, and I cant believe they seem them safe with near 8000 cases.

ax530 · 06-01-2021 11:47pm

I didn't hear from crèche tonight so I'm not sure if child can go in tomorrow or do these new regulations come into effect on Monday.
I'm working from home not essential can manage with the school age children but found it so difficult with toddler in house last time I'd take the crèche day tomorrow if can get it.

ThunbergsAreGo · 07-01-2021 9:31am

ax530 wrote: »

I didn't hear from crèche tonight so I'm not sure if child can go in tomorrow or do these new regulations come into effect on Monday.
I'm working from home not essential can manage with the school age children but found it so difficult with toddler in house last time I'd take the crèche day tomorrow if can get it.

Yeah, lack of clarity here is worrying. Not sure if we send or not either.

Shame thread was merged, it's as pressing an issue as schools for many and took a while to find it. Guidance is really unclear, and really unfair on Crèche workers.

Paddy1234 · 07-01-2021 9:44am

Can we get the crèche one back as a seperate thread? It was getting good traction before it was merged - now can barely find it. Important to hear about the different approaches.

It looks like most people could lay claim to be an essential worker based on the current list but what are people and crèches doing in practice?

Most people I have spoken to are taking the approach that if they are working from home they are not essential and will not be sending their kids to crèche.

There are others who are on the essential list - both working from home and will send their kids.

What is the spirit of this? MM speech yesterday said.

“Unless you are involved in absolutely essential work you have no reason to be away from your home”

Interested in peoples thoughts. I’m sure employers view is if you are on the essential list get your kids off to crèche and do your days work in peace.

What’s everyone doing?

Thanks

O36306 · 07-01-2021 10:34am

Agreed, can we get this back as a desperate post? We have had no communication at from our creche who have closed, so would be interested in seeing what else is going on.

salmocab · 07-01-2021 10:38am

Think this should be separate or there is a crèche closure thread in parenting that might be better. Things get lost in mega threads and no one that looks will find crèches here unless they happen to be in the thread.

ThunbergsAreGo · 07-01-2021 10:50am

O36306 wrote: »

Agreed, can we get this back as a desperate post? We have had no communication at from our creche who have closed, so would be interested in seeing what else is going on.

Our creche is open as normal

Gemma1982 · 07-01-2021 11:00am

Can we get this back as a separate thread please. It is a really important issue for many working parents and given the lack of guidance and clarity, it is very helpful for us to see the approaches being adopted by different crèches. At the moment this discussion is nearly impossible to find and certainly merits a separate thread.

ax530 · 07-01-2021 11:08am

Creche was open and my child went in (I'm not essential) I explained that I did not know if the restrictions were from today or next week she said they are the same !
Since Christmas they are only taking the school age children for full day if staff are essential (need to go out to work stuck ect) I have respected that and keep school age children at home.
Creche workers are doign an amazing job, they were one of the first services back open in June. Have adapted to restrictions really well, workforce mostly younger which are the age groups which have had most cases.
Must be frustrating for them that the teachers, nurses ect have such a powerful union voice and much better work t&c's as a result.

Beasty · 07-01-2021 11:21am

I've moved everything back into a dedicated thread

pc7 · 07-01-2021 11:23am

I've emailed our creche this morning asking for an update on what their plan is. I am still hoping I may be able to send mine in the week of 18th if possible.

SeeMoreBut · 07-01-2021 11:43am

Our creche is for essential workers only and they have a priority on that. no charge for ecce kids who are all day and not asked to go.

Also sent a lot of changes for kids when they do go back if you don't agree then no spot.

I'd expect the gov to change the rules around masks/visors they are compulsory instead of advised not to wear them.

Creche had a few cases before Christmas that it closed on 18th of Dec and not reopening until 11th. We were close contact for them and thankfully all clear after 2 round of tests.

2Mad2BeMad · 07-01-2021 11:51am

Both myself and the missus are essential workers.
Our creche is closed along with 2 others in our area.
Come Monday 1 of us is gonna have to not go into work.
Can we be sacked for this? Completely taken out of our hands.
Can't get child minders due to covid. So the government's idea of making another bubble with a household for child care is flawed.
Joke of a government

Gemma1982 · 07-01-2021 11:59am

2Mad2BeMad wrote: »

Both myself and the missus are essential workers.
Our creche is closed along with 2 others in our area.
Come Monday 1 of us is gonna have to not go into work.
Can we be sacked for this? Completely taken out of our hands.
Can't get child minders due to covid. So the government's idea of making another bubble with a household for child care is flawed.
Joke of a government

That’s a nightmare for you. No useful suggestions I’m afraid. How did you manage in the March lockdown?

Jim_Hodge · 07-01-2021 12:24pm

And I'll ask again.

Where is the list of what is considered an essential worker?

The official list, what creches consider, and many of our own opinions may be all quite different.

youcancallmeal · 07-01-2021 12:45pm

Our creche got in touch. Basically said creche is only open for parents who are essential workers and provided this link which is for essential services. No mention of the to be updated essential workers list. Our status as essential workers is tenuous at best but will just have to wait and hope we're on it. Full of anxiety as the first lockdown was incredibly stressful looking after 2 kids under 5 and both of use trying to WFH. Also creche said those who will not/cannot send their kids in don't have to pay but I couldn't care less about the money, just want to keep the kids happy in their routine and us parents sane to work from home as normal.

mirrorwall14 · 07-01-2021 12:49pm

I’m not creche but childminder. Childminder considering pulling out because of numbers. I’m dreading it. I was broken by the end of the last lockdown trying to juggle childcare for an 18 month old and a 5 year old.

I guess the only saving grace is they are a little older now and the 2 year old isn’t quite as terrifying to take an eye off....

2Mad2BeMad · 07-01-2021 1:12pm

Gemma1982 wrote: »

That’s a nightmare for you. No useful suggestions I’m afraid. How did you manage in the March lockdown?

She works in a special needs school.
So it wasn't a problem then
Now it's a nightmare.
If she doesn't go to work the kids suffer for it.

My job is to supply hospitals and medical centres with specialised taps and showers so I'm definitely on any essential list the government put out.

pc7 · 07-01-2021 1:18pm

2Mad2BeMad could you get onto a local TD and see if any other creche could help you out? I know you mentioned the ones in area can't, is there one near your work?

salmocab · 07-01-2021 1:21pm

pc7 wrote: »

2Mad2BeMad could you get onto a local TD and see if any other creche could help you out? I know you mentioned the ones in area can't, is there one near your work?

Cant see any crèche taking kids temporarily. They are trying to manage numbers already they don’t need hassle settling in kids unnecessarily.

Sweet.Science · 07-01-2021 1:29pm

I feel for the creches

Sure parents can just say they are essential workers . How will the creche know

Also, does the government think they don't have kids themselves ? Who looks after their kids ? I suppose that doesn't matter

pc7 · 07-01-2021 1:32pm

salmocab wrote: »

Cant see any crèche taking kids temporarily. They are trying to manage numbers already they don’t need hassle settling in kids unnecessarily.

Other side is if the have to pay staff for minding a few kids it could be cost beneficial to get funding to take in others temporarily. Its worth asking, nothing to be lost and will help that family out.

tfeldi · 07-01-2021 1:55pm

We are both working from home while looking after a 6 and 3 year old. We make it work by working in shifts from early morning to evening. So always one of us is with kids. Not fully getting to the required work hours, so need to use a few hours of leave per week. Works to some degree. But I'd like to get a refund of the creche fees - but no word from creche.

davo2001 · 07-01-2021 2:15pm

Our creche said essential workers only (when technically we are not), we both WFH with demanding jobs and i'm not joking, i nearly had a mental break down from march-june last year trying to look after our 2 year old.

The creche also said they will not refund our Jan fees as they still have staff onsite they need to pay.

So i got work to write a letter saying that now i'm an essential worker and put him into creche this morning, nothing said.

They can't have it both ways, i'm not going to pay someone without getting a service in return.

JDD · 07-01-2021 3:19pm

davo2001 wrote: »

Our creche said essential workers only (when technically we are not), we both WFH with demanding jobs and i'm not joking, i nearly had a mental break down from march-june last year trying to look after our 2 year old.

The creche also said they will not refund our Jan fees as they still have staff onsite they need to pay.

So i got work to write a letter saying that now i'm an essential worker and put him into creche this morning, nothing said.

They can't have it both ways, i'm not going to pay someone without getting a service in return.

I'd be raging about not getting fees back. I'm sorry, if you can't provide the service, you don't get paid. I don't care if the staff have to still be onsite for other children.

I am defined as an essential worker, and I'm not saying that the work I do isn't important or crucial for the economy on a long term basis. But my employer has their head up their *ss thinking that the whole economy would collapse if a portion of their workforce worked 25 hours a week instead of 40 hours a week, for a period of eight weeks. No way should creches workers have to expose themselves to many more households because the list of essential services includes nearly every public service job (a quarter of employees) and masses of private companies too.

This just seems bonkers.

EDIT: Having said that, on a personal level I am glad I am included. I will already have two primary school children at home with me, and got nothing done with the 3 year old at home during the first lockdown. So I will be getting the letter, and dropping him off on Monday. The way I see it, we haven't had any close contacts since before Christmas, and do not expect to have any at all for the next month. There will be less children in the room with him, so less exposure risk to us, and less exposure risk to the creche workers (though obviously not nil if they are there). I also don't want to take him out temporarily because it took him months to settle in after going back in July. I couldn't put him through all that trauma again.

salmocab · 07-01-2021 3:25pm

I’m fairly sure they were instructed to refund for non essential parents. Only thing I will say in their defence is that it’s likely they are waiting on proper information.

Unknownability · 07-01-2021 3:26pm

Reading this thread makes me extremely grateful for the family support that we have and also how supportive my employer has been through this entire difficult period.

We could've made the argument that we are essential workers but felt the risk wasn't worth it even though year end is both our busiest periods.

So we are just doing the best we can and if that means not always being available and working when the kids are in bed that's what we have to do.

ThunbergsAreGo · 07-01-2021 3:30pm

salmocab wrote: »

I’m fairly sure they were instructed to refund for non essential parents. Only thing I will say in their defence is that it’s likely they are waiting on proper information.

It is a complete mess.

The creche is right, they do still need to have staff there to mind the essential workers - at the moment they likely have no idea who an essential workers. If they have 40% less kids that doesnt mean 40% less staff, the electricity and heating still needs to be paid.

Needs to be remembered not all creches (and I would include my childrens in this) are money grabbing gougers.

It feels very much like its guidance to creches at the moment as opposed to rules, as its all so bloody unclear.

Creches - Lockdown III

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