COVID-19 has demonstrated the difficulties and challenges that parents can face when their usual childcare arrangements reduce or cease. Research by Working Families shows that one in seven workers across the UK has had to make changes to their work pattern to balance work, childcare, and home-schooling requirements.
Your staff and their children may be experiencing stress and anxiety, both financially and logistically, as they try to source alternative childcare, which may be unfamiliar and more expensive. The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed a number of changes to how schools, childcare and other educational settings are expected to operate during the pandemic, as well as providing information on out of hours childcare provision and guidance on the full return of all children to schools, colleges and nurseries from September.
It's important for employers to understand the key implications of educational and childcare unavailability on NHS staff and support them as they balance their childcare responsibilities during this time.
Our pages below help explain the current arrangements, and answer key questions shared with us by employers.