Furlough due to childcare?

staceymack7

There has been a confirmed case of a child and their family in my daughters year at school which now means following guidance my daughter must stay at home and self isolate. I work in a school kitchen which now means I cannot attend work as no one from outside my home is allowed in to care for her and obviously I cannot work from home. My question is can I therefore be furloughed? School closures and year group closures are something I believe will be happening often during this pandemic surely I can't be expected to take unpaid leave everytime? I wouldn't be able to afford to live.
Any help appreciated thanks

[Deleted User]

staceymack7 said:

There has been a confirmed case of a child and their family in my daughters year at school which now means following guidance my daughter must stay at home and self isolate. I work in a school kitchen which now means I cannot attend work as no one from outside my home is allowed in to care for her and obviously I cannot work from home. My question is can I therefore be furloughed? School closures and year group closures are something I believe will be happening often during this pandemic surely I can't be expected to take unpaid leave everytime? I wouldn't be able to afford to live.
Any help appreciated thanks

Of course you can. Your childcare issues are not the schools problem.
Aside schools are not allowed to use furlough as a public institution. You expect them to pay you for nothing? 
 Do you claim tax credits or universal credit? 

warby68

Childcare bubbles are allowed - worth a read. These allow a 'fixed' other household to help with childcare. 

staceymack7

Thank you for your response.
I never said it was the schools problem.
If my children are ill then I always take unpaid leave to care for them.
But my daughter is not ill, her school yr group is closed and I'm not allowed to arrange any other childcare. I'm just trying to understand what is available in this situation 

bradders1983

Deleted - didnt read properly.

warby68

staceymack7 said:

Thank you for your response.
I never said it was the schools problem.
If my children are ill then I always take unpaid leave to care for them.
But my daughter is not ill, her school yr group is closed and I'm not allowed to arrange any other childcare. I'm just trying to understand what is available in this situation 

Not sure if you missed my post above this one but have you considered a childcare bubble ? Worth a read

[Deleted User]

staceymack7 said:

Thank you for your response.
I never said it was the schools problem.
If my children are ill then I always take unpaid leave to care for them.
But my daughter is not ill, her school yr group is closed and I'm not allowed to arrange any other childcare. I'm just trying to understand what is available in this situation 

 But if you are expecting pay for nothing it becomes the schools problem. That's why I asked what benefits you might get? If Universal credit it would increase for this month If you're not earning. 

staceymack7

warby68 said:

Childcare bubbles are allowed - worth a read. These allow a 'fixed' other household to help with childcare. 

Thanks but if the child is told to isolate then I'm not allowed to make use of a childcare bubble

warby68

Really ? I thought other household members were allowed to carry on providing the person isolating was symptom free but its a while since I checked it out in detail. 

staceymack7

warby68 said:

Really ? I thought other household members were allowed to carry on providing the person isolating was symptom free but its a while since I checked it out in detail. 

No you are correct I am able carry on as normal as she is symptom free but I've been told no one from outside my household is allowed to care for her even if I could arrange some form of care.
I found this in the guidelines - If you or a member of your support bubble is contacted as part of the test and trace programme, the individual contacted should stay at home. If the individual becomes symptomatic, everyone in the support bubble should then isolate

Thank you all for your help though, its a minefield knowing what I can and can't do 

Mrsn

I feel for you we are in a very similar situation currently, it is what it is sadly.

Furlough though was never allowed to be used by schools.