Parents able to send children to childcare, but not school
A huge government backflip on Friday brought relief to families after it announced only one parent needed a permit to access childcare or kinder. But the same rule does not apply to parents who want to send their children to school.
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A double standard applies between school and childcare, with the same parents able to send their children to childcare — but not school — in stage four lockdown areas.
A spokesman for the Education Minister, James Merlino, confirmed on Saturday the arrangements for schools were more limited than childcare and kinder.
“All schools in metropolitan Melbourne are open to provide on-site provision for children of permitted workers who cannot work from home and for whom no other arrangements can be made as well as vulnerable children,” he said.
If a two-parent family has one permitted worker and one non-permitted worker, then their children will have to stay home for remote learning.
However, a childcare backflip on Friday afternoon changed the rules for childcare and kinder parents, who now only need one parent to have a permit in order the access a place onsite.
The other parent must be unable to look after the children because they are working from home, have a disability or studying full-time.
Parents are expected to be truthful in their declaration that no one else can care for their children, but the government has stopped short of asking for proof.
The updated website reads: “Both carers do not have to be permitted workers to access childcare – but we are asking that Victorians only access childcare and kinder services if they have to.”
This is different to the situation in schools, where letters are being sent by principals noting that only children can attend “whose parents are permitted workers and for whom no other arrangements can be made” as well as vulnerable children, those from out-of-home care and those at risk of harm. Children identified by the school as vulnerable and those with a disability where the family is experiencing severe stress can also attend. The latter category would require referrals from the appropriate professionals.
The hard line by schools is expected to reduce the number of children attending for remote learning which had reached 25 per cent in some places due to parent fatigue and a lack of leave.
In contrast, the more lenient rules for childcare and kinder mean centres — which in some cases had no children at all — are expecting an influx on Monday.
John Cherry, advocacy manager for Goodstart Early Learning said he expected one in three children to return to his 130 centres in Victoria under the new rules.
Paul Mondo from the Australian Childcare Alliance said parents had a moral and legal responsibility not to lie on their permit forms. The penalty is $19,000 for individuals and $99,000 for organisations who break the rules.
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