Lockdown measures have put increased demand on a limited supply of home-based childcare services needed for the region's thousands of essential workers. 

For Tiny Nation, the phones started ringing well before the Government's announcement on Sunday that free childcare services would be provided for essential workers during Alert Level 4, and they haven't stopped, Founding Director Erin Maloney says. 

Under the scheme, workers who have children aged up to 13-years-old can access free care, so they are able to continue to provide the essential services we need during the current lockdown. 

Only pre-registered home-based providers who have offered to open their bubbles are involved. Each carer is limited to caring for children from one family only, either in the family's home or the carer's home.

"We're a national provider, so we've been absolutely hammered over the last few days with inquires from all parts of New Zealand, however, Hawke's Bay has been a real hotspot too, in terms of the essential workers looking for care," Maloney said.

"So it's just a matter of unfortunately not having enough capacity to meet the demand at this stage."

Maloney estimates they have been receiving upwards of 200 inquiries a day nationally. At least 50 inquiries are from essential workers in Hawke's Bay. 

Although healthcare workers represent the majority of those requesting childcare help, Maloney says they have fielded calls from almost every profession providing essential work including frontline, emergency services and supermarket workers. 

She said she took her concerns to the Ministry of Education on Monday.

"I had some concerns around that, and they've said that that's representative of the country really and that there is just such an overwhelming need from families for that care." 

As all educational facilities are closed under Alert Level 4, she says the biggest challenge has been speaking to their families, "desperate families", who would normally have their children enrolled in their early childhood facility.

"What do you do? It's a really tricky situation and something that needs to be really well considered for any future lockdowns too because at the moment, we're just not being able to help the people who need it most just due to the overwhelming need." 

"While home-based early childhood normally only represents about 10 per cent of the overall early learning sector, I think it's times like this in lockdown that we see the true value of what it can bring to the table in terms of being a valid choice for families and communities because of its low ratio care model." 

Rockmybaby Recruitment Consultant Hannah Mortimer, who is based in Hawke's Bay, says demand has been "off the charts". 

At the time of speaking to Hawke's Bay App, Mortimer said they had 170 active listings and had received another hundred this morning alone.

"The phone has just been ringing non-stop, so there has been exceptional demand." Like Maloney, Mortimer says the challenge is around the supply and keeping up with demand. 

"We probably, realistically, have to accept we will not be able to fill every single one."  

Barnardos Early Learning Service Delivery Manager for Palmerston North, Hayley Pimlott, who also looks after Gisborne and Hastings, said the workload has been "better" during lockdown for their home-based Educators as they get to focus on one family.

Under the current restrictions, their centre in Hastings is closed and they don't have any home-based educators in Hawke's Bay. Although they do have a couple of educators permitted to work as part of the scheme in Gisborne. 

She said the families in essential care are relieved to be able to return to work and know that their children are safe, happy and well cared for.

"Generally, everyone is feeling okay, although a little anxious. Some families are apprehensive. Not knowing how long the lockdown will go for is hard to mentally prepare for. Some families feel isolated but we try and help them feel included by keeping in touch with them regularly."

Their educators have been able to provide activities and other fun learning practices to continue the learning and play of their tamariki online. "We have been doing learning activities for tamariki online, they seem to be responding really well to it. Families appreciate the activities and links to online websites." 

The Ministry of Education's Deputy Secretary Sector Enablement and Support, Helen Hurst, says they are aware there is a big demand for this service and are actively working with licensed home-based education and care providers to identify supply across the country.

"We’re asking parents to continue to keep an eye on our website as we will be updating this list as new providers sign up, including for the Hawke’s Bay.

"In the meantime, we do encourage that at Alert Level 4 workers make private childcare arrangements, where possible. This means workers can extend their household bubble to include a carer (e.g. a friend or family member) for their children. The carer can leave their home to provide childcare for your children but cannot join another household bubble.”

For more information visit: https://www.education.govt.nz/covid-19/childcare-for-workers-of-alert-level-4-business-or-services-scheme/

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