Nursery not opening on June 1

[Lockdowner13]

Anyone else have a nursery that isn’t opening on June 1 (if permitted)?

ours asked parents and over 75% said they will NOT be sending their kids back in June. Also coupled with lots of vulnerable staff members that will be continuing to shield means even if allowed, nursery won’t be opening in June.

I’m pretty shocked that the percentage was so high for parents that don’t want to return.

[tappitytaptap]

I am slightly confused as to how people are managing their jobs with young kids at home to be honest OP, and don’t want them to go back!

[Blackberrythief]

A friend has been furloughed until October so she won't be sending her kids back to school or nursery until September 🤷‍♀️

[QforCucumber]

A friend has been furloughed until October I still dont get this, how can a company decide now that they'll have 0 work for an employee for the next 5 months?

Our nursery is opening but with limited numbers due to staffing.

[StrawberryBlondeStar]

@QofCucumber I know. I have a couple of friend say this.

I haven’t added, “you should probably see what they say about employer contributions from August before you say that”

[absolutelyknackeredcow]

Agree @QforCucumber - the government hasn't even issued the guidance for firms for furlough between aug - Oct. The only thing which is certain is that firms will have to make a contribution to cost of scheme so many firms will be looking in some detail as to whether they will be keeping people on

[CaptainMerica]

I guess a lot of people have children in school years which won't be back, or will be back part time, and so having the youngest in nursery isn't that much help?

If my 3yo was back, in wouldn't help me much in terms of work hours as I still have my 6yo, plus I'd need to do the nursery run.

My nursery would be charging me regardless if they were open, I'm sure though. I probably would put him in, but not the full 3 days of 8 to 5.30 we were used to.

[StrawberryBlondeStar]

I think there will be a massive change of opinion come September.

People will need to go back to work or will be made redundant (at the moment a lot of people have been allowed to be furloughed for childcare).

Companies will want people back in the workplace.

The days will be getting shorter- not as easy to entertain children if you have to be stuck in the house all day.

The problem is if schools/nurseries haven’t opened in June then they aren’t suddenly going to open in September for everyone. They will have to do a phased return.

Far better to do this in the summer (again when they can make loads of outdoor space) then as we go into autumn.

[Morred]

Ours is opening but only for 3-4 year olds (and keyworkers’/vulnerable kids as currently). No word yet when/how they’ll be getting the other age groups in.

[underthewestway]

I have also just found out ours won’t be reopening either - and no indication of when it will. I am devastated tbh. We have a toddler in a flat with no outside space and are both trying to work full time. Plus I am 7 months pregnant. Everyday is so monotonous as the options for what we can do are so limited. I have no idea how I will cope when the baby arrives. It is a complete nightmare.

[Bol87]

Ours is fully opening for all children 🤷🏼‍♀️ They’ve asked everyone to advise if they are sending their child back & places will be held if you choose not too right now (with no fees) But not indefinitely. If they begin to have new starter requests who can’t start due to you holding a place but not sending your child, then they’ll set a blanket date you have to send your child back by..

We are in Yorkshire with the higher R rate but the area we actually live in has one of the lowest no. cases in the country, so potentially why it’s a full opening.

[AnxiousAnnie13]

ours asked parents and over 75% said they will NOT be sending their kids back in June

What employers do these people have?? Mine have been very generous and flexible regarding working around childcare but I can imagine that may start to wear thin if I chose not to send DD back to nursery when I could (I imagine for a start the reduced hours for childcare reasons while still on full pay would stop). How long are employers going to say this is valid?

[pinkpinecone]

@QforCucumber it makes sense if the business is closed and they have nothing in their pipeline. I know of people in similar positions because of the seasonality of their work (events for example with lots of cancelled weddings) they know they won't be going back until after the summer at the earliest.

[StrawberryBlondeStar]

@pinkpinecone the issue is from August employers have to contribute to furlough costs (we don’t know how much yet) and so it seems odd some companies our saying October, because how do they know they will be able to afford the contribution element

[pinkpinecone]

@StrawberryBlondeStar I don't really understand what you're saying I'm afraid. It's completely variable and will depend on the cash flow/the size of the business etc. Some companies have the cash to pay their staff in full for a few months if they have to, so know they will be able to pay any contribution while others won't. They may have had decent cash flow before so furlough scheme means they can make this last longer. Either way if there's no work, they can't magic it out of thin air if they can't operate because of covid. Sorry if I've misunderstood what you are saying.

[StrawberryBlondeStar]

@pinkpinecone you are right there maybe some businesses who are sitting on money and know even if they have to pay say 50 per cent of costs from August they can afford to do that.

I think what a lot of us are saying though is some companies/people who think they will be on furlough till October maybe in problems end of July. There are a lot of companies who if they have to contribute anything will have to make staff redundant.

Or people will be told they are on partial furlough and have to come in say 50 per cent. In which case a lot of people saying they won’t send child in will be demanding nurseries reopen.

[Barbie222]

There are quite a few nurseries which offer morning or afternoon slots. They are more heavily used by SAHPs. Is this your demographic OP?