Nursery increasing group sizes right now

[SnowWouldHelp]

DS's nursery has said they are increasing the group sizes (by completely removing bubbles) to make it easier to staff if teachers are off. I just can't believe they'd increase the risks right now. Can it be right?

[WhatTheFoot]

I work in a nursery. This is a real issue for nurseries, for example- in my nursery in which there are 22 staff, four full time staff members now have to shield. Our 2 supply staff are covering the hours of 2 of those people, we are really struggling to keep ratios right within the rooms. Every child on our registers attended today, as of course they are entitled to so we have had to join two rooms together to be able to operate. One more staff member goes off or has to isolate then we would be forced to close at least one of our rooms. At the moment we're sticking to the correct adult:child ratio, just..but our early years advisory teacher told us today that many nurseries in our area are not because they just can't.

[SnowWouldHelp]

I get that the situation is terrible but honestly I'd prefer to have a room closed temporarily than the risk tripled.

[BackforGood]

What WhatTheFoot said.

You might prefer to have a room closed, but what if another child's parents are nurses ?

[SnowWouldHelp]

I'd guess if they are also key workers they'd like to keep the risk as low as possible too. I just can't understand how it's within the guidelines to maximise exposure when we are supposed to be limiting contact.

[BackforGood]

But they need the childcare, is the point.
If you close the room, then some dc won't be able to attend.

[SnowWouldHelp]

I understand that - ours go because we need the childcare too.

[Fandabydosey]

One nursery I know of have 17 staff members isolating because they are covid positive. How would a nursery choose who they can and can't look after. How do you prioritise when early years are open to everyone. This is the only solution to a massive problem being forced on the early years sector. Schools could create bubbles if whole year groups this is no different