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Original poster

Can nurseries charge for asking you not to bring child in? (Covid related)

24 replies

ShirleyPhallus · 12/01/2022 11:59

We have had an email to say that due to rising covid blah blah that they will send home any child with any similar symptoms to covid until a negative PCR test result has been received. They also ask that any child with a positive case at home is kept at home. They acknowledge that this is against the standard guidance.

Can they charge for these days or should this be refunded back? I will double check with them but wondering if there is any guidance on this.

Tia

OP posts:
StillCounting123 · 12/01/2022 12:19

Not sure if there is a blanket policy for this, but it's what my childminder does. She said that if she's available to work and has those dates in her calendar then she will still charge for them.

gwenneh · 12/01/2022 13:01

@StillCounting123

Not sure if there is a blanket policy for this, but it's what my childminder does. She said that if she's available to work and has those dates in her calendar then she will still charge for them.
Same.

We had a reduction in fees for December as they were closed for 2 weeks due to rising cases, but that's the first time they've done it.

Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 12/01/2022 14:43

Thank you, bumping for anyone with nursery experience too

OP posts:

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Childcare & nursery Covid-19 Families
Comefromaway · 12/01/2022 14:46

Unless it is in their contract with you I would think they are on dodgy ground if they are going against the standard advice.

girlmom21 · 12/01/2022 14:54

Ours only don't charge if they're closing the setting.

If a child has covid symptoms you still have to pay - it's only the same as if they were off with anything else contagious.

Comefromaway · 12/01/2022 14:55

@girlmom21

Ours only don't charge if they're closing the setting.

If a child has covid symptoms you still have to pay - it's only the same as if they were off with anything else contagious.

It depends what they are classing as covid symptoms. Some settings are asking parents to keep children off with any kind of sniffle and still wanting to charge.
girlmom21 · 12/01/2022 14:57

@Comefromaway oh ours are only doing the temperature or cough thing Smile

Aria999 · 12/01/2022 15:03

I think it is fairly standard to charge. They still have to have staffing for your child to be able to go.

Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 12/01/2022 15:04

Yes @Comefromaway, ours are saying any cough, temperature or change in taste / smell will result in child sent home

The latter two I understand but there are so many coughs around at the moment!

OP posts:
SatinHeart · 12/01/2022 15:05

Yep ours is running those policies and absolutely charging for them. They charged us when they were closed due to a Covid outbreak as well.

Comefromaway · 12/01/2022 15:11

Unless a cough is an existing cough or it is simply a case of a child coughs once or tice only then yes, they should be asking them to stay off. A new persistent cough is till a main symptom.

Comefromaway · 12/01/2022 15:11

@SatinHeart

Yep ours is running those policies and absolutely charging for them. They charged us when they were closed due to a Covid outbreak as well.
wow, are they aware that that goes against trading standards rules?
girlmom21 · 12/01/2022 15:12

@ShirleyPhallus

Yes *@Comefromaway*, ours are saying any cough, temperature or change in taste / smell will result in child sent home

The latter two I understand but there are so many coughs around at the moment!

That's standard guidance. If they get a negative result nursery will have them back but you shouldn't be sending them with a new continuous cough.
Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 12/01/2022 15:15

but you shouldn't be sending them with a new continuous cough

It’s not a new continuous cough, it’s “any cough”

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 12/01/2022 15:17

@ShirleyPhallus

but you shouldn't be sending them with a new continuous cough

It’s not a new continuous cough, it’s “any cough”

They're not going to send them home if some water goes down the wrong way and they choke for a couple of seconds.

They're doing what's right by their staff and children. They'll send them home if the court is concerning.

Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 12/01/2022 15:36

Yes, I agree that’s most likely. But my question is whether they are able to charge for sending home children when it isn’t strictly in line with the govt advice (ie asking you to keep them at home if you have covid within the house)

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 12/01/2022 15:39

@ShirleyPhallus

Yes, I agree that’s most likely. But my question is whether they are able to charge for sending home children when it isn’t strictly in line with the govt advice (ie asking you to keep them at home if you have covid within the house)
They can charge and it is in line with government advice. If you have symptoms of coronavirus you should still be isolating until you get a PCR result.
Comefromaway · 12/01/2022 15:39

Unless they have managed to slip it into the contract then I would say that they are on dodgy ground trying to charge for a service they are not willing to provide in the case of isolations that go against current guidance.

girlmom21 · 12/01/2022 15:40

Oh sorry I missed the bit about if you have covid in the house

CornishGem1975 · 12/01/2022 15:42

When my child was sent home due to temp etc no we didn't get any money back, we paid the full rate.

When the room had to shut due to staffing issues with COVID, we were again charged the same but they gave us banked time to use.

Ivyonafence · 12/01/2022 22:43

Their expenses stay the same- they can't pay their staff less or pay less rent or pay less for heating etc.

The policy they are introducing for everyone protects everyone, including staff which means they are overall less likely to have to shut the centre.

I think you should just pay it and not make their lives harder by pushing it. They've provided an essential service, often at personal risk, throughout the pandemic and I think it's a bit sad to see how much moaning and push back they receive for their efforts.

Sunshinemoose · 12/01/2022 22:46

They've provided an essential service, often at personal risk, throughout the pandemic and I think it's a bit sad to see how much moaning and push back they receive for their efforts.

^^
This

Original poster
ShirleyPhallus · 13/01/2022 08:21

@Sunshinemoose

They've provided an essential service, often at personal risk, throughout the pandemic and I think it's a bit sad to see how much moaning and push back they receive for their efforts.

^^
This

Confused I’m not moaning, I’m asking what is standard policy
OP posts:
2022sucksalready · 13/01/2022 08:38

@ShirleyPhallus

Yes *@Comefromaway*, ours are saying any cough, temperature or change in taste / smell will result in child sent home

The latter two I understand but there are so many coughs around at the moment!

And how exactly do you expect the nursery staff to be able to tell the difference between a covid and none covid cough??

The gov. Guidelines are pretty clear, and coughing is one of the three symptoms to be treated as/tested for covid.

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