Am so cross with nursery. Aibu

[Puzzle500]

Husband doctor, me nhs clinical. Nursery shut at 3 hours notice because "it's not financially viable". I have been supportive of them through the 3 years our little one has attended but I am very very cross and disappointed. They keep putting out messages saying they support the NHS and the closure is in the interest of national safety and all our families. No actually, it's not in the interest of our family, or the patients we need to look after - we have no choice. We have no choice. Am so cross I don't ever want to step foot in the place.

God I would be furious. That is seriously not good enough. How many key worker kids were going?

Can you contact your trust & ask them for assistance is finding a place for your child?

Not all nurseries and schools will remain open during this time....that has been made clear since it was announced that schools and nurseries would close....phone your LA and they will be able to tell you what local provision there is for your LO

I'm in Wales but where I live there are emergency hubs for children of key workers to be looked after.

So check that out for your local authority/ Trust area.

And no YANBU to be angry but they ANBU either. It's a challenging time for all.

If its not financially viable, what's the alternative?
Staff work for free?

I don't expect they're particularly happy about it either.

Three hours' notice is just stupid though.

Ours did the same last week. And still want full fees, our local council have found us a temporary one though. And with their old nursery closing at christmas that’s 3 different nurseries in 3 months and they may be at this temp one longer than they are at their current one. I just feel sick with it all.

It should have been pretty obvious that it wasn’t financially viable and should have given you more notice. I am not surprised you’re fuming.

I think needing to close is reasonable, but the notice is not - it suggests they ploughed on not telling you long after the writing was on the wall and they should have realised they couldn't stay open. I guess at the time they may have felt they were trying to keep going until they absolutely couldn't, but with hindsight that's made it harder for you than it had to be.

I’m not surprised you’re cross. I took a friends key worker child last week when the nursery she uses did something similar, again last minute. Both parents are frontline nhs - as a society we need to keep them working! The problem wasn’t that they decided they couldn’t stay open (I get that), it’s that they decided last minute to close after saying they were open.

Re the PP post saying it was clear that this would happen, nothing in our area has been clear regarding the key worker childcare and no one knows what’s happening. There has been no central comms at all.

My friends have now found a childminder who will help them.
OP can you find a local childminder? I think a lot of them are being more flexible and understanding and frankly have been left with nothing so are willing to work with one or two children to get some money coming in.

Also OP please don’t be afraid to ask friends for short term help. Lots of us will happily renegotiate our own work to make sure you can get to yours. Thankyou for everything you are doing.

The problem is that if all their staff also have children at home and they don't want to be sending their own children into school to look after yours, the nursery just can't stay open. Or they could be ill and self isolating and suddenly unable to get the right staff ratios in. Many nurseries are in a difficult situation with their entire workforce off on full pay. They can't force staff to come in to look after your children if that is not in their own best interest.

Where do you live my friend is a childminder and is still open, for key workers children. X

For businesses to claim furlough funding though, the staff have to not be working. Fir many smaller businesses, furlough is the only way they’ll survive.

In my area you contact the LA and they have places set up with childminders for key worker kids. Not ideal though given it's a lot of change for the little ones.

Absolutely disgraceful!

You have every right to be furious. There must be alternatives, but it will be unsettling for your little one and tbh you could probably do without this given your line of work! I am sorry op, where are you based?

Ours closed yesterday too. They gave a list of other childcare providers in the area that are still taking children. I know it's far from ideal to send your child to a new nursery but is there anywhere nearby?

I feel for the OP, but to the PP who suggested asking friends and family.... this is not a good idea.

Hubs and certain childminders will be available but they are working on a rota system - they work for a week, self isolate for 2/3 weeks to ensure they haven't caught anything and then back on for a week.

People having random children (who are exposed to key workers) on an ad hoc basis are just going to spead the virus.

Sorry OP, that does sound stressful :( they must have had an incline prior to 3 hours notice. I think the announcement that 80% of wages will be paid if they furlough staff is too tempting for some to bother to stay open. Have you tried local childminders? Here most are taking just one child, or two if siblings, and seem really clued up on keeping them as safe as possible; although obviously would be going into their home which carries certain risks I guess.

Ours did the same last week. Then took 48 hours to provide any sort of advice. It’s rubbish.

YANBU to be cross, but I believe the UK are the only country in the world that has left any form of childcare running during lockdown and whilst this is well intentioned I think the logic both in terms of flattening the curve and the economy is a bit flawed; possibly a little oversimplified, but is it really wise to have NHS workers’ children (who probably have the biggest risk of exposure) playing with supermarket shop workers’ children who are the the swathe of society we really need to keep healthy? Add into that mix the most vulnerable children in society who need to be in school for their own safety and probably have carers in the throes of addiction ignorant of the dangers and arguably this well meaning policy has the very really likelihood of exacerbating the curve rather than flattening it...Not to mention that when the staff fall sick they can’t meet the ratios required to safely open. I have been largely in favour of the measures taken to date, but this one doesn’t feel right to me as it increases exposure. Not sure how this has been resolved in other countries though and obviously not of any use to you in keeping working. Hope you get it resolved OP.

It might not be wise, but what choice do we have? It’s a horrible situation for all involved to be in.

My school is open with 3 children. Lots of staff off. 2 of those children are only there as their mother is s nursery teacher. It doesn’t make sense. I agree the notice is short but we may have to close at short notice if any more teachers have to self isolate. I expect the 3 children will go to a nearby school.

Other countries are providing childcare for critical workers but I know the list is much more defined.

Have they helped you find other childcare? My nursery weren’t able to remain open as staff were either in the vulnerable category or had family members they lived with who were but they did help parents find nursery places nearby.

Furlough doesn't allow a worker to work at all for an employer. If they need to drop e.g. 50 % of the hours they can either reduce 50 % of all employees hours and try and spread it. Or furlough half the employees on 80% pay and keep other in full time at 100%. They cant even rotate the employees to spread the work as furlough is three weeks minimum. Logistical nightmare where employees will always be unhappy, 50 % less wages or, my am I not furloughed. It really sucks but I suspect this may be the root behind the cancellation. I really hope another mechanism can kick in for you though.