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.

Ours did the same OP for the same reasons and also want full fees.
Fortunately we are able to have DC at home. In your position I’d be fuming.
There is a list of providers with spaces for key workers but it’s local to our area otherwise I’d post it. There may be something similar in yours (although I appreciate the stress of moving little ones and the adjustment that takes).

I don’t understand how it’s not financially viable if they are still expecting full fees.
I hope you’re cancelling your fees op

@Permissionimpossiblei agree! If anything I feel like they are making a profit because they are still charging us the daily food cost.
I’m hoping they are doing this to see if they get furlough and will then make a refund, but tbh their communication is all over the place right now.

@2020yearofplenty yeah, I imagine working out between staff who wanted to stay at home for 20% less (when you factor in that maybe they travel in its probably not that much less if you take out money you end up spending on work), or being in, at risk, doing work for only 20% more it seems like it would be hard to sort that.

Can you offer employ one of the nursery staff as a nanny OP?

They should have a) given you more notice (ours is closing at the end of today and they implied it at the weekend and announced yesterday morning and b) given you the contact details for your LA to find an alternative.

Definitely contact your LA this morning and see what they can do, you should be top priority.

I believe the UK are the only country in the world that has left any form of childcare running during lockdown

This is emphatically not true. I know for example that Belgium and the Netherlands have child care for key workers' children. (While the Netherlands is not technically on 'lockdown' in that you're allowed to go for as many walks a day as you want, almost everything is closed! And Belgium is totally locked down, borders closed too.)

I believe the UK are the only country in the world that has left any form of childcare running during lockdown

Not true in Germany. Childcare at school or nursery is available if both parents are key workers.

They could try opening to more parents as even things like financial services/banks and the justice system/some lawyers are within the rules to open for never mind post office workers and grocery companies.

Anyway they have taken their decision. Now find a different care - perhaps the NHS trust could help. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 allow many kinds of people to work- most in fact unless on the banned list and everyone not banned is allowed to go to work and travel at work. It is not the case that only essential workers are allowed to work. That is a myth. So you may well be able to find carers for the children in your own home for example. We often found local sixth formers were very good with our twins on Saturfday or Sunday mornings for 4 hours. I am not suggesting they are the ideal. I would try to go for a redundant air line staff member or someone with a lot of experience of children. Some people may even be prepared to move into the children's room for the duration at home because they need the money. An opera singer with bookings cancelled is now working in Tesco.

I believe the UK are the only country in the world that has left any form of childcare running during lockdown It’s also happening in France. I think it’s unreasonable, however to expect every single school and nursery to remain open to take care of a handful of children in each. There needs to be an element of cooperation and amalgamation so that all those essential workers who need childcare can be accommodated - can your nursery not suggest another nursery which is caring for the children of essential workers?

I work with a doctor who has a young child, she says her parents usually have him but she's trying to avoid hat because they are at risk. She tried to hire a nanny but apparently once they realise they'd be working for doctors they don't want the job!

Ours did the same with 48 hours notice having started they'd be open, when I called the local authority phone line I was told 'if you're struggling to care for your child we can refer you to children's social care'!!!!!!

The hubs in our area are for school age children

I had a call on Friday at around 4pm to say that ours would be closing from 5.30pm tonight (Tuesday). Like you, I work for the NHS. I am also disappointed when they kept sending messages after Boris' announcement that they were able to staff all of the nurseries and even put out a post on FB offering to take in other children from key workers if they had no childcare - it lasted a week. Ours said it was due to staffing, but I suspect it's really down to finances as well. Another local primary school has also had to close it's doors - also cited staffing, but no alternatives made or offered for key workers.

You're not unreasonable but I suppose the nursery had no choice.. What are you going to do?

YANBU to be frustrated, but the nursery isn't BU either.

Ours closed to all bar keyworkers last Monday, I think we probably got less than 3 hours notice, but obviously we'd seen it coming.

They opened on the Tuesday for keyworker's children, keeping only 3 staff on (the rest are furloughed) which were presumably needed for ratios and breaks. Four children showed up, so no, obviously they didn't open on Wednesday. It's a small, standalone nursery and I know the owner is struggling through all of this. It's shit for parents, especially those with jobs like yours, but she's not a charity and needs to maximise her chances of being able to reopen on the other side of all this.

Ask your LA. Here they have a link on which you can register and they are matching places. They have also opened the age range and times of the school nurseries- and will be running through Easter.

If you are a key worker then the local authority will help find you childcare at somewhere that is open. In many many areas only one school or nursery is making provision for key workers

On 27/3 the wording changed on the gov guidelines for nurseries and schools staying open. In now says only children of those critical to the covid 19 response can have a place and only when they can’t be cared for at home(by the other parent) whereas before it said children of key workers.

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.

This certainly isn’t happening in our area, at nurseries, schools or childminders.

If a doctor has to stay at home to look after a 2 year old because the nurseries will not take the child does the doctor get full pay or indeed any pay or are they in breach of contract for not working and get sacked?

@Xenia - they wouldn’t get paid. Would have to take emergency carers leave / parental leave or take a career break if longer term (unlikely to be approved)

thanks so much to all those who offered practical advice. i was just so dissapointed and so feel for the little one. we have found another nursery so we can keep working at the Trust, and i cried more than the little one did this morning dropping off, so definitely better than i hoped. still irritated by nursery putting non stop "we support you all posts" on social media...but thanks for advice i really appreciated