Childcare setting open but giving DS no sessions

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

DS attends a preschool covering the two years prior to primary school. Usually max 20 kids, but typically there might be 15 or 16 or so on a normal day. Open term time only, similar to school hours.

Have reopened from 1 June but only giving sessions to the 2nd years, those due due to start school in Sept. Have less than half usual numbers in. Govt funding still being claimed for the children who have been given no sessions, and those parents are unable to leave and use funding elsewhere as a terms notice is required.

Communication has been vague and isn't making clear what's limiting the ability to offer sessions to kids in the 1st year (eg perhaps staff are shielding?) Theres vague suggestion of trying to get the 1st years in but with a start date pushing ever closer to the school holidays.

AiBU to be pissed off? It feels like the staff had written off the summer term (most have their own kids) and never really expected/wanted to reopen, but are trying to comply with the requirement to reopen to continue getting funded hours money, while actually offering as little as possible.

My DS is desperately bored at home and really wants to go back. I cant even take the funded hours and use them with DS old childminder so he could have a change of scene.

I think if they had even been able to offer DS a single session (of the four he usually has), I wouldn't mind but nothing? I also would mind less if they gave a good reason eg "we usually have x staff but unfortunately y are shielding therefore we can only accept z% of usual children". But they are not doing this.

They are following Government advice which is to keep numbers low and to prioritise the preschool children. Yes it’s tough on your child, but they are just doing exactly what they have been told to to. Hopefully they will be able to accept more children soon.

Your child will still have a full year of preschool next academic year.

Are you joking?!

I work in a pre-school. We were preparing to open on the 1st but our county council recommended not to. Our provision had we re-opened would have been morning sessions only and 12 children max at one time due to lack of space. As it happens most people said they wouldn’t be sending their child so we were not having to disappoint anyone but if we had been inundated we would have prioritised those who were going to school in September. I can assure you we have not written off the summer term 🙄

Not sure how playgroups associated with schools are organised in England but in Wales they are run by a committee of parent volunteers. These volunteers are having to wade through every changing government policy, deal with finances (including furloughing, grants, free child care schemes) when they are not accountants. Some committee members will be furloughed themselves with time on their hands, others are busy key workers. This is NOT what they signed up for.

If they lose the funding for your child in all likelihood there will be no playgroup for your child to go back to.

You need to be patient. Which is hard the longer things go on, but there it is.

I’d be interested how the funding works. My nursery hasn’t opened and I’ve found an alternative. I’ll be deeply pissed off if I can’t access the funding at my new place.

No I am absolutely not joking? Why would you think I am? The risk to most people from coronavirus is very low, particularly children.

I'm sorry but this isn't like a school where the teachers are continuing to provide work remotely etc. We are getting absolutely nothing but cannot take our funding elsewhere due to the terms notice required.

The setting is not inundated. Some 2nd year children have not been attending for various reasons so they have hardly any children in and few staff working.

It's just not fair. Age 3 to 4 is a really critical age for children learning social interaction with peers and my DS is being denied this.

For working parents, our employers cannot understand why the settings we are paying for are offering no hours at all. I have paid top up donations all year and am now left wondering where all the money is going.

How is a pre schooler bored at home? Am I alone in having dc who are happy to play at home? I’m in no rush to send them back despite dh and I being key workers. Luckily dh is based at home and I’m working from home a couple of days a week then in the hospital 3 days.

Bernadette
I think you misunderstand me. 6 months is a long time in the life of a 3 year old. Academic years have nothing to do with it. I am pissed off that my child is being denied social interaction which is vital at this age. It is detrimental to his development.

Motherofdragons

Because he has no one to play with. He wants to play with other children and has no siblings old enough, and is desperate for interaction with peers. He was fine for about the first 4-6 weeks at home but is now tearful, bored and anxious.

m0therofdragons Can you really not understand that many 3-4 year olds need more stimulation than their parents. Mine is bored out of her mind. Yes she can play at home but it’s not really the same as having her friends at nursery or being challenged in swimming lessons etc.

I agree OP that it is very unfair that you can't use your funded hours elsewhere. My DD's nursery have cancelled their notice period and allowed complete flexibility regarding hours and with no penalty for changes at short notice.

You need to be patient. Which is hard the longer things go on, but there it is.

I have been patient for a while but its clear from the latest communications that the can is being kicked down the road.

You sound incredibly selfish. While the risk to children may be low, there are members of staff and their families to consider. We have been an afterthought when the government has been discussing reopening schools as lots of the guidance does not apply to us when we have children who do not understand social distancing. We are literally one of the only professions expected to work with no social distancing and no PPE and will have children sneezing and coughing in our faces as normal.

If you wish to use the funding elsewhere I am fairly sure it can be claimed back, however I wouldn’t expect to be welcomed back once all this is over if you do.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland you need to be pissed off at the government or Coronavirus not your preschool. They are doing as advised, that is not their fault. They should however be offering activities to do at home for those not attending, that is what my nursery have done right from the beginning.
@Cremebrule you need to find out about this funding because it does spend on area. In my area any new children cannot have funding claimed for if it has already been paid to another setting

The funding is still being paid to providers to ensure the business stays afloat. Many are still not going to be able to reopen due to the lots of additional fees and their other costs including furloughing staff.
The funding money is paid to the provider from the local authority. If you find another provider they would be able to claim and in some local authorities it will be transferred. I'm my local authority they appreciate the immense financial distress we are under and are going to double fund.

Yes the risk to most children is low but the staff are entitled to a safe working environment.

I'm not sure they can enforce a term's notice when they are not offering you a service.

I also have a 3 year old at home who is bored shitless but better that than going back before it’s safe.

OP talk to your council, if your setting is not open you can move the funding. Given yours is not open to your son you may be able to move it.

You need the early years funding team at your county council

What @BumpkinSpiceBatty said. We are a charity. The funding is needed.

It's rubbish but they are following guidelines which is to offer as close as possible to normal hours to those starting school. They will need less children in to allow them to have smaller bubbles (due to space and staff numbers). They are not meant to do rotas and would need to clean in between changes of children.

The thing about the funded hours, children at school can't shift their funding to a childminder if their year aren't back, so you are no worse off than older children.

Children don't need to go to nursery at that age. Yes it is fun and gives you a break but not essential. My DD didn't start nursery until the year before Reception, when she was 3.5. She is at a school nursery and they didn't have spaces until September. I get it's frustrating but it's not outrageous what they are doing.

It would actually harder to offer one day a week due to bubbles . I think next year you will understand why these children are been prioritised.

Space and whether staff can return are factors.

The nursery are taking the piss.

Given that apparently most parents are choosing not to send their DC back in, they will have capacity for a smaller group to include your DC.

People claiming they don't see the need for a 3yo to attend are being obtuse and goady frankly. With a side of best parent Olympics thrown in.

My 3yo is infinitely happier at pre school than home. We are all incredibly relieved it has re opened.

I'd say ring round other settings to find one which can take him.

Unfortunately they have to keep their numbers low and the most logical thing is to accommodate the children who are off to big school so they can spend some time at Pre school before they leave and also to somewhat prepare them for school. I guess your son still has a full year left at Pre school?

I totally get your frustration though.

My two have sen. We aren’t getting any work done at home but there’s barely any capacity at their school so key worker children and vulnerable children are being prioritised. Although my children have sen they aren’t deemed vulnerable so aren’t going back yet..

As others have said - they are just following the guidance. Depending on your LA and what sort of nursery/pre school it is, you may be able to move your funding to another setting.

Idontbelieveit12
There are members of staff and their families to consider.
As I have said I would not mind if they explain clearly if there are staff shielding etc and how it affects their capacity.

What I am not happy for however, is for non vulnerable people/non shielding people to be paid but choose not to work because they are overestimating the risk to themselves.