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.

Out of hours
Yes, i sent one polite email which got a bit of politician's answer (lots of words, said nothing at all).

I've sent something rather blunter now having read this thread, so will see what I get back.

When schools/preschools closed in March, the expectation was that it would be until September

Sorry but many of us did not have this expectation. Many of us thought the whole lockdown was an over reaction and we would be back after Easter, or possibly after half term at worst. I never in a million years thought it would last until September and the government has made it clear their preference is for all children to have SOME time back in school before summer holidays.

OP, you believe that it’s the ‘staff’ who are ‘wanting to get away with offering as little as possible’. Seriously?

It sounds like the problem is with the notice period on your contract and lack of ability to take your funding elsewhere. Contact your local council, or MP. This does seem unfair, but not something the ‘staff’ can resolve.

Well the poll is clear. Most people think I am being unreasonable.

I only want to minimise the impact of this horror story on my son. I know loads of early years professionals and teachers ARE doing their best but I remain unconvinced that they are all determined to get as many children safely back in education asap.

Some time back in school.
He’s not in school OP.

Wolfie
The government has allowed all early years settings to reopen even before allowing most school years to return.

Its clear they want childcare available for young children of all ages asap (unsurprising as they want parents able to get back to work).

'Sorry but many of us did not have this expectation.'

I too felt it was an overreaction (and still do - the fastest I have ever replied to an email was the one from DC 2&3's school asking if we'd send them back if they reopened....a resounding yes, as I can see how much the closure is damaging my children) but having read the news, it was clear that that was the expectation.** Govt may wish to have them back in this term and I hope it happens but it won't if they continue the requirement for social distancing, schools are too small.

I hoped schools would open before September but didn't expect it. I am hugely grateful that one of my DC has been able to return (to preschool) as having had four of them go through the primary system (one now in secondary), I understand how critical that final year before starting primary is.

You may too this time next year.

I didn't read where it said have those kids back full time & give other children no session at all. Is that what it said?

The government seem to be quite heavily going towards full time for the children who are in and reducing the number of children rather than having more children in part time.

And you can’t mix the staff between bubbles. So if there are 4 sessions and you hijabs some of the children in for 3. You’d need different staff to staff the other children who are in for the last session.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland isn’t it obvious as to why they can’t take your child? You know that group sizes are reduced? Tbh I’m glad none of the parents I work with have responded as bitterly as you have. I think it’s probably best you find a new nursery as you obviously think so little of the staff you let look after your child for you

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland the government has made it clear that is their preference for all children to return but they are on another planet, that is impossible as here are simply not the staff nor the space/classrooms for them to go in. And I’ve not met one person who believed we would be on lockdown for less than a month and then return to normal

Its clear they want childcare available for young children of all ages asap (unsurprising as they want parents able to get back to work).

Quite the opposite. I’m in a keyworker role. The government guidelines on schools returning have caused a massive childcare headache that didn’t exist when only keyworker children were in.

I suggest you find a new pre-school if you have emailed them even more bluntly. You will forever be know as “that parent” and you come across as spoilt and entitled.

I'm a childcare provider OP.

Let me just explain to you some of the issues the pre-school will have had with reopening.

1. each group/bubble of children should be no more than 8 children
2. each group needs to have the same adults at all times who don't come into contact with any other children
3. each group needs to be in a separate area from other groups, eat separately and use the toilets separately with any shared equipment cleaned before and after use
4. each group of children needs to arrive and leave separately so parents aren't mixing.

In order to make this work, managers/owners have to consider that staff might have part time hours, children might want a variety of days or sessions, and some staff may be pregnant or shielding.

Government guidance is that children must be prioritised by vulnerable children, critical worker children, then 3-4 year olds due to start school.

It will have been a total nightmare to change the layout of the building, change staffing, change groups of children, swap sessions around etc to keep everyone safe.

So no, it really won't be possible to just give your child a session every week because you want it.

You won't be able to move your funding now anyway - it's not your nursery's fault, it's too late in the term.

I said bluntly, I didnt say I had emailed rudely.

I'm happy to be "that" parent.... that pays the extra money they ask for. Or always volunteers for the rota to help out.

But yeah, I'm spoilt and entitled for caring about my son and wanting what is best for him.

By offering lots of children places you are placing the staff who are at higher risk than the children at much more risk. Hence most schools/nurserys are keeping children in bubbles so they minimise the risk mainly for the staff.

I work in a similar preschool, there are so many restrictions on us atm.
First size is an issue, the government have said each child has to have so many square foot per child, it's larger than normal therefore space for less children.
Second, we have to have space for separate bubbles that can not mix and have to have separate toilet access.
Third, there needs to be 2 staff per bubble so that 1 can change nappies/ accidents, prepare snacks drinks, go to the toilet themselves. These staff can't cross bubbles so it's a lot harder to staff.
Fourth, the government has said we have to prioritise key worker and vulnerable children first. Next is preschool year and only after that can we consider taking the younger children.

We desperately want to take them, we miss them! we know they want to be there and to socialise with their friends, we know it's important but our hands are tied. I
Also funding follows the child you could dispute the terms notice but I doubt you'll find anywhere else taking children atm.
It's a pity they aren't providing online activities, we do lots. If you look online maybe you'll find things, try the oak national academy it includes eyfs.

If you’ve come across as bluntly as you have done here, I don’t think they’ll appreciate it. That said, I do understand where you are coming from and recognise the importance of social interaction for small children. They do benefit from that and from routines.

@Myfriendanxiety

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.

This..

I have 2 members of staff who are not willing to return. I used to have 32 children. I can now have 8. I can’t have different children on different days so can’t have 2 bubbles and mix the staff.

It’s likely either we will have to close, or I will try to have 16 children some how and make some staff redundant.

I agree with other pp that you can't blame the preschool for not offering your son a place as they are only following the guidelines they have been given however you can move your funding and I would do so and send him to the childminder if she has availability.

To the best of my knowledge, funding is paid out at end of term or every half term so the funding for this half of the term certainly won't have been paid out yet. I would find out with council/childminder how this can be redivertwd there.

The nursery haven't provided your son the service so they cannot expect the funding to continue

Sandie

Your detail is helpful thank you.

Our preschool is small. It could only ever have had 2 bubbles even if at normal numbers full time. It only has two rooms and a large garden. There's not a lot to coordinate.

I didnt say I wanted to pick and choose sessions, I would have taken anything.

There are larger settings in our town who have managed to make it work so that all their children (of varying ages) who want to attend can, albeit part time.

I suppose what I struggle with here is it feels like I'm being told to prioritise everyone's needs except my sons. Why is he less important than the staff, the 2nd year children, the cleaners etc. Why is he bottom priority? He is 3 years old and doesnt understand any of this. He isn't bottom priority for me, and I cant help that.

Haenow
I dont think any is ever as blunt in RL as they are on AIBU. except maybe xenia.

You do realise NoIDontWatchLoveIsland that free funding for 2 and 3 year olds is a relatively recent thing and that prior to that there were no funded places until 4 years old meaning that many children didn't access pre school education as it had to be paid for. Guess what - most of them managed just fine and turned out OK. I'm sure your child will too.

Freddiefox
I have 2 members of staff who are not willing to return.

What do you mean are not willing to return? Do you mean shielding/vulnerable?

But he’s not more important than everyone else.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Sandie

Your detail is helpful thank you.

Our preschool is small. It could only ever have had 2 bubbles even if at normal numbers full time. It only has two rooms and a large garden. There's not a lot to coordinate.

I didnt say I wanted to pick and choose sessions, I would have taken anything.

There are larger settings in our town who have managed to make it work so that all their children (of varying ages) who want to attend can, albeit part time.

I suppose what I struggle with here is it feels like I'm being told to prioritise everyone's needs except my sons. Why is he less important than the staff, the 2nd year children, the cleaners etc. Why is he bottom priority? He is 3 years old and doesnt understand any of this. He isn't bottom priority for me, and I cant help that.

Oh don't be such a drama queen!

The government prioritised certain age groups because it wasn't safe or possible to have all children back at once.
Your child is no more the bottom priority than 7 year olds, 8 year olds, 9 year olds, all the children in Year 7, 8 & 9, Year 11, all children in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It's a pandemic. It isn't fair.