I'm an experienced highly qualified Early Years Educator and at work today at a creche I spent approx 3 hours deep cleaning as per current regs - I think this is neither sustainable nor desirable AIBU

[Germolenequeen]

AS ABOVE

YA most definitely NBU.

It's ridiculous and pointless.

YANBU...definitely not your job.

Same boat. I’m also slightly worried about the negative effects all the cleaning will have on the children’s immune systems - we haven’t had a single child off sick since reopening at the beginning of June - surely we’re weakening their immune systems? We can clean till we’re blue in the face to prevent them picking up Covid from toys/surfaces but ultimately they breathe, sneeze and cough all over each other (and us) so where are they more likely to pick it up? The bubbles are great because they actually do limit the spread, excessive cleaning however doesn’t do a lot in my opinion!

Not sure OP- I'm an EY teacher as well and we have all been chipping in with cleaning We have amazing cleaners too- theyve been coming in and out during the day and we have been wiping down the tables and constantly washing everyone's hands. I've just seen it as all chipping in to get it done. However, we are on summer hols now so I can see how you would be fed up if you were in a nursery setting that carries on through the summer with no foreseeable end.

I guess we have to just hope that all our hard work pays off and the virus dissipates. At least then it will have been worth it!

It definitely isn’t sustainable. Constant cleaning means more staff are needed and nurseries already struggle to break even. Parents can’t afford to pay more, and childcare is already subsidised. Tbh, I’m not sure what the answer is.

Nothing about the guidance is sustainable.

None of it is sustainable.

It's not a good situation 😕

I think a good cleaning regime is important but I’d much rather have you playing with my child than spending 3 hours cleaning.

I’m a professional with a medicine related masters degree and I’ve been working full time AND being a pseudo bloody primary and secondary teacher since March.

We’re all having to do extra stuff this year. Suck it up, Buttercup. 2020 doesn’t care about your CV.

YANBU! How often are you going to have to do this? 3 hours is a lot!

YANBU I am an EY practitioner too and were all in the same boat. But that's why some saying YABU as we just have to lump it at the mo.

Were you supernumerary when cleaning?

It’s not sustainable, and neither is the body of cleaning materials. In one month I’ve spent more on cleaning equipment than I do a whole year on art and craft.

Depends, how often do you need to do it and could your setting afford to hire someone to do it other than you?

I mean as a one off and all the other staff were getting on with childcare then it isn't bad. Deep cleaning daily would obviously be ridiculous.

*I’m a professional with a medicine related masters degree and I’ve been working full time AND being a pseudo bloody primary and secondary teacher since March.

We’re all having to do extra stuff this year. Suck it up, Buttercup. 2020 doesn’t care about your CV.*

This, absolutely. Some of the attitudes on here wouldn't last five minutes where I've been working.

YANBU as a shortage subject secondary teacher, we are also expected to clean out classroom on some lesson changeovers due to lack of funds. The school has already run out of funds to buy more hand sanitiser.
I absolutely cannot believe the government won't give extra funds for all the extra cleaning they are mandating yet can subsidise eating out.

Oh come on, we all have to do things beneath our pay grade.

Laughing at, “2020 doesn’t care about your CV”

I agree with that, if this is only a short term measure. If it’s longer, then settings will have to assess who they pay for cleaning, how much, and how parents will react to fees that cover that.

I went to the optician today - heard her tell a customer that a number of pairs of sunglasses were off soaking in disinfectant but she’d get them out again shortly. She was rotating the pairs for cleaning, I think. I doubt she thinks she did her degree for that - but, small independent opticians - she was sucking it up.

No..Dont 'suck it up' - just people need to understand exactly what is going on in schools. If you 'suck it up' like the other posters are suggesting, then everyone will just listen to the lying politicians and believe its all fine. People should tell their truths.

The problem is not that she was doing things below her pay grade - but that while she was doing them, she wasn't doing what she is actually there to do - looking after and educating small children, which is incredibly important!
While I'm cleaning my classroom the next class is going to be stood shoulder to shoulder in a crowded corridor without masks, jostling each other, Corona coughing unsupervised in each others faces etc.
I need to be setting up for the next lesson. Not wiping desks!
The government should be providing extra funding for extra cleaning.

No..Dont 'suck it up' - just people need to understand exactly what is going on in schools. If you 'suck it up' like the other posters are suggesting, then everyone will just listen to the lying politicians and believe its all fine. People should tell their truths.

this

People should tell their truths.

come on now.

I'm an early years educator too and yes spent a lot of time cleaning for reopening and now adapting to whole lot of new regulations. But we are far from the only sector - everyone has had to adapt in so many roles. as for whether it is sustainable - its going to have to be is my opinion.