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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery and corona

34 replies

schafernaker · 31/08/2020 00:13

So we got the dreaded phonecall today that DC had been in close contact with someone at nursery who has now tested positive for corona. DC (2) now needs to self isolate for 14 days and will not be permitted to attend nursery. We are teachers, so one of us or a combination between us is now going to have to take 2 weeks off to stay with DC.

Just wondering should we expect to still have to pay fees? Or would we be within our rights to challenge it as it is nursery where she picked it up and they have told her not to come in (following government guidance). I’m torn, as we would normally pay for her non attendance.

Will obviously contact nursery on Tuesday but just didn’t think when we were notified.

OP posts:
feelingsicknow · 31/08/2020 00:23

It'll be in the T&Cs.

feelingsicknow · 31/08/2020 00:25

And FWIW I'd expect to still have to pay. It's an illness like any other. If he/she had measles and had to stay off (caught off another child at nursery or not) you'd have to pay.

stardust40 · 31/08/2020 00:31

I have no words of wisdom for you, I know a lot of my teacher colleagues are worried about this happening along with whether we would be paid to be off with our children as well 😞 so sorry it's happened to you ... fingers crossed your dc doesn't show symptoms x

Porcupineinwaiting · 31/08/2020 00:34

You can check your T&C but of course you should expect to pay, it's hardly the nursery's fault. If a child in your class has to self isolate, would you expect to go unpaid for 2 weeks if they were exposed at school?

Boofay · 31/08/2020 00:41

Are you not able to get a test for your child, or is it still too early in the incubation period?

Does the whole nursery have to shut down? Have they asked you to sign an addendum to your contract regarding paying fees in the event of a forced shutdown?

TisTheSeasonToBe · 31/08/2020 01:40

Surely both of you have to stay home with your child? As you would be a close contact?

Torvean32 · 31/08/2020 01:41

A child even if a close contact does not need tested unless they develop symptoms. They have a 14 day quarantine as the could display infection in up to 14 days. A nefative test would not negate this.

Torvean32 · 31/08/2020 01:46

The parents dont need to isolate at present. Though that would change if their own child developed symptoms.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 31/08/2020 01:48

@TisTheSeasonToBe

Surely both of you have to stay home with your child? As you would be a close contact?
Only if the OPs child develops symptoms. Close contacts of close contacts don’t have to self isolate.
snitzelvoncrumb · 31/08/2020 01:50

Usually you would pay, but if the nursery closes you may not have to. I would ask citizens advice on how it works legally.

CasperGutman · 31/08/2020 06:41

@Boofay

Are you not able to get a test for your child, or is it still too early in the incubation period?

Does the whole nursery have to shut down? Have they asked you to sign an addendum to your contract regarding paying fees in the event of a forced shutdown?

Tests don't get you out of the 14 day quarantine for being in contact with someone with COVID. The incubation period can be up to 14 days, so that's how long you have to wait. Even if you develop symptoms yourself then test negative, the symptoms could have been caused by a different virus.

AIUI, the only way you get out of the quarantine before 14 days have passed is if you develop symptoms, get a positive test result amd complete the 10 days' isolation before the 14 days would have been up.

DamitJanet · 31/08/2020 06:48

We were given new t&cs when nursery reopened which covered this. I would have expected to pay in this circumstance but our nursery have a reduced fee to cover this.

RedHelenB · 31/08/2020 06:49

And this is why it will be chaos when kids start back at school. There wont be enough teachers and the kids will have no continuity as they have to be off each time someone they've been in contact with has the virus.

ShesMadeATwatOfMePam · 31/08/2020 06:50

I have to pay for my child's place, not their attendance. So i would have to pay still.

NerrSnerr · 31/08/2020 06:52

You'll have to pay. It's hardly their fault that he cannot attend and they still need to pay their staff.

DipSwimSwoosh · 31/08/2020 06:54

When my daughter started nursery she caught chickenpox on her settling in session. She did 2 days, then had 3 weeks off. We paid £500+ for the privilege of a poorly girl, and got charged unpaid leave off our salaries at work.
It's so unfair. This time your child isn't even ill! It's going to be hard. I still have one at nursery and I am a teacher too. I guess with 2 of you as teachers, there is always a chance you will be sent home from work too?

WhatamessIgotinto · 31/08/2020 06:56

Yes of course you'll have to pay.

babychange12 · 31/08/2020 07:03

If you have to stay at home with her do you get paid? Why shouldn't nursery get paid ? Do the staff not have bills to pay too?

Original poster
schafernaker · 31/08/2020 09:25

To be honest I’m not entirely sure I will get paid by work, I get paid for my own absences but DC is down to the discretion of the headteacher usually capped at 5 days. So maybe this time, but certainly not next time this happens (because there will be a next time).

Those asking about testing, she would still need to isolate, and no we don’t need to isolate unless she shows symptoms (which is mad because she could be asymptomatic and we could spread it to two secondary schools of 1000+ kids)

The whole situation just doesn’t sit well with me, I’d like to hope they offered a reduced rate as they are fully aware DC won’t be in eating food etc. We are talking £500+ when there is nothing wrong with our child, and the likelihood is it will happen again in a few weeks

OP posts:
KarlKennedysDurianFruit · 31/08/2020 09:31

@DipSwimSwoosh this is one of the reasons we vaccinated against chicken pox before DS went to nursery. Horrible illness and wholly avoidable

Rosebel · 31/08/2020 13:40

It's not the nursery's fault. You will be paying to keep her space, otherwise they'll be loosing money, which in turn means they can't pay the staff and the nursery may end up closing.
Obviously it will depend on t&c but I would be very surprised if they don't charge you.

netflixismysidehustle · 31/08/2020 13:45

I think nurseries and childminders would shut down in droves if they couldn't charge for kids self isolating. It's not fair that this could be the first of multiple self isolation periods which is going to affect the schools that you work at too

slipperywhensparticus · 31/08/2020 13:48

I would like to think they wont charge you for food as she won't be eating and its mostly food that keeps in nursery anyway

Original poster
schafernaker · 31/08/2020 14:22

@netflixismysidehustle I don’t really know what you’re getting at here... yes it’s not fair on nursery or our employers, but what’s the alternative?

OP posts:
WhatamessIgotinto · 31/08/2020 16:14

but what’s the alternative?. The alternative is that you pay @schafernaker. Just like everyone else will have to.