Nursery and corona

[schafernaker]

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.

I would expect them not to charge for meals, assuming they don't usually when you're on annual leave etc

And yes it sucks but it will be the same for everyone.

@WhatamessIgotinto still doesn’t make it fair on work who even if not paying me will be paying over the odds for supply staff, as I’m pretty sure they’ll be in demand as we won’t be the only family in this position.

Also pretty amazed by all these people who would be happy to hand over £500 without questioning it whilst also taking unpaid time off work. Must be another thing that only happens on Mumsnet as other parents in the same nursery are asking the same question.

You need to pay. When you send a child to nursery atm you do so knowing coronavirus and the 14 day quarantine is a real risk. It’s not great for people with no alternative childcare options but it is part of life now. It’s the same as any other illness and related absence guidelines like the 48 hours for diarrhoea and vomiting. You don’t stop paying for illnesses like that. The guidelines are longer for coronavirus but the same rules apply.

I wouldn’t be happy but I would accept it’s not the childcare providers fault and it’s just one of those things.

They are a business after all, they aren’t looking after your kid because they like her.

@Nosebogey it’s not a case of having no other childcare options. Surely a self isolating toddler can’t be farmed off to a grandparent to look after. Any minor illness we have plenty of back up for, but if she’s self isolating surely we can’t send her to her grandparents so we can go to work, defeats the point of her isolating

@schafernaker

You misunderstood me. I meant other people might not use nursery whatsoever because of the guidelines about coronavirus and the possibility of paying for days that can’t attend due to coronavirus. People using nursery these days are aware of the risks of paying for these quarantine days and use nursery as childcare knowing that is a risk. So, like I said, it’s not great for people who don’t have the option to choose not to use nurseries but it’s a fact of life now that there will be the risk of paying for two weeks that you can’t attend.

@Nosebogey apologies! Thanks for explaining, looks like we will have to suck it up and consider our future options.