To be fed up that DD's nursery has been closed due to staff illness

[Pennies]

So far this half term I've lost 3 nursery days as nursery has been closed because 1 member of staff has been ill. Next week it's closed all week (same reason) and then it's half term.

Of course we're being reimbursed for lost days but that doesn't help me with my childcare issues, never mind the fact that it's taking dd a while to settle in and a two week break might set her back a bit and we'll have tears and tantrums all over again when she goes back.

Why can't they just get in a temp??????

Absolutely unacceptable. Find another nursery. My children had a childminder (one person!) and in 5 years she only had one day of closure for illness.

I think it would depend on the illness - we have had a nursery closure locally due to a staff member being diagnosed with tb. With something like gastroenteritis they might feel the need for a deep clean of toys etc?

No yanbu, if just one person being off closes the whole place, then they haven't done their planning very well. It's not fair on your dd and it's not fair on you.

When I opened this I was expecting to see that half the staff had been struck down with some awful lurgy, which would be a bit more understandable, but for one person

A bad leg / back / neck or summat similar. Certainly not contagious.

they've obviously got exactly their minimum level of staff - which is fine, as long as they have their quota - but they have no contigency plans, which is just daft really.

Don't they have supply? I did supply in a Nursery once (was primary teacher).

Totally unacceptable. This is one of the major reasons that people choose a nursery over a childminder IMO and IME.

Get alternative childcare.

I am on the committee of my ds's old playgroup. This has very nearly happened on more than one occasion there, but thanks to committee members being CRB checked, we have usually managed to find someone to step in at the last moment.

I have been advertising for staff over the last month (my role is staffing officer) and despite the job being advertised on various childcare websites, in the paper etc, we have had 2 applicants and none at all for bank/supply staff.

Definitely unacceptable.

DD went to two different day nurseres and not once were they ever closed.

am shocked !

DS was at nursery for 4 .5 years in all, and never, ever was it closed

sounds like they are operating too close to the bone

speak to OFSTED ?