What about nurseries?

[NeverEnoughTea]

So all primary schools are now closing in London. What about nurseries? We are getting at least one case per fortnight in my child’s class, sometimes more.

I’m in tier 4 area since before Christmas (south east) and my nursery haven’t had a single case yet.

We had cases in the upstairs bubble. Member of staff tested positive. Bubble shut and a few more staff in that bubble came our during the period. Since then nothing.. touch wood!
Masks worn to greet parents at handover then feedback at the end of the day. All done at the entrance. Masks also worn when moving around the nursery. No mixing of upstairs and downstairs bubbles. Lots more cleaning..and all that.

I dont think they'll shut nurseries. If they do be surprised if a few dont reopen afterwards.

My nursery has only had one case all year, but called yesterday to say they won't open until Feb due to not having enough well members of staff. When they reopened in the summer, only half the children came back. I imagine they will lose more children when they reopen this time and will maybe even have to close all together this year if not enough children come back.

I was happy for my son to keep going as I felt it was safe and better than him staying at home. Now I have no choice.

20 confirmed adult cases in the last week of term in my nursery. No child cases that I’m aware of.

We're in Tier 4 (London) and we haven't had a single case in my DD's nursery. I don't think they spend as much time outside as in other nurseries - it's a private nursery with a small outside space, so the rooms have to take turns to spend time outdoors even in normal times. And they haven't been going on off-site walks to local parks as they usually would (they were worried about social distancing with members of the public). I have been outside with her for 5 hours a day recently and I wouldn't be happy with her spending that long outdoors, she is always taking off her hat and mittens and I put them back on but they wouldn't have enough staff to do that at nursery. But they have a full time cleaner and the management are very on the ball.

I'm a sahm but she needs the education and social interaction, so I'll be sending her in for as long as we're able to (but I won't be surprised if they have to close within a few weeks). I was offered a place at a community nursery but I'm glad I stuck with her private one, as all of the preschools attached to schools will be shut.

@AutoIncorrect

20 confirmed adult cases in the last week of term in my nursery. No child cases that I’m aware of.

To me that indicates more a issue with the procedures for staff then spreading from the children if no cases in them. A lot of the research (based on the older strain) is that adult to adult is the greatest risk rather than child to adult.

I had 10 cases in my nursery between 16-23 Dec. The Health Protection team (PHE) didn’t contact me until Xmas Eve. We will reopen on Monday 🤷‍♀️

Wouldn’t make sense not to allow nurseries but then support private childcare done by the grandparents

That's a childcare bubble and allowable in Tier 4 in England.

[quote NeverEnoughTea]**@D4rwin* Genuinely. I have no reason to make this up. We have had two cases in the same class* in the three weeks before Xmas.[/quote]
Thats not quite the same as at least 1 case every fortnight that you said in your opening post is it? So since March you have had 2 cases in that class who most probably caught it from each other?

Our private nursery confirmed via email today they would be opening on Monday, and I am relieved to have some clarity on this.
There have been two cases since September (in other rooms), and those children/staff had to isolate at home for two weeks.
I feel the benefit of my child going outweighs the risk (for me). I fully expect there to be times when their room may get sent home to isolate. I don’t think I’d be happy for my child to be outside all day (and I love fresh air and how good it can be), and they don’t do that, but do spend some time outside.

To be honest- inside the nursery is not much warmer than outside as we need to have the windows open. We advise parents to dress children with several warm layers..

@Cam2020

Wouldn’t make sense not to allow nurseries but then support private childcare done by the grandparents

That's a childcare bubble and allowable in Tier 4 in England.

I know and yet I think it doesn’t make sense that grandparents who will be at risk take care of the children so parents can go to work.

My dd does 1 day a week at nursery so I can get stuff done but she wont be going in this first week, it doesnt feel right to me as I dont who she will be mixing with in nursery or if those people have been sensible over the xmas period. I'll speak to the nursery at the end of the week to discuss the week after.

Seems odd that nurseries have been ignored again!

@peppapigyoghurt

Seems odd that nurseries have been ignored again!

Eyfs have been ignored consistently by this government for years and years. They come out with sound bites of "record funding blah blah" but in reality funding for eyfs has been cut dramatically year on year due to rises in minimum wage, pensions etc.....

This has been compounded by then constantly being an afterthought through the pandemic and not even being mentioned in most press conferences. This government treat eyfs like absolute shit.

Ps. I do not work in eyfs, just a user of it!

Nurseries should be open but in London one of the issues has been staffing - high ratios mean that cover is required for staff unable to work and bank staff are in great demand. If there are insufficient staff, they cannot open, or can only give a reduced service.