To think closing nurseries would be disastrous?

[Purgatory2021]

I'm seeing it discussed left right and centre, my post was prompted by television this morning.

For many reasons (none selfish) I think it would be disastrous, but the one that stands out to me the most is people's ability to work.

I'm sure there will be plenty of nurses/HCP's/important key workers who rely on nursery to be able to do their jobs.

Not everybody has family that can step in.

Older primary aged children and secondary age children can fend for themselves to a degree if push came to shove, but you can't do the same with toddlers and babies.

YANBU. They’re closed in Scotland and it’s awful.

Keyworker children would have a space.

You're right it is difficult for working parents but if current restrictions aren't enough then we have to restrict more. The hospitals are struggling. We can't have people in car accidents unable to access ITU.

Unfortunately it needs to happen.

It would result in grandparents being drafted in because you can't safely work from home and look after a child under 4, and you certainly can't work out of home with no-one to look after them. It would also be disastrous to a workforce that is probably 99% female.

Keyworker children would have a space

And plenty of nurseries won’t remain financially viable under those conditions.

but if current restrictions aren't enough then we have to restrict more

This is knee jerk and badly thought through. We need a proper cost benefit analysis. What difference are they likely to make in terms of spread? What are the consequences of shutting them? Weigh it up properly.

I totally understand the need for harsh restrictions, I just don't think closing nurseries would be the right thing to do.

It will likely stop a sizable amount of our HCP's being able to work for one thing.

My child has SEN and is at a nursery for disabled children which I think may stay open regardless due to the childrens needs and even if they closed we would cope with that as I'm at home, my concern is for everybody else really.

It would result in grandparents being drafted in because you can't safely work from home and look after a child under 4

They're looking at scrapping childcare and support bubbles too. They clearly think we all have live-in servants

Hospitals will actually be under more pressure with nurseries closed as many staff rely on nurseries that will not be open even for key worker children.

YANBU

@Sally872

Keyworker children would have a space.

You're right it is difficult for working parents but if current restrictions aren't enough then we have to restrict more. The hospitals are struggling. We can't have people in car accidents unable to access ITU.

Exactly what Sally872 says ^ it’s absolute shit, but the alternatives don’t bear thinking about.

It would result in grandparents being drafted in because you can't safely work from home and look after a child under 4

And for those families without this option?

Not everybody is able to draft in grandparents sadly.

I'm fortunate in that I could ask my DM to help in the unlikely event I was able to go back to work in the next few weeks (closed due to restrictions) but plenty of people don't have that luxury.

It will be a disaster, most nurseries will not ever reopen.

Yes, it would be awful

And only contemplated when risk to the community is even worse.

We're at Alert 5, hospitals are close to buckling, London is in state of emergency, BBC reporting this morning on a hospital which has had to reduce its target oxygen sats from 92 or over to between 88-92 - it's rationing oxygen to patients. More and more hospitals are operating over their safe capacity (and that's a capacity that had been increased over the past 10 months)

No-one is making choices easily or lightly, or with disregard for the consequences.

They need to stay open for keyworker children, vulnerable children /sen only. Same as schools.

Closing KS1 is disastrous but most people don’t seem bothered about that as long as kids aren’t spreading the disease. Nurseries will have to suck up the same unfairness I’m afraid. Our children are all being made to make unimaginable sacrifices on their education. At least with nursery they’re not missing out on vital education (socialisation yes - I get it)

I’m in the situation of about to return to work after mat leave and needing a nursery full time - no family near by and both of us are critical workers (although I could rearrange a few things and condense some of my work down to less days per week and do non-critical work at weekends instead) . Having to try and plan for all eventualities at the moment. I’d support nurseries closing if that is what is needed, but like all other things, I can’t believe we’re nearly a year into this pandemic and we are in such an awful position. Feels like it shouldn’t have got this severe.

I was looking forward to going back to work as this year has felt like a double upheaval with new baby and pandemic. I did not think when I gave birth during the first week of lockdown 1 that this is where we’d be now

Not even sure if the nursery will accept a new baby at the moment, or how we’ll settle him in.

Chris whitty this morning: “parents should avoid sending children to nurseries if they can”.

I hate this style of communication- either shut them or don’t rather than blaming parents for sending kids in!

It would be disastrous for us. The 2 days of nursery is the only interaction my toddler gets with other children, DPs are refusing to see us because we are using the nursery space but also said they won't do childcare either having previously had a childcare bubble with them. I would have to get signed off with stress because we couldn't afford for me to take parental leave. There would be no furlough as we are key workers. Ideally this would get DD a space but the nursery has struggled with staffing so this is no guarantee. I had to sheild before and it was awful having her home whilst trying to work. I work in ss so trying to handle calls and meetings with a 2 year old in tow just isn't possible. These aren't colleagues who will understand these are mostly members of the public who hate me anyway so they certainly won't tolerate interruptions from a toddler. I'm already in tears today from the constant stress. I can't take much more.

@MrsTravers

It would result in grandparents being drafted in because you can't safely work from home and look after a child under 4

And for those families without this option?

Well they'd be screwed. I was just pointing out that closing nurseries could end up making things worse if people then have to mix with other, possibly vulnerable, households to facilitate work, so it would be a stupid decision.

Your kids that go to nursery don’t deserve a place more then any school age child.

@HOS8595

Your kids that go to nursery don’t deserve a place more then any school age child.

Is a 12 month old as capable of sitting down quietly with a snack as a 5 year old?

It should be the same as it was last time. Nurseries closed to other children apart from keyworker children.
Last time almost every child's parents were saying they were a keyworker of some sort just to get a space. So my nursery had to be selective. It doesn't make sense for schools to be open to keyworker children only and nurseries to be open for all and sundry.
Otherwise what happens is you have half the amount of children attending as some parents just choosing not to send, the nursery isn't viable like that. They can't make any money. If they were open to keyworker children only they will get top up from the government.

First lockdown resulted in my sons nursery closing down , they opened for key workers but that was not financially viable for them and they closed down in October .

I am a mental health nurse, my ability to work relies on nursery being open.
We do not have any family near by to cover any childcare.

I have a two-year old and a five-year old. If I needed to do work I could with my five-year old at home - not to my two-year old. Nurseries are open for a good reason. WFH and looking after a young child poses risks to the child. They need to stay open.

I think many nurseries still charge for those who choose not to attend. Ours does. I do understand they need to keep going, but it's hard paying for something we are told we shouldn't use, but are struggling without. This is partly why they possibly won't be closed.