Do they monitor nursery attendance and am I BU for keeping DD off with bad cough?

[TheseAreMyGoodPants]

Hi all.

DD is 3 and has only been attending nursery (four days a week, Mon - Thurs) since mid April. She was sent home early on Friday as she had a mild temperature but seemed okay otherwise. Friday night her temperature went up to 40c and she was miserable. Thankfully it came down with Calpol.

Over the weekend she developed a runny nose and phlegmy cough. During the day she seemed okay albeit tired and grumpy, but at night she was miserable, waking hourly, spiking a temperature and coughing so much she was choking/gagging. She's been to the GP who says it's a viral chest infection and just let it run it's course.

Last night she was a little better, only woke up once. However she's still got a pretty nasty, phlegmy cough and still gags/chokes when she has a coughing fit.

I think she's still not quite recovered so it's best to keep her off today and see how she is tomorrow, but I'm worried her nursery will get fed up with her being off? She's only been going less than a month and already had three days off! I've heard they can actually pull funding if a child isn't there enough? We've already paid for Mays hours. I'm actually currently signed off work with prenatal depression and will be starting maternity leave soon, so we technically don't NEED the childcare. DD loves it though and it's a nice break!

YANBU - I would keep her off
YABU - I would send her in

Thank you 😊

Nursery (and the other parents) would be more annoyed if you took in a sick child. Keep her at home and let her recover properly. No one is keeping attendance records at nursery!

Sorry, she wasn't sent home early on Friday! I meant Thursday. It's early 😂

Definitely keep her off. It's not fair on her or the other kids otherwise.

Why would Nursey mind? They have long experience of kids being poorly. And there is no legal obligation to attend, as there is with school.

Keep her off until you are happy she is better.

Keep her off, but do let the nursery know that you are doing it and why. A quick call or e mail to say she is ill.

Most nurseries monitor attendance in as much as they will call you to find out why you are not there if you don't tell them.

This isn't to make you go in, but just a welfare check in case anything is wrong.

i dont think they would pull funding so easily but i have no knowledge
keep her off though

Agree with everyone so far. Keep her home till she's completely well - for her sake, your peace of mind & to ensure she doesn't pass a virus on to all the other kids/adults!

I work in a school & believe me, the nursery's sole concern is the welfare of their little people - they're not keeping attendance & considering kicking you out. When kids start nursery/school etc they tend to catch every illness doing the rounds - it's a ruddy nuisance but really common & everyone understands.

The pulling funding thing is if you go abroad for six weeks in the middle of term, not off for a couple of weeks with a virus. Definitely let her get better at home.

And also don’t feel guilty sending her to nursery when you are on maternity leave. It’s really important she has continuity when such a big change is coming - and also means you will have quiet time with the new baby so you can focus more on her when she is at home. I’m so pleased I kept DD1’s nursery days when I went on mat leave with DD2.

We have to contact the funding team to discuss reasons for absence once a child has 15 working days off in a term.

Oh and totally agree that nurseries prefer a sick child NOT to attend. Just let them know for courtesy/safeguarding reasons.

Attendance is only monitored for safeguarding purposes not for illness. The only way funding would be pulled would be for children having weeks and weeks off nursery. I would think the nursery would send her home eith the symptoms you described anyway. Absolutely fine to keep her home don't worry x

Thank you all! Glad to see almost everyone agrees with me 😊

Most children starting nursery will pick up bugs on a regular basis, nursery stuff knows it and also has rules in place how ill a child can be to attend. Runny nose may be ok, temperature and a cough like you describe is not.

Monitoring for safe guarding is hugely different.

Any kid starting nursery is going to pick up so many bugs they will be off. Especially if the nursery are strict about coughs and colds. As PP said just make sure you're phoning them to let them know.