Nursery won't take child in 7 weeks after injury

[AleenaM]

Child age 4y had a broken leg, in a cast for 5 weeks. Was not allowed in at all into their nursery as it's an outdoor setting (private nursery setting not a pre school ) and quoted "not safe". Made us go through hoops such as obtain a letter from surgeron that child can attend, arrange an OT to visit the nursery. Then still deemed it unsafe.

Post cast they've allowed child back in for 3 hrs daily for 2 weeks, however now into week 3 and still insisting on only 3hours while they best figure how to support child with toilet etc. and make a plan for next week.

Is there anything I can do to get them to accept child ? I'm struggling to work if I have to drive up and down to there after just 2:30hrs. They haven't even accepted I bring them in 1hour earlier to be at morning snack and welcome time due to not enough staff to support this.

At home child is mobile on all terrains. Struggles with toilet just as before. Can't help but think it's their own staffing issues and reluctance to accommodate my child. Is there anything I can do, do they have any legal duty to accommodate temporarily disabled children ?

I'm lucky I WFH else I would've long be sacked by now. I've no family around.

Who is looking after her at home while you are working?

Netflix lol!

They should definitely be working with you to accommodate, however, they can refuse as it's not compulsory school age. Effectively, as you're buying the service they don't have anyone ensuring they're providing it. They can offer something and you either accept or decline. They don't sound very inclusive.

Unfortunately you may need to change nursery or put up with it for a bit longer.

Is their only difficulty toileting? Because if they are fully mobile now I don't see how they can justify not having them back for longer. Or at least times that better suit you.

Do they actually need 1:1 support or just for toileting?

Not the point.

Had I known how difficult they will be, I could've worked on finding another nursery sooner. Starting at this stage, I am likely to find one when child is recovered anyway. Thanks for clarifying re no duty on their behalf

Do you live near? Could you pop up to help with the toilet?

It would be good to know how much extra intervention her child is needing though. If she's watching netflix all day and not playing then would she be OK at nursery?

I acknowledge children act differently at home vs at nursery with staff and 15 other energetic gremlins, but at home they do not need 1:1 support in terms of mobility, they can walk or crawl to the toilet and get on and off, but continue to have accidents (which they did before all this anyway).

While in cast child has been wearing nappies to avoid wetting the cast due to frequent accidents, so if anything having a nappy on should be easier?

I don't think the argument of needing toilet support stands here really

Oh shhh, you're being tiresome.

Post cast they've allowed child back in for 3 hrs daily for 2 weeks, however now into week 3 and still insisting on only 3hours while they best figure how to support child with toilet etc. and make a plan for next week.

sounds like they are trying to put a plan in place, you may just have to be patient and see what they come up with

No, but shows how wfh is abused

If I could've gone back in time I would've got signed off with stress for 6 weeks. Nah make that 8 weeks or 10 week while nursery 'put a plan in place' to support my child sitting down for morning snack.
That way I could've enjoyed my days, take my child to cafes, make puzzles and shape playdough and play 1:1 without guilt tripping myself that I am neither working neither tending to the needs of my child. Welcome to the life of a modern mother!

Thanks for your input anyway.

The nursery is taking too long; request a formal meeting to discuss a timeline and their duty to support your child.

Nothing like a bit of empathy for a temporarily struggling single mum, is there? And that's nothing like a bit of empathy.

What's the OP to do, her child has an injury and can't go to nursery, and she needs to work. She's said she has no support nearby.

The whole point of the thread is she’s trying to get her child into a nursery place she has arranged.

Do you feel better now you’ve kicked someone whilst they’re down?

OPs work may well be aware of the situation. OP has no option but to have her child at home right now. OP is still able to work even in these difficult circumstances. If OP wasn’t able to WFH, she would have to be at home with her child instead of at the office and the work wouldn’t be done by OP at all. Some workplaces prefer that, some don’t. Luckily, you don’t employ OP so your feelings on her WFH are irrelevant.

What's the outdoor settings like and where are the loos/changing facilities if child is wearing a nappy?
Local to me the outdoor nursery is fully outdoors and terrain poss unsuitable with a broken leg.

I bet @CaptainHaddocksPyschotherapist votes Reform

Post cast they've allowed child back in for 3 hrs daily for 2 weeks, however now into week 3 and still insisting on only 3hours while they best figure how to support child with toilet etc.

YANBU OP, this is far too long. I appreciate they want to find the best way to support your DC, but 2 weeks of discussions is just ridiculous. I would request an urgent meeting with the manager / SLT and discuss what they're going to do to support DC returning full time.

I'll take that bet
You'll lose

Please tell me they’ve not charged you full fees for this

Yawn.

Who says that OP is abusing WFH?

Presumably she has an understanding employer that is allowing their employee some flexibility to deal with a difficult home situation. You know, because the alternative would be that OP would be yet another mum who was forced out of work.