IF private nurseries shut down?

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So yet another Q about Corona! What IF private nurseries start closing? Are we supposed to still pay upftont fees? My son goes to nursery and if he cant go I cant work so potentially I wont be paid but then would I pay the nursery regardless? How would this supposed to work? i.e. it cost around 70% of my wage to pay the nursery but if we dont pay - we lose our place. I am so confused and scared tbh...

Michael Morton are an insurance broker/scheme provider. The insurer they use do not offer this cover. There are other providers out there that have this cover included.

This is not something the broker can change now.

And sorry for being snippy, I have had to go through a lot of queries on this over the last few days

Which ones?

@EYProvider Your problem here is the insurance companies. How can they decide that it's not covered? The nurseries have paid their insurance fees. It doesn't state in the policies that a new unknown pandemic won't be covered how are they allowed to not pay out? The nurseries are having to close due to a notifiable disease therefore they should be able to claim on the policy. Have you taken legal advice on this?
I will not be paying my nursery fees if the nursery is closed. I doubt I will be able to pay very much of any bills if I'm off work looking after the kids. I would struggle to feed my family let alone anything else.

@sadatchristmas1 if the policy has a set list of diseases that are covered, and on the basis that this isn't one, then they aren't covered. That's how it works

I asked our nursery yesterday, they said they won't close unless they're told they have to and then they'll have to get advice on what happens regarding fees.

I can see both sides really, I won't get paid if they close and I have to take time off work but they have overheads and staff to pay so I would have to use our savings to pay them but we could only do it for a couple of weeks.

I work for one of the lager nursery chains.
It has been confirmed to staff that parents will be charged full rate, staff will have to take ssp or unpaid leave.

I don’t think nurseries will will be able to charge in this situation. I imagine the govt will provide some sort of bridging loans to nurseries. It will be the sort of thing decided by govt if and when it happens

If parents still have to pay but staff only get ssp does that mean then nursery is making more money than normal?

"The guy from Morton Michel actually had the brass neck to say to me, ‘We can’t pay nurseries for this because then we’d go bankrupt’."

It's my understanding that this is just an excuse. They are legally required have enough available funds to pay out if everyone claims. If they don't, they're insolvent and they're operating illegally.

I work for one of the lager nursery chains.
It has been confirmed to staff that parents will be charged full rate, staff will have to take ssp or unpaid leave. that is truly shocking, I have worked in EY for 25 years, most as a manager, and totally understand that nurseries need to charge as insurers are not paying out, but not to pay staff is disgraceful.

If that was the case it would be truly shocking. DH & I have discussions regularly on what we are going to do & the main reason we would consider paying the fees if they’re closed is for the staff to be paid as they are amazing.

@sadatchristmas1 policies work by stating what is covered not what isn’t. It’s very clear what will be covered so just because it doesn’t state a million reasons of what it wouldn’t pick up doesn’t mean the policy responds. Therefore nothing is hidden.

There’s a part in some policies which covers non damage business interruption denial of access and that should be reviewed should closures be forced

Hi OP, I feel your pain. I posted a similar one and got some advice on the thread FYI

COVID-19 nursery closure and refund http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/3847511-covid-19-nursery-closure-and-refund

Forgive me if I have the wrong end of the stick...if nurseries have to close, then the staff will only get SSP (from Govt?) so won't the wages bill be non-existent??

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300210

Someone will take the hit but I can’t see that parents can pay if they are shut and can’t work.

I've checked with my DD nursery this morning & they've been assured by their insurance that they're covered. Also they've been told they will still be paid for all their 30 hours slots.

It a horrible situation but for us we can’t pay for a service they aren’t offering. My DP is self employed and has no work currently and I’m about to go on mat leave so every penny counts.

@DigitalGhost - No nursery is covered for this. I imagine that you were told this by one of the staff at your nursery. They may think they are covered, but they’re wrong. The industry is in meltdown over it.

Of course, everyone’s priority is to pay the staff. But if you don’t pay the rent, you get evicted.

I think some parents would pay, but most wouldn’t. In which case, you couldn’t pay the staff and the rent. But if you don’t pay the rent, you no longer have a business.

There’s no solution.

I was told by the manager of the nursery who also asked for confirmation in writing. Also in the case they're not covered they're covered for 75% of fees via 30 hours places.
No idea why it is different, unless it's because it's a community nursery rather than proper private run.

@DigitalGhost this is great then! I hope its all true and we can relax even if we do need to self isolate at home and nurseries shut. Thank you

The government has already stated they are not paying the 30 hours funding if withdrawal is due to Coronavirus they’ve been very clear in that.