Nursery advice- they won't let him back for 2 weeks

[Tallybeen]

Name changed, not really sure why!!! Just in case I guess.

DS is 18 months and a fortnight ago we had to take him to the doctor's as he had a cold which turned really chesty. They advised we go to hospital which we did, and although they didn't test for it the symptoms didn't match with Corona, although some similarities I guess. As I had to take time off work when he was poorly anyway, we have managed to stay indoors for the past 2 weeks just in case as stuff was starting to come out in the news, and it's just us in the household at the moment so had a home delivery and asked them to leave it outside. He was better after a week, so the past week has just been 'in case'. He is due to go back to nursery tomorrow and me to work, but they've said he needs to be off for another 2 weeks. I can't afford to have a month off work!!! Especially as a week of it wasn't necessarily needed. I'm already content it wasn't that, and have been extra careful, but i am going to either be unpaid and unable to pay the bills, or get a formal attendance disciplinary or worse. I used emergency leave for the first day, and then annual leave.

What would you do? Is there anything I can give them to show we have already been careful???

What's their justification for another 2 weeks off if he's recovered after being off already?

That sounds insane. Ask to check their sickness policy. and can you get a GP to sign a letter that he’s recovered and is fine to be in public?

I'd want them to show me the justification. Nurseries can impose their own policies but if there is nothing in the paperwork, that sounds unfair. What you're doing is in line with government guidelines - it isn't as if he's been abroad or come in contact with anyone from an affected area, or even has suspected Coronavirus. If they nurseries told everyone whose child had the sniffles they couldn't come in for a month, they wouldn't be doing very much.

If I told my client I couldn't do the work they'd already paid me for but I wouldn't be refunding them, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't renew their contract with me.

I think the area has had a new directive sent out as my friend is a teacher and I asked if she could imagine why. It's frustrating because I've already gone beyond what was needed and wish I hadn't bothered like loads of other people!!