Nursery refuse to take my DC!

[DreamInLavender]

I spoke to management today and just wanted some confirmation that I could still send DS in (they sent an email out saying they're happy to try and sort things for essential workers at this time).

They asked me what I do and then said no, they couldn't take DC as I'm not an essential worker

I am, and if we go into lockdown our services are classed as essential and will continue to run. Is it really up to the nursery if they take DC or not, or are they discriminating? Yes of course they can set their own rules but not ones that discriminate surely.

I'm fuming and honestly don't know what I'll do

OP - of course youre a key worker!! Cant believe all the idiots on here that argued otherwise. Good luck and stay safe!

I have no idea why this is even a discussion, of course you’re a key worker. Practically everyone who works in healthcare has been dragged into other roles. At least where I live anyway.

Our ward would fall apart without our admin.

I have read the OP a few replies to this thread, as a childcare worker and mother, i would be doing all i can to gather my child / children and Run for the hills and keep them away from ANY potential further risk, for my money if you're not working in front line hospital and or any supermarket, keep your children at home, why the hell would you sant to expose them to it.... unless you cannot parent for whatever reason.

My blood boils at this naivety and stupidity

What I find wrong is, fair play if closing down completely is the way forward, but then some services need to keep running, so then things are opened up with caution, but what if most of a nursery or school, have kids whose parents are all key workers, then isn't that going to be like being up and running as usual anyway?! And I get why those kids are still then entitled to go in, because their parents work in vital services, and that is more about keeping those services running, but then they are also being paid whilst working, then there could be a small amount of parents who then can't send their kids in, because they are not key workers, what has been said about lost wages?!
I am just glad though I am not better off in general, but at the moment, that I am a stay at home parent, as my work involves dentistry and most have been or are now closed!

It’s not half as naive and stupid as your reply though *nicky

Matilda I can understand why people outside of healthcare might not understand. I’m a bit surprised people within the NHS don’t know about the sort of things that are likely to happen when the pandemic plan starts being activated.

Health and social care would collapse without support staff.

I work in a private nursery and unless you are on the list of Key Workers, we have said no to everyone. We had some heated conversations with parents yesterday as they just would not accept the decision. It is an order from the government, not from the nurseries. The whole point of it all is to reduce the risk of infection to the elderly, weak and vulnerable. To PRESERVE LIFE!!! Therefore if you have suitable childcare within your home or family, you need to take it otherwise your child is mixing with other children from other families and potentially carrying the virus home to you and your family. We're not being prejudiced or discriminating, just following government legislation. Also the more children that we, as child carers, come into contact with, the more risk of infection we are taking home to our families as well!!
Just think, all of these front line key workers cannot work if nursery staff get coronavirus!!

Thank you so much everyone for your appreciation towards employees within the education sector.

"It is an order from the government, not from the nurseries". The list of key workers is very very wide including the justice system and all sorts and also presumably the nursery wants to keep going and have parents paying it so surely you would be bending over backwards to argue most of the parents are key workers?

Are parents who aren't having to pay still?

OMG if true, a PA???? is NOT a key worker, you need to get your priorities sorted.

@Xenia we are bending over backwards to accommodate the children of key workers, but after speaking to management, they are adamant that it is better to make all attempts at stopping the spread of this virus by taking only children of people on the list. Not only that, but we are also reduced in staff numbers as they've had to self isolate as they have their own children at home who have underlying health problems. We are being as accommodating as possible, whilst operating within the law, whilst protecting our staff and their families.

In our particular nursery, parents are only being requested to pay what they owe so far, not a penny more. They will not be charged for their children not being able to attend.
All Key workers health and their families health are valuable as well.

Nurseries nationwide are being given some form of relief from the government. I think the support that the government has shown, both to individuals and companies is fantastic.

OMG if true, a PA???? is NOT a key worker, you need to get your priorities sorted

My priorities? in an ideal world I wouldn't be in at all. But tell that to the clinical staff who are very happy I'm in. Who won't have the added pressure of clerical work in addition to clinical work.

And clearly the government agree with them and me - I am a key worker and my work is needed

Yes a PA who supports key workers is classed as such.

Perfectly said, vixb1!

I’ve been classed as a category one key worker but haven’t been given emergency childcare provision. My parents are in their sixties and mum had high BP so I’m not sure they’re best placed to care for my kids.

Camoer, thanks as I have been trying to get my head around it. They don't (nurseries) have to close by law so presumably most will keep open and parents will keep working. If there are staff shortages may be it would be lawful as it is an emergency to hire some laid off restaurant workers in even if just for a few hours a day.

Will the Coronavirus Bill that is going to be passed through soon give the government the power to close private nurseries?

.services.parliament.uk/bills/2019-21/coronavirus.html It gives the government power to make additional regulations which then probably fairly automatically pass through parliament.

S35 " Part 1 of Schedule 15 makes provision enabling the Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers to give directions for the restriction of attendance at premises used for the provision of education or childcare."

So yes, but I don't think it could or will apply to daily or live in nannies in private homes for example. The Bill is a draft so not the law yet and once it had royal assent it is possible on the same day the specific regulations being considered will come immediately into force although I doubt there will the resources to send the police into every child minder's home or nursery particularly as you can open for key workers which probably could cover just above any parent given how long the list is.

s251 says magistrates could make an order that premises be closed if dangerous to health and I can see various other provisions saying either specific premises could be ordered to close or types of premises.

Page 255 seems to give powers to close certain premises