How on Earth will it work with babies/toddlers going back to nurseries?!

[Reastie]

Because it’s impossible to social distance. Even more so than young school children. How would it ever work? Or will they just do it and assume the staff and children will get it.

I’m increasingly concerned about going back to work (I’m a teacher) and what will happen to Ds (baby). My childcare planned are vulnerable and unable to have him indefinitely. I have no nursery etc lined up because I had plans (which obviously now have struck difficulties). But even if I find a nursery that has space etc, I can’t imagine how they would manage to reopen logistically. Would they reduce numbers at the nursery at one time (so impossible to get a space then!), will parents with children under a certain age be able to choose being furloughed from work because of childcare problems, how on Earth will it work?!

I'm due to return to work part time from maternity leave very shortly and have the exact same problem, can no longer use planned childcare but there are no other options even open at present. I have decided I am not even going to attempt to worry about this until two weeks before I return to work or if nurseries etc start opening again.
Sorry that I don't have a practical answer, but just to let you know that you're not the only person in this predicament.

Glad to see this as I'm worried about them opening too soon and cases spreading.

They wouldn't all wear masks would they as it would scare some children but I suppose on the other hand it protects them.

My dc's nursery closed but I know will be keen to re open ASAP for the money!
I'm worried about the cost of it if I don't send her as I wouldn't want to lose her place as I wouldn't get it back- there's loads of nearby nurseries who have closed for good.

I don't think they could take less children could they? As they'd have to stop some who already attend...

When are you due back at work?

Employees who are unable to work because they have caring responsibilities resulting from coronavirus (COVID-19) can be furloughed. For example, employees that need to look after children can be furloughed.

www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

I’m due back at work in a month.

I read somewhere children under 2 shouldn’t wear masks according to CDC because of potential issues breathing with them on.

I’m a childminder - currently closed. When given the ok to reopen, it will be on the understanding that distancing can’t and won’t happen in my setting. With the best will in the world I can’t keep toddlers separate from each other or care for small children without coming into contact with them - I couldn’t do nappy changes or anything. I’m just hoping that the government wait long enough and then hoping for the best really.

But I don't think they'll reopen until social distancing in care settings isn't required, will they? It wouldn't be possible.

If my nursery doesn't reopen before I'm due to go back 'into the office' then I will not be going back and will continue to have to work from home whilst juggling the childcare. It's just part and parcel of the situation.

Thanks nopen, that’s v useful. I’m assuming only relevant if nurseries etc remain closed, and presumably if they open I will have to find a place at the last minute, if there even are any, wherever has space, which isn’t a great thought. But at least if they remain closed and schools open I can go down that route.

Children themselves aren’t a huge risk group though, so personally I would send my 2.5yr old back.
Nurseries I Don’t think are a big risk, I’d be more worried about schools, primarily the mums/dads/ careers congregating in the playground. My guess is they will have to stagger start and finish times per year group, see one class out at a time at the gate.

Nurseries won’t be able to do social distancing.

I am in the same situation: also a teacher, and childminder is currently not working due to the crisis. I’m considering nursery but no idea how to book it if we don’t know when we’re going back!

I don't think you can have any kind of social distancing in a setting for toddlers and nurseries, no matter how small the numbers. I'm a bit worried that for that reason if they do going back to school in waves early years will be the last, which might mean secondary school teacher DH is back at work but DS isn't at nursery, which would make my work very very difficult (we're working in shifts at the moment which is difficult enough!)

I’ve been worrying so much about this situ so it really helps to hear these thoughts.

They could open them on the basis they won’t be able to social distance and you’ll have to lump it, but hopefully they will be sensible because of they do that the nursery staff will likely all be off sick and the children, although hopefully not get it seriously, will pass it back to their homes. I just can’t see an easy way around that, but maybe these will be the last set of children to return after schools have been back a while.

That should have read 'setting for babies and toddlers' 🤦

Children themselves aren’t a huge risk group though, so personally I would send my 2.5yr old back.

They’re risky as carriers though. If one of the nursery staff has COVID in the family, gets it and spreads to your child, then to you.. etc. Half of people are asymptomatic so there’s a 1 in 4 chance both the carer and your child don’t even present with symptoms before you get it

I'm starting a new job tomorrow and have a 7.5 month old, when I took the job it was because my dad was able to take my DS for three days a week, and we were planning on applying for a place at nursery for one day, with me compressing hours to have Fridays off.

Am now going to be starting a job with no childcare (my dad isn't over 70 but is a part-time keyworker, even if we weren't in lockdown) and myself and my husband juggling the little one to both try and work full time around his routine. No idea how it will work but here we are.

You're not alone in this, I guess it's best just to try and keep communication open with your employer and take it hour by hour. I'm hoping to apply to two nurseries attached to my employer this week and cross fingers they'll know whats going on!

Children themselves aren’t a huge risk group though, so personally I would send my 2.5yr old back.
Obviously not concerned about the risk to us Nursery Staff then 😏

But I would say out of all the settings To open first nurseries would make the most sense no? Not next week but once the U.K. is ready.

You're not alone, OP. I'm due to start a new job on 4 May, full time. DP works full time. DD was meant to start settle sessions tomorrow. Nursery is closed now, obviously, even to key workers, as staff members have vulnerable people at home.

Like others, we're just going to have to do childcare at home, while doing what work we can, and keep in communication with employers.

I do think the government should be issuing guidance to businesses to get them to offer leeway on this: some people I know have very understanding employers who recognise that parents aren't WFH, they're childcaring and doing what work they can around that. But others are of the "still got to do your 40 hours", which is unsustainable. Particularly if your kid doesn't sleep so you can't get up early or catch up in the evenings.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers what’s the reasoning behind that? Because logistically it’s the hardest to implement any kind of social distancing and the young children can’t wear masks? In older children, to some extent, measures can be implemented.

Because I’m a teacher I’m assuming it’ll be a case of ‘school is reopened so you’re expected back’ from my employer. I know they said when they thought all children with EHCP would be in school (it then changed) we were told to bring our children in to work with us if needed to allow us to work. Yes, because I’ll get lots of teaching done with a one year old who is crawling all over the place!

The numbers per setting are smaller, hence the number of adults not only working there but parents at drop off/ pick up times will be fewer.

This is also the rationale behind the suggestion that companies with 50 or less employees would go back to work first.

I cannot fathom how a primary school of 400-700 children would be able to open.

As a nursery owner who is open now ( for key worker families) I can tell you.... its impossible!

What we have done is stop all adults apart from staff being allowed in the building, so parents drop and collect at the door.

Children are taken to wash hands on arrival... and we are washing hands a lot during the day. We are spending as much time outside as possible. Oh and we are being super strict with sending children home if poorly etc.

Not much else you can do with a bunch of children who need the same ( if not more) physical attention, comfort and care.

I was surprised to see nurseries being touted as one of the first organisations to go back. My 3yo is desperate, utterly desperate to go back but I can’t see how any sort of social distancing would be possible or desirable with that age group. I certainly wouldn’t be spending my baby unless I knew she was going to be cuddled etc as normal. We’ll need a week to settle the baby in so I hope when they do open up, my employer doesn’t expect nursery attendance on day 1. I’ve seen some suggestions of part-time. No idea how that would work when some children are already part-time. I’d also worry about nursery staff getting the illness and spreading it back to their families.

I'm also in this position. Due to return to work in 3 weeks. I'm actually a keyworker and have a nursery place, but the nursery is closed until lockdown lifts so I'll be working from home with a 12mo . Even though social distancing is obviously impossible I can't see how they could open up everything else but keep nurseries closed because so many people would be unable to work without them. But who knows?

The idea of washing a babies hands frequently all day is pretty tricky, and pretty useless given they’ll then just chew and dribble on everything

I'm finishing mat leave in a few weeks to a key worker role, the nursery my 1 year old DD was going to start at is closed but another one 20 mins away is open in the same company. They are allowing settling in sessions and visits as impossible to do proper social distancing. But they do have strict hand washing and cleaning. I've been told children are spread out as much as possible, only 5 per room.