Are nursery workers as vehemently against opening as primary school staff?

[TheGriffle]

All I’m hearing at the minute is how it’s not safe for schools to open, how all the teachers are against it etc.

What do nursery workers think? They will be going back with the age group least able to keep any distance whatsoever and with the possibility of reduced toys and reduced free flow to the outside space.

Are nursery workers as against starting back as schools are?

Our nursery has stated they will be opening towards the end of June and I will be sending my 3 year old. Me and Dh are key workers but our nursery shut completely and I didn’t feel it was fair on dd to have to send her to one of the hubs that was opened so we’ve tried to work around her being at home.

Nursery staff are usually very poorly paid so most can't afford to be furloughed long term.
They don't have powerful unions speaking on their behalf.
They'll get sacked if they don't turn up for work.

I’m a teacher in a school nursery. I think all the teachers I know do actually want to go back. Of course we have been working a couple of days a week anyway with keyworker children.
I am very keen to go back to my own classroom and have my own class.

I think the problem teachers have had (at least the ones I know) is the mixed messages making us feel unsafe. Children can’t be cared for by grandparents, children can’t spread it/can spread it, shop workers need screens, don’t be indoors with a group of people in close proximity...except teachers, you just wash your hands and you’ll be fine.
Teachers and nursery workers’ primary concern at all times is the safety of the children. Not being able to guarantee their safety makes us uneasy.
To top it off, people are then mean about us and make out that we think we’re more special than anyone else and are too lazy to go back. No mention that we’ve been going into school through the Easter holidays, half term and bank holidays which we’re not even paid for.

Not sure about nursery workers but I know several teachers. Some of them are against going back but others are really positive about it. I don't think it's true to say that all teachers are against it. I guess with nursery workers you'll get a similar split of opinions?

The OP is asking about nursery workers, not specifically teachers.

The first poster had it in one.

The only reason the teachers can afford to be vocal about it wanting to go back is because they will get paid regardless.

Childminders are also in the same position as nursery workers. Many just don’t have the choice. See also police, fire brigade, doctors, nurses, shop workers...

Good point, Laure. The nursery workers I work with professionally (I'm a primary school teacher) are shitting themselves, are very concerned for the welfare of the children and have no idea where to begin when it comes to planning a safe return that will offer a nurturing space for children to actually learn through play and tactile, creative experiences. But what can they do? The private nurseries will tank if they do not go back in the near future. I feel for them so much. Letters going home saying children won't be comforted if hurt, not changed if wet etc. It's breaking hearts.

I used to work in a nursery, and i'm still in touch with many of those I worked with. I would say 80% don't want to go back, because the nursery cut corners even before Covid.

They're worried about going into an unsafe environment, and how they will manage with fewer staff than before some are shielding. However, they can't afford to refuse to return. It's a low paid job, and being furloughed has been difficult for many of them.

Following as I'm interested to know too. our nursery is opening from the 1st June but we're not sending DS back until July as we're very cautious.

Mu sisters a nursery worker. Shes keen to go back, yes money is a factor in that but she misses her job, colleagues and children.
Shes 32 and The longest Shes been off work before is three weeks and she's very bored and getting more and more demoralised as time goes on

It may well be a thread about nursery workers, not teachers, but the thread title lumps all primary school teachers together as whingers who are moaning about going back. I am happy to go back.

Our nursery staff have been vocal about coming back. Most of them are young and I know a couple have been bored shitless
We’re in London (centralish) and originally our nursery wasn’t going to open, but I know the manager lobbied to get back and they did the risk assessment and agreed yesterday.
Saying that last I hear our r rate was low and I do think that factored into the staff keenness to come back.
Our have been told they will need to wear masks with adults and ppe to change nappies which they are concern about due to kids not being able to see their mouth.
Not everyone is coming back. Our daughters key worker won’t be back for a bit due to her age.

The staff at my daughters nursery want to go back, they miss the job and the children

Childcare workers are unlikely to be able to afford to stay off any longer.

Probably like teachers though, some are scared and some aren’t.

Our local nursery has been open for keyworkers children approx 6-8 children per day. At least 60% of parents aren't sending their child back next week. Out of the 12 staff that normally work there only 5 staff will be working, the other 7 will be kept on furlough as there is just not enough children for all the staff to return. This should make things slightly easier I think.

eyps don't have the backing of the unions, most of the staff aren't union members and are more concerned about losing their jobs. Nurseries are profit making buisnesses. At the moment you can't get another job on the same sector quickly, even supply.

They are going to be coming in to contact with more children and families within the bubbles due to the children all doing different days.

My my DS's nursery I think some are already back, some are ready to go back and some don't want to. I think this is reflected across every job tbh.

But pp are right that as furlough is reduced it will financially be hard to not work and many nurseries will go under if they don't reopen soon.

Ours has stayed open for keyworker kids and I know it is running at a loss even with a skeleton staff.

I have nothing but respect for all the teachers, my sister is a secondary teacher and dd has been going into school a few days a week and is there this week through the holidays which I’m eternally grateful for.

I know that a lot of teachers do want to go back but all we hear in the press and on social media is all the negative.

Our nursery is a private run not a school nursery so I know that will make a huge difference in the fact that they will reopen.

I would have thought nursery workers would be more afraid to go back than teachers of older children, I know how grotty little ones can be! But we are not hearing from them. I’d not thought it’s probably because they are low paid and are more scared of loosing their jobs. It shouldn’t be like that.

*From my

@WomanIsTaken

If individual nurseries will not actually be caring for children properly they should remain closed.

Our nursery have been very clear that the children will be cuddled as much as before, will be played with and have all of their personal care needs met as usual.

Children will be kept within their individual rooms and staff won’t mix between the rooms. They are upping cleaning and hand hygiene. Staggered start and finish times with children collected/dropped off at the door. It all seems very sensible and realistic.

I honestly don’t think DS will notice that anything is different.

Most can’t afford to be against going back. They don’t make a big wage so furlough will be pitiful, they don’t work for the government so have the security of knowing the job will still exist and they will always be paid and they don’t have loud unions shouting for them constantly.

A lot of private nurseries simply have to reopen or they will go bankrupt.

Nursery owners are driven by their financial worries.

The Government is driven by the need to get people back to work and the economy going again.

I just hope that the financial priorities don't have an adverse health impact. The only way to know though is to try it and reopen the nurseries and schools. It must be done in a gradual way though which thankfully does seem to be the case.

I am a childminder, where I have been open, locally lots have been closed. They are all scared about opening and in fact many have decided to either stop Childminding completely or not open until September. Those that are opening have reduced the hours and days and numbers of kids in each day. It seems crazy we are not allowed to have our own families in our homes but can have children from lots of different families. They advise from the government open a window that will help will minimising the risk to yourselves. Many are not working entirely outside and no kids coming into there homes.

I am excited about going back to work at school. I work in the school office but I'm allocated to a Reception class bubble. Can't wait! It will be a great challenge. I will be supporting the class teacher (I actually have a teaching qualification so I'm not a complete novice!) our school is pulling out all the stops to give our children and parents support. It will be different but we'll make sure the children are happy. I don't think any of our staff are disgruntled.

My daughter works in a nursery and can’t wait to go back. They have lots of plans in places and aim to be outside as much as possible. They have a lot of outside space. The kids will be in small groups, prob smaller than at primary, no parents past front door etc so I think possibly ‘safer’ than some primary schools. Also being young she is low risk. She will need to shower well when she gets back!

Our nursery is opening on 1st June. Speaking to the staff over Zoom they are really missing the children and desperate to go back and are bored at home.