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Original poster

Nursary handover

27 replies

StraffeHendrik · 05/06/2020 23:20

Our nursery is not reopening for the forseeable future and our kids have been offered places at another one from the same chain in our town. It's all been a bit last minute but we have felt we have to accept as we are really struggling to WFH with a 3 and 1yo (both have demanding jobs managing teams).

Nursery handover is going to be a quick, minimal handover at the door to staff in PPE. The location and staff are completely new and I am not really happy about handing my 16 month old over in these circumstances as we can't explain it to him. I've requested a more gradual introduction in outside space (they have a small woodland) but was told no.

Are other nurseries doing similar and do you think it's OK? I think he will be frightened and I feel quite upset thinking about it. He was happy in nursery from 3 months old til lockdown and I think I would have been OK with this in the old nursery/ known staff, but not in a totally new setting. I'm thinking of just leaving him there for a couple of hours on the first day but - should I be pressing for a better introduction, are other nuseries doing that (I found one thread on here suggesting some are)?

BTW we also have a 3 year old and I am OK with these conditions for her, it's not great but she can understand and definitely wants to go. I just don't think it is appropriate for a baby who can't understand a verbal explanation.

OP posts:

C33P0 · 05/06/2020 23:24

My 2 year old hasnt returned to nursey yet, but they said they will be doing a similar handover wearing apron, mask and visor. I don't really understand the reasoning behind extra PPE at handover. Presumably if contact with parents is a risk, they can just stay 2m away?

IntheNameof · 05/06/2020 23:27

Ours returned this week. Similar ages, they're only doing 3 settling in visits but have a more flexible approach if needed. Also no PPE in sight, but plenty of hand gel.

Clevs · 05/06/2020 23:28

We have to hand our children over at the door, parents are no longer allowed in the building.There is a member of staff on the door wearing a mask and taking the children's temperatures before they enter.

We're keeping our son off another month so not experienced the handover yet, but I imagine after so long off and being faced with someone wearing a mask he's not going to like it.

NickMarlow · 05/06/2020 23:31

Ours reopened this week. We have staggered drop off and pick up times and a member of staff keeps an eye in the car park, and gets the childs keyworker.

On my 22mo first day back, I handed her bag to her key worker at arms length, hugged her goodbye, and wondered how on earth this was going to go.....and dd ran into her keyworkers arms and had a massive cuddle. It was so lovely. We stay one on each side of the gate so I don't go into the grounds at all, but there is no social distancing between children and the adults and children in their bubbles, and no ppe other than what they would normally use for nappy changes, first aid etc.

Freddiefox · 05/06/2020 23:35

I run a nursery, we aren’t open yet. We had such a lovely relationship with all our parents, they used to come in a chat to us. Now they can’t come in the building.

We hadn’t planned on using PPE, but they changed coming in soon are making me think twice.
I don’t think parents will like it, but I feel it’s not fair on the staff, particularly after today’s briefing

Bol87 · 05/06/2020 23:39

We were back this week & no restrictions on parents in the building at all.. different entrances for the different rooms but you can arrive & collect anytime and they just let you in as normal. Even still using the germy finger print entrance machine! Which I wasn’t thrilled about at the best of times 😷 we are just expected to keep 2m apart.. I’m wondering if it depends on the size of the nursery maybe? Ours is quite spacious & distancing is easy enough..

Original poster

StraffeHendrik · 05/06/2020 23:40

Thanks all. It's not only/mainly the PPE - it's the fact that he is supposed to go to a new setting (new building, new carers) with no settling in session of any sort - just a quick hand over in the car park. Feels more like an Amazon delivery than childcare..?!

OP posts:

SMaCM · 05/06/2020 23:44

Do a couple of hours the first day as you suggested and that will give you a good indication of how it's going to go from there. Please try not to worry - they will make it the best time possible for your children.

Megan2018 · 05/06/2020 23:49

Our nursery is doing settling in as usual, existing children drop off at the door but settling in is as normal for new children and parents can stay (but need to distance from the staff).

There’s no way on this earth my baby will start if they change this. Completely unacceptable for a baby or toddler and unnecessary.

JassyRadlett · 05/06/2020 23:51

This thread is making me grateful for our nursery!

Children are now met at the front door by staff who are there from 8 to 9.30 to welcome children. Parents are asked to wear masks and keep at least 2m away (easy to do). Staff are not wearing masks because ‘we feel it’s really important for the children to be welcomed with a smile and a friendly face.’ This also seems sensible as the masks are about protecting others, so fine to ask parents to wear to protect the staff. It would be illogical for staff to wear masks to protect parents but then be maskless with their children all day.

Afternoon handovers are the same 2 staff with the same arrangements - one will radio the rooms with the children whose parent/s are waiting and the other staff member will bring the kids out in their bubbles. Handovers used to be verbal but are now written on slips of paper - which is working really well.

Freddiefox · 05/06/2020 23:53

@StraffeHendrik

That’s really hard, can you do a shorter session to start with? Maybe an hour and build up over time. I know which work that’s quite difficult. Will he be in a bubble with his sister?

Original poster

StraffeHendrik · 06/06/2020 00:02

Thanks Freddie, yes I think a shorter session is all we can do - I was thinking maybe 2h. Have been supposed to be working with him at home all this time so I suppose I can go on for a bit longer.

He won't be in a bubble with his sister, apparently they will be separated at the front door. I asked if she could come in to him if he is upset but they said no, as no mixing between rooms. Apparently she can wave through the window. It sounds a bit excessive to me (also if one of our kids has it, surely the other one will have it anyway). Hopefully once they are actually back in the swing of things they will relax a bit.

OP posts:

Freddiefox · 06/06/2020 00:07

I understand why they are in different bubbles as their needs will differ. But it seems a shame as that would probably help.

If they were coming to my nursery, I’d have both of them in the garden together with a staff member to help settle him and when he’s ready, she can go of to her bubble.

Original poster

StraffeHendrik · 06/06/2020 00:12

Something like that (both kids in garden) would have been really helpful. They didn't seem willing to deviate from the drop-off template at all though. It all seems very impersonal.

Big sister will indeed want to be in a baby-free bubble though, she has had enough of having all her toys messed up!

OP posts:

Freddiefox · 06/06/2020 00:16

@StraffeHendrik

Something like that (both kids in garden) would have been really helpful. They didn't seem willing to deviate from the drop-off template at all though. It all seems very impersonal.

Big sister will indeed want to be in a baby-free bubble though, she has had enough of having all her toys messed up!

Maybe suggest the garden settling in. There is an awful amount of guidance to get through and it all conflicts with the next one.

I’ve had two staff hand their notice in this week, as they don’t feel safe. It’s a lot of pressure. Maybe the nursery just need a bit of time to think things through.

Original poster

StraffeHendrik · 06/06/2020 00:23

Thanks yes I will suggest it. I'm sure you are right that the management are under pressure - especially as decisions on which nurseries in the chain are reopening and for whom seem to have been done very late as well.

OP posts:

nevisbump · 06/06/2020 00:35

We are waiting to hear what our nursery is going to do. Before lockdown I was told my 3 year old wasn't cuddled when upset cause if social distancing! I have asked them to confirm what they are doing and at that point we will decide when sending back. We are both working from home with hard jobs but I would rather work horrible hours than upset my kids

BackforGood · 06/06/2020 00:43

I don't really understand the reasoning behind extra PPE at handover. Presumably if contact with parents is a risk, they can just stay 2m away?

How are you planning to 'hand over' a baby / non walking infant from a 2m distance ?

Remember Nurseries have to do whatever they can to try to protect all their staff too. They have had, and continue to get guidance about what they are supposed to be trying to do - much of which is unworkable.

I totally understand your concerns OP. It is a really difficult time. It seems strange to only re-open some of a chain at this point. In my area, the 'you can go to another of our branches' was offered to key workers' dc and vulnerable children when they were trying to close as many Nurseries as possible, in March, but now, they are trying to get as many buildings open so that there are fewer dc in each space.

LeekPeachPlum · 06/06/2020 00:44

Could you ask if you could have a settling in session in the garden? My nursery are doing handovers at the door but they said they would try to come up with something else for babies/children who can't cope with that. They are also doing settling in sessions as normal.

Cremebrule · 06/06/2020 07:07

My nursery hasn’t opened which has been a pain. I’ve found an alternative for one day a week for her which is better than nothing and then booked holiday club which hopefully will open for the summer. Otherwise I’m buggered.

I’ve found it hard to get a place for my baby who was about to start as lockdown hit. The older one will be fine but a lot of places have said they won’t take new babies yet as they can’t do proper settling in. It’s also not ideal to settle her if somewhere temporarily if our nursery does open. It’s been a massive pain all in all.

Elephantonascooter · 06/06/2020 07:24

Ours has done the same and ds is 20 months and hasn't been to nursery is 3 months. I was really worried about it. The first day he was a bit unsure, took a Teddy and was fine. Second day he was a bit more sure but still edgy, all fine. I did these 2 days as half days because I felt 4 days a week straight away would be too much. I paid for full days for the second 2 days of the first week but planned to pick DS up after nap time and slightly later the 4th day. However, DS didn't want to leave on the 3rd day, after running in off his own accord in the morning. On the 4th day he was there all day and still didn't want to leave!

Kids are resilient and at a young age they won't remember what you're talking about when you say nursery but when the process of leaving you comes, they will realise and be OK.
Maybe ask if you can do half days to start with? I can see how it would be unnerving to leave your dc in a new and unfamiliar setting but if they've gone to nursery since 3 months I assure you they will be fine

SoloMummy · 06/06/2020 08:02

@StraffeHendrik

If you feel that way , then maybe you need to reconsider sending?

BillyAndTheSillies · 06/06/2020 08:08

You're not in East London are you OP? My DS is due to go back on June 16th and our nursery reopened on June 1st having merged with another one in their chain because the other nursery hadn't finished a refurbishment due to lockdown.

DS is 4, and excited to go back but I can still envisage handover being a bit strange. Just pop him in the door to a room with new children and new staff. His key worker passed away in March (not covid related) and it just feels a bit too much of a change?

Original poster

StraffeHendrik · 06/06/2020 11:11

Not in east london

I have considered whether to send him but we can't keep him at home indefinitely as we are supposed to be working. I think the nursery overall sounds OK but that they haven't got the right plan for the initial settling.

OP posts:

Clevs · 06/06/2020 12:11

*@C33P0

I don't really understand the reasoning behind extra PPE at handover. Presumably if contact with parents is a risk, they can just stay 2m away?*

Our nursery explained that it was because they are taking temperatures at the door. If a child has a temperature and they have no PPE on then they are putting themselves at risk. Obviously the child will be turned away, but they need to have the PPE on.

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