How safe are preschools?

[beckyyl]

Hi all

Just looking for some opinions and if there's any pre school teachers that have any advice that'd be great!

My 2 year old is meant to be starting pre school in January, and with the latest figures and the news I just don't know if I'm worrying over nothing or if I should postpone him starting.

I'm also pregnant, had a few complications so classed as a high risk pregnancy (almost in my 3rd trimester). So obviously covid is the last thing I want to catch! But also I don't want to punish my 2 year old by having even longer with hardly any interaction with other children because I feel so guilty he's hardly done anything this year and he's such a sociable toddler I know he will love pre school!

How safe are pre schools and what would you do?? I'm so stuck on what's best x

Ps - I am in the Suffolk/ Norfolk area currently tier 2.

Well, we are in NE Wales. The school has to close until 18th January. The pre school/nursery is allowed to remain open because it's not statutory.

I've felt my DCs preschool has been fairly safe, they've only had to close once since March & they did so straight away after one positive case which was the only one that occurred even after the 2 week isolation for all the staff and children. They spend all the session with the double doors wide open and are outside the majority of the sessions to help reduce risks.

However that said, personally in your situation I'm not sure I would send them.

My youngest left preschool in July and I still keep in touch with them. They have reduced numbers and haven't had to close once all of the Autumn Term. I think risk to preschool children is pretty low.

I really wouldmt worry about delaying start for 2yr old. A new baby arriving i would use this time to spend quality time with son x

We’re in a tier 2 area. Not a single case at our pre-school, or the wider school

Phone and ask the school and a few others by telling them of your situation and you are worried. Therefore, you'd like to make a more informed decision. They things are presented to us in the media that younger children are quiet safe at school re Covid. However, if they catch it or not and it is asymptomatic or not and then pass it around is another question.

Op I work in a preschool. Yes, we have the windows open the whole time & door open when we can. However, 2 yr olds do not socially distance, staff are unable to wear ppe, staff are unable to socially distance from children or other staff, the majority of staff probably have children at all the local schools in the area. This all makes sending children to preschools a fantastic way of spreading covid. Your child may not shows any symptoms if you are lucky, but could still easily spread it. Good luck, especially in January with rates as high as they are.

My son's preschool has had no cases, but I know a couple of others in the village have had confirmed cases, although staff or children I'm not sure.

It is really hard. I'm going to send him in after Christmas at the moment, but I'll see what the numbers are like after the new year.

I put my son in preschool in September because I couldn’t cope with looking after him and a new baby on my own all week. Since then there’s been one case, he wasn’t in on the same day as the child but preschool had to close anyway because almost all the staff had to self isolate. There were no cases amongst the rest of children or staff.

As a PP said, you can’t socially distance from 2 year olds. But, they are outside lots, they have windows open, lots of hand washing, individual water bottles, etc. So there are a lot of other precautions that can be taken which help to limit transmission.

I run a preschool, and I have halved my number of children. I allocate one member of staff to clean the whole day. Children and staff are unable to social distance. It’s feels quite risky. Staff are nervous.
I’m concerned that it will be brought in via staff from their own children at school. All my staff have primary/high school children.

We will not share settings with other nursery/school/childminders etc to reduce the risks to us.
Parents have to wait in the cold and rain to drop off and collect their children. Settling in sessions are harder than before. parents are not meant to attend (but we have let them in) but now where near how we used too.

If your child isn’t going to school in September i honestly would wait.

If you do send him, ask about ventilation. It’s cold at my place. We have the heating on, but the windows open.

Children don’t socially distance. You’ll effectively be in contact with about 30 families who probably have kids in other schools. That’s a pretty high risk. My toddler was due to start nursery right when the 1st lockdown happened so he’s missed an entire year. Now it’s looking like he’ll miss next year too and probably be at home till he starts compulsory school.

Thank you everyone that's really helpful to hear x

I'm the most relaxed person about covid - I don't give a crap about it, it doesn't worry me and I've worked throughout teaching.

I do however hold differing views when it comes to pregnancy. I haven't seen one of my very best friends for the duration of her (very challenging) pregnancy because I mean...covid hasn't really been around for the length of a pregnancy yet (or just about has now).

I have had the most complex of pregnancies, which I won't go into as it's not going to be helpful for anyone and honestly, if I were you I would delay sending your kid to preschool, just until baby is here safe.

I was so seriously unwell with my second pregnancy that I actually wasn't able to get my first child to nursery, there was no way I could have ever driven her there. My mum had to come and care for her (she doesn't drive so couldn't take her ) as I couldn't get out of bed for the duration. She was therefore 3 and 4 months when she finally started nursery. She'd never been to any form of childcare prior to this. I was dreadfully guilty about this and thought I had done her a terrible disservice by not being able to have sent her earlier...

I neednt have worried she was absolutely fine, settled in brilliantly and has been fabulous ever since. She is in school now but starting really late didn't do her any harm. She has wonderful friends and is the happiest of kids.
Honestly for a few months id wait.

I don't personally worry about newborns and covid (and I've also had a very preemie nicu baby so I'm not just saying this) and I would send your eldest to then to preschool - that would be good as well to give you a break and time with baby.

I hope I've not complicated things but I would wait if I were you. I just wouldn't take any chances during pregnancy with anything

I work in a preschool. We don’t wear ppe and we don’t socially distanced from the children, but that is a good thing. You wouldn’t want us not to. I would say send your child as it will be hugely beneficial to them. The children since September have all settled in really well and they look forward to coming. Children need contact with other children and some routine and normality in their lives. They need the opportunity to share and learn important social skills.

We have not had a single case and we have a huge waiting list!

@Kjc39

I work in a preschool. We don’t wear ppe and we don’t socially distanced from the children, but that is a good thing. You wouldn’t want us not to. I would say send your child as it will be hugely beneficial to them. The children since September have all settled in really well and they look forward to coming. Children need contact with other children and some routine and normality in their lives. They need the opportunity to share and learn important social skills.

No I wouldn't want adults to distance from my child I agree with that, and I understand children need interaction which is why I am so split on what's best whilst being pregnant.

@OpheliasCrayon

I'm the most relaxed person about covid - I don't give a crap about it, it doesn't worry me and I've worked throughout teaching.

I do however hold differing views when it comes to pregnancy. I haven't seen one of my very best friends for the duration of her (very challenging) pregnancy because I mean...covid hasn't really been around for the length of a pregnancy yet (or just about has now).

I have had the most complex of pregnancies, which I won't go into as it's not going to be helpful for anyone and honestly, if I were you I would delay sending your kid to preschool, just until baby is here safe.

I was so seriously unwell with my second pregnancy that I actually wasn't able to get my first child to nursery, there was no way I could have ever driven her there. My mum had to come and care for her (she doesn't drive so couldn't take her ) as I couldn't get out of bed for the duration. She was therefore 3 and 4 months when she finally started nursery. She'd never been to any form of childcare prior to this. I was dreadfully guilty about this and thought I had done her a terrible disservice by not being able to have sent her earlier...

I neednt have worried she was absolutely fine, settled in brilliantly and has been fabulous ever since. She is in school now but starting really late didn't do her any harm. She has wonderful friends and is the happiest of kids.
Honestly for a few months id wait.

I don't personally worry about newborns and covid (and I've also had a very preemie nicu baby so I'm not just saying this) and I would send your eldest to then to preschool - that would be good as well to give you a break and time with baby.

I hope I've not complicated things but I would wait if I were you. I just wouldn't take any chances during pregnancy with anything

Thank you I really appreciate that. It certainly is a lot to think about it's so hard knowing what's best. Baby is due March so it would be after Easter half term I would then start him instead so it's just deciding whether to wait out this January term which I feel I'm inclined to do x

Think we will be in national lockdown soon so would imagine most of jan nurseries will be shut anyway.

I'm pregnant (now 33 weeks) and have sent DS (2.5) to nursery since it reopened in June, at which point I was a few weeks pregnant. They haven't had a single case in that time. I work so didn't have much choice (and also DH is a teacher so perhaps my view is skewed by not being able to remove that larger risk anyway) but I'm glad he has been; for most of that time it's been the only possible source of interaction with other children for him. I don't think nursery or pre-school is at all necessary in normal circumstances, where there are so many other ways of children socialising and getting experiences outside the home, but if I'm honest the idea of sending a child to school where they had literally only ever been at home with mum would worry me.

I do however hold differing views when it comes to pregnancy. I haven't seen one of my very best friends for the duration of her (very challenging) pregnancy because I mean...covid hasn't really been around for the length of a pregnancy yet (or just about has now).

Also, obviously we all have different ways of assessing risk and being super-cautious in pregnancy is definitely the right thing to do if it makes you feel safer, but I just wanted to point out that there have now been lots and lots of known cases of women getting covid in late pregnancy and babies being born to mothers with covid, and actually these seem to have suggested that the risk was initially over-estimated, not under-estimated.

Hi I work in preschool.
We have split into 2 bubbles to reduce the amount of children and reduce mixing when they're in setting. Staff do not cross bubbles.
We have the doors open to improve ventilation.
Children wash hands when the come in, before and after food, before they leave.
Playdough is made daily and binned after each session. (Only allowed if less than 15 children in bubble)
One staff member is allocated cleaning duty each day and we go round wiping chairs/surfaces regularly.
We have a set of toys for each day and they are quarantined after the day for the week.
Large toys and plastic toys that are not quarantined are washed after each session.
After the children leave everything is cleaned and sanitised ready for the next day.
All floors are mopped daily.

If I were you I'd contact the setting and ask what measures are in place.

There is no social distancing.
Parents are no longer allowed inside, we take them at the gate.

@Thehogfatherstolemycurry

Hi I work in preschool. We have split into 2 bubbles to reduce the amount of children and reduce mixing when they're in setting. Staff do not cross bubbles. We have the doors open to improve ventilation. Children wash hands when the come in, before and after food, before they leave. Playdough is made daily and binned after each session. (Only allowed if less than 15 children in bubble) One staff member is allocated cleaning duty each day and we go round wiping chairs/surfaces regularly. We have a set of toys for each day and they are quarantined after the day for the week. Large toys and plastic toys that are not quarantined are washed after each session. After the children leave everything is cleaned and sanitised ready for the next day. All floors are mopped daily.

If I were you I'd contact the setting and ask what measures are in place.

There is no social distancing.
Parents are no longer allowed inside, we take them at the gate.

Thanks for this! I've just sent the manager an email explaining my current thoughts and asked her to give me some info on measures in place / class sizes / if there's been any cases etc.

I was feeling fine up until Boris' latest announcement and now it's just put the fear into me!

Little ones just don’t seem to get it as much. Our whole household had covid apart from our 18m old. My 4yo barely had any symptoms. There have been no cases (that were aware of) at our nursery. My eldest was in childcare from June when it opened and nothing- no cases in any of the pre-school settings she was in. I think she caught it from me after a visit to a pub. She didn’t transmit it to anyone in her school class.

Normally nurseries are a hotbed of lurgy but I’ve been surprised that there have been no cases.

I’d say it’s a tricky balance if you have a high risk pregnancy but I found it hard having a newborn and toddler and was thankful for the nursery days I had when my second was a newborn. I think it’s much easier to have some 1:1 time with the baby if you can and nursery gives the stimulation that might be trickier with a small baby. It also seems like nurseries could be the only way to get that sort of social stimulation if all the play groups and classes are cancelled so I’d try and think medium term.

@Tiquismiquis

Little ones just don’t seem to get it as much. Our whole household had covid apart from our 18m old. My 4yo barely had any symptoms. There have been no cases (that were aware of) at our nursery. My eldest was in childcare from June when it opened and nothing- no cases in any of the pre-school settings she was in. I think she caught it from me after a visit to a pub. She didn’t transmit it to anyone in her school class.

Normally nurseries are a hotbed of lurgy but I’ve been surprised that there have been no cases.

I’d say it’s a tricky balance if you have a high risk pregnancy but I found it hard having a newborn and toddler and was thankful for the nursery days I had when my second was a newborn. I think it’s much easier to have some 1:1 time with the baby if you can and nursery gives the stimulation that might be trickier with a small baby. It also seems like nurseries could be the only way to get that sort of social stimulation if all the play groups and classes are cancelled so I’d try and think medium term.

Thanks for this!

That's what I'm swaying towards now, baby will be here Easter weekend (elcs) so I know he will definitely be here by time the middle term starts. So I'm swaying to delay it for a few more weeks x