Very scared nurseries will close

[Llamapolice]

I returned from maternity leave during the March lockdown and almost lost my job because of this issue, fortunately as I went back in April it wasn't a problem for too long and I got away with it. I can't wfh and there is no childminder availability locally. It was an extremely stressful time.

If the same happens this time I'll be out of a job, we depend on my salary and I'm really scared.

I guess a lot of people will be in the same boat as schools seem likely to close too.

I'm not sure why I'm posting, just really stressed and panicking these last couple of days.

Nurseries are closing in Scotland 🙁 I have spent the day writing to my MSP, posting on Facebook and emailing the nursery. I may have a chance at a key worker place but I wasn't eligible last time and there weren't enough spaces to go around, they also only did 9am to 3PM and I need 8.30am to 5.30pm. What is likely to happen is that my daughter will be passed around between family and friends in order that I can work and keep a roof over her head. Rather than being in a small safe bubble at nursery, out household and those she goes to for care will be at increased risk of catching and spreading the virus.

I would ask that everyone who can write to their MP or MSP asking for nurseries to be opened.

@HappyPumpkin81i know, that was what got me worrying initially. If I was in Scotland I'd be absolutely screwed, but I will be surprised if England doesn't adopt the policy in the new year. I will write to my mp, that's a good idea.

I'm in a similar position, I'm a key worker but couldn't get a priority place last time, there simply weren't enough to go round.

I absolutely hope they do close for a period whilst things are so bad. As a Key person in a large single hall with 25 children under the age of 5, I cannot now visit my sister at Xmas with her 3 small under 5 children, but then in 2 weeks I can be in a room with 25. It makes no sense to me.

I'm feel the same. I was signed off work at the end of my last pregnancy, have had a year off on mat leave, due back in Jan. WOrried I'll straight away have to say 'sorry, I'll be very unproductive as I've got no childcare for two little ones'. :-/

I am so worried too!

If they close, i've already told my manager after the last lockdown i refuse to work full time whilst doing full time childcare, and i'l be down at 50% capacity max. Theres a few of us in my team who nearly crumbled last time.

I'm very lucky that we get special paid leave so i won't be out of pocket, however my work will take twice as long and cause huge delays for my teams.

Makes no sense to me, zero cases at any nurseries near me, all the bubbles is working well and parents need to work.

@coldnwindy I get that but what do you suggest? I will literally be turning up at the homelessness department around April if I lose my job, I can't believe we're at serious risk of losing everything we worked hard for.

I just can't cope with nursery down. I work full time, work are not sympathetic at all, just say it's fine if kids join calls and here are all the deadlines you need to meet anyway. Of course people who say this don't understand what looking after a 1 year old is actually like and I don't think they care. If nurseries shut I'll probably need to give up my job and that will be my career over.

Rather than being in a small safe bubble at nursery, out household and those she goes to for care will be at increased risk of catching and spreading the virus

Why do you think family is more a risk than childcare? You have no idea if other parents have been following the rules etc and using the word bubble doesn’t stop the virus.

Getting this situation under control is far more important than idividual wants.

Joining to say I'm worried too, but think it's inevitable. I'm taking my son out early this week when I finish for Christmas, rather than having a day off to myself to get the house sorted. No-one's likely to see the inside the house until next summer anyway, what does it matter! Two of my friends' nurseries have closed due to so many cases.

The initial lockdown was hell, I was only just back at work after maternity leave and although my partner was WFH too, he's on calls all day. I just can't do it again, not with the dark mornings as well. But unfortunately, if we need a full lockdown they will have to close nurseries.

It's not about individual wants @IceCreamAndCandyfloss, is the ability to work whilst maintaining a safe environment for babies/toddlers.

Women bare the brunt of this challenge and are the most vulnerable to shifts in availability of childcare

This year has set women back 20 years.
We don’t have any family in this country, so if nurseries close then I’ll have no choice but to work with my 2 year old at home with me.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss ‘individual wants’.... yes how unreasonable wanting to keep a roof over your child’s head.

I think nurseries will close: DH is ever optimistic and thinks they'll stay open. We're trying to make contingency plans just in case, but of course with this government it'll be a last minute announcement so nobody can plan properly.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss She and my extended family and friends will be at greater risk as she will be being cared for by people over the age of 65 who are carers in turn for more elderly relatives. Currently she is in a bubble of 8, the staff running the nursery are in their 20's healthy and less susceptible to the virus. If one child or staff member gets ill there are systems in place for managing this and there is better cleaning and hygiene in place than in people's homes. Currently I am also in a tier 1 area where there are 33 cases per 100,000 and most of those cases are linked to a care home. While there might be an uptick in cases after Christmas I do not think the severe lockdown we are going into in my area is justified and I don't want to see my career and mental health ruined because of it. A popular meme floating in our area on Facebook is: We're not considered mainland uk if we want a parcel delivered, but are for Lockdown!

I'm dreading this too. DS' nursery is closed until 11th as it is and I return to work from maternity leave on that day. He is great but I have no idea how I'm going to do more than about 10 minutes work with him at home. DH is here too but I can tell already that the brunt of it will fall to me.

Do you have any friends that can help out? I sat with a friends child during the last lockdown. Luckily he's a self sufficient sort! I was working but could play for a bit and made sure he was fed and watered etc.

I offered though.

@HappyPumpkin81 agreed. The amount of (mainly women’s) careers destroyed will be awful. I’m going to fight tooth and nail to keep mine but I’ll always remember how betrayed I felt as a working parent, contributing to the economy with my job being made utterly impossible looking after two young children.

I will have a mental breakdown if early years provision is closed.

DD1 at preschool but back in the spring when I had DD1 (now 3) and DD2 (1.5yr) with me 24/7 and none of our usual baby/toddler activities on or even playgrounds being open, I found it incredibly difficult and I was in tears most days. We live in a flat with no garden. I'll go insane if this happens to me again.

Surely it should be based on tiers? I am in a tier 2 with very low numbers. My child’s nursery has only had 1 confirmed case since they reopened in June. I will be absolutely furious if there is a blanket “all schools/education providers must close”.

My DH is a key worker outside of the home (NHS). Last lockdown it fell to me to do the childcare whilst trying to work and it will again. I can’t cope

@LastTangoInBodmin and how many children with colds/viruses/temperatures/sickness/under the weather actually had COVID tests?? That's half the point that children are not widely tested so god knows how many cases among children there has actually been.

Surely nurseries, just like schools, won’t close unless it’s absolutely necessary. They will only shut IF the new strain of COVID is more contagious/dangerous in children.

Tier 4 nursery in Kent and no plans to close unless forced to by law.

Stayed open all throughout lockdown, even when we only had 1 child attending some days. The parents were so so grateful.

Scared too.
WFH with a toddler during the first lockdown almost broke me. Can’t do it again.

(2 adults with high stress jobs and a 2.5 year old here)

[quote coldnwindy]@LastTangoInBodmin and how many children with colds/viruses/temperatures/sickness/under the weather actually had COVID tests?? That's half the point that children are not widely tested so god knows how many cases among children there has actually been.[/quote]
My child has had 4 tests his nursery are immediately sending home any child with a new fever/cough and not letting them come back until they’ve had a negative test. There has only been one confirmed case in 6 months.