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.

@HappyPumpkin81

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

You do see how that is not a good thing, right? Write to MP and everyone demanding normal "SSP" or furlough type of measure. Getting kids back so ppl can work will not help in reducing the numbers. Parents shouldn't be left at the curbside, but making the problem worse is not the answer. Obv. for keyworkers it should be like in spring - but that was so reduced numbers in ed institutions that counter measures worked.

@CKBJ

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.

Yes this , the government have said it’s a priority to keep them open. They have shut everything else they possibly can. Lots of businesses have gone to the wall. If they close then that is because they have nothing else left close to stop this spreading out of control. It’s horrendous it really is for everyone.

I work in nursery in Tier 4 and one of the highest areas- in fact was top then second for a long time and we had no cases. I think we can assume that any coughs/colds etc weren’t otherwise the staff would have caught it

I’m lucky my husband and I can wfh so we juggled childcare and work between both of us. But it was mentally draining.
Unless there is a full lockdown like marchs I can’t see nurseries closing.

Btw my sons nursery had a bursted bubble last week (his class). First one since June so I think they’re doing well really and as others have said any fever is sent home and not allowed back unless tested

I'm absolutely shitting it about the idea of schools closing too. I really feel for anyone with younger kids. Nothing useful, just solidarity x

@coldnwindy

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 agree with you, no PEE, no social distancing. Nothing. Just Cross your fingers and hope for the best.

@TheSunIsStillShining I don't want furlough, or Statutory sick pay. I want childcare so I can work, I provide online mental health services to children some of whom are self harming and suicidal and their parents. As I can work from home I am not entitled to a keyworker place. How do you propose I occupy my three year old safely for 9 hours while I work with my laptop balanced on my lap in the sitting room? I do not have a partner.

Nannies could still work throughout. Expensive, yes, but it would mean you wouldn't lose your job. It is so stressful, I worry for absolutely everyone. But this virus is out of control and it obviously isn't helping with schools and nurseries open.

@Hapixmas it's not as simple as just finding a nanny though, I looked into this during the last lockdown, nannies aren't stupid, they know the child will be returning to nursery as soon as it reopens so the decent ones with experience etc aren't interested as they know it's a short term job. I also know nothing about recruitment, checks, employment law. You only need to look on the childcare board here to see how fraught it can be at the best of times.

I'm just gutted for my toddler, she's happy and settled at nursery, I feel it's going to be a horrible few months ahead.

@Hapixmas

Nannies could still work throughout. Expensive, yes, but it would mean you wouldn't lose your job. It is so stressful, I worry for absolutely everyone. But this virus is out of control and it obviously isn't helping with schools and nurseries open.

There are approximately 150 children in my DC's nursery. And that's just one of many many nurseries in our town. Are there that many nannies who can be recruited at short notice? And nurseries will still want maintenance payments at the same time as employing a nanny making it unfeasible for most people to afford.

Young children sitting front of screens all dy with their stressed out parents try to work is horrible- for them, for the parents, everyone involved Nurseries should be a priority.

Agree - not sure how I'll cope if primary schools/ early years close.

Taking some comfort in the knowledge that mass testing is taking place in Secondary only, so perhaps if there are closures, they will be secondary only? That would still be shit and I really hope it doesn't happen, but at least with under 11s in school/childcare people can work.

Why wouid they close?? No cases at all at my sons?

Nursery I work at has only had 1 positive case ever ! Closing them would be pretty terrible - if we close we will never open again we are still trying to get back on our feet after the last time!! Plus it stops people being able to go to work! I can’t see it being good to close them down

It's awful. We finish on 23rd for 2 weeks off work and now the kids will be off till 18th Jan AT THE EARLIEST! They are putting the whole is Scotland in to tier 4. There's areas currently in tier 2 without many cases and they getting out in it too 😧

How the hell am I supposed to work with a just turned 1yr old and a 3yr old. Last lockdown DH was furloughed but I was on Mat leave then. They aren't closing non essential businesses so he'll be at work and I'll be wfh with 2 little ones. It's just not possible! It's also the busiest time after Xmas and I wld normally be expected to work extra to meet the deadlines but I'm barley going to be able to work my contracted hrs. I'm worried about the expectations. Most folk forget what it's like with young kids.

Hard enough with just the 3yr old but she cld entertain herself enough for me to get some stuff done. The youngest broke a vase last week, she's never out the cupboards, climbing things, putting everything in her mouth. You can't take ur eyes off her.

Work have already suggested working in the evening but by time they are both in bed it's about 9pm and I'm knackered and just need a lie down and chill before bed. I think this will tip me over the edge in what is already a very stressful busy job.

[quote HappyPumpkin81]@TheSunIsStillShining I don't want furlough, or Statutory sick pay. I want childcare so I can work, I provide online mental health services to children some of whom are self harming and suicidal and their parents. As I can work from home I am not entitled to a keyworker place. How do you propose I occupy my three year old safely for 9 hours while I work with my laptop balanced on my lap in the sitting room? I do not have a partner.[/quote]
This is my position.

I worked bloody hard to get to where I am, in a vital key worker role supporting vulnerable people. If I don't do my job other people suffer.

I have been diagnosed with stress and anxiety for the first time in my life post the first lockdown. I'm a tough person, a leader, unflappable, but I crumbled.

Juggling that responsibility from home with two preschoolers on my own was impossible. Just awful. I shouted all the time. I made my 2 year old cry because I yelled at her because she shut my laptop lid in the middle of a client assessment. My three year old became disruptive and volatile because I had to bribe her to stay put in front of the TV for several hours a day, I had to go outside to make an urgent sensitive call because they wouldn't stop whining and trying to climb me because they were so bored and frustrated. I watched them through the window eating the crisps I had given them to keep them subdued and felt like the shittest parent in the world. Meanwhile I had a client screaming down the phone at me at how shit a job I was doing for their relative who was also suffering due to the pandemic.

I genuinely felt so low some days that I had borderline suicidal thoughts.

I want to work. I need to keep mentally active, I'm a much better mum when I don't feel under pressure to provide my bright, social children with the experiences they can only really get from nursery.

So much solidarity with everyone here - I'm going on maternity leave in mid-Jan so it'll be a bit rubbish but ok for me if nurseries shut, but I really do look back on the first lockdown with horror; both DH and I trying to work full-time with a 20 month old, I really thought it would break us at some points and I'd rather not think about it because I felt so guilty about the care that DS was getting. I think we'd have called it neglect under most circumstances.

I'd hope that this time round, if they did close, there would be a bit more consideration by the government of what it actually means for parents. Last time there seemed to be a widespread assumption that you were either furloughed or a keyworker, I felt really invisible as someone working (and the workload in my team went up massively) but not a keyworker.

You put in your posts "we" do you have another half who can do childcare?
Or any family about? Childcare bubbles are still allowed

We are in Scotland and waiting on guidance on what's happening (they announced it on twitter yesterday and have since been radio silent.....) it's pretty horrible.

My husband is a key worker luckily last time we got a place when Scotland reduced it to 1 key worker required but we are about a third down the priority list as I wfh. My job can't be done with a toddler in the background whilst discussing legislation I've tried!

I work in a nursery and we've had no positive cases so far. We have been open all the way through for key workers during lockdown then opened as soon as we were allowed for everyone else. Despite the risk to myself and the other adults the benefits for the children in attending is enormous. Aside from the fact parents need the provision we have been able to offer a degree of normality for the children in our care and a chance for social interaction that is missing from the world outside right now.

My only problem is that the industry isn't given the acknowledgement it deserves in either funding to keep nurseries open, or in the respect that is offered to other key working professionals.

I wish I hadn’t opened this thread, I didn’t realise Scottish nurseries were closing. I’m not in Scotland but it seems we tend to follow them. I’ll be absolutely devastated if they close, we will not cope with work and a toddler who bounces off the walls. At least in the last lockdown she was only crawling, so it was hellish but a slightly more contained hell. Plus it was warmer then, nurseries closing in Jan will be awful.

I think it could be looking dicey for secondaries in tier 4 areas (which are almost certain to be increased) but I think primaries and nurseries would be the very last thing to close.

Massive sympathies for you all, I am absolutely dreading any announcement that nurseries and schools are closing, it will break us! We have barely recovered from the first stint of working full time with 2 small children at home, we are now worn down by 9 months of the pressures of this (as is everyone), I can’t help think it will be so much worse to cope with particularly as workloads are so much more now too

I'm terrified of this too. Last lockdown they only let children with two/sole key worker parents attend. DH could work from home a bit, but it was still a living nightmare - i swear I've blanked half of it. Toddler was mostly ignored, older DC had to fend for themselves with home learning. It was terrible for both of them.

This time around DH is back doing shift work. I literally CANNOT try and work nearly f/t while amusing a 4yo, educating a 9yo, and somehow keeping them both quiet enough so that DH can sleep after a night shift in our small house.

I've just been signed off for two weeks when youngest had pretty much two back to back periods of isolation (five fucking days out of it before they went in again for the world's stupidest reason). Work make all the right noises but don't really understand - only one other person on the team has children, and they are secondary age.

I don't know what will give if nurseries and schools close again for more than a week or so, and they refuse the kids a keyworker place. (And that's ignoring the guilt and worry that comes along with having the kids still mixing in keyworker care in the middle of a pandemic...)

I just wish more companies could be understanding of what an impossible position this puts everyone in.

I may rock up to number 10 and hand over my DS so he can pull apart boris' kitchen if they close English nurseries