Will Early years close?

[Tillsforthrills]

DfE last updated on 31st when the info was still some primaries open and private EY nurseries and childminders to open.

So everything else now is closing except early years - what’s the reason behind that as many will now have children off school but can take the younger ones to nursery.

Is it likely nurseries will close?

What do you mean everything else is closing? Primaries aren't closing everywhere? Or do you mean specifically in areas where primaries are closing?

@SquirtleSquad very sorry I meant where I am based in London

I really hope they do. Not fair on people with children in both or nursery staff with school aged children.

I predict a national lockdown is on the way where early years will have to close. It doesn't really make sense for nurseries to still be open but schools are closed. My child's primary school is opening their nursery and reception classes - a really bad move IMO.

It’s almost like they’ve forgotten about nurseries.
I know they’re smaller environments but germs are spread much more than in a primary school class.

It doesn't make sense that I can take my reception child in but not my KS2 child. If it's not safe for her to go into school, then it's not safe for him to go in.

I hope so. I am 31 weeks pregnant and DS is in a class with a girl whose mother couldn’t give a shit. I have known the mother a while so I have her on social media and all over the Christmas period she has been posting pictures and videos of her mixing and partying with loads of others. Now my son has to go back to school with her daughter.

I hope not. I will be expected to work from home whilst providing childcare to a three year old and supervising home learning for a secondary age child. My mental health struggled in the first lockdown. My boss- with older kids and a wife who doesn't work- was flexible in that he allowed me to make hours up outside of core hours but it made for a very long day and I still don't feel like I've had a day off since March.

I'm pretty sure they have forgotten about Early Years, and they've definitely not considered childminders, who care for school-aged children, too: we had exactly the same muddle just before the last lockdown with confusing and contradictory advice.

At the moment, Early Years is open as usual. Whether that will change in the next 48 hours, only Gavin can tell us.
Keep your eyes on the media: it's usually where his decisions are leaked 🙄

I think the thinking was, many nurseries went back as normal in June and it didn’t affect the rates, so they will conveniently forget about them.

And, you know-childcare...

I came on here to see if there was anything re early care providers. Also London based in one of the worse boroughs and not sure what to do/think. It does seem as tho they’ve been forgotten...whilst maybe not an issue in June, do they know enough about this new strain to be assured...?

@Elle887 if you 'hope' they close.. why not take him out?

Seriously - all those who are now moaning that nursery should close just take your kids out .. it's not compulsory.

I'm hoping they do. I'm a early years worker but I only started my new job a few months ago (a bit of a regret of mine). Whilst I'm not CEV, my BMI is high 30's so I'm nervous about catching it. I have slightly older children than my work colleagues so I'm worried that there will be an expectation that I work more hours than them as I'm not needed at home for childcare reasons (although my youngest is only 12). So I've got everything crossed that we end up closing, selfish I know.

I think they know that the younger children are, the more likely grandparents will be asked to help. I am open Monday and all the children are coming.

@Remmy123 because he’s in reception so I’ll get fined. I didn’t realise this thread was based on nurseries I just saw early years

@Elle887 oh sorry I thought early years is nursery

@Elle887 , is your son 5 yet? If not I don't believe you can get fined for taking him out if that's what you're more comfortable doing

@Remmy123 I don’t know he only started school in September so I’m new to it all. According to his school they class reception as early years too🤷🏻‍♀️

@frustrationcentral Oh really I may look into that then as he’s not 5 until August

My DS's old primary school call reception Early years too. I don't know many schools that do that!

[quote Elle887]@frustrationcentral Oh really I may look into that then as he’s not 5 until August[/quote]
I'm pretty sure, unless the rules have changed, that a child doesn't legally have to attend school until they are 5 so you shouldn't be fined x

No
I don’t think nurseries will be required to close
I work in a nursery that hasn’t closed this year at all and we have had 0 cases
I think that things will have to get a lot worse before they close nurseries
The emphasis from this government is the economy and it always will be

Already happened in Scotland. EY closed until at least 18th January.

Oh bloody hell, I really hope not. Last time it nearly broke me trying to look after a toddler with DH and I both working full time. I can’t get any proper work done when she’s awake so had to get up at 5am every day to start before she woke up, do what I could in the day and then keep working into the evening to finish things off, 7 days per week, and was still failing to do my job properly. I love my job and have worked hard to get to where I am, but feel like I may need to just resign rather than go through that nightmare again.