Nurseries staying open

[meow1989]

To coin a mn phrase: is Boris on glue?!

So now I will have to pay to keep my toddler off to keep him (and us) safe?!

ODFO @Remmy123 stop trying to inflame already stressed and anxious workers.

I find it odd that generally there was a huge amount of support for teachers and school staff - why are childcare workers not being afforded that same support when the risk are at least the same and possibly even more due to the close personal proximity.

I don't have a vested interest here not living in England btw.

@30not13. I think all of us (whichever side of the argument we're on) would agree on why nurseries have been allowed to stay open.

The government are funding school closures. Parents won't fund nursery closures. Simple as that.

And re the interview on BBC Breakfast with Sage's Prof. Calum Semple, it was at 8.10am and would be available to watch on iplayer I'm sure.

Local private school is saying reception is still open too as it's "early years" seems unfair that state schools have shut them and private not

@Remmy123

It's odd that all of a sudden people are taking about nursery workers whereas before it was just school teachers.

I'd say they are a bit put out because you don't get to stay at home on furlough.

You couid probably get a shelf stacking job on more pay or a track and trace job or the like for more money anyway.

It's nothing to do with wanting to be at home on furlough for me, it's the feeling that my health is not important. It's rammed into everyone that you must social distance everywhere, you must wear masks etc but for nursery workers there is nothing put in to protect us. Smaller numbers (KW and V children only) would make it easier to bubble up, spending time with only a few children at all times. Still not ideal, but better than spending all day mixing effectively with 40 other families and several members of staff

Call me selfish but I had decided I would need to resign if early years closed and that would have had a significant impact on my income. I’m also pregnant so the prospect of being reemployed in my sector in a few months is zero to slim. That’s if there were jobs to apply for - many of my peers have been made redundant.

I removed my DS from nursery after the last lockdown and chose a Childminder as I decided a smaller setting would be preferable. I’m glad I did, he’ll now be mixing with no more than two children each day. Not up to 30 with numerous staff.

I am very grateful to my childminder for continuing to operate. I don’t think her decision to continue is entirely selfless, I imagine she, much like me, has bills to pay and mouths to feed and again, like me, the decision is wider and more complex than just personal safety with many factors that existed before the pandemic and will continue to exist after the pandemic at play:- pensions, re employment prospects, again BILLs, mortgages.

At the very least nursery staff should wear full n95 or n99 masks not those silly 3 ply things. I don't care about the children passing it amongst themselves or the parents catching it (they decided to send their children in). I am far more concerned about the workers and their families. The nursery workers may well say one thing in public but on the WhatsApp group it was unanimous they should be furloughed and were shocked that it's not safe to open nurseries in Scotland but is in England

What does the science say about transmission via the under 5s? Has this informed the government's decision?

@EssentialHummus

Just to say thank you to any nursery staff reading. I’ll be keeping DD(3) at home, while paying. She loves nursery, I think it’s fantastic but we’re in a position to work around her so that’s what we’re doing. Please don’t think that you’re not thought about or appreciated.

Equally, please don’t think that those of us who have to send our children in so that we can do our critical jobs don’t think about or appreciate nursery staff.

@Chill08

I work at a nursery half of us are 40+. I'm absolutely lost for words that we are to stay open.

Why Look at Nz we survived opened daycares and did we end up sick No Only a few teachers on It was quite good to have limited children while those of us still working could still do so and have some normality. Our schools opened to essential workers and they sent them in and out without parents it worked well We all do what we have to or what's best for the individual I guess

Why cant nursery workers wear PPE? Am I missing something? Disposable gloves etc.
I know that they cant wear masks as need to communicate with the children but they could wear plastic visors to give some protection and the children can still communicate with them then.
To be honest, kids are so used to seeing people in masks they probably wouldn't be at all worried about the nursery workers wearing them any more.
They could be reusable ones and just all be put in the washing machine at nursery at the end of each shift?
This would save money too.

The issue I have is that my reception child will be at home which means I can't work (I'm self employed and largely need to visit clients as my work is therapeutic). So there is no need for me to send my 2yo in, yet I will continue to have to pay her £600 fees every month. Whilst I'm not earning that is not sustainable for me.

I won't send her in because as I'm at home anyway I don't think it's fair to add to the risk for nursery staff. But what are parents like us supposed to do in these situations?

When nurseries were forced to close we got a break in paying fees, and even when they reopened the nursery offered reduced fees if we chose to keep our child at home. This was a lifeline. But as things stand we are going to be screwed financially because of me not being able to work.

The government needs to put more support in place so that A) nurseries aren't financially screwed B) nursery staff are protected C) parents aren't financially screwed by having to continue to pay fees they can no longer afford because they can't work anyway during lockdown. Nobody should be in a position when they feel they have to send their child into an unsafe environment, or one that puts nursery staff at risk, because of financial strain.

I suggest people stop turning on each other and instead look at what the government is doing or not doing to support us through this. They want us to turn on each other to stop is from looking up and blaming them!

I think a lot of you are really selfish. I feel incredibly sorry for the nursery staff as they are taking the hit for you. Nursery staff (and it might be only those who are older or those who have vulnerabilities who are scared) have the same right as any worker to send a Section 44 letter to their employers and refuse to work in unsafe conditions. Honestly, everyone is looking after themselves right now so don’t let other parents guilt you into staying. They won’t pay your bills when you get long Covid or care for your children if you die. ‘Thank you’ and ‘We can’t manage without you, smiley face ...heart...heart..heart’ doesn’t cut it anymore especially as so many other people are working safely at home and just want a bit of free time . PROPER keyworkers, are different of course.

@WhatTheFoot

What did you do last time? Did you carry on working or was you on furlough? Last lockdown the numbers in my nursery massively dropped so I wasn't needed anyway.
We have 4 staff off at the moment with Covid or precautionary or whatever it is so I'm needed on Wednesday and Thursday this week. I'm hoping the numbers drop again so I can go back on furlough.
I work long hours too the shifts are 10 hours long so feel it's massively unfair to expect a 15 year old to look after a 5 year old for 10 hours a day.
It's not fair on either of them.
I've asked for a keyworker place for next week but I sure if I'll get it. Last time I didn't get one as they were reserving them for emergency workers only. Plus school is only 930-230 which i guess my 15 year old would have to take her and collect her but then at least she will get 5 hours to herself during the day.

If your children gather together in groups with other children for an extended period of time you are putting the lives of those supervising them at risk. It will increase community transmission. It will lead to the NHS being overwhelmed.

Perhaps smaller, informal groups (to keep transmission low) are the best option and could be allowed by law as childcare bubbles were previously? For example, three family groups take it in turns to look after the children on a rota. This limits the number of contacts. Still risky (but those taking the risk as those who are benefitting) and will involve some sacrifice (but by those who are benefitting). Keyworkers continue to be given places.

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

If your children gather together in groups with other children for an extended period of time you are putting the lives of those supervising them at risk. It will increase community transmission. It will lead to the NHS being overwhelmed.

Perhaps smaller, informal groups (to keep transmission low) are the best option and could be allowed by law as childcare bubbles were previously? For example, three family groups take it in turns to look after the children on a rota. This limits the number of contacts. Still risky (but those taking the risk as those who are benefitting) and will involve some sacrifice (but by those who are benefitting). Keyworkers continue to be given places.

This makes no sense, the biggest form of spread hasn’t been from nurseries it’s private mixing- you extend the private childcare bubbles numbers will never go down. Also it really penalises those of us without family members available to look after our children.

It's not selfish not to want to neglect your children.

Parents with young children at home can't work. It's child neglect. I can't leave my 2yo unattended while I teach classes or attend meetings for 7 hours a day. So their options are to use nurseries, quit or take unpaid leave or organise alternative childcare.

If nurseries had shut, at least parents wouldn't have to pay fees. So they could use the money to subsidise unpaid leave or buy in childcare. With nurseries open, many won't be able to afford both unpaid leave and to pay for their nursery place.

Nonsense that toddlers need nursery 'developmentally'. They can get all they need at home. How entitled have we become as a society?

@Perfect28

Nonsense that toddlers need nursery 'developmentally'. They can get all they need at home. How entitled have we become as a society?

how do I teach my only 2yo son about social skills in the current climate?

Nursery staff (and it might be only those who are older or those who have vulnerabilities who are scared) have the same right as any worker to send a Section 44 letter to their employers and refuse to work in unsafe conditions.

I would fully support that, and pressure on the government to demand they close (and offer the appropriate financial support for nurseries and staff so parents don't have to continue paying), but as that's not the case, we shouldn't be guilting parents who need to send their little ones in order to keep their jobs. Employers would then offer flexibility and even offer furlough to people.

@Perfect28

Nonsense that toddlers need nursery 'developmentally'. They can get all they need at home. How entitled have we become as a society?

Yes by seeing grandparents, going to singing groups, soft play, interacting in cafes and making friends out and about....oh wait

@Perfect28

Nonsense that toddlers need nursery 'developmentally'. They can get all they need at home. How entitled have we become as a society?

They can’t get all they need at home if their parents are working at the same time

@Eternia

What does the science say about transmission via the under 5s? Has this informed the government's decision?

Sorry to repeat my point from earlier but shouldn't this factor into these discussions?

It is selfish. It suits YOU. Informal childcare sharing could be with others at your nursery and, yes, it would still lead to transmission but YOU are taking the risk and not others. Mixing with three other families is safer than mixing with eight. I would take ‘scientists’ comments on transmission with a pinch of salt - schools were safe until suddenly they weren’t. Anyway some nursery staff might be happy to continue working but you can’t expect everyone to feel happy to sacrifice themselves for YOU. I hope they don’t.

This is so sad to read. Everyone is so desperate and stressed - nursery staff, parents, HCPs

I am so grateful to the staff at my son’s nursery. It’s disgraceful that their work hasn’t been even acknowledged by those in charge. I don’t see parents being entitled - I see them stressed and anxious about covid and trying to keep a roof over their heads. I can see staff are also stressed and anxious and worrying about the spread of covid. There isn’t a way to manage this without people suffering in some way. Being nasty about each other isn’t helping, saying “get another job” and “you just want a bit of free time” is completely missing the point on both sides about what things are like.