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?!

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

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.

Absolutely ridiculous!!!! Household mixing is causing this ffs.

I’m not going to leave my child with a random, non checked parent of another child, in an unchecked location- seriously if you think that is acceptable I don’t think you should have anything to do with childcare!

@Backbee
Completely agree with the financial support for nursery staff/owners. Parents shouldn’t have to pay if they aren’t receiving a service. I don’t agree that people should continue to send children to nursery if they know they are doing a disservice to those who work in them. Your are playing with people’s health.

@Perfect28

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

Nonsense that all they need is at home. At home while I work 8 hours per day and he sits in front of the TV or gets ignored and has no one to talk to for hours is not 'all they need'.

Please explain how you look after your young toddler (nappy changes, meals, entertaining, avoiding he kills himself/trashes the house) and answer calls, participate in meetings, manage an international team, write documents and generally hold a demanding job that pays for the bills. I am all ears.

It does all come down to financial support... How many parents can lose one income (and that's assuming it's a dual income family and not a single parent) and still afford to pay for a nursery place?

. I don’t agree that people should continue to send children to nursery if they know they are doing a disservice to those who work in them. Your are playing with people’s health

What do you suggest then?

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Most abuse actually takes place by family members. And when older children have parties and sleepovers, there never seems to be a lot of checking going on then either. I guess you could all ask for DBS checks so you can have peace of mind. There is a fee.

I think your response is self-serving (I understand why). At the moment, your selfish attitude is supported by the government. I hope the nursery workers who aren’t happy working in an unsafe environment, fight for themselves just as you are fighting for yourself.

The government has put everyone in a position of having to fight for themselves. People are desperate - they aren’t being dickheads or selfish - they are trying to keep their heads above water. I’m talking about everyone, not just parents or nursery staff - everyone. Accusations of selfishness, saying people shouldn’t have had children, it’s not fair. It’s just adding to that pressure and playing into the government’s hands where we all blame each other

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

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.

Right well why don't they refuse to work then. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would love to have a job right now.

Just because you aren't a key worker doesn't mean you can work for home! Animal carers, equine industry etc still have to go to work and care for animals . You cant just leave them to fend for themselves, so if nursery is closed, what do you suggest they all do with their children?

@Sitt
The government has put everyone in a position of having to fight for themselves. People are desperate - they aren’t being dickheads or selfish - they are trying to keep their heads above water. I’m talking about everyone, not just parents or nursery staff - everyone

Pretty much that. Just had our first primary school zoom lesson. The number of kids in school as their parents have claimed “key worker” status is ridiculous. But I would disagree with you about selfishness. People ARE being selfish. They are stretching the definition of key worker beyond all recognition because this is an impossible situation. What’s infuriating is that those
Of us who are doing the right thing will lose out, as will our kids, who are going to have to cope with crap home schooling juggled with wfh.

I thought animal care did count as key worker?

It's shocking how many of you have either been refused a school place despite being a key worker, or have been unable to secure furlough from employers.

I blame Boris for not making it mandatory for employers to give parental furlough to anyone not KW who requested it. Fucking Wankbadger.

“ But I would disagree with you about selfishness. People ARE being selfish. They are stretching the definition of key worker beyond all recognition because this is an impossible situation. What’s infuriating is that those
Of us who are doing the right thing will lose out, as will our kids, who are going to have to cope with crap home schooling juggled with wfh.”

Stop it. Don’t add to it. People are desperate. They are making different decisions to you. Stop perpetuating the selfishness narrative as it is letting the government off the hook, and does you and others a disservice.

i am pleased that nurseries are open. i teach and whilst i can obviously do that from home, it's almost impossible to do so with a toddler. no idea why higher ed is not included but I cant just go on furlough and cancel all my teaching

@Sitt I do understand what you are saying. I really do. But it’s hard to just let it go when I know that this gov will do nothing to help the kids whose parents didn’t take the piss and as a result will miss out on a further 2 months of education. This is a government of selfish people. It rewards the selfish. We saw it with Cummings “doing what’s best for his family”. It’s horrendous. I don’t want to live in a society like this, but I can’t see an end to it.

@bluebeck

I thought animal care did count as key worker?

It's shocking how many of you have either been refused a school place despite being a key worker, or have been unable to secure furlough from employers.

I blame Boris for not making it mandatory for employers to give parental furlough to anyone not KW who requested it. Fucking Wankbadger.

if I was furloughed and so my work colleagues the debt of the uk would increase by quite a lot more, instead of adding to the system via our taxes we'd be getting more ... is that really what we want? more debt?

If you’re using phrases like “taking the piss” then you aren’t seeing what I’m saying at all

[quote BustopherPonsonbyJones]@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Most abuse actually takes place by family members. And when older children have parties and sleepovers, there never seems to be a lot of checking going on then either. I guess you could all ask for DBS checks so you can have peace of mind. There is a fee.

I think your response is self-serving (I understand why). At the moment, your selfish attitude is supported by the government. I hope the nursery workers who aren’t happy working in an unsafe environment, fight for themselves just as you are fighting for yourself.[/quote]
I don’t leave my child with any random thank you!!!
I choose an ofsted rated environment for my child to be safely looked after, the staff have been checked, are first aid trained and have been trained in administering my daughters epilepsy medication should she have a seizure. Your idea of everyone using a random adult to babysit is disgusting in a non pandemic world and at this time actually stupid (ignorant) as it will cause further spread!
I haven’t forced nursery staff to work, but if my nursery is open I am entitled to use it. Be under no illusions, it is the selfish actions of adults that have spread this virus not that of children!

I totally agree. We are so disappointed with the decision. We have to carry on paying to keep my son's place but we cannot send him as we worry we will infect my partner who needs to be shielding. Also what is the difference between school teachers and nursery staff are their safety less important. Babies and young children also get the virus and pass it on so what is the difference. It is very disappointing.

@Pl242 I completely agree and would be interested to see the rationale for keeping early years settings open. I’ve made the decision to keep my DD off preschool as I’m in an area with sky high rates (over 1200 per 100k) and I am CEV (shielding) and worry about her bringing it home. It’s hard as I am wfh and my husband is going into work (not a key worker but cannot wfh). But we just have to do our best. I completely understand that a lot of parents will continue to send their children in because they struggle to wfh with their children there and are worried about losing their jobs and more. I also see that early years practitioners are worried about their own safety and I would absolutely be the same in their position. This lockdown will only work if as many of us as possible stay at home as much as we can. It’s not easy.

Thanks for all the responses. How on earth do you think women have managed for centuries, without playgroups and cafes? Talk to your child. Take them for walks. Say hi to people walking their dogs. Read stories. They will cope... Honestly. I know it isn't a middle class ideal but they aren't going to somehow be scarred for life.

@Perfect28

Thanks for all the responses. How on earth do you think women have managed for centuries, without playgroups and cafes? Talk to your child. Take them for walks. Say hi to people walking their dogs. Read stories. They will cope... Honestly. I know it isn't a middle class ideal but they aren't going to somehow be scarred for life.

Before we knew more about child development I think less women worked full time!

@Perfect28

Thanks for all the responses. How on earth do you think women have managed for centuries, without playgroups and cafes? Talk to your child. Take them for walks. Say hi to people walking their dogs. Read stories. They will cope... Honestly. I know it isn't a middle class ideal but they aren't going to somehow be scarred for life.

Spoken like a true 1950s housewife. Bravo. I work 12 hours a day as a key worker to protect the public’s money. Should I take breaks, in the middle of my duties, to have a nice little singalong with my 12 month old? Or would you rather I leave and so next time there’s a pandemic and fraudsters or hackers or other criminals get your cash you have to wait 3 months for a refund?

See you're referring to childcare, which is absolutely a necessity. My post was in reference to those who can look after their child (SAHP) for example, who simply believe their child needs to 'socialise'.

Thanks for all the responses. How on earth do you think women have managed for centuries, without playgroups and cafes? Talk to your child. Take them for walks. Say hi to people walking their dogs. Read stories. They will cope... Honestly. I know it isn't a middle class ideal but they aren't going to somehow be scarred for life.

How do you do that whilst working an 8 hour plus day? I would love the time off with my little one, but whilst also working, including outside of the home not convinced there's a lot of time for all of those things.

@grumpyhoonmain please see above post.