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Original poster

Nurseries staying open

629 replies

meow1989 · 04/01/2021 20:08

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?!

OP posts:
GrumpyHoonMain · 04/01/2021 21:31

@highschoolneverends

What I don't understand is it seems that all nursery kids can go back but my friend is a nursery teacher in a school and cos the school is shut it's same rule for nursery kids. So is it only independent nurseries that all the kids can go back?
All of the schools near me are keeping their nurseries open. So I think yours must be a local decision.
DontBeShelfish · 04/01/2021 21:32

DD is an only child and really struggled during lockdown only having interaction with me and DP. When she went back in July after their closure she was overjoyed.

However, I totally weighed up her going back against the risks. DP and I are both key workers, but we've no underlying health conditions and are in our early 40s. For the staff, we've made sure she didn't attend if she had even the slightest inkling of a sniffle - and the nursery as a whole hasn't had a single case of COVID.

I'm glad to hear that nurseries won't close but I do feel for those who work in them and who are frightened. COVID is a shit sandwich.

MessAllOver · 04/01/2021 21:32

@bluebeck. It's entirely about money. Private nurseries have to refund/not charge parents if their kids can't attend. So if you only have 25% key workers' children, not worth your while to open.

Nursery "hubs" for key workers won't work - very few people would be willing to leave a small baby or toddler with a bunch of complete strangers and the toddler at least would scream the house down.

Oysterbabe · 04/01/2021 21:34

Thank fuck it's open. My 2 year old fell down the stairs last time while I was trying to do enough work to keep my job.

Onedaysomedaynowadays · 04/01/2021 21:34

I am so relieved I cried into my cuppa!

Tiquismiquis · 04/01/2021 21:35

It is not safe to be working with small children. Some might pretend it is but the only way you can properly work with what is essentially a baby is to neglect them. I could manage to work with my 4yo. It would be unsafe for me to do so with a 1yo. There are still plenty of other businesses that are allowed to stay open so I do hope some of the naysayers target their wrath elsewhere before nurseries.

FinallyGotAnIPhone · 04/01/2021 21:35

Thank God the nurseries are staying open. Working with two school age children at home is bad enough but impossible with a toddler.

ivegotthisyeah · 04/01/2021 21:35

I had to ask if I heard Boris say that they were staying open! I am delighted I have one at Nursery two at primary and wfh single parent. I could cry with the relief that I won't have the mum guilt of dealing with my 4 yr old whilst trying to work. The other two are old enough to entertain themselves / get drinks snacks etc.
For me the worst part last time for the four year old was I had no time for him and felt so guilty as I was working and he didn't understand. He absolutely loved going back today from the Xmas break and he thrives at nursery.

Dahlietta · 04/01/2021 21:36

The document on gov.uk said specifically that primary schools should close from Reception I think!

Meepmeeep · 04/01/2021 21:37

[quote Jessuk86]@Waterdropsdown she is, they put an announcement on their Facebook page yesterday to say they would be open I will keep a cautious eye out incase that changes and do totally understand if it does, she will moan about lockdown she’s a sassy little thing![/quote]
Really? The statement I watched this afternoon said all nurseries would be closed with the exception for
‘Key worker’ children. Fucking gutted.

GrumpyHoonMain · 04/01/2021 21:38

@Oysterbabe

Thank fuck it's open. My 2 year old fell down the stairs last time while I was trying to do enough work to keep my job.
Yes. All these people coming on here saying nurseries aren’t ‘essential’, have never worked a day in their lives and certainly not from home. If I had a job where I could do a bit of work with baby on my hip of course I’d keep him at home, but I can’t. I’m a key worker, not frontline, but I need to concentrate and that often means leaving DS alone for a huge amount of the day. Nursery, even with the risk of covid, is preferable to the severe emotional and social problems that would cause.
CrispySock · 04/01/2021 21:38

I’m genuinely surprised to read that parents with toddlers were expected to work by their employers in the last lockdown.

1dayatatime · 04/01/2021 21:39

@JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson

Early years staff should be in a union - probably UNISON.
A union is not going to help here. If the nursery closes then parents don't pay the nursery fees so the nursery (which has overhead costs other than staff wages) as a private company goes bust and the staff lose their jobs.
BertNErnie · 04/01/2021 21:39

@Dahlietta

The document on gov.uk said specifically that primary schools should close from Reception I think!
I've just checked and found this:

Going to school, college and university

Colleges, primary (reception onwards) and secondary schools will remain open for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term.

GrumpyHoonMain · 04/01/2021 21:40

@Tiquismiquis

It is not safe to be working with small children. Some might pretend it is but the only way you can properly work with what is essentially a baby is to neglect them. I could manage to work with my 4yo. It would be unsafe for me to do so with a 1yo. There are still plenty of other businesses that are allowed to stay open so I do hope some of the naysayers target their wrath elsewhere before nurseries.
Exactly this. Most of the mumnetters who want nurseries to close aren’t actually working at all. That’s what annoys me the most. They have no idea what it’s like to work at home with a baby and live in their own la la land.
iftherewereahorseyinthehouse · 04/01/2021 21:42

@CrispySock

I’m genuinely surprised to read that parents with toddlers were expected to work by their employers in the last lockdown.
What did you think was happening in working families when nurseries were closed?
BertNErnie · 04/01/2021 21:43

I took of from this:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/949536/NationalLockdownGuidance.pdf

I'm expecting more detailed EYFS guidance to come. Hopefully it comes ASAP!

sundowners · 04/01/2021 21:45

It doesn't make any sense whatsoever. No-one can argue that nurseries are more crucial to a childs development than early years in Primary. Primary = still very young kids running riot at home, needing to be entertained but also homeschooled- so stuff any attempt to try and carry on WFH for working parents. But working parents of 2/3 year olds will be ok? How is this fair or make any sense whatsoever.

JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson · 04/01/2021 21:45

A union is not going to help here. If the nursery closes then parents don't pay the nursery fees so the nursery (which has overhead costs other than staff wages) as a private company goes bust and the staff lose their jobs.

Absolutely- I was responding to those who suggested that nurseries were staying open simply because staff are not unionised.

PegLegTrev · 04/01/2021 21:45

My childminder will have 2 max 3 children in at anyone time without school aged children. Vastly different to mixing with 30 other kids, then other classes throughout the course of the day. Me and my DH had already agreed that if childcare closed I’d need to resign. That’s how serious it is.

bluebeck · 04/01/2021 21:45

[quote MessAllOver]@bluebeck. It's entirely about money. Private nurseries have to refund/not charge parents if their kids can't attend. So if you only have 25% key workers' children, not worth your while to open.

Nursery "hubs" for key workers won't work - very few people would be willing to leave a small baby or toddler with a bunch of complete strangers and the toddler at least would scream the house down.[/quote]
Understood - no way would I have left my little ones in a situation like that.

Government should be providing financial backing to nurseries so that they can operate in the same way as schools.

Anyway, goodnight all. I wonder what he will announce tomorrow??!!

GrumpyHoonMain · 04/01/2021 21:46

@CrispySock

I’m genuinely surprised to read that parents with toddlers were expected to work by their employers in the last lockdown.
What else did you think working parents were doing without anyone to send their kids to? I was on mat leave for most of last year with a newborn but covid had ramped up my job and I still had to work 4-5 hours a day as needed. During that time, when DH was also working, baby was in his cot (with an alarm) and being fed and changed to a schedule.
EasterIssland · 04/01/2021 21:47

@CrispySock

I’m genuinely surprised to read that parents with toddlers were expected to work by their employers in the last lockdown.
Not everyone is a key worker or furloughed..: many of us carried on wfh whilst taking care of our kids.
PegLegTrev · 04/01/2021 21:48

Also my DS didn’t get so much as a sniffle from June - September, days after the kids went back he got a nasty cold!

JoeAnna · 04/01/2021 21:49

Nurseries are open because children at this age can not safely entertain themselves while parents are working from home, and that’s the only reason!
As an Early Years Teacher with degree in children’s development I can tell you that far more important for children at this age are interactions and time spend with main care givers. As much as we all want our children to enjoy their childhood to the fullest far more important than your child’s birthday party is protecting health of those who look after your child! They do not wear PPE or can keep the social distance while working with such young children! They work in large group in relatively small space! It would be nice to show some respect to Early Years Teachers and remember that they also want to keep themselves and their families safe!