For Nursery Staff Only

[Chill08]

Please tell me im not the only one feeling like this! I absolutely adore my job but i am so scared about going to work tommorow i feel sick. I really feel like all nursery staff have been thrown under the bus. Im disgusted we never get a mention about the risks to us. I really need a hug 😢

@dumbledory I'm interested in what you mean by a nursery not being allowed to ask for a test result? Are you talking about a school nursery? As presumably a private nursery clearly has in their Ta and C's that they can refuse admission to any children deemed too unwell to be there - ours does? And they don't let symptomatic children attend nursery unless they see written confirmation of a negative covid test where applicable. They also have introduced a complete ban on children with a high temperature being at the nursery, regardless of negative covid test or not. I think this is all sensible and the nursery still has a waiting list so it doesn't seem to have put people off. There was one identified positive case many months ago in one bubble which subsequently required isolation for 2 weeks (admittedly I do not know if that led to any other confirmed cases within that bubble), but then they were back and there has been no confirmed cases in any part of the (very large) nursery. And we are in an area that has been in the media a lot early in autumn with high rates of infection. I'm just surprised to hear that not all nurseries seem to be as strict as ours in excluding symptomatic children? I just assumed they would all be as it's the single most important thing one can to reduce transmission is lack of exposure to symptomatic people after all.

@MeadowHay
It sounds to me that the measures your nursery have put in place are robust and sensible and am pleased for you.

Unfortunately, not all settings are equal. We are a preschool and our local authority is insistent that we follow department of education guidelines to the letter, or else risk out on funding. So although we could put similar measures in place, we legally couldn't enforce them if parents were unhappy. Financially, we are not in a position for parents to stop paying - bit of a catch 22. It's such a minefield...

Nurseries aren't closed as the most powerful voice is the business owners, where for schools it's unionised teachers.

Nursery staff-

I was going to start a new thread about this but I'll add it here first ..

How does your nursery manage the staff working in close proximity? Do you social distance from each other?

This is probably the biggest worry I have about being in work at the current time. I work in a nursery school with 10 other members of staff. We're not in bubbles, we don't SD (although don't deliberately hug each other either!), no PPE. There's no ventilation in the room , and we all have children at school, many are single mums who also quite rightly have a support bubble. Whilst it unnerves me that I'm working with little ones who could transmit the virus to me , I have more of a concern about the amount of adults who surely can transmit it.

I'm quite new to this nursery and struggling with confidence to say I'm not comfortable. My upset this week hasn't been helped by my boss just announcing that it's business as normal see you in the morning kind of thing. No asking how we all feel about it or anything.

I know I need to grow a backbone and should just ask someone, but I thought I'd ask on here - what's your nurseries procedure for staff during this? Are you bubbled so you are with less adults? Do you social distance?

@frustrationcentral I’m in the same boat as you. It’s not a nice feeling

OP, I don't work for a nursery but in a similar position with no PPE or social distancing. I'm so stressed about going back, could cry at times. Management says work place is considered fairly safe! I will, however, go back as I've realised I need to do so for my own sanity and also those it benefits. We had a few cases a couple of months ago and I forgot to take my mask off (well that was my excuse anyway!) and nothing was said, so I'm going to do the same now. I haven't got any advise for you, but just to let you know there are many that understand. Sending you that hug!

@mangoandraspberries
The majority are just saying it to parents. Of the 20 staff in my nursery only 3 are happy to have stayed open

YANBU, it’s ridiculous that nurseries are open. As PP said it’s a political decision to allow parents to work, not a scientific decision. Nurseries are not safe. Unfortunately the nursery staff aren’t shouting as loudly as teachers were. But what I think the government have failed to consider is that nursery staff don’t get paid much and therefore are more likely to just quit, which is what I’d encourage them to do tbh.

Nursery workers and EY teachers who work in nurseries have been completely thrown under a bus!

Yet many, many parents and The Government need nurseries more than ever at the moment

However, those who work in nurseries are still undervalued, because it's and job anyone can do right and is just playing? @ still underpaid for what they do. It is discraceful.

Nursery workers are supposed to just put up and shut because they are the forgotten critical key workers, who just merrily should accept their low status, low pay and working without proper ppe. NO! I urge every person working in Early Years to make their voice heard!

Everyone working in a nursery works extremely hard in difficult circumstances. The staff need to feel they are safe. It is a huge responsibility educating and caring for little people, which The Government would do well to remember!

[quote Nochangeplease]@frustrationcentral I’m in the same boat as you. It’s not a nice feeling[/quote]
It's not at all @Nochangeplease, the way I see it is if you take the children out of the equation then you've got 10 adults in a room. I can't think of any other job where that is currently happening with no social distancing, no ppe, no plastic screens, sharing of equipment (I do now take my own pen in). Surely that can't be classed as a Covid secure work place?

I just wondered if that was normal or is my workplace being pretty slack.

I feel so upset about it, I absolutely love my job and treat each and every child as if they were my own, so I'm very reluctant to walk away, but this is frightening

I’m honestly considering handing in my notice and living off benefits for now. I’m a single parent, I’m worried about my own children’s mental health sending them into school. If I get unwell there is nobody to look after them because we’ll have to isolate.
I maybe wouldn’t feel like this if management seemed to acknowledge how staff feel, or thought to ask. Equally if we only had key worker children in we’d need much less staff in the room at once. It just doesn’t feel safe as it is right now. They are saying in my area 1 in 30 people on average are infected. There’s 30 of us in the room most days and like you im more worried about the 6 adults I’m mixing with with no SD

I’ve had two staff members leave today, one more and we will have to close. It’s not worth their while for all the risk, it’s a shame and they will be greatly missed. Neither will return to childcare.

@Nochangeplease

Just resign, honestly I’m thinking about it, if you are qualified you’ll be able to pick up another job in a month or two.

@Freddiefox we’ve had another resignation today too. Same as you, one more will see us shut.

[quote SendHelp30]@Freddiefox we’ve had another resignation today too. Same as you, one more will see us shut.[/quote]
@SendHelp30

I’m looking for another job, hopefully something will turn up. There’s thread on here where a nursery worker is being blamed for not being careful enough and passing it onto a child... you couldn’t make it up!

@Freddiefox honest to god. What is wrong with people. Sadly, it doesn’t surprise me.
Good luck with your job search!

@frustrationcentral your nursery sounds identical to mine. It just isnt safe at the min. Im desperately looking for another job which after 15yrs in the profession im feeling pretty sad about.

Sad isn't it @Chill08 . We've had someone hand in their notice at work today, it's just too much for her

Sorry to everyone feeling this way too - it’s very surreal smiling and nodding in response to parents expressing how relieved and happy they are when you just don’t feel the same way.

Nursery staff 'torn between duty and fear
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-55542831

Yes very sad and i dont think people really understand what its like for us unless theyve actually worked in the profession. I have never felt so undervalued and unappreciated. I get that its tough for everyone at the min i understand that parents need to work but to have children in to "socialise" whilst there is a parent at home not working when we are in the middle of a pandemic and the numbers are so crazy high i just cant get my head around it

to have children in to "socialise" whilst there is a parent at home not working when we are in the middle of a pandemic and the numbers are so crazy high i just cant get my head around it

I agree but I suspect their motivation is the money. Nursery is obviously so freaking expensive. It’s hard to “do the right thing” by keeping the child home when it is still costing the same. It’s such a lose lose situation because I assume the companies that run the nurseries can’t afford to not invoice them.

The majority of our children are government funded (free 15hrs) aged 3 and above so parents not paying any fees.

@Posturesorposes

The peeling them from their parents comment is absolutely uncalled for. I was just about to post something massively sympathetic and understanding as I treasure my baby’s key person at nursery enormously - but that comment from *@Jobseeker19* has left such an awful taste in the mouth. Just horrendous.

There's nothing wrong with that comment at all (nor any of her others).

I don't blame any nursery staff fir handing in their notice & not working it. I'm very sorry for any that can't afford to.

There will be a lot of jobs to go back to when it's safe to go back.

If you can afford to resign, then do it, even if it means a diet of baked beans.

@Nochangeplease. With cream
On if it means you're looking after your own kids & homeschooling them (if you can afford to, do it)