Who is not sending their dc to nursery?

[rolliy]

There has been 1 or 2 threads about who can access a space at schools & how they are overrun as everyone is now a critical worker.

The main concern is that this will not bring the R rate down.

However nurseries, pre school, childminders etc are open. So I presume lots of people are not using that provision?

@terrywynne

I do admit I might not send DC to nursery if it was one with bigger classes, older staff or shared premises with a primary school. However, as it is a small private site with young staff and small numbers in each room (Which are being kept seperate), then yes DC is going in for now.

That's the issue, all early years settings are being treated the same IMO. Day nurseries generally are made up of separate rooms, smaller groups of children and less staff per group ( so in a bubble), pre schools/nursery schools are often set up like a classroom - many children (we have had 30 most days this week) and 6/7 staff. I really find it hard that the government can't see that what suits one establishment won't suit another

I understand that it is an economic decision - not one based on the science.

My family caught Covid three weeks ago and the likely source was a child in my DC's nursery class who tested positive. My DH and I tested positive a week or so later, but our DC tested negative.

The concern for the Gov't (I believe) is the long term implication of closing nurseries now. Many will go under if forced to close, then when the world re-opens there will not be enough care for the early years.

I think it is appalling that nursery staff aren't at the top of the vaccination list with other carers.

It must be nice for all the parents who are able to take a “calculated risk” to send their children in. Shame the staff don’t have the same choice.

Well they can, they can quit, just as some parents would have to if they didn't send their children in whilst childcare is open.

We're waiting to see when the cases start to go down and more evidence about whether young children do or do not catch this variant at a higher rate. All being well we will send him back in February.

I do trust the staff and the other parents; most parents are working from home and seem like sensible types. There is just too much transmission in the area.

Our nursery have taken further steps, implemented next week - they’ve broken the bubbles up further to a maximum of 8 children and we’ve been told to send lots of warm clothes as they will spend the majority of the day outside wherever possible.

We are lucky, they have lots of outside space, including shelters and covered areas for when it rains, as well as the inside space to be able to keep bubbles apart.

well they can they can just quit

Be careful what you wish for

"well they can they can just quit"

That's exactly what some are doing.
Several nurseries report having lost members of staff each this week.
Some are saying that, if they have any more resignations, they'll have to close