If they shut nurseries...

[Teapotandcup]

Would I still be eligible for a place for my 2 year old?

He gets his hours paid for because we’re on a really low income. I had to leave my job due to mental health (pre covid) my mental illness has got a lot worse since covid and I’m struggling a lot to even function. As selfish as it sounds, my son going to nursery twice a week has been a saving grace for me. I have a mental health support group I do via Zoom on one of the days.

My DP is a key worker, so has to go to work everyday.
If nursery closes I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have no family in the area either. I feel like I’ll end up in a very dark place, I was almost suicidal last March.

Do you have contact with mental health services, or is the support group organised by a recognised support service/ charity? If so, if the nursery aren't helpful, ask your CPN or support worker if they can write a letter explaining that you're unable to manage full time childcare for health reasons. There's still ignorance around mental health (as seen upthread), sometimes people need reminding that MH difficulties can stop us 'physically' doing things.

@Dugee

Well if it’s like the rules for school, children only need 1 key worker parent to be eligible. So yes, you’d be fine.

If today's news is to be believed, then this will change to reduce the number of children in schools.

Yes I think so too, hopefully closing the rules down to two keyworkers and only if working out of the home.

The fact that he’s fully funded , they might prefer giving the space to someone that pays full price than someone who is funded. Mainly because government doesn’t pay enough for those hours whilst private parents do.

@Orf1abc yes the support group is run by a local and well known mental health charity.