Sir Keir Starmer calling for nursery closure!

[Boogie5678]

Sorry I’m not sure how to link this but it’s on BBC news.

My nursery advertised for staff a couple of months ago- we had zero applicants!

Today the nursery where my DD works has furloughed several staff who are vulnerable, They are still expecting full attendance from the nursery children so less staff to children ratio, although still within the legal guidelines. My DD only works there 3 days a week as well, so they will be quite low on staffing on 2 days of the week. I hope the parents of those that send in their DC genuinely need a place. I cant help thinking if the risk is considered too high for the vulnerable workers at nursery then any parents or family of the child who are also vulnerable should think about the risk to themselves if their DC brings back a friend.

Who is Sir Keir Starmer? Haven't heard of him.

I'm sick of being called selfish for sending my child to nursery.

If I do not send him, he will lose his space and then someone else will take my place and send thier child instead.

Are those calling us selfish expecting us to pay the monthly fees for not sending our children?

@Luddite26

Who is Sir Keir Starmer? Haven't heard of him.

Its OK, he's not heard of you either

Just seen on Sky that a growing number of nursery workers are calling for closure.

I think it will happen sooner now.

@Willyoujustbequiet

Just seen on Sky that a growing number of nursery workers are calling for closure.

I think it will happen sooner now.

I still haven't seen any evidence that a closure will help reduce spread more than closing other venues such as non essential factories etc.

Nevertheless if it does happen then I sincerely hope these nursery workers still have a job to go back to once this is all over. However, I'm incredibly doubtful many nurseries will survive.

The bloody Christmas mixing has fucked us all
Over.
I know more teachers/nursery workers who’ve caught covid this week than for the 3 months before Christmas.

Allowing families to mix and then sending them back into a small lacking ventilation room is criminal in my eyes.

There's an interesting statistic from the head of the NDNA which I saw in an article online. Apparently, last April only 32% of settings remained open last April caring for 4% of their usual children.

I'm sure some nursery workers want to close. But that doesn't mean that it needs to happen in any way shape or form.

If they close, hospitalisations and deaths will only rise as grandparents take on more care.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.

@MessAllOver

There's an interesting statistic from the head of the NDNA which I saw in an article online. Apparently, last April only 32% of settings remained open last April caring for 4% of their usual children.

Im actually surprised it was that high to be honest. Last lockdown after about 2 weeks every nursery around here except for the one on the hospital site was closed. I know at least 5 that never reopened.

The elephant in the room is who cares for key workers' children if nurseries shut.

I suspect if the government had the answer to that question (and one that didn't cost it any money), it would shut nurseries.

To be honest, and this is no disrespect meant whatsoever.

If I was a nursery worker and I felt worried for health and as some me mentioned, were in the staff room crying, I'd leave - plenty of shelf stackers wanted/ delivery drivers/ call centre track and tracers / lots of telephone jobs with no experience needed.

Why not leave? Why put yourself through that worry for minimum pay.

It is such a contrast to what my child's nursery are saying to us. They were all relieved when nurseries were able to stay open.

Private nurseries financially will not survive.

If I was a nursery worker and I felt worried for health and as some me mentioned, were in the staff room crying, I'd leave

Yes and if I were a nursery owner / manager who had staff that vulnerable and scared I'd be offering them the option of unpaid leave until they were vaccinated.

What the NDNA have said (and I agree entirely with this) is that nursery workers need to be bumped up the vaccination schedule.

@InterfectoremVulpes

If I was a nursery worker and I felt worried for health and as some me mentioned, were in the staff room crying, I'd leave

Yes and if I were a nursery owner / manager who had staff that vulnerable and scared I'd be offering them the option of unpaid leave until they were vaccinated.

No an option if you want to maintain ratios.

@Remmy123

To be honest, and this is no disrespect meant whatsoever.

If I was a nursery worker and I felt worried for health and as some me mentioned, were in the staff room crying, I'd leave - plenty of shelf stackers wanted/ delivery drivers/ call centre track and tracers / lots of telephone jobs with no experience needed.

Why not leave? Why put yourself through that worry for minimum pay.

It is such a contrast to what my child's nursery are saying to us. They were all relieved when nurseries were able to stay open.

Private nurseries financially will not survive.

Re it being a contrast- you do realise that as with any job where there are customers, the staff for the most part won’t express the full truth of how they feel about work. It happens everywhere. The staff paint on a smile, grit their teeth, nod politely and cry in the staff room. They know they’d get into trouble if they were honest about how they feel. I’ve seen first hand the contrast in how staff are with the public vs the reality. It’s understandable

@Remmy123 red the full thread.

Nursery staff are leaving. They’ve handed in their notices and are working their notice periods. Both @Freddiefox and I have stated that on this thread.

@InterfectoremVulpes any of our staff who are vulnerable or who want to shield have been placed on furlough - aka unpaid leave.

• paid leave

@InterfectoremVulpes and you obviously understand that by doing this - we can’t meet the adult - child ratios... meaning we have to close. Which you’re saying shouldn’t happen. So which is it? Let staff go off on unpaid leave, therefore having to close. Or just close.

@MessAllOver

The elephant in the room is who cares for key workers' children if nurseries shut.

I suspect if the government had the answer to that question (and one that didn't cost it any money), it would shut nurseries.

Last year, some nurseries and childminders remained open for key worker children. We had to report to the local council how many places we had available due to non-keyworker children not attending. Keyworkers whose childcare had closed then contacted their local councils and were provided with a list of available places. It was a terrible panic at first, but quickly set up and the new children who came to us settled quickly. When their nurseries reopened, they went back.

I am amazed to see people attacking keyworkers for using places that would, under lockdown, be provided to enable them to work, by the way.

@Remmy123 as previously stated, our staff are also telling the parents they’re relieved. Doesn’t mean it’s the truth!

@Tanith. So is that what you're suggesting this time around? Key worker parents should send their very young children to be cared for by complete strangers with no settling in?

[quote MessAllOver]@Tanith. So is that what you're suggesting this time around? Key worker parents should send their very young children to be cared for by complete strangers with no settling in?[/quote]
I'm telling you that's what happened last time. We coped.
We're coping now with new children starting.