Sir Keir Starmer calling for nursery closure!

[Boogie5678]

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

It's niave to think they would be funded and even with some funding it's unlikely to be sufficient to keep them afloat.

I suspect that is true, but I would prefer that the government were honest about the decision rather than pretending that option c exists - parents choose to pay for a nursery place but don’t use it because of blitz spirit or something.

They should enforce the current lockdown rules first (driving to MaccyD’s, anyone?) - shops round here are rife with families doing their shopping when it could easily be done by one person.

Childcare should be the last to close.

@Iliketeaagain

Before nursery closes, I would want to see the evidence for how many people catch covid at nursery - I don't know of any "bubbles" that popped in my surrounding area since nurseries when back in June, not even in the lead up to Christmas.

It's one thing for people trying to work with a 5,6,7 year old at home - the majority could be kept busy for 30-60 minutes at a time, even with a movie, an iPad and some snacks.

The children who are at nursery - it's mainly not practical for people to work at home with them around. I reckon if nurseries "closed" there would be a lot more employers who classified their workers as key and declare their jobs could not be done from home, there by needing nursery places.

I am honestly not sure what I'd do if they closed nurseries - cross my fingers for a key worker place, because I can work from home, but I would struggle to get anything done with my 3yo at home. It would be difficult for my teams (currently about 80 nurses and hca's) to function effectively and I'm involved in a lot of work to get vaccinations done, plus keep the "nhs" critical services going. Realistically, I'd probably need to ask for unpaid or parental leave, because it's DH's salary that pays the mortgage, not mine. He's not a key worker, but we would struggle to keep a roof over our heads if he had to take parental leave.

I don't imagine I'm the only key worker who is in that position - and this time round, lots of people are not furloughed like they were previously.

I am torn about it, and I could have my 11 year old in school via key worker place, but she's at home because I think it's best to not use a school place unless it's essential, but closing nurseries is a whole different thing - not many people can effectively work while looking after a pre-schooler or younger.

There is the ofsted recording of setting Information showing the number of EY settings that have had covid cases. There is also the evidence that nursery teachers and preschool teachers are more likely to catch covid than primary schools teachers provided by the ONS.

Both are easy to find via Google.

they don’t give a shit about the little people desperately trying to hang on to their jobs, livelihoods and homes.

People are fairly clueless.

Do you work with a toddler at home? Ever tried it?

There’s this argument but I think people also forget the developmental benefits offered by the formal childcare setting versus what parents are able to provide at home when juggling work, other siblings etc.

During the first lockdown my child who had previously been attending nursery developed a speech delay. This is despite having a sibling at home and a parent who doesn’t work. I’m convinced it was due to the time spent away from nursery and the impact of the dramatic change to his routine.

He returned to nursery in June and his speech is only just showing signs of improvement. We’ve been on the wait list for speech therapy this whole time.

There are wider consequences of shutting nurseries that many people don’t appreciate.

@Ilovenewyear

Do you work with a toddler at home? Ever tried it?

There’s this argument but I think people also forget the developmental benefits offered by the formal childcare setting versus what parents are able to provide at home when juggling work, other siblings etc.

During the first lockdown my child who had previously been attending nursery developed a speech delay. This is despite having a sibling at home and a parent who doesn’t work. I’m convinced it was due to the time spent away from nursery and the impact of the dramatic change to his routine.

He returned to nursery in June and his speech is only just showing signs of improvement. We’ve been on the wait list for speech therapy this whole time.

There are wider consequences of shutting nurseries that many people don’t appreciate.

Absolutely. And against what case transmission?

Starmer should hang his head. He is not fit to comment on this.

@movingonup20

Parents who are sahp should not be sending there kids to nursery but many are (no mitigating circumstances) so now they will end up making blanket rules

Do you think they should keep paying fees while told they can't use their place!? Of course that isn't going to happen.

The nursery will then have to lay off staff and the provision won't be there for keyworkers either.

Can't find the article OP is on about but I presume it refers to this on Andrew Marr:

"I think there is a case to look at nursery schools. We are talking to the scientists about it, but quite a lot of people are surprised that primary schools are closed but nursery schools are not."
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I dread to think how I could do that with a toddler and hats off to people who manage to work from home with one... Please tell me how

The conversation was about whether the situation in nurseries should be the same as in primaries, so as a key worker you would not be affected.

The problem is that the government have been very unwilling to provide funding for education provision, so I'm not sure how bad it needs to get before this will happen.

They should enforce the current lockdown rules first (driving to MaccyD’s, anyone?) - shops round here are rife with families doing their shopping when it could easily be done by one person.

I think you are right that childcare should be the last to close, but people going shopping and getting takeaways aren’t breaking the law - that is the problem.

@Lemons1571

They need to restrict nurseries (and all education) to 2 KW / V only with tightened definitions. And put in proper legislation to protect parents jobs and salaries when they have to stay home and do childcare instead. None of this ridiculous “we expect employers to be understanding” rubbish that Boris mumbles when he is faced with a difficulty that’s foreign to him.

Yes, but they need to make sure employers arent allowed push it all onto other staff and make them come in or do more as well

@MarshaBradyo you asked the same question twice so it obviously is

There are nursery workers on here who are telling you they are scared about the conditions in which they are expected to work. They are being told to suck it up because if they don’t, they won’t have a job later - although they might not have a job because of long Covid or, you know, death. They are being told to suck it up because parents will find it really hard to work at home with their toddlers - although their parents have the privilege of working safely at home. Not all nursery workers are 20, many are older and live with older people.

MarshaBradyo I know it is hard (and I can see from your posts you are genuinely concerned) but I cannot get my head around other people being asked to be unwillingly sacrifices to make your life easier. I know some people are happy to continue working but the posts on here show many aren’t. Our feelings don’t count anyway as it will all depend on whether nurseries are contributing to greater community transmission.

[quote SendHelp30]@MarshaBradyo you asked the same question twice so it obviously is[/quote]
I didn’t get answer to first but no

If nurseries close, then parents will just use ‘bubbles’ for family or friends to do the child care which is equally as risky.

What a load of utter bollocks.

I’m so sick of this back and fourth shite.

The last lockdown came in to effect 6 days ago!! Nowhere near long enough to see how much it will have had an impact on the spread. The case numbers we have now are due to events and mixing that happened AT LEAST 2 weeks ago.

I’m sick to death of Starmer to be honest. He is a fuckwit Poundland Johnson brought in to appease the northern cohort who defected to the Tory part during the last election. He is about as bright as a wet cabbage and about as appealing too.

More closures equals more furlough, equals more businesses closing, equals higher redundancies etc. We can’t afford it!!
How the hell will we have enough money to pay the public sector works and for public sector services if no fucker is working?!! Not to mention the number of parents who will end up being furloughed (or worse) if nurseries close as it is impossible to WFH and look after a toddler. You cannot care for a toddler remotely.

@Livelovebehappy

If nurseries close, then parents will just use ‘bubbles’ for family or friends to do the child care which is equally as risky.

THIS

twitter.com/bbcpolitics/status/1348212287266582529?s=21

For those saying they can’t find this. Hope link works

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

There are nursery workers on here who are telling you they are scared about the conditions in which they are expected to work. They are being told to suck it up because if they don’t, they won’t have a job later - although they might not have a job because of long Covid or, you know, death. They are being told to suck it up because parents will find it really hard to work at home with their toddlers - although their parents have the privilege of working safely at home. Not all nursery workers are 20, many are older and live with older people.

MarshaBradyo I know it is hard (and I can see from your posts you are genuinely concerned) but I cannot get my head around other people being asked to be unwillingly sacrifices to make your life easier. I know some people are happy to continue working but the posts on here show many aren’t. Our feelings don’t count anyway as it will all depend on whether nurseries are contributing to greater community transmission.

Bustopher what if the nursery is entirely outside.. Tiny student numbers. SD is beyond expected, Many are doing this so they can survive as businesses.

Anyway I can about handle decisions but people actively wanting other peoples lives to be very bad on the back of it. Too much.

@WinstonmissesXmas

Link? Can’t find this story being reported on the BBC or elsewhere as yet.

Agree, they need to close though and remain open to proper key workers, ie those ICU Drs etc who have to work outside the home, not Jill and Linda who want a few hours off as they work part time from home (which has been my experience with my DC’s school/preschool this week). Appreciate there are millions more not taking the piss but there are a lot who are.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-55605009 10.22 story.

@WinstonmissesXmas it was on Andrew Marr.

Where I know. You’ve got it, he’s an idiot.

www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1382082/Keir-Starmer-nurseries-Andrew-Marr-BBC-Boris-Johnson-Covid-schools-latest-news-vn

@donquixotedelamancha

Can't find the article OP is on about but I presume it refers to this on Andrew Marr:

"I think there is a case to look at nursery schools. We are talking to the scientists about it, but quite a lot of people are surprised that primary schools are closed but nursery schools are not."
-
I dread to think how I could do that with a toddler and hats off to people who manage to work from home with one... Please tell me how

The conversation was about whether the situation in nurseries should be the same as in primaries, so as a key worker you would not be affected.

The problem is that the government have been very unwilling to provide funding for education provision, so I'm not sure how bad it needs to get before this will happen.

My husband and I are both keyworkers but all nurseries in the area closed last time.

@bunanarama

I'm due to go back to work after maternity leave next week, 1 year old starts nursery on Monday, 3 year old already attends. I'm in the very fortunate position to be a high earner alongside my husband. So if they close nurseries- option 1 we would get a nanny (and assume that we dont also have to pay nursery fees while they are closed). If nannies arent allowed then everyone says that you can request furlough for childcare reasons. Well a. Furlough wouldn't cover our London rent and b. I dont think that long term work deadlines are going to change so unlikely that work would want to furlough me indefinitely. It's hard to work from home with a 3 year old and absolutely impossible with a 1 year old. Sure I'm not a key worker, my role isnt essential to covid or Brexit but its essential to keep my family housed and fed. If there were some hard facts (not anecdotes) about the risks of nurseries being open then that would be one thing but as far as I can tell its people who will not be directly impacted by this calling for nurseries to shut without thinking of the implications for working parents. Had I known that my ability to be a working parent would depend on falling under a list of approved careers then I might have made different choices at university. I felt abandoned, lonely and forgotten for a large chunk of maternity leave and again am feeling forgotten amongst all this once again. Fingers crossed we see some improvements in case numbers this week and people stop going on about this.

Well said

Mine too. This would leave 10 families without childcare and 3 people without jobs.

@Glenthebattleostrich

Mine too. This would leave 10 families without childcare and 3 people without jobs.

sorry that was in reply to @GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat