Any further news on nurseries?

[Songbird89]

I can’t find anything in the news or online.

The difficulty is that the very aspects that make some nursery workers feel unsafe (preschoolers and babies requiring almost constant close contact and attention, cuddles, personal care etc) are the very things that make it almost impossible for their parents to work and care for them. There’s no way to change that. You can’t substitute online stuff for that. You can put in mitigation measures but you cannot make this absolutely “safe” in the sense that no virus can be passed on, because you cannot care for babies and toddlers without touching them and being close to them.

And can we leave off any “why can’t you spend time with your own children” digs. It’s complete bollocks and you know it. It’s a cheap shot and an age old attempt to make women feel like shit. There’s absolutely no need.

I'm a clinically vunerable nursery nurse who currently has covid contracted from a child.
I feel awful, I have done everything I can to mitigate risk. I have been nowhere for 9 months not even the local shop, I bulk buy shopping to get as few deliveries as possible and quarantine in my shed.
The parents who sent the child in knew she was ill but said it was just a cold, she smelled of calpol.
Something has to be done to make nurseries safer!

They are shut in Scotland and after a week it's already causing issues. Some employers are taking a much tougher line this time around which makes the juggling act very difficult. The govt can't force employers in furlough.

From closures all I see is more mixing going on parents/grandparents are out longer trying to tire the kids out, the playgrounds by us are busier and more grandparents looking after children who are the more at risk groups.

My son has a key worker spot in comparison he is in a bubble of 5 with 3 dedicated staff, spends 75-90% of the day outside (even in North Scotland), no mixing of staff between bubbles and currently there has been 1 positive child case (no staff cases or other children) in 9 months at the end of November. My son was never tested as he didn't show any symptoms whihh is the basis for requesting a test.

I have seen however that it's nursery specific to what controls they put in place. My SIL is a nursery worker she actually changed nurseries because where she was working had fewer control measures than she was comfortable working in. Her newish place is loads better and again majority of the day outside.

@Spacemonkey2016

I was referring to a particular poster who had been very vocal about fuck every one else if I'm miserable I want everyone to be fucked. And was also advocating for the stopping of bubbles which support vulnerable people. Just because whe was going to have to make sacrifices. As if we're not all making sactafices. So I found this consistent attitude very unpleasant. And yes did ask what is going on if you make such a fuss.

But people like drama so have concentrated on that comment rather than this poster repeatedly saying fuck everyone else.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

You do understand people aren't asking for nurseries to close to personally get at you?

@GoldenPoppy

I’m really sorry to hear that you are poorly, you need to leave and find a better job, one that values your health.
Nursery nurse’s are leaving in droves, if you have a level 3 or 2 then just resign, you’ll have your pick of jobs in a few months when it’s warmer and safer. It’s not worth the £8/10 an hour for your health and the disrespect thrown your way
From some of the parents.

I hope you feel better soon

I would be devastated if nurseries shut. It's the only thing keeping me sane at the moment, being able to send the 3 year old to nursery. I can just about work from home with the 7 year old. Its nigh impossible to work from home with the 3 year old in the mix.

We all had covid over Christmas, so as a family we currently have antibodies, and feel it safe.

Does anyone know where Chris Whitty said parents should avoid nursery if they have the option? I can’t find that anywhere. I’m wavering over whether to take my little one out as I’m on maternity leave. DC only goes part-time.

@dumbledory and @silver1977, I agree with you.
@OnlyFoolsnMothers I don’t have children in nursery so I feel quite able to look at this without emotion. I can tell you that you are quite clearly looking after your interests to the detriment of nursery staff. You are unable to be objective. I understand your anger as it is a horrible situation but you can’t ignore the valid concerns of the workers. On another note, working parents of primary and nursery aged children form only a very small section of the working population. It would be perfectly possible to provide furlough for you. I believe this (plus vaccinating nursery staff as a priority) would make sense.

What about if you have to work, look after a 4 year old AND a 1 year old? Is that doable?

No, it's fucking not.

I'm in Scotland. All our nurseries are closed. I have a 4 year old and waddling 11month old. I work full-time, now from home. My boss is unsympathetic about childcare.

DH is a keyworker and works out of the home. They won't furlough him (despite his job being quite pointless at the moment), or provide ANYTHING beyond 4-weeks (max) unpaid leave for childcare.

I am at my wits end. I can't do it. The resentment I feel towards DH I don't think will ever dissipate. I hate every minute of my existence at the moment.

It's fucking shit.

@PearPickingPorky we found Disney plus to be a life saver it's not ideal but Winnie the Pooh kept my sons attention first lock down at 13 months same with Mr Tumble.

I think people who aren't trying to juggle or simply say furlough etc don't appreciate just how difficult it is to try and make sure the children are safe whilst you try and work with unsympathetic employers who refuse furlough

@HairyToity

I would be devastated if nurseries shut. It's the only thing keeping me sane at the moment, being able to send the 3 year old to nursery. I can just about work from home with the 7 year old. Its nigh impossible to work from home with the 3 year old in the mix.

We all had covid over Christmas, so as a family we currently have antibodies, and feel it safe.

For you....

I think people who aren't trying to juggle or simply say furlough etc don't appreciate just how difficult it is to try and make sure the children are safe whilst you try and work with unsympathetic employers who refuse furlough

We only want a safe working environment for nursery staff.

No, I understand and it’s dreadful, but I feel there is very little sympathy for the plight of the nursery staff in all of this. They are suffering too - the mental stress is bad enough but they have more chance of catching Covid than any of us at home. Their voice deserves to be heard.

We are entities to a safe working environment.

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

No, I understand and it’s dreadful, but I feel there is very little sympathy for the plight of the nursery staff in all of this. They are suffering too - the mental stress is bad enough but they have more chance of catching Covid than any of us at home. Their voice deserves to be heard.

Thank you

@BustopherPonsonbyJones

No, I understand and it’s dreadful, but I feel there is very little sympathy for the plight of the nursery staff in all of this. They are suffering too - the mental stress is bad enough but they have more chance of catching Covid than any of us at home. Their voice deserves to be heard.

Then the (Scottish, for now) government needs to do something about working parents of tiny children.

@Freddiefox my SIL is a nursery worker definitely need safe as possible environments this does seem to be nursery specific unfortunately despite guidance as each setting is different. My SIL moved nurseries as she didn't feel her concerns were being listened to. Now she's at a nursery which is mostly outside and although she is in thermals every day she says it feels a lot safer due to the controls in place.

My sons nursery is the same lots and lots of outdoor time (regardless of weather) no mixing of staff, masked handovers etc.

Quite right, they do. But not something which puts the lives of nursery workers at risk.

Parents in Scotland are being forced to choose between losing the roof over their heads and neglecting their children. It is immoral to put people in that position. It’s not being done so that nursery workers are safe, it’s to reduce community spread - the fact that risks may be reduced to nursery workers is a by product. Most parents in England are not going to choose the option that means either not being able to pay the bills or neglecting their child. It is immoral to put pressure on people to choose that. This is on governments - it is not fair to make this the fault of “selfish parents”. And remember parents did this back in the spring - they KNOW what it was like for their child. Parents will not choose the option that they perceive to be of greater harm their child, whether that’s risk of covid or risk of neglect or impoverishment. Any more than the family of a nursery worker who feels at undue risk is going to support anything that includes them working under the same conditions. So we need to stop the “selfish parents” narrative.

And any suggestions of closing nurseries or restricting access to key workers only (and restricted lists of what is a key worker) needs to come with proper suggestions for how those wfh with preschoolers can be supported. Not all can be furloughed or take leave. They may be a small percentage of the working population, but their not working will put huge pressure on their colleagues who may be trying to homeschool, may be struggling with isolation, and so on. Key workers will resign if they are the lower earner. This is not a simple problem, which is one reason I suspect why up to now in England it is easier just to keep nurseries open.

I have said on every thread like this how much I admire nursery workers and I do think they and their needs have been forgotten. I know there is a small proportion of parents that is irresponsible and increasing risks of covid spread to staff and the community by sending in unwell children. This is shit and shouldn’t happen. But I also don’t think that the “solution” used in March was the right one.

On another note, working parents of primary and nursery aged children form only a very small section of the working population. It would be perfectly possible to provide furlough for you. I believe this (plus vaccinating nursery staff as a priority) would make sense sorry but this is absolute rubbish, and completely naive.

[quote Plussizejumpsuit]@OnlyFoolsnMothers

You do understand people aren't asking for nurseries to close to personally get at you?[/quote]
Yep- I would hope it’s based on facts, can someone show me that nursery settings produce a high number of Covid infections, the same as schools?

[quote Plussizejumpsuit]@Spacemonkey2016

I was referring to a particular poster who had been very vocal about fuck every one else if I'm miserable I want everyone to be fucked. And was also advocating for the stopping of bubbles which support vulnerable people. Just because whe was going to have to make sacrifices. As if we're not all making sactafices. So I found this consistent attitude very unpleasant. And yes did ask what is going on if you make such a fuss.

But people like drama so have concentrated on that comment rather than this poster repeatedly saying fuck everyone else.[/quote]
I wouldn’t say it’s anymore selfish than people who want support bubbles to continue to benefit themselves and their family members