Do we still have to pay re CV19 closure?

[MotherofKitties]

I can't find the Coronavirus thread, sorry.

Do we still have to pay if DD isn't allowed to go to nursery because my DH and I aren't key workers? We don't have a contract as such, just agreements on level of care, DPA, medicine use etc.

We have no family nearby who can look after DD. I can't work and look after DD at the same time. Work hasn't agreed any flexible working hours (yet..). If I can't agree flexible working, I'm look at 12 weeks unpaid leave as I'm pregnant and in isolation. I can not afford to take 12 weeks unpaid leave and pay over £600 a month in childcare we can't even use.

I can't find anything online confirming the government would cover such costs or that's it's even been addressed. Does anyone know? Is there anything I'm missing? I'm so stressed about this.

This is dependent on the terms and conditions of the nursery so no one can tell you on here.

I was really, really hoping the government would step in and cover the cost or saying that as nurseries are businesses they would cover the cost/overhead etc so that families would know for certain one way or another without getting into an argument with the nursery.

I don't know what to do. I could lose my job if I can't work core hours because I have to look after my daughter. And then I'm out of a job and still having to pay £600+ a month for a service we can't even use. I'm in tears typing this. Think I'm going to have to send DH to talk to the nursery as I don't trust myself to not get emotional about it.

I’m sorry if my post seemed a little harsh we’ve got a child in nursery so understand your concerns. Thankfully we’re able to work from home but it’s a challenge.
First point of contact is your nursery - you need to ring them. They’ll be busy today sorting things out but if it’s causing you stress then you need to do it sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately I think this may not be the governments priority at the moment - they may do something, they may not but you’re unlikely to get an answer from them at this time.

You didn't come across as too harsh, don't worry @HotDogGuy ; thanks for taking the time to respond!

Families up and down the country are facing the same problems I know; It's such a stressful and uncertain time and I'm hyper emotional with being pregnant which isn't helping matters

Arrggghhh. What a nightmare for everyone. Fingers crossed this/the uncertainty ends soon.

Hope you get an answer from your nursery.

most childminder and nurseries are fully charging .
Fucking vultures I get overheads think everyone understand the have rent bills and so on but they are taking zero finicial hit actual be better off as cost reduce. They are using the situation that parents NEED CC so they can make them pay the full money( many parents self employed earning nothing ). to retain the place .
I think if they asked for reduced payment most would understand.

@rwalker I didn't think most were still charging? There's been a number of threads about this and it's been quite mixed.

most round here are in northwest

The one my chikd is at is charging full fees for the duration. I've paid in advance for childcare through the Easter Hols and that money is now gone.
So now have to find more money for food for my daughter while being unable to work and will have to pay for childcare I'm not using or she'll lose her place permanently.

If there was ever a barrell to be over, I'm over it well and truly.

Childcare settings are already struggling to make ends meet due to being paid less by government for funded children than they need to pay overheads so wont have any contingency.
Nobody knew this virus was happening and once they did how government would respond.
The first news they had was Boris talking to us on Wednesday at 5pm.....schools seemed to have had a bit more notice maybe wrong on that.
Settings got told that they must close except for critical workers and children with EHCPs ....no list of critical workers available so no idea who was included. At the same time hes saying g employers should keep on staff but not saying how they pay them.
Promised list came out around 6am this morning. Settings had to ask parents who of you qualify and get proof and who of thoese need spaces. Before 4pm they had to return information on who is using space....they are not allowed to take anyone not meeting the criteria. They are being asked to cover shifts...some 24 hour shifts....work through easter holiday....but not being told how that additional cost will be funded. They are also having to stay in ratio despite staff going sick so need to pay higher rates bank staff.....in the short term the only way to keep working so the country have nhs fireman shop staff delivery drivers postal services, gas electricity etc is for these setting to take their children and risk their own and their families health with zero protective gear from coughs saliva etc from young children because they cant get gloves aprons hand gel or toilet roll to work with. Then after they have been working from 7pm or earlier to 6pm or later they clean down everything and go in search of food for their own and your children but the shelves are bare or they can only get 1 pack.

Everyone says look at the contract but most contracts don’t have this kind of clause build into them. Force majeure is pretty standard in most commercial contracts but as far as I know, most nursery contracts aren’t that sophisticated. It may come down to nurseries saying that you have to pay if you want your place kept open but hopefully the government will provide a solution to this issue.

what happens with universal credit? if we get help from nursery fees, and they want the full fee, but we are out of work?

@carly2803 if you're newly out of work you'll get childcare help with UC for 3 months

We’re not charging parents. Just hoping the funding and wage help keeps us ticking over and we have a nursery and jobs at the end 😬.

Can you email your MP to raise the issue with them?

Finally heard from my nursery. Not charging

Heard from my nursery too; not charging. Asked us to cancel standing order ASAP. At least that's one worry sorted x

Our nursery is asking us to pay 20% of fees so they don't go out of business which I think is fair compromise. I'm passing on the 80% nursery fee saving to my au pair who is taking over the childcare.

No pro rata refund on the last two weeks they have been closed though.

They can't charge if they're not providing the service. They can ask very nicely for some payment, but that's it.

If your nursery is asking for full fees then you will have a space to go back to when this is done. I can see some child care providers going under because of this. @rwalker before this started 500 nurseries per month were closing their doors up and down the country due to lack of funding. Calling nurseries 'f vultures' is disgusting.

The government has put in a number of measures to help support nurseries, the main one being the "furlough" scheme so the government will pay up to 80% of wages of staff while nursery is closed.

My child's nursery has hinted the April bill will be full fees, provoking something of an uproar from parents. It seems unreasonable to make parents pay for a service for an undefined period of time which is not being received when the government is offering to step in to cover wages. I think I could just about agree to a 50% discount, but for many parents who themselves need to take unpaid time off for childcare, this would be far too much.

@smudge44.
Who is getting unpaid time off? Are parents not also getting 80% or the self employed deal?

@jannier - For parents who work for a business which is not shutting down, they are expected to continue to work (either in person or remotely if applicable). Most employers will allow a small number of childcare days, but once those are spent the next option is normally annual leave or unpaid leave.