Nursery payment closure

[Emsie1987]

Hi my one year is at nursery three days a week. Last week they had a covid case and the whole nursery had to shut due to the staff going in and out of the different age rooms. So I'm assuming because they had direct contact with a covid patient they had to isolate which closed the nursery. My child didn't so doesn't have to isolate.

Anyway they are closed for two weeks. We haven't received any information about payment and it's due this week for next month. Can anyone let me know what your nursery would do if they had to shut due to a covid case? I have emailed them and awaiting a response.

Thank you

I think mine wouldn't charge if they had to shut - we pay if we don't use it because of sickness or holiday but if they are closed for bank holidays etc we don't pay.

Glad your daughter seems safe x

In this situation I would expect to pay - with the hope of some deductions for activities and £13 a day supplements we pay (ds is 3- so gets GOV funding) as clearly he won't be needing snacks supplied or craft materials if he isn't going for 2 weeks!

Ultimately I need my son's nursery to survive - and this will only happen if they are able to cover their overheads. This means I would expect to pay as usual. Hopefully they will be able to claim money for the staff sick pay whilst isolating and be able to compensate you next month if they have been lucky.

Thank you for your opinions.

I am also of the opinion sort of that we should pay to keep the nursery going as so many are failing.

However, I also think this could of been prevented it if they had individual bubbles between the age groups and staff didn't mix. If they hadnt of mixed only the older kids wouldn't of been able to go instead of the whole nursery. Two weeks payments for no childcare is a pain but not the end of the world as my work are supportive. But if he went back again and there was another case in one of the rooms it could be shut for another two weeks and so on and that's not sustainable work wise.

It isn’t always possible to keep staff in strict bubbles due to ratio needs. If someone is off then another member of staff from another room may have to cover in there. We do our best at my nursery to stay in bubbles but some days it just isn’t possible. It is a statutory requirement to ensure the right number of staff to children and babies need the highest ratio of staff.

Your nursery should have a Covid-19 policy and payment requirements should be part of this policy so see if you can ask for a copy.

I hope nobody at the nursery get too poorly.