Are you still sending your child to nursery?

[TwinkleMerrick]

I'm a teacher and lone parent wfh. I've decided to take my DD out of nursery because we are both asthmatic, I just can't take the risk. I have decided to continue to pay the nursery as I don't want to lose my place and I know they are receiving no support from government.....plus my job is secure so I can pay. A lot of parents are taking their kids out (of my nursery) and a few have said they won't pay from next month (some can't afford it with situations changing) I'm really worried the nursery will go under, it's a life line for me. The staff are amazing! I wanted to know if it's the same across the board? If so surely the government will have to do something? Or we will have no nurseries once this is all over, and a lot more people out of work. What do you think guys?

My DD is coming to the end of maternity leave so is sending her 3 year old and the baby starts next week. She needs to in order to work.
After the first lockdown 2 nurseries in the area never reopened, I sincerely hope it doesn’t happen to any more but it wouldn’t surprise me. Hope yours is ok, it’s such a worry on top of everything else.

I’m sending my 3yr old in, adding more hours to her usual schedule as nothing else to do with her at the moment. Some people are increasing their hours whilst others are withdrawing their children. Those withdrawing however will be liable for their fees, their contracts will stipulate it as nurseries aren’t closed.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers my nursery just asks for a months notice if you wish to change hours or take your child out. Hence come February I think my nursery will find themselves in a difficult position. My union are supporting nurseries but fat lot of help it is when the government don't seem to listen to a thing they say.

My children were both going in (DD5 EHCP AND DD3 in nursery). DD5 has had to self isolate after coming in to contact with a + case on Monday (cheers Boris) so has been at home since Wednesday.

DD3 has still gone into nursery but Friday morning was very sad and angry about being the only one heading out. If eldest didn't have a school place, I think I'd have them both at home as per lockdown #1. As it is, when the isolation period ends, they'll both be back at their respective settings. I've only just got back onto an even keel with work, after an horrific 2020 and I don't care to repeat it!

My two year old is still doing two mornings per week. We can’t afford to pay for a service we’re not using. Plus I feel like he really needs the social interaction. I have a small baby as well and having two mornings to be able to get things done (albeit with the baby!) makes life so much easier. I’m asthmatic and he’s currently being treated as asthmatic (they won’t diagnose at this age) but I worked in a hospital all through the first peak, whilst pregnant, so nursery doesn’t feel massively risky to me.

DD is nearly two and is going to nursery four days a week. I can't work with her at home. She's just not the sort of child who can be persuaded to do something quietly. She's more like a cat, plonking her arse on the laptop keyboard. Impossible. Nursery is so much more fun for her than a mummy and daddy who're annoyed because they've got their own work obligations to meet and can't play with her. This week, she's done lots of painting, outdoor and wet play, making ice and putting things into it - all things that I can't do if I'm working.

Yes, still going in, and I think will actually add an extra session from next week as we are all getting a bit tired of walking to the park in the freezing cold and sitting about at home. DD really benefits from the social interaction, change of scenery, and input from the professionals at nursery!

Yes still going in.

Thanks guys, this is very reassuring. I think once numbers start to drop I will send my DD back in. It's not the risk of covid, more the risk of hospitals being overwhelmed and not being able to treat one of us that worries me, especially as we are asthmatic. My main local hospital announced it was at a critical point during the week.

It is a good decision, trust me. It will be much safer to sit at home

We turned down a KW place as both of us parents are at home anyway. My DC has already had covid but took longer to recover than their siblings so I'm just keeping them at home.

I am so angry at this situation. The DofE have paid LA's for funding spaces but if parents choose to keep funded children off then nurseries won't get the funding. This is awful nurseries have no choice but to charge or face going under. I am incredibly worried about the future of settings. There were already 500 nurseries per month shutting their doors before Covid now who knows. All that will happen is the standard of care will be compromised and it will end up being harder and more expensive to get a space. I love my job and I am worried about the future.

Can't believe some of the replies on here. Can't believe that people would choose to send their child to nursery when they don't really need to. You are choosing to ignore the current advice. You are not supposed to be going anywhere unless you really need to. Don't you see the news reports where they show you hospitals that are filling up rapidly? Or do you not care? How will you feel if, in a week's time, you need A and E and they have to turn you away? This is a possibility. Stay at home with your children and don't risk it.

DD is at nursery while I work, yes. We will continue to use for as long as we can.

If I wasn't working, but using the nursery for socialising, time for siblings, etc, I would pay for my spot but I would NOT be sending her. I think the key point made both in Johnson's speech and Chris Whittys video question time thing yesterday is if you can stay at home, do. Don't go out unless necessary. In that situation I would try my hardest to pay the nursery, as it's a service I value.

I don't think cleaning, time off from children or being tired of the park are really valid reasons to keep mixing children with those of other households to be honest- work is necessary, these are not. I understand that sucks though.

Hi, as government has said nurserys/ childminders can be open, there is no financial support package to claim if parents don’t turn up or leave, the government is also not paying any of the funding for funded children not currently attending or who are isolating. Sadly there is going to be a lot less childcare spaces a available soon as business are shutting at a great rate just in October nearly 700 childminders left the profession. My childminder friend has been left with 1 out of 4 children this lockdown the other 3 gave notice she only just got clients after losing all in first lockdown she is now considering closing down as can not afford to work for 1 child for 6 hours a week. I have found no one is looking for childcare at the moment so no new enquires to replace leaving children.

@EvieBoo2 I am totally with you. I couldn't agree more. But when parents are told they can still access early years setting as normal it gives a conflicting message. It's wrong so wrong. But if it was me I wouldn't want my child put at risk.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/566718

Yes evidence says that young children don't spread the virus however until August under 5s were not eligible for testing regardless of them having symptoms. So how can the data be accurate?

Have no choice. Husband lost his job in April and only started working in October and I was on Maternity leave. We live 36 miles from our parents and both of them work. If I don't go back to work, we can't pay out bills and neither of us can work with the children. 3 year old is going full time and my cousin is coming over to take care of the 1 year old.

I don't think cleaning, time off from children or being tired of the park are really valid reasons to keep mixing children with those of other households to be honest- work is necessary, these are not. I understand that sucks though.

This for me too. I have my 3yo at home and am paying for nursery but, you know what, rather that than one of the incredible staff - several of whom are in their 50s at least - stuck in ICU for weeks on end. It's an emergency and we're doing what we can. I'm as fed up of the park as the next person but this isn't the time to be wailing about how one's toddler is missing out on socialisation.

DD is two and still going to nursery. We can't work if she's at home. Also she gets so much out of it in terms of socialisation and activities. She was ready to go back and see her friends and the nursery staff after two weeks off at Christmas.

I don’t think people wanting their child to be in nursery for social reasons is wrong. Nothing is open, no play dates, can’t even mooch around a shopping centre. Preschoolers need engaging for 12-14hrs a day. It’s not unreasonable that people want to pay for a service to keep their child occupied amongst their peers. I’m sick of people quantifying and validating other people’s choices. Nurseries are a business legally open and people can choose to use or not use them.

I disagree. I know how long it is, I work for 3 days and am locked in with DD the other days. I did the last lockdown during maternity with no work, entertaining DD for 12-14 hours a day, every day. But sending kids to nursery for social reasons is not compatible with a pandemic that needs social isolation to be beaten. When the scientists are saying, if it's not essential then stay home, then surely it makes sense to listen to that? I do see work as essential, I see vunerable kids and SEN as essential, but not socialisation.

Socialising is clearly mocked by many on this forum, equating it to adults chitchatting with their friends.
At the end of the day we have a duty to society 100%, but I have a greater duty to my child, for which I make no apologies. My child isn’t your child, I don’t know your child, I know my child. I know what she needs, I know she starts school in September having just turned 4, I know that nursery and her friends have seen her develop in a way that makes me less concerned for her starting so young.
Many people have referenced seeing their child regress “academically” and socially in the first lock down-I’m not prepared to withdraw my child by choice and risk this. I will forgo everything I used to do, I will sit home miserable 24/7 but I won’t make my child when she has an alternative.
Nurseries are open businesses, just like coffee shops, estate agents, dominos pizza- we kept these things open and adults are using them. So how about we hammer on about these “essential” businesses and stop trying to remove the last thing young children have left!

I work in a nursery and all but 2 children are in for their normal sessions
Some children are doing more sessions because parents are home schooling older siblings and we have had 3 new starters this month also

Yes, we’re both key workers but are WFH, however the reason DC2 is being sent so DC5 who’s at home can actually do her school work.