Nursery require pcr test

[Justanothermumtogo]

I'm currently in France with my child who is 2 years this week. We're going back to England next week, but nursey just emailed to let us know she won't be able to attend without a negative pcr test result... There was a general statement email earlier this week to all parents mentioning pcr tests will be required for children with symptoms, which is sensible we thought. However because they know we went travelling to France to meet grand parents they have emailed me specifically to get pcr test even without symptoms!

I understand they are being cautious but this is simply putting the burden on me instead as I now will be unable to work or use nursery.. Is this fair? Me and hubby will obviously pcr test as required by law but can nursery require this for our child, more specifically because we travelled? Without symptoms baby won't qualify for NHS test either so that's more money lost too on top of lost work time..!

Frustrated

All travellers coming into UK need a PCR test.

Don't be so selfish. What if your child had it & passed to other children and ruined their Christmas? If you chose to travel you deal with the consequences

You need to pay for one, not get an NHS one. It's required for all arrivals.

Nurseries can set their own rules.

It's required for entry to the uk.

Wow some immediate unhelpful responses...children returning from travel don't need a PCR and OP probably travelled before the new restrictions came in!

Unfortunately it seems like nursery are being over cautious (which I sort of understand as no ones wants covid for Christmas, or anytime really) but I doubt there's anything you can do. You could always just say daughter has symptoms though to get a free PCR, they don't check.

@LeftTheWashingOut

Wow some immediate unhelpful responses...children returning from travel don't need a PCR and OP probably travelled before the new restrictions came in!

Unfortunately it seems like nursery are being over cautious (which I sort of understand as no ones wants covid for Christmas, or anytime really) but I doubt there's anything you can do. You could always just say daughter has symptoms though to get a free PCR, they don't check.

The guidance I had read had no age limit. Further digging has found its for 5 and above so happy to admit my mistake there.

The guidance does change every 5 minutes so it's no surprise we aren't quite sure what the rules are @Aroundtheworldin80moves

As leftthewashingout has corrected most of the the replies I'll ignore them.

Fair that nurseries can set their own rules but surely within limits? Without an official statement for everyone, can they target just us in a private email and basically withhold the child care service we're paying for without prior notice or government requirements to back them up?

Its not really about the pcr test costing us 50 quid or the lost workday but the utter disregard for us parents!
They could have requested a lateral flow test or pcr when there are symptoms but I'm quite peeved by the jump straight to pcr no matter what..

Thanks for the tip on free pcr test but we'll pay for one.. for better or worse I'm uneasy around these sort of white lies

Sounds like the nursery are just being cautious. They have a lot of little people, and in turn, their families to protect. Nurseries can make their own policies and rules, they won't be asking for a test Willy nilly.

You feel they've targeted you but of course they would, your family has travelled abroad. Most, if not all, of the rest of the families haven't. Perhaps they see a direct email as more reasonable.

I'm sure you would rather they practice caution, at the end of the day it is also your child they are protecting

The nursery are not targeting you
They are trying to do their best for their staff and the children who attend, and navigating a whole sea of uncertainty
They’ve never had to do this before and they just want to get it right
Can’t you just tow the line and accept that they can set their own rules?
You don’t need to pay for a test, you can get one free from the nhs

One of the questions for a free PCR test via NHS is "have you been asked to get a test by nursery or school".

Everyone has to take one, what's the difference

You'll likely get the results within 48hrs so not a long wait before going back to nursery. As PP stated, you can get a home test and claim it's been requested. You shouldn't have to pay.

OK so say your child is A symptomatic spreads it to other children and staff and they don't have enough staff to run the nursery, surely that is way more inconvenient for you and the rest of the parents. There is no support for nurseries who have to close with costs running into thousands. Once you have a clear PCR your child should be able to return to nursery. From my experience private PCR tests results are back the same day. Meaning they won't miss time off at all. I don't see the issue

Everyone saying all travellers need to take them have the wrong advice 2 year olds are exempt from the entry and day 2 tests being needed.

Just to remember you guys have to isolate until your results are back anyway so what's the harm in keeping little one off till then anyway? It's not like you can take little one to nursery yourselves as you'll be isolating. May as well get the test for peace of mind too. If there's a chance you guys might have it there's a chance the little one may have it too

As many under 5s have covid Id be happy to get the test. Your home and testing anyway so apart from the cost of the test what's the issue? We all know that when we go abroad we're taking a risk of rule changes which is what has happened this week. Id be really unhappy if my child caught covid from a child coming back from abroad who didn't test.

Very sensible of the nursery - travelling abroad involves loads of contacts. You don't have to pay for it, just get her an NHS PCR test and tick that she has been a contact of covid.