Page 4 | No staff at nursery

catlady1234 · 2022-10-18T08:30:56+00:00

Hi, My DC (10 months old) has just started nursery, this should be their 3rd week. They go 3 days a week. Last weds they were sent home with upset tummy as they are teething. Had to have Thursday off too as per their policy. They should have gone in today but at 7:30pm last night we get a message via the app saying they have no staff and they can't go in. Is this common? I'm worried they have staff issues and also the last min communication is a huge issue for us! We don't have easy solutions and it gave us no time to find any options.

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Rutland2022 · 20/10/2022 07:11

DD has been at nursery for 2 years now (she is 3), they have never closed due to staff shortages. They did come close twice due to Covid in the midst of the pandemic but that was fair enough and we were warned and kept informed.
I’d say you need to look for a better setting. Ours has bank staff that they use when they have unexpected absences so they can always cover shifts.

Lostmyway86 · 20/10/2022 07:17

For my two I've used a childminder until they're about 2.5 and then moved them to preschool, attached to a local church so it's school hours (9-3) which isn't ideal, but they've never had staffing issues. It's more like a school, so you pack their lunch and snack, no naps etc. My childminder absolutely adores her job and the children, and I don't seem to have had any of the issues that my friends with children in private nurseries have had. She's really flexible too and takes them to all sorts of places.

Perfect28 · 20/10/2022 07:18

Op I absolutely agree with you and can't believe the other posters who don't see this as a major problem. We both teach and we don't have family nearby. I'm not sure what alternative childcare is exactly. Are we supposed to also find a childminder who he goes to regularly enough to develop a good relationship with but who is also available at the drop of a hat? Sometimes for a sick child? The truth is that childcare is necessary infrastructure and we should all fight for better quality services, better pay for staff and more gov funding

Kissingfrogs25 · 20/10/2022 07:33

Needsomethingtoread · 18/10/2022 17:29

Totally normal unfortunately. Most nursery’s rely on agency staff to make up numbers.

It’s underpaid for long hours, rubbish holiday entitlement and no breaks. no one wants to do it anymore.

Wow so how on earth can any parent expect to feel comfortable leaving their babies with rolling agency staff that are not remotely invested in the job?

It is dangerous and risky. Are these people even trained to caring for such young babies and children?

BeagleMumma · 20/10/2022 07:37

I am a Primary school Supply teacher and we are regularly being offered private nursery work!

Kissingfrogs25 · 20/10/2022 07:39

We should be paying parents to stay at home if they want to and care for their own children under school age, thus freeing up the nurseries to be of very high quality for those that want to use them, with well trained professionals. The system is overloaded.

We have too many parents that are working to pay someone else to care for their child/children with very limited financial benefit to themselves, and in some cases a career break would suit some families very well. It could be either parent depending on the family set up and would make the world of difference to the community and stress levels in the country.

Skinnermarink · 20/10/2022 08:30

Kissingfrogs25 · 20/10/2022 07:39

We should be paying parents to stay at home if they want to and care for their own children under school age, thus freeing up the nurseries to be of very high quality for those that want to use them, with well trained professionals. The system is overloaded.

We have too many parents that are working to pay someone else to care for their child/children with very limited financial benefit to themselves, and in some cases a career break would suit some families very well. It could be either parent depending on the family set up and would make the world of difference to the community and stress levels in the country.

I would love this, I desperately want to stay at home with DS.

Mollymalone123 · 20/10/2022 08:42

My DD is a nursery worker and they have been dealing with covid plus poorly children being sent in all the time-which then pass germs around everyone-workers give up in droves and find better paid jobs for less hours.She is qualified and is doing 40+ hours a week.She loves the children but why wouldn’t you find a job that’s easier for more pay.

Mylittlesandwich · 20/10/2022 09:58

I've honestly never had this situation at the nursery we send DS to. He's been there 2 years now? He's only ever been off during the pandemic. I'm a key worker and could have got a place for him but since DH was home it made sense for him to stay home too. Or when he's been ill which is thankfully becoming less common as his immune system builds.

Tillsforthrills · 20/10/2022 13:40

Kissingfrogs25 · 20/10/2022 07:39

We should be paying parents to stay at home if they want to and care for their own children under school age, thus freeing up the nurseries to be of very high quality for those that want to use them, with well trained professionals. The system is overloaded.

We have too many parents that are working to pay someone else to care for their child/children with very limited financial benefit to themselves, and in some cases a career break would suit some families very well. It could be either parent depending on the family set up and would make the world of difference to the community and stress levels in the country.

This would be amazing but career breaks don’t go unpunished for women…

jannier · 20/10/2022 13:46

Kissingfrogs25 · 20/10/2022 07:39

We should be paying parents to stay at home if they want to and care for their own children under school age, thus freeing up the nurseries to be of very high quality for those that want to use them, with well trained professionals. The system is overloaded.

We have too many parents that are working to pay someone else to care for their child/children with very limited financial benefit to themselves, and in some cases a career break would suit some families very well. It could be either parent depending on the family set up and would make the world of difference to the community and stress levels in the country.

So who's paying for that....can you afford to stay home on less than minimum wage but your family is paying more tax? Do we cut nhs more along with cutting pensions, police budgets etc....which are you giving up?

MissyB1 · 20/10/2022 14:16

Lostmyway86 · 20/10/2022 07:17

For my two I've used a childminder until they're about 2.5 and then moved them to preschool, attached to a local church so it's school hours (9-3) which isn't ideal, but they've never had staffing issues. It's more like a school, so you pack their lunch and snack, no naps etc. My childminder absolutely adores her job and the children, and I don't seem to have had any of the issues that my friends with children in private nurseries have had. She's really flexible too and takes them to all sorts of places.

I agree that more people should consider pre schools, often attached to local churches (you don’t need to attend church, they are open to anyone). As you say though they are usually school hours and term time only. They tend to be cheaper too. I do supply work for one, it’s lovely.

catsandkid · 20/10/2022 14:17

Kissingfrogs25 · 20/10/2022 07:33

Wow so how on earth can any parent expect to feel comfortable leaving their babies with rolling agency staff that are not remotely invested in the job?

It is dangerous and risky. Are these people even trained to caring for such young babies and children?

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Back in my student days I was agency staff helping out in nurseries to make a bit of extra $$ to help cover rent. As a bank nursery assistant I had no qualifications for childcare or anything. All I needed was a DBS check (which I had to pay for).

catsandkid · 20/10/2022 14:20

MissyB1 · 20/10/2022 14:16

I agree that more people should consider pre schools, often attached to local churches (you don’t need to attend church, they are open to anyone). As you say though they are usually school hours and term time only. They tend to be cheaper too. I do supply work for one, it’s lovely.

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Those pre-schools are usually really relaxed, community groups and most would opt to send their children HOWEVER, the school hours only and no school holiday childcare make it a luxury that most working parents cannot choose.

MissyB1 · 20/10/2022 14:24

catsandkid · 20/10/2022 14:20

Those pre-schools are usually really relaxed, community groups and most would opt to send their children HOWEVER, the school hours only and no school holiday childcare make it a luxury that most working parents cannot choose.

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Yes I do agree, possibly could work if you had family that could pick up the slack in school holidays I suppose.

NuffSaidSam · 20/10/2022 14:27

You could look into a nanny share, that should be almost half the price of a nanny so about the same as you're paying now.

I'd also look at some research about what small babies need and maybe rethink the 'nursery for socialisation' angle. I'd also look into the realities of having a nanny and safeguarding. I'm not sure what you're concerns are, but I think safeguarding is the same across the board.

antelopevalley · 20/10/2022 14:41

Nanny shares will be more than almost half the cost of a nanny. It is more work for the nanny so only worthwhile if it is a good lot of extra pay.

Purplepeg · 20/10/2022 15:22

We have just moved from a nursery that had staffing issues. Poor communication, literally no feedback on what my child had eaten or done, and number of occasions my daughter came home in pee soaked clothes as no one bothered to change her. We’ve just found an amazing nursery, only 24 kids and 8 staff members, all of which have worked there at least 5 years+ so low staff turnover. Nurseries are in crisis at the moment (the first nursery was rated outstanding and recommended by friends) and the pay is terrible for what is a job with huge responsibility. DH’s sister works in a nursery says how much she hates the job and hates the kids and I feel awful thinking my daughter would have been in the care of someone like that.

RedWingBoots · 20/10/2022 15:30

Tillsforthrills · 20/10/2022 06:18

£6 per hour or less and out of that comes food, wear and tear, toys etc for the CM. That is a pittance for London! No wonder there’s a childcare crisis.

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In my area of London CMs charge the same as nuseries per hour per child which is around £9-10.

My CM charges less but I suspect she is winding down to retirement as she has days where she isn't at max capacity.

multicolouredblouse · 20/10/2022 15:36

Preschools are closing down as well, for tye same reason - can't get staff willing to do so much work for so little pay. We need to value nursery workers a lot more.

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/10/2022 15:37

What’s the issue? If it’s staff sickness and they can’t comply with legal requirements they have no choice.

MissyB1 · 20/10/2022 15:46

multicolouredblouse · 20/10/2022 15:36

Preschools are closing down as well, for tye same reason - can't get staff willing to do so much work for so little pay. We need to value nursery workers a lot more.

True. I noticed in Aldi just now they are advertising for store assistants, paying £2 an hour more than I get as a level 3 Nursery assistant. I’m lucky I can afford (just about) to work for a low wage as I’m in my 50s and Dh has a good job. But if I was just starting out in life, there’s no way I could live on this wage.

Original poster

catlady1234 · 20/10/2022 17:56

@MrsSkylerWhite

I think the issue is pretty obvious 🤷🏻‍♀️

If we pay for childcare and book certain days and then they can't provide the service at very late notice, we have no childcare.

We pay in advance which is also a problem as they want to offer a 'free' day to make up for the day they missed on a day I don't need childcare. They are looking into if they can credit the day to our account for next month. Atm I don't want to pay for a days nursery when we don't need childcare.

I didn't realise there was such bad staff shortages in the industry. It's really tricky for everyone involved.

OP posts:

Original poster

catlady1234 · 20/10/2022 18:01

@NuffSaidSam

Nanny share might be an option. Tbh I was put off by the commitment of employing someone, paying taxes for them etc. it's not something iv got experience of so seemed daunting. I also don't have the space to have the child at home as I wfh too. If I could find someone to share with who would arrange and host 👍🏼

I'm not an expert but to me it feels better to have more eyes on my child. Growing up my friends mum use to childmind and was always smoking around the kids and was always dragging the kids around with her rather than doing nice things with them. I'm sure not everyone is like that but I guess that's what's put me off.

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Justhereforaibu1 · 20/10/2022 18:06

Gosh I've never heard of that from a nursery, the sickness yes but not the lack of staff!