Nursery charging for two weeks of self isolating because of worker

[Lollipops5]

Hey,

So my little girl started nursery on the 5th October. After 1 week I had a call to say a worker had tested positive and that my little girl had been in contact with her so she couldn’t attend nursery for two weeks.
I’m so angry 😡 they have just sent the months bill through for £600. The first week she attended 2.5 days and the last week of the month she attended 4 days. So I’ve basically paid £100 a day in nursery fees. I had to take time off work so I’m out of pocket both ways ! How is this acceptable! 😡

Whats in your contract?

Unfortunatelsy sounds right to me,you pay to keep her space

That’s some brass neck. I’d ask to at least be able to use the hours and explain that you’ve had to take unpaid leave.

That doesn’t sound right. What if you’d have had to paid for alternative childcare for that time? I’d definitely query it. Doubt it’s in the contract unless written in post covid as it’s a new situation. Do you know any other parents in the same position?

I know it’s different but our CM had to self isolate as her daughter had it and she didn’t charge us anything. The contract stipulates she can’t charge if she can’t offer the service.

My nursery has issued updates to.contracts to cover these situations and had made things very clear to parents as soon as they possible can. Other nurseries should be doing the same - were terms around Covid not shared with you? If not then you may more reason to be annoyed but equally you probably should have asked how it would work. These are very difficult times for nurseries too and I think while it's frustrating you need to think of the bigger picture.

That is frustrating, but ultimately you presumably want the nursery to be able to continue trading as you need the childcare. Also, it's fair that the staff member who is sick and any others who need to isolate are paid as it's not their fault they're off.

The point about paying for alternative childcare doesn't apply as that won't have been an option with an isolating child.

I'd pay in this scenario, but I appreciate it's not always possible.

I could understand if your daughter was isolating because of being in contact with someone else, or someone in your family tested positive, then she’d have to pay.
But the fact that she was isolating because one of THEIR staff exposed her, you shouldn’t take the financial brunt.

Same thing happened at my daughter's nursery. Soooo frustrating.

I’m not sure you can really make a judgment call about it being a member of their staff who exposed you. She may have caught it from one of the children who may have had it asymptomatically. Nursery staff and teachers are significantly at risk at work.

What would you prefer? Nurseries to not charge parents and not be able to pay their staff and go bankrupt and have to close.

@Nosleeptilteenagers

That doesn’t sound right. What if you’d have had to paid for alternative childcare for that time? I’d definitely query it. Doubt it’s in the contract unless written in post covid as it’s a new situation. Do you know any other parents in the same position?

I know it’s different but our CM had to self isolate as her daughter had it and she didn’t charge us anything. The contract stipulates she can’t charge if she can’t offer the service.

She wouldn't have paid for alternative childcare as her child had to isolate.

Sounds a standard application of the fees policies in the current situation. Expect more of the same.

At DS’ nursery, we pay when he can’t attend because he’s ill, or has a temp and can’t go back until he’s had a covid test etc. I understand that entirely as it’s part of their sickness policy.
But he’s had to self isolate for 14 days twice because he’s been in the same room / close contact with other children that have tested positive, and we don’t pay for those days.
I think that is the fairest way.
I don’t think you should have to pay when someone else’s child is ill.
But of course it’s up to the individual nurseries to make those policy decisions.

At DS’ nursery, we pay when he can’t attend because he’s ill, or has a temp and can’t go back until he’s had a covid test etc. I understand that entirely as it’s part of their sickness policy.
But he’s had to self isolate for 14 days twice because he’s been in the same room / close contact with other children that have tested positive, and we don’t pay for those days.
I think that is the fairest way.
I don’t think you should have to pay when someone else’s child is ill.
But of course it’s up to the individual nurseries to make those policy decisions.

Thanks everyone for your opinions.
@Thatwentbadly I can see your point BUT.. So it’s okay for the nursery staff to still be paid their wage while off sick when they technically speaking could be provided with sick pay or providing there eligible covid support allowing my fee to be dropped. I’m the one who’s had to take two weeks off work loosing £1000 and still having to pay nursery fees and my mortgage.

It's very likely that the member of staff is paid SSP of £95 a week. They also have bills to pay.

The issue is the nursery policy, which you can query. No need to project your anger onto the member of staff.

@ArosGartref
How am I projecting my anger at the worker ? It’s the nursery that’s taking my money not the individual. It’s them not her, although technically her fault

Just a vibe I'm getting.

Employers are unable to claim back statutory sick pay.
If the bubble has been broken and all the children and rest of the staff in the bubble are off, unfortunately it is a case of parents pay fees and suck it up, or have no nursery to go back to.
This isn’t normal circumstances. I had to pay for months of private school fees when the kids were at home with no discount. Not ideal but just one of those things.

You need to pay to make sure there is still a business to go back too however you shouldn't be charged for meals and extras on those days