Getting charged for Childcare during covid

[DieselBlue89]

I'm looking for others experiences if they have little ones at nursery.

A couple of weeks ago our DD2 developed a bit of a cough so we got her covid tested which was negative. However because she still has a lingering cough the nursery are refusing to accept her. Possibility fair enough you might say (a cough might hide a further covid infection) but they are continuing to charge us even though she's at home. I'm struggling as I now can't work whilst I look after her.

Does anyone have any experience of this? It would be good to hear from childcare providers as well as parents.

A quick Google has revealed an open letter to childcare settings which says they are going against consumer protection laws by charging for a service we are not getting.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/nursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law/nursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law-advice

Thanks!

With my childcare it’s only not charged when they can’t provide the service, not when you can’t use it for whatever reason. So I’m charged if my daughter is unwell but not when the childminder had to isolate. Sounds like it’s the same with you but check the contract you have or Covid guidelines.

Unfortunately for you they have to protect the other children in the setting. Strange that they don't accept a negative test tho

Thanks @kos88
Yes I think that's fair if she's unwell, but these lingering occasional coughs can go on for while with her, and she's (bouncing around and climbing the walls) well in herself.

Yes it is strange @joopy79 I would totally be fine with this if the test of positive or I didn't get her tested

I'm charged unless they can't provide the service. But they accept a cough accompanied by a negative pcr.

Thanks @Potatoy - that seems fair enough. I'm not sure how our nursery can refuse when we have negative PCR

Have you asked the nursery?

@DieselBlue89

Thanks *@Potatoy* - that seems fair enough. I'm not sure how our nursery can refuse when we have negative PCR

Yes that seems very usual to me from what I've heard from other parents.

Normal in my experience. I have had 2 dc in private nursery, and yes every time they were at home sick we still had to pay. Not great for parents but they still have to pay their staff, buy food, heat/light the place regardless if your child is their or not. Just one of those things you have to suck up as parent! Same went if we were away on holiday. The only time we weren't charged was 1 week when they closed at Christmas.

We are allowed back with negative PCR if DC well in themselves and no fever.
But I’d expect to still pay, you are paying for the place. We only don’t pay if they can’t take her because they can’t staff it, or there’s an issue with the building etc. We pay if DD sick. She’s been in only about 60% of this year sadly.

@LouLou198

Normal in my experience. I have had 2 dc in private nursery, and yes every time they were at home sick we still had to pay. Not great for parents but they still have to pay their staff, buy food, heat/light the place regardless if your child is their or not. Just one of those things you have to suck up as parent! Same went if we were away on holiday. The only time we weren't charged was 1 week when they closed at Christmas.

Yes, I think in the situation that the child is sick, it's totally normal.

But from what the OP has said, she's totally fine, just a bit of a lingering cough.

In my DS's nursery they also accept children with a cough (if well in themselves) and negative PCR. I do think it's strange they don't and I would be asking why.

Agree with other..my nursery will allow them back with a cough as long as they are well and have had a negative PCR. They do charge whilst not attending due to waiting on a PCR or if it was positive etc. Something to be aware of though, our nursery sent home a letter from the NHS that stated that there are lots of other respiratory illnesses going round so please be vigilant and keep children home if unwell - I wonder if your nursery are taking this more seriously?

I agree with others - I think the problematic bit of their policy is not letting her back with a negative PCR, rather than charging for what they'd call a sickness absence. Small children cough all the fucking time!

@NellWilsonsWhiteHair my thoughts exactly!

It's going to be a long hard winter for thousands of parents if nurseries do this over the winter. Most little ones get a few coughs and colds over the winter!

@worriedandannoyed yes indeed!

Thankfully from the posts it seems that this is not commonplace. If it were then in the middle of winter there would be no children left at nursery, but all paying full fees!

I'm dreading the winter. It's been bad enough the last few months - every week there's been at least 1 day missed due to a bug or a cough. They've even said usually the cough would be absolutely fine. Then have to wait for the test results. Work hate me!

Sorry yes I’d missed the most important part of your post! Yes she would be allowed back with cough and negative PCR for sure. What else do they want from you? Unless your child was unwell in self or had a temp then neg PCR with the remainder of a cough should be ok.

Ours charge if you are unwell & unable to attend, like others say they are still providing the service & it's not their fault any more than ours that our child isn't well.
We had a refund when the nursery had to close entirely for a positive case.
So I'd say charging is definitely the norm, however if you have a negative pcr test & your child is well enough then that should be sufficient to send them back, ours would accept them if this was the case. Ours also use some common sense in terms of coughs & only send you for testing if it's noticeable, not if the kids are just a bit sniffy. Of course very mild symptoms could be covid but they can't send every snotty child home or they'd have no children there & a whole heap of pissed off parents.
I'd challenge the nursery about why a negative pcr isn't enough for your child to return

I think they can still charge if your DC is off due to having symptoms. If they can't accept your DC due to staff shortage or buble closure then they aren't supposed to charge?

Agree with PP though your real problem is that your nursery is not accepting a residual cough when the PCR is negative. That's ridiculous. Last time my younger DC had a cough it lasted about 3 weeks. After the first 48h spent sorting a covid test and getting negative results they were back in nursery for the rest of that time.

That’s not good of the nursery OP. If her test is negative & she’s well, they should be letting her back in. My DD is always coughing, she’s never be in! She has cough dominant asthma, a real joy in covid times 😩

I’m sure there must be some guidance on this somewere - ask your nursery for their covid risk assessment & justification for not allowing a well child back in with a negative PCR. M

If they won’t change their rules, I’d be moving nurseries as they are completely wrong with the stance they are taking here.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I will have to find another nursery for her, as I don't think my job will survive a winter of being off sick, when she's in fact well. Feels like they're abusing the covid rules! Such a shame as she's really settled. Thanks again for your experiences.