Room leader excessive absence

[Kafryne]

My son's nursery room leader has off sick for a total of 4 weeks if you spread all the sick days she's taken since September. I heard that she has mental health issues but I'm not sure if it's the case. Would you be concerned if you have a nursery room leader who is absent most of the time. I mean how can it affect the running of the setting? And also the head teacher of the entire setting has been off sick since September.

During the pandemic you have to isolate if you have a cold or flu. So, no I wouldn’t be concerned by a lot of absences. Nursery workers can easily catch colds etc. off children who have been dosed up on children’s Panadol and sent into nursery sick. Before Covid nursery workers would come into work if their symptoms were mild. Now, with the pandemic, you can’t.

When I tested negative for Covid but positive for rhinovirus (common cold) I was instructed to isolate for 2 weeks from the day my symptoms appeared.

I imagine room leaders in a childcare setting are exposed to an awful lot of bugs and illnesses. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a relatively high level of sickness, plus thanks to covid, isolation rules mean that they might have to be out sick.

To be honest the question is whether it's having an impact on your child. I wouldn't know if my nursery had people out sick regularly, they manage their staffing, and as long as they keep to ratios then it's none of my business who is sick and how long for. But I'm confident my child is well cared for there regardless.

Who says it’s excessive?
You are not able to make that claim as you have no idea of why she has been absent
The nursery will still carry on as normal if people are off sick, much the same as any workplace