Nursery Issues

[Casperron]

Hello,
My son has just turned 2 and has been attending nursery since September 8-6 4 days week
I’m a university student in my 1st year and the work has been pretty full on. I find it really difficult managing full time uni work whilst giving my son everything he needs including attention. I have 12 hours of seminars / lectures and we are expected to do 36 hours of uni work and reading outside of this. I’ll have to do 15 hours of volunteering this term too. I’m a lone parent and have no childcare bubble. I also run an eBay business. I cannot drop out of my course as I’m doing a 4 year degree and won’t get another year of student finance. I also rely highly on student finance and wouldn’t survive just on benefits or working due to having to pay for childcare.
my sons nursery was shut due to a positive covid case in December so he hasn’t been since the 14th. When lockdown happened, they said they were only open to critical workers and vulnerable children.
I’m struggling so much getting everything done, my uni work, running a business and caring for my son. The nursery have been completely unsupportive. I’m still having to pay 50% fees out of my childcare grant and he’s not even allowed to go despite government guidance saying how important it is for early years settings to be open. He hasn’t seen anybody in nearly 2 months and I’m worried about his speech and social development. I’m also exhausted from trying to juggle everything

surely they should be taking university students into account?

 

[Fannyisyouraunt]

I didn’t realise children were critical workers! Firstly what an appalling written email. Nursery settings are allowed to be open but it’s a companies choice how they operate at this time. Can’t you approach other nursery in your area?

 

[Casperron]

I didn’t realise children were critical workers! Firstly what an appalling written email. Nursery settings are allowed to be open but it’s a companies choice how they operate at this time. Can’t you approach other nursery in your area?

I found the email to be quite rude really. I wish I could but we live in a rural area. This nursery is the closest decent one and it’s a 15 min drive already.
I found another one online 25 minutes drive which I’ve thought about viewing. This is the best one locally in terms of care, the setting is really nice and cosy indoors then free flow to a great outdoor area. The meals are good as it’s connected to a school with a chef and they get all their meals. And I’m kept updated online with what he gets up to.
But generally the management and staff are quite rude to me at pick ups. I feel like sometimes I’m not assertive and just let them walk over me.

I am writing an email response if anyone has any suggestions what to write

 

[Gemgemgemgem]

How patronising is their email to you?
Can your university assist? Perhaps give you extensions on any assignments? What course are you doing, if you don't mind sharing? That just seems like an awful lot of workload, especially for a first year student.
I'm sorry I'm not able to offer anything more constructive or helpful to you. I'm not in the UK, so I assume childminders etc aren't operating? It's must be difficult for everyone and I do somewhat agree with the nursery imposing that only children of essential workers attend, however that is of no use to you.
Personally I'd ask my university for some flexibility. Does the university have a childcare service attached to it?

 

[TriviaNewtonJohn]

Could you change to a different nursery? Early years are open for non critical workers in England at least I'm not sure where you are.

 

[Herehere]

Hi, have you thought about quitting nursery? I’m working from home and our nursery still wanted us to pay 100% of fees so we’ve quit, and asked for her to rejoin in September which they’ve agreed to. You could also see if this other nursery would have your child in the meantime/ short term. Also I would talk to student finances at the university, if you are on your own you may be entitled to support for childcare costs depending on your course. Also... I thought nurseries-can stay open to all legally, whether you are a keyworker or not, so I don’t think they can charge you if you are entitled to send your child to nursery. It’s their choice they are only accepting keyworkers and they shouldn’t be penalising those who aren’t. I could be wrong but I would be fuming

 

[Tui]

Hang on - they are still taking your money yet not allowing your child to attend for over a month? I.e this is not anything to do with isolation or an outbreak but they have essentially closed themselves to your child for the foreseeable future but still take your fees? That is outrageous!!

i agree speak to your uni about this; they may have hardship funds or even their own childcare as I expect their own staff are considered key workers and they may be able to fight your corner. Your workload sounds huge - similar to what I was doing in medical school.... are you medicine/nursing/dentistry or similar??
Another thing I’d suggest is writing to your MP and asking them to intervene

 

[Herehere]

I’m glad some one had said the same thing, I would write back and say something along the lines of “the government has not asked nursery to close for non-keyworkers and therefore legally I am still entitled to a place within your setting, if you do not wish non keyworker children to attend then you have no right to be charging a fee and I will be requiring a full refund for the weeks not attended or my child is to continue attending the nursery.” You can ask where in your contract it says they can do this too, and yes write to your MP too.

 

[Blair-Waldorf]

That email is a load of tit - ALL private nurseries are open whether your a key worker or not

I am fuming for you, you must be up the wall - sending love

 

[Babyyoda88]

They definitely should still be open, I don’t think it is their choice tbh. The only settings who can choose and have more leeway are schools which have a nursery class. Private nurseries should all be open.

 

[Casperron]

I think I’m going to send him to a different nursery. I found one but it’s 22 min drive surely that’s too much? problem is I will have to give his current nursery a months notice

I found this document from the government to basically say nurseries should be open to everyone for their well-being and developmenthttps://assets.publishing.service.g...ly_years_providers__schools_and_colleges_.pdf

I do get financial help the childcare grant payment service pay 150£ a week I pay the rest £50
But that’s a problem in itself as I have to remind them 3 times a week to invoice payment on theee as I can’t do it myself it needs to come from the nursery, then I get slapped with late payment charges from the nursery!!

 

[SunshineDreamer]

You might want to look Here it’s the CMA advice about fees etc during lockdown. Do you have a contract with them? If they’ve been told to open but have decided against it they would be in breach of the contract. If so say to them you with to wave the notice period but will take no further action to recoup lost money (as I doubt they’d give any back). If you are going to leave anyway, you have nothing to lose.

 

[Casperron]

The contract says that if they close I have to pay 50% fees. My local area Facebook group someone has asked for nursery recommendations and a few people are slagging off his nursery! I’ve messaged them to see if they have similar experiences to me

 

[Death2unicorns]

Your nursery sound absolutely awful, first of all they are allowed to be open to all children whether key workers parents or not, so they are taking your money and not giving your child a place when they could be, they are ripping you off, even if it’s only 50% it’s still 50% more then you should be paying, find another nursery, even if it is further away, and don’t give them a penny more, reply to their email with a link to the guidance about nursery settings being allowed open, and ask them if they have misunderstood the rules or if there is another reason your child isn’t allowed to go which they have failed to explain properly to you, and tell them you have cancelled the direct debit, the other things you had said sound awful as well - the rudeness and issues with the invoices, just try getting a place at the other nursery even if it is further away

 

[Tui]

I think I’m going to send him to a different nursery. I found one but it’s 22 min drive surely that’s too much? problem is I will have to give his current nursery a months notice

I found this document from the government to basically say nurseries should be open to everyone for their well-being and developmenthttps://assets.publishing.service.g...ly_years_providers__schools_and_colleges_.pdf

I do get financial help the childcare grant payment service pay 150£ a week I pay the rest £50
But that’s a problem in itself as I have to remind them 3 times a week to invoice payment on theee as I can’t do it myself it needs to come from the nursery, then I get slapped with late payment charges from the nursery!!

15 min vs 22 min drive is little difference? At least at a 22 min drive your child gets to attend nursery

 

[Casperron]

15 min vs 22 min drive is little difference? At least at a 22 min drive your child gets to attend nursery

45 mins there and back pretty much plus the time inside collecting him. I’ll see how far it is when I go to visit. I’m due a baby in October and I’m worried how the baby will cope in the car for that long every day, but maybe my partner will be home from work at that tome

 

[Tui]

45 mins there and back pretty much plus the time inside collecting him. I’ll see how far it is when I go to visit. I’m due a baby in October and I’m worried how the baby will cope in the car for that long every day, but maybe my partner will be home from work at that tome

Once your baby arrives perhaps you could cancel the nursery? Obviously it’s not ideal to have a newborn and toddler at home for practicality reasons with a new baby and wanting to socialise your eldest with other children but I’m presuming you would get some mat leave for your course? I don’t know your personal circumstances so these are only suggestions, none of this is ideal. I do think appealing to the local authority or council about the fact the nursery is refusing to take your child yet willing to take your money may have legs. I know of families who have successfully done this with schools who have denied key worker children places, in your situation the nursery has no reason to close except their own personal choice

 

[BettyCrocker]

45 mins there and back pretty much plus the time inside collecting him. I’ll see how far it is when I go to visit. I’m due a baby in October and I’m worried how the baby will cope in the car for that long every day, but maybe my partner will be home from work at that tome

What’s going to happen with Uni once you’ve had the baby??

 

[Jmx]

45 mins there and back pretty much plus the time inside collecting him. I’ll see how far it is when I go to visit. I’m due a baby in October and I’m worried how the baby will cope in the car for that long every day, but maybe my partner will be home from work at that tome

You’re due a baby in October? it’s only feb so does that make you less than 4 weeks preg?

 

[Death2unicorns]

You’re due a baby in October? it’s only feb so does that make you less than 4 weeks preg?

I’m myself due on 14th Oct and I’m 5 weeks preg, not sure what maths you are doing there!