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Unlike schools, nurseries and preschools in England have been told by the government to stay open to all children.
We’ve been looking at some of the significant fears and frustrations facing staff, particularly at private and voluntary providers.
Here are some of the issues
We’ve been looking at some of the significant fears and frustrations facing staff, particularly at private and voluntary providers.
Here are some of the issues
Safety
An estimated 31,000 nursery & preschool workers have tested positive for Covid-19 since Dec 1st (source @EYAlliance), that’s 1 in 10.
Nurseries we’ve spoken to say positive cases among staff have soared in this wave, and temporary closures have become more common 2/14
An estimated 31,000 nursery & preschool workers have tested positive for Covid-19 since Dec 1st (source @EYAlliance), that’s 1 in 10.
Nurseries we’ve spoken to say positive cases among staff have soared in this wave, and temporary closures have become more common 2/14
One nursery in south east London we visited run by the London Early Years Foundation have had 3 staff hospitalised with coronavirus since last Friday.
Since the start of the year the EYF has had to close 14 of its 39 nurseries because of staff shortages brought about by Covid.
Since the start of the year the EYF has had to close 14 of its 39 nurseries because of staff shortages brought about by Covid.
Young children can’t socially distance, from staff or each other. Staff wipe noses, change nappies and comfort crying kids. It is a labour of love, but they fear going home to their own families.
Right now, 48% of nursery staff feel unsafe at work (source @EYAlliance) 4/15
Right now, 48% of nursery staff feel unsafe at work (source @EYAlliance) 4/15
The DfE says the evidence suggests “children are unlikely to be playing a driving role in transmission” but as cases of coronavirus in early years settings rise among stuff, they don’t feel protected.
This is what Jo Godbold, an owner of a nursery in Kent, told me:
This is what Jo Godbold, an owner of a nursery in Kent, told me:
This is Carolyn, a nursery teacher.
She has two children who live with her - one is shielding, the other has special educational needs, but she spends her days looking after other people’s.
She has two children who live with her - one is shielding, the other has special educational needs, but she spends her days looking after other people’s.
Testing
Schools and local authority-run nurseries have access to home testing kits provided by the DfE.
Yet staff in private, voluntary and independent nurseries don’t. If they want them, they have to buy their own, or go to get a test like everyone else.
Schools and local authority-run nurseries have access to home testing kits provided by the DfE.
Yet staff in private, voluntary and independent nurseries don’t. If they want them, they have to buy their own, or go to get a test like everyone else.
The DfE says it’s ‘encouraging’ local authorities to prioritise early years staff at testing centres, but
privately-run nurseries don’t think it’s fair that they’re being denied the same (quicker and easier) testing arrangement as staff in state-run settings.
privately-run nurseries don’t think it’s fair that they’re being denied the same (quicker and easier) testing arrangement as staff in state-run settings.
On the community testing centres, staff have told us they’re sometimes closed by the time they finish their shift.
And buying the tests is expensive for nurseries with small budgets. One owner paid £300 for 30 Covid test kits out of her own pocket. She can’t keep doing that.
And buying the tests is expensive for nurseries with small budgets. One owner paid £300 for 30 Covid test kits out of her own pocket. She can’t keep doing that.
MONEY
And here’s a big dilemma for nursery owners:
They need as many kids through the door in order to stay open. If fewer children register, less money comes in. But the more children come in, the higher the chance of COVID coming in with them.
And here’s a big dilemma for nursery owners:
They need as many kids through the door in order to stay open. If fewer children register, less money comes in. But the more children come in, the higher the chance of COVID coming in with them.
51% of nurseries & pre-schools expect to be operating at a loss at the end of spring.
During the autumn term, the DfE funded the sector based on pre-Covid levels of child attendance, but during the spring term they’ve based funding on the number of kids currently registered.
During the autumn term, the DfE funded the sector based on pre-Covid levels of child attendance, but during the spring term they’ve based funding on the number of kids currently registered.
The issue for nurseries & preschools is many have seen a fall in new registrations over recent months as people were encouraged to ‘Stay at Home’ etc. So for many, less money is coming in.
If the govt want them to remain open and survive, nurseries say that need extra help.
If the govt want them to remain open and survive, nurseries say that need extra help.
VACCINE
And if they are to stay open throughout, and not feel unsafe at work, early years staff want to be prioritised in phase two of the vaccine rollout.
94% of them, according to the @EYAlliance survey.
And if they are to stay open throughout, and not feel unsafe at work, early years staff want to be prioritised in phase two of the vaccine rollout.
94% of them, according to the @EYAlliance survey.
On vaccines, the DfE says:
“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has asked the Department of Health and Social Care to consider occupational vaccination in the next phase of vaccine rollout. The Department for Education will input into this.”
“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has asked the Department of Health and Social Care to consider occupational vaccination in the next phase of vaccine rollout. The Department for Education will input into this.”
I think it’s important to say that I haven’t spoken to a single nursery owner or early years worker who wants to close completely. I know there are some who do, but everyone I have spoken to just wants access to testing, more financial help, a vaccine ASAP, and some recognition.
