No mention of nurseries in the PM’s statement then

[sunnyday]

Just now, zigzag said:

We currently open two full days (9-3) and one morning.  I am toying with the idea to change for the rest of the summer term to opening five mornings 9-12.  This means lunch boxes do not need to be brought in, yiu haven’t got the worry of cross contamination at lunchtime where they sit close together and it also means more staff Available at the end of each session for cleaning equipment and the room.  What are your thoughts on this?

That sounds like a really good plan

[louby loo]

49 minutes ago, zigzag said:

We currently open two full days (9-3) and one morning.  I am toying with the idea to change for the rest of the summer term to opening five mornings 9-12.  This means lunch boxes do not need to be brought in, yiu haven’t got the worry of cross contamination at lunchtime where they sit close together and it also means more staff Available at the end of each session for cleaning equipment and the room.  What are your thoughts on this?

I would certainly go with this. If we do open it will will be mornings only, as doing doing a full day 6+ plus hours following current  'distancing' guidelines would be tantamount to child cruelty in our set up!  One room, no outside area. 

Edited May 12, 2020 by louby loo

[anju]

1 hour ago, sunnyday said:

It does say in one of the 'guidance docs' that we are to contact our LAs if we are unable to open - at least I think it does - have read them several times......

Yes I read that too and that they would maybe send the children to another setting

[Stargrower]

Does anyone have any thoughts on children who attend more than one setting?  Will you be asking parents to choose one or the other for now?

[louby loo]

1 minute ago, Stargrower said:

Does anyone have any thoughts on children who attend more than one setting?  Will you be asking parents to choose one or the other for now?

Yes, but it only effects 2 of ours, and we are not their main setting anyway.

[finleysmaid]

15 minutes ago, Stargrower said:

Does anyone have any thoughts on children who attend more than one setting?  Will you be asking parents to choose one or the other for now?

I have got one who does my setting and a childminder..she will have to choose! too risky!!

[Mouseketeer]

30 minutes ago, Stargrower said:

Does anyone have any thoughts on children who attend more than one setting?  Will you be asking parents to choose one or the other for now?

I’m also asking them to choose only one setting.

 

[sunnyday]

1 hour ago, Stargrower said:

Does anyone have any thoughts on children who attend more than one setting?  Will you be asking parents to choose one or the other for now?

 

1 hour ago, louby loo said:

Yes, but it only effects 2 of ours, and we are not their main setting anyway.

 

53 minutes ago, finleysmaid said:

I have got one who does my setting and a childminder..she will have to choose! too risky!!

 

37 minutes ago, Mouseketeer said:

I’m also asking them to choose only one setting.

 

This has come to mind for me today - one of my staff members is a childminder and she takes three of our children home with her - this has worked so well to date as working together we have been able to offer the 30 hours - what an absolute nightmare this situation is 

[sunnyday]

Just a quick question please - are all of your staff members 'happy' to work from June 1st?

[zigzag]

1 minute ago, sunnyday said:

Just a quick question please - are all of your staff members 'happy' to work from June 1st?

No! One who is retiring at the end of term is not coming back and I totally support her in this. Other staff members not happy at all.

[sunnyday]

Just now, zigzag said:

No! One who is retiring at the end of term is not coming back and I totally support her in this. Other staff members not happy at all.

Thanks zigzag - I am totally dependent on my deputy agreeing to step into my shoes as I can't go back because of Mr S and shielding, she is reluctant and I completely understand why, I have asked for a definitive answer now as I can't begin to 'plan' for June if she is unwilling to work, but I really don't want to put pressure on her.....

I think we may all be worrying about something that is not going to happen anyway.....who knows

[louby loo]

7 minutes ago, sunnyday said:

Just a quick question please - are all of your staff members 'happy' to work from June 1st?

No, not really.

[anju]

1 hour ago, Stargrower said:

Does anyone have any thoughts on children who attend more than one setting?  Will you be asking parents to choose one or the other for now?

Hadn’t even thought of that 😬

[anju]

Well, I’ve messaged all my families saying would you want to send your child if there’s the possibility of coming back, and I explained we’ll need to restrict numbers and follow government guidance which may mean only taking the oldest children etc.  So far I’ve had 8 replies and they all want their children back in on 1st june!! Feeling more stressed now 😩 Maybe the yesses are bound to answer quickly and the rest will mostly say no....

[anju]

23 minutes ago, sunnyday said:

Just a quick question please - are all of your staff members 'happy' to work from June 1st?

I’m not sure yet. Trying to gauge numbers so that I can deal with that if it arises. What will you do in terms of wages etc if they don’t feel happy to work?

[sunnyday]

54 minutes ago, anju said:

I’m not sure yet. Trying to gauge numbers so that I can deal with that if it arises. What will you do in terms of wages etc if they don’t feel happy to work?

It's my deputy anju - I need her to work as I am unable to (husband shielding) - if she won't work then we can't open, not to come over all 'drama llama' here but I think that will be the 'end' of my setting so wages won't come into it...

[sunnyday]

1 hour ago, anju said:

Well, I’ve messaged all my families saying would you want to send your child if there’s the possibility of coming back, and I explained we’ll need to restrict numbers and follow government guidance which may mean only taking the oldest children etc.  So far I’ve had 8 replies and they all want their children back in on 1st june!! Feeling more stressed now 😩 Maybe the yesses are bound to answer quickly and the rest will mostly say no....

I really don't know how to react to that  I haven't contacted my parents yet, as above I need a definitive answer from my deputy

This all too stressful

[zigzag]

I have sent a message out asking if people want their children to return IF their is a possibility of it in June.  So far I have two definite no’s one maybe and two definitely yes.  I explained very clearly that staff and children would not be able to social distance, also explained no parents in the setting under any circumstances and the need to massively reduce the amount of toys and resources available. I also said we may change to shorter sessions. The one person I knew who would query this did! Wanting to know if it’s statutory guidance or just me! I bit my tongue and explained my reasoning very nicely😬 Just waiting for the rest to let me know now.

[sunnyday]

10 minutes ago, zigzag said:

I have sent a message out asking if people want their children to return IF their is a possibility of it in June.  So far I have two definite no’s one maybe and two definitely yes.  I explained very clearly that staff and children would not be able to social distance, also explained no parents in the setting under any circumstances and the need to massively reduce the amount of toys and resources available. I also said we may change to shorter sessions. The one person I knew who would query this did! Wanting to know if it’s statutory guidance or just me! I bit my tongue and explained my reasoning very nicely😬 Just waiting for the rest to let me know now.

I wonder if the 'definitely yes' will have a change of heart if they turn out to be in the minority, are they working parents?

[finleysmaid]

well my answers are coming in slowly...although have had to add a codicil about only one setting (!!! missed that) 1 no 1 undecided. 3 yes (1 is a keyworker and i will prioritise) they have sensibly said only 3 sessions to help them out! two others want full time...not likely im afraid ! 

[zigzag]

54 minutes ago, sunnyday said:

I wonder if the 'definitely yes' will have a change of heart if they turn out to be in the minority, are they working parents?

The definitely yes will NOT change their mind! The definitely yes is also the chairperson!!

[Mouseketeer]

3 hours ago, sunnyday said:

Just a quick question please - are all of your staff members 'happy' to work from June 1st?

I’m not sure yet, a quick we may be opening June got a thumbs up from all, I plan to speak to them all later this week to discuss my tentative plans with them, speak to them about some staying furloughed and some returning now I have an idea of numbers and asking them to send me their thoughts individually....though I’m also thinking we will do all this stressing and planning and it won’t actually happen, there seems to be a lot of opposition to it mounting and I think the extended unchanged furlough to August will also cause more reluctance for settings to open, a couple of local primary schools have announced today they will not open before September.

[Cait]

That's an interesting point though, Mouseketeer, if schools can individually, unilaterally decide not to open, that puts preschools in a much stronger position.   

Is it it possible to suggest to parents that children may only attend if they're wearing a face covering? Might that 'put some off'?  

Zigzag, is your Chairperson willing to come in and work alongside you if some staff can't work due to their own childcare commitments? 

Sorry, not really being too helpful

 

[sunnyday]

I woke up this morning thinking 'why the hell am I even considering reopening 1st June'......

I know it's not safe to do so

If it's safe then why have we been given such restrictive guidelines

What sort of experience would it be for our lovely children

And so much more - have I finally 'lost the plot' - probably!

[zigzag]

I am in a constant state of feeling sick about it. I just do not understand why the government is not listening to head teachers, unions, EYA etc when they are saying it’s not the right time to open.  
I am quite surprised that more of my parents seem to be choosing to keep the children at home, I really wasn’t expecting that. I am going to contact our LA today to see where we stand on not opening if we only have a few children wanting spaces.

[finleysmaid]

To be honest with the rate that the traffic has increased we'll be in lockdown again about 24 hours before we are due to open...don't panic folks I don't think it's going to happen

[sunnyday]

43 minutes ago, zigzag said:

I am in a constant state of feeling sick about it. I just do not understand why the government is not listening to head teachers, unions, EYA etc when they are saying it’s not the right time to open.  
I am quite surprised that more of my parents seem to be choosing to keep the children at home, I really wasn’t expecting that. I am going to contact our LA today to see where we stand on not opening if we only have a few children wanting spaces.

This is exactly how I have been feeling - yesterday, I had a 'headache from hell' nothing would shift it

I haven't consulted my parents yet, I didn't know where I was going with this and didn't want to make promises that I couldn't keep

I now have to get my thoughts together and compose something for parents, but need to wait to hear back from my staff first

I can't bear the thought of the pre-school experience that we would be providing with such restrictive guidelines to follow, I don't want the most oft used phrase to be "no, stop, you can't do that" - it would be so, so miserable for all concerned

37 minutes ago, finleysmaid said:

To be honest with the rate that the traffic has increased we'll be in lockdown again about 24 hours before we are due to open...don't panic folks I don't think it's going to happen

fm - I completely agree, I don't think that it will happen either - but I need to be 'up front' with my parents and I need to gain some peace of mind for myself

[louby loo]

1 hour ago, sunnyday said:

I woke up this morning thinking 'why the hell am I even considering reopening 1st June'......

I know it's not safe to do so

If it's safe then why have we been given such restrictive guidelines

What sort of experience would it be for our lovely children

And so much more - have I finally 'lost the plot' - probably!

 

1 hour ago, zigzag said:

I am in a constant state of feeling sick about it. I just do not understand why the government is not listening to head teachers, unions, EYA etc when they are saying it’s not the right time to open.  
I am quite surprised that more of my parents seem to be choosing to keep the children at home, I really wasn’t expecting that. I am going to contact our LA today to see where we stand on not opening if we only have a few children wanting spaces.

Snap! 

I have sort of made the decision not to open - and if they take back any funding, we'll close in September and my life will be sorted!

I then decided I would prioritise my school leavers, and offer perhaps one, possibly two days a week- but this would be a max two hour session.

I have today 'played the game' and sent out a very politically correct unbiased questionnaire on our Facebook page -two answered yes they want to come back within minutes!

That said- both of those parents also ticked the box say they would be happy with a shorter 'parents respite session', and due to our set up of no direct outside area, I think its long as staff are willing, this is the route we will be taking. 

The trouble is I believe parents think it will be nice for the children to socialise and see their friends again- without actually realising 'seeing friends' from a distance is just about all that will be happening!

[sunnyday]

6 minutes ago, louby loo said:

 

Snap! 

I have sort of made the decision not to open - and if they take back any funding, we'll close in September and my life will be sorted!

I then decided I would prioritise my school leavers, and offer perhaps one, possibly two days a week- but this would be a max two hour session.

I have today 'played the game' and sent out a very politically correct unbiased questionnaire on our Facebook page -two answered yes they want to come back within minutes!

That said- both of those parents also ticked the box say they would be happy with a shorter 'parents respite session', and due to our set up of no direct outside area, I think its long as staff are willing, this is the route we will be taking. 

The trouble is I believe parents think it will be nice for the children to socialise and see their friends again- without actually realising 'seeing friends' from a distance is just about all that will be happening!

Interesting to read your thinking louby 

[Greenfinch]

Morning! We are currently closed too. We are a small nursery and take babies up to school leavers. What are others like our nursery thinking of doing? (I noticed a lot of discussions may be talking just about 3-4 year olds?)

I’m really not sure if/how it’s manageable having our babies and under 3’s in and 3-4 year olds - we would have to almost operate how we normally do but how can we without putting safety measures in place re. group sizes, distancing staff from another etc.?

I have thought I could operate largely outdoors/slightly reduce offer/opening hours etc but on the other hand, safety and health issues put to one side, it’s almost all or nothing I feel, to not financially run at a loss. I’ve even considered not taking funded children back and ‘giving’ them early to school (I really don’t want to do this) as we don’t have many leaving this summer ... 
Or - a phased reopening - maybe the young ones first and the preschool a few weeks later? I don’t know?Another coffee required!!