City nursery worker calls for them to shut

SHE SAYS SHE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DURING LOCKDOWN

A HULL nursery worker who feels “unsafe” at work is calling for early years settings to be closed to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The 42-year-old mum, who has worked in childcare since the age of 16, said she does not feel safe going to work throughout lockdown, with toddlers sneezing and coughing all over her.

The nursery practitioner, who does not wish to be name, said she supports calls for nurseries to be closed during lockdown, or at the very least would like to see them open for the children of critical workers and vulnerable children only, similar to how schools operate.

Unlike in the first lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked nurseries, childminders and preschools in England to remain open during the third national lockdown, arguing that young children are less likely to spread the virus.

However, the National Education Union and Unison are calling on the Government to close early years settings in line with schools, to protect staff and stop the spread of coronavirus.

The Hull nursery worker said parents continue to bring children to nursery throughout lockdown, even when they are not working.

She said: “It’s business as normal for us, we’ve still got all the regular children.

“Every day I go to work I feel so tense and on edge the whole situation is crazy.

“Personally, I think it should close altogether or make the keyworker list shorter, for example for police, fire, doctors, nurses and shop workers.

“Children are apparently the ones who are the main ones spreading it, they have closed schools, the ones that can social distance, why not nurseries?

“We can wear a mask if we want to but some children would be scared if we did.”

The mum, who works three days a week said it is impossible not to get close to the babies and young children she is caring for, which puts her at risk.

She said: “There are babies from one year old that require picking up, wiping of noses, they have no concept of personal space and will cough and sneeze over the staff, same with the toddlers and pre school, they are obviously freely able to move around the room so can’t and don’t socially distance.

“It’s hard work trying to remain a normal daily routine with checking temperatures of the children upon arrival, the constant cleaning regime and monitoring of the toys that are used so that they are cleaned properly and regularly.”

The nursery worker is classed as a critical worker, and so is entitled to send her son to school, but has created a childcare bubble with her parents instead.

She said: “As a parent, if I wasn’t at work I would definitely not send my child to nursery. I am not saying it’s bad parenting or anything, it’s personal choice, I guess.

“My son doesn’t go to school, if it’s not safe and Boris has closed them then why would I send him?

“If it’s not safe for school age children how can it be safe for underfives?”

Parents are no longer allowed to enter the building, instead staff collect the children from their rooms then take them out to their parents outside, and have to wear masks when answering the door.

Staff also carry out more vigorous cleaning than they did previously.