Some nurseries based in infected exclusion zones had to close or relocate premises last week as the number of confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease reached 69 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, at the time Nursery World went to press. It is not clear how long the nurseries will have to be closed, but they are likely to find their insurance policies do not provide cover for loss of revenue caused by contagious animal diseases.
A spokesman for insurance broker Morton Michel, which provides the National Day Nurseries Association insurance scheme, said, 'Nursery policies do cover for loss of revenue in the event of contagious disease on nursery premises, but not in the event of foot and mouth disease, and no insurance broker would give cover. The only cover available for commercial premises is for human notifiable diseases.'
A Pre-school Learning Alliance spokesman said, 'Pre-school insurance policies are not designed to cover animal-transmitted infectious diseases. However, we are very concerned about the effects of the epidemic on sustainability of rural pre-schools and we will be talking to the DfEE about what advice and support they can offer.'
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) network co-ordinator Karen Walker advised nurseries in rural areas to check their insurance policies. She added, 'If there is a threat of closure it is important to keep parents as informed as possible and think about the procedure of what to do if they have to close the nursery due to extraordinary occurrences. Nursery owners should contact their partnerships and registration and inspection units to see if there are alternative premises to be used on a short-term basis.' Nursery owner Margaret Taylor found she was not covered for financial loss when her Meadows Nursery in Northumberland was forced to close because of the epidemic. She turned to her local partnership for assistance. Childcare development officer Geoff Dorrity said, 'We have stepped in to find alternative accommodation and help with removal costs. We were able to get social services to come out immediately to register the temporary building and it will open next week. As far as possible we hope to give moral support and financial help. We have a hardship fund but there is not much money left as it is near the end of the financial year.'
Madaleine Roberts, owner of The Farm Nursery in Hoarwithy, Hereford, chose to relocate to protect her husband's farm. It took three days to get new premises registered by social services and she has suffered an estimated loss of Pounds 1,500. She said, 'It has been a very big loss week and I've checked with my insurance company but I am not covered, because foot and mouth is not counted as contagious diseases.
'Many of the younger children also feel displaced and lost in their new setting. It is like starting a whole new nursery again.' The foot and mouth precautions in force at Treetop Nursery (pictured), based in a wildlife park in Shepreth, Cambridgeshire, are proving an exciting novelty for the children. Nursery manager Janet Clark said, 'We are in a low-risk area at the moment but everybody coming through the park gates has to stand in disinfectant.
'The children are all wearing wellies to come into nursery and so are most of the staff. But the children think disinfecting their boots is a lot of fun.'