We were incredibly fortunate not to have any cases of Covid during the first and second lockdowns. However, since coming back in September it has been never-ending.
What has made the situation very difficult, is that parents continuously bring children with symptoms into nursery despite our numerous requests for them not to. Some of these children have gone on to test positive and within days staff have tested positive too. Not only has this impacted on our ability to operate in our usual way, but it has put a great deal of strain on the staff who are covid free and double vaccinated. They have had to carry the burden of extra shifts and a greater workload. There has not been a week this term where we have not had someone in our nursery community test positive.
Although our senior leadership team aren't always in ratio, we have had to do so much cover, that it is pretty overwhelming and relentless. Children are seeing less of their key persons which is not ideal. Important administration tasks have been put on the backburner so that we are able to make it through the week. It feels like we are merely surviving and working from day-to-day. In the meantime, the support we have received from our local authority is virtually non-existent. There have been times where we have thought we might have to close or reduce numbers. We have narrowly missed doing this because our SLT realise that the financial implications of this don't bare thinking of, not to mention the damage it will do to our reputation.
We stopped all face-to-face visits (where possible) which has meant we have not secured the number of new children we need in January. Furthermore, parents are not keen on virtual tours, especially when other nurseries may still be doing face-to-face visits. This has all been compounded as we simply cannot find qualified Level 3 practitioners so we have made the mad decision not to take on more children.
Covid is indiscriminate and it has oddly affected our qualified staff which has made it very stressful trying to manage the ratios. Because the disapplications were removed, we have had to battle through and I worry that our team is burnt out and that we may lose valued staff members who are simply no longer willing to put themselves on the line for a measly salary largely dictated by the poor funding we receive.
Now that Omicron has arrived with a vengeance, it is only a matter of time before even more people test positive and impact our ability to operate and be profitable. With no financial Government support and a limited pool of qualified candidates to employ, how are we to navigate the next few months?
Marley Westell is head of St Lukes Nursery School in Tunbridge Wells.