Coronavirus: Providers back petition for emergency funding to save parents paying fees

It comes as childcare providers make the difficult decision whether to charge parents who will not be allowed to attend settings from Monday due to the measure taken by the Government to reduce the spread of Coronavirus. Only vulnerable children and those of key workers will be able to attend schools and childcare settings from next week.

The petition, urges the Government to set up an emergency fund to ensure the survival of settings and that parents aren’t charged full fees to keep a child’s place open.  

So far a total more than 58,000 have signed the petition.

Earlier in the week, the Government promised financial support for childcare settings. Reports suggest the chancellor Rishi Sunak will be making an announcement today.

In response to a post from Nursery World on social media about settings charging parents during their closure, the majority who replied said they would not be asking for fees, including the second largest nursery group Bright Horizons.

Not charging

Mr Badham (@BadhamMr) tweeted, ‘Nope. We can’t provide a service so I don’t see how we can expect to charge. Yes, financially it will kill us but parents may be in the same boat. I’m hoping the Government will step up and help us all out.’

Tash Li (@Tennistash) tweeted, ‘It would be morally wrong to fully charge during this crisis. We may be suffering, but so are parents.’

A parent writing on Facebook said that her childminder isn’t charging fees.

‘She is collecting payment for next month as has already invoiced, but will be deducting that off the bill when we go back. It’s effectively keeping our places. She won’t have any income herself or be able to pay her assistants but says she can’t take money of us all we will be in the same boat. She is amazing!', she explained.

Some settings told Nursery World they have had to make staffing changes in order to ensure sustainability.

Reach for the stars (@BiddulphNursery) tweeted, ‘We have had to alter our staffing and delivery model due to the loss of income to ensure our long-term financial sustainability and viability.

Charging

Other providers have said they have no choice but to charge parents.

Jo Mac (@joannemcnally60) tweeted, ‘We are a small family nursery so we have no other income to fall back on. I have to lay staff off tomorrow, which is heartbreaking, but hopefully there will be a nursery left for them.’

Writing on Twitter, Little Seedlings Day Nursery (@littleseeds1) said, ‘We are looking at asking parents for a percentage of their fees in order to keep income coming in. We know this is a difficult time for all parents and our staff and we want to try out best with both. If parents then hand their notice in, there is nothing we can do.’

Incey Wincey Day Nursery and Pre-school (@MickKingswell) tweeted, ‘We are working out a percentage that will reflect the business rates and mortgage payments break we will get as well as a small discount for the loans that will be available. The owner is considering remortgaging to pay staff full pay.’

In official Department for Education guidance, published yesterday, it states, 'In light of the steps taken already (business rate holiday and continuation of funding), we are asking providers to be reasonable and balanced in their dealings with parents. The Government is urgently keeping what further support businesses may require under close review.'

CASE STUDY

Ash Pajpani, who runs Blossom Educational and is a director of five nurseries in London which operate under the names – Blossom Tree and Inspire Montessori, said parents have been very supportive in light of the current situation.

He told Nursery World, ‘We are determined to support parents as much as possible, especially key workers.

‘In order to continue to provide a livelihood for staff and ensure our financial sustainability in the long-term, we are asking parents to pay 50 per cent of fees while we are closed to all but vulnerable children and those of key workers.

‘The support we have received from parents across our nurseries has been overwhelming. We have had messages thanking us for continuing to provide childcare provision and helping key staff stay in work. One parent offered to deliver supplies to us if needed.’