A SOLIHULL nursery is calling for all early years staff to be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine so they can continue to care for children safely.
Faye Hicks, owner and manager at Once Upon a Time Children’s Day Nursery, hopes the Government will re-think where childcare providers fall on the priority list for the second phase of the vaccine rollout.
At present only those members of staff who are in the first phase categories can get the vaccine when invited to do so.
It has been reported key workers like school teachers and police will be called to have their injection during the second phase.
“I am hopeful the Government will review the need to make nursery practitioners a priority for the vaccine so we can all be safe and continue to deliver vital childcare that our community is dependent on,” said Faye.
Since restrictions and measures have come into force Faye and her team have been dedicated to keeping the Ulleries Road nursery safe for the children in their care.
She said all staff had been given coronavirus specific training and strict policies had been put in place including not allowing parents in the building.
The children’s temperature is also taken and a health checklist gone through before they can go into nursery.
There is also more cleaning throughout the day at the nursery.
Faye says thanks to these health and safety measures there had been no positive cases for the virus.
“We have worked incredibly hard and gone to great lengths to ensure our nursery is a safe environment for both staff and children,” she said.
During this latest lockdown early years providers, including nurseries, have been able to remain open.
Faye said: “ We understand the virus does not affect younger children as severely as adults or older children.
“However, as a responsible employer I have a duty of care to my staff to protect them and provide a safe working environment.
“It is clear that nurseries play a key role to our economy enabling working parents to continue to either work from home or otherwise.”
