Concerns about son's nursery

Indie_Kid

alwayspuzzled wrote: »

they have supervision ratios that I'm sure are set out in law!

Yes, the supervision ratios do exist. (I can't remember them though)

bestpud

Christie_L wrote: »

Hi bestpud,
As I say though I wondered if for £9.50 for a morning that's the best standard of care I could reasonably expect to get, at his old nursery (which got an 'outstanding' ofsted report) it was £22.50 for a morning.

Nicky x

No, absolutely not!

Health and safety should be covered no matter how much parents pay.

More expensive nurseries may exceed the required staff/child ratio or they may have more acces to activities, or more eqipment etc, but safety should not be compromised in either case.

I think it is just as easy to have an expensive nursery not look after the children properly - the level of 'care' comes down to the ethos of the nursery and the way it is managed rather than the cost to the parent imo.

It's not expensive to ensure one of the staff members is given responsibility for ensuring children are greeted and can't escape. I think, if parents need to ask more than something they can immediately respond to then they should refer them to other staff so they can stay by the door.

misgrace

Christie_L wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for your insight. I have phoned this afternoon and withdrawn him from the nursery. Pukkamum - no I'm sure noone took any notice of me or DS when we came in because I raised it with the manager, who acknowledged that there was a problem and that they would 'have a meeting about it'.

It's such a shame because I hoped he could attend the primary school the nursery is attached to when he turned 4 (it has a good ofsted report).

Nicky x

Hi Christie, When you rang them did you tell them the reason why you withdrew him, as I feel they should be aware of this, and perhaps make a phone call to the powers that be.
If they dont address the situation then some other child could go wondering around outside.
Do you remember the case in the papers and on TV where a small girl had walked out of the nursery and was found walking back to her home :eek:

My daughter runs a nursery, it has the highest rating in the borough, she took it over a couple years ago when it had one of the lowest ratings.
She pulled it up by the throat, and she is now very sought after to go to other nurseries and help them improve.
She has qualifications come out of her ears, also she pushes the qualified staff to go to college, (paid for by the nursery) to get more qualifications, and tbh I didnt know there was so much involved working in a nursery, the things you have to know is unbelievable, and you are learning, studying all the time as well as your daily work.

I dont know if your aware, and dont quote me on this bit, as am 100% sure, but there are meant to be X amount staff members on the premises, depending on the amount of children of course.
Plus no non qualified is allowed to be unsupervised or on thier own, there is meant to be a qualified member of staff.
Also, a lot of the unqualified are still at school doing work relelase, or have left school, its one of the lowest paid jobs, yes they have a minimum wage, but the majority of nurseries dont pay the staff well.

She got one nursery overhauled and most of the staff changed, and sent back to for more training to get more qualifications, because standards werent very good.
Also, most of the staff in these nurseries are mainly young, still at school, school leavers, and even though there are many genuine young girls who love the working with children, there are a few just fall in to it, as they cant get a job, and they think working with children is a piece of cake, they soon realise different lol

You did the right thing, but someone should be made aware of this, as this nursery is very lax.

Indie_Kid

misgrace wrote: »

I dont know if your aware, and dont quote me on this bit, as am 100% sure, but there are meant to be X amount staff members on the premises, depending on the amount of children of course.
Plus no non qualified is allowed to be unsupervised or on thier own, there is meant to be a qualified member of staff.

Both of these are true. When I did my work placement, I was always ignored when it came to staff ratio.

clairehi

Definitely go with your instinct on this, it does not sound right for a preschool looking after 2 year olds.

Between them my kids have been to 3 different nurseries, and in all of them the
street door was kept locked so kids could not get out and no-one could come in unannounced.

On arrival a member of staff would let me in and take me and the child to the room for their group. I wouldn't be left to wander around the nursery unsupervised. At the start of the day, parents might stop to talk to a member of staff briefly or other parents, but there would always be other staff there keeping an eye on the children - they wouldnt be left to play unsupervised.

I don't ever recall seeing a register being taken but as others have said this may have been done informally.

Butterfly_Brain

You can make a complaint against the school directly to Ofsted
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/About-us/Parents-and-carers

BigSister2008

I think you were right to do what you did. I used to work in a nursery which charged £10 a session and we had 1 member of staff on the main door , checking register as children arrived. The children also hung their name up on a board so we all knew who was in.

My boss(owner of the nursery) got slack over 6 months (everyone knew the code to type in to open the door, kids, parents, minders, friends etc) and i didnt agree so handed in my notice. What was the point in having a security keypadded door if she told anyone and everybody the code!!!!!That was 18 months ago but i havent been for any interviews in nurserys recently that seem to have good security as such.

kingfisherblue

I am involved in the management of a community nursery which charges £5ish a session (mornings are slightly more expensive than afternoons, and babies under two are charged at a slightly higher rate).

The cost does not come into it - the safety of the children has to be a priority regardless of the amount paid.

As for ratios, these also have to be adhered to by law. It is not only the amount of staff that is important, it is the level of qualification.

Age under two - at least one person for every three children
Age two - at least one person for every four children
Age three and over - at least one person for every eight children

Further information can be found here:
http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/84521