Childcare worker's behaviour outside work?

*SuzySue*

Their staff to child ratio is really good - it's 2 or 3 to 1 - so I don't think my daughter has that much interaction with her. I'll mention the incident to the nursery manager, I think. It won't be a complaint, obviously, but at least they'll be able to keep an eye out.

GobbledyGook

*SuzySue* wrote: »

Their staff to child ratio is really good - it's 2 or 3 to 1 - so I don't think my daughter has that much interaction with her. I'll mention the incident to the nursery manager, I think. It won't be a complaint, obviously, but at least they'll be able to keep an eye out.

If your child is 0-2 then 1 to 3 is the most it should be legally. At 2 the most it should be is 1 to 4.

I would be concerned about both the high staff turnover and the fact there hasn't been much discussions with parents.

I'd definitely mention it to the nursery manager. Personally I'd be requesting that as much as possible your daughter wasn't cared for by her because the trust between parent and carer is important.

I wouldn't want someone that felt it acceptable to use language like that in front of, or about, children to be caring for my child.

*SuzySue*

GobbledyGook wrote: »

If your child is 0-2 then 1 to 3 is the most it should be legally. At 2 the most it should be is 1 to 4.

I would be concerned about both the high staff turnover and the fact there hasn't been much discussions with parents.

I'd definitely mention it to the nursery manager. Personally I'd be requesting that as much as possible your daughter wasn't cared for by her because the trust between parent and carer is important.

I wouldn't want someone that felt it acceptable to use language like that in front of, or about, children to be caring for my child.

She's 3 but its 1 group of children from 2.5 to school age. They run with 8 staff regardless of the number of children (up to 26). It's a playgroup rather than a normal nursery. There have only been 17 children until recently (now 21) hence the good ratio. It's one of a group of settings and they rotate the staff depending on what qualifications they're working on. But it means that the staff we are introduced to in September might have gone by February to be replaced by others, and there's no mention of it until its happened, which is a bit frustrating. Some staff get a big send off and others seem to just disappear.

Carmina-Piranha_2

Will she recognise you when you drop your daughter off?

meritaten

so its a playgroup - but parents don't stay.
I think the playgroup leader or manager SHOULD know about this. she sounds unstable. that is not acceptable behaviour. they should be forewarned because she needs keeping an eye on.

*SuzySue*

Carmina-Piranha wrote: »

Will she recognise you when you drop your daughter off?

She's seen me (and my friend whose child comes too) 6 times this week. She doesn't seem to have recognised us.

jackyann

*SuzySue* wrote: »

She's seen me (and my friend whose child comes too) 6 times this week. She doesn't seem to have recognised us.

I find this slightly worrying for 2 unrelated reasons:
1. You are *absolutely* sure it was her? I have been mistaken for other people, though not after a nose-to-nose confrontation!
2. If she really doesn't recognise any of you, I wonder what her state of mind is?

*SuzySue*

jackyann wrote: »

I find this slightly worrying for 2 unrelated reasons:
1. You are *absolutely* sure it was her? I have been mistaken for other people, though not after a nose-to-nose confrontation!
2. If she really doesn't recognise any of you, I wonder what her state of mind is?

Absolutely sure. She has very distinctive hair and glasses. I thought I vaguely recognised her at the time but couldn't think where from.

My friend and I weren't directly involved at the play centre, and I think she was so focused on my other friend that she wouldn't have noticed us.

Mojisola

*SuzySue* wrote: »

I'm on good terms with the nursery manager so could easily have a chat if it was warranted.

I would approach the manager for a "quiet chat about something that's bothering me". Give her the facts - it may confirm what she already thinks about the worker. If it seems out of character, she can keep a closer eye on how things are running in the nursery to make sure nothing like that happens at work.

sacha28

I was in 2 minds about this until I remembered an incident that happened whilst looking for a nursery for my LO.

I had several visits booked to different nurseries and was in between visits so went to a local shop. Stood outside I heard, in a horrid screamy pitch 'Riley get the f**k back here now or I'm really going to lose my temper'. I look around and see a young lady chasing a little terrified lad but she was smoking and in the uniform of the next nursery I was about to visit. Needless to say I phoned up and cancelled my appointment, citing the exact reason why (as in what I had just witnessed) I would no longer consider them to look after my tiny little man.

I have no idea what, if anything, was said and I don't care.

I feel I would have to say something to the manager as I would be concerned about the safety of my/other people's children.