DS went to nursery on Tuesday for his first day. He was very excited about going, went in with no problem and took great delight in telling me I couldn't stay. It's a purpose built nursery attached to DD's school pretty much at the end of our driveway that we walk past twice a day. DD went through and was happy there and I was happy with the care she received.
I went to get pick him up and was outside a bit early and had a chat with a friend. The door opened and the children started coming out. One of the staff came over to me to tell me how he got on, which was fine. I then went to the door to get him only to find no children left inside. I asked where he was and no one knew. After a few minutes of panic there was shouting up at the main gate which is some distance away so I ran over. One of the other mothers had found him in the gutter, about to step out into the road from behind a parked car and grabbed him.
The procedure at home time is that the children line up at the door and go out one by one to their parents who are outside. If the parent isn't there or busy for some reason they are to sit on the bench by the teacher. There is supposed to be someone by the gate round the corner just in case anyone slips through.
No one knows exactly what happened. The lady who talked to me was supposed to have been at the gate. The lady in charge had left 20 mins early so her deputy was in charge. It seems that DS who didn't know what he was supposed to be doing had walked through with another child, didn't see me as the teacher was in front of me and just carried on walking. I think when he didn't see me he was trying to go home (he's 2.7) as he knows the way well.
I was called later in the afternoon by the lady in charge who has apologised profusely. I suggested they changed the procedure to how it was at DD's playschool where we used to live ie all the children sit on the mat at the end of the day and the parents go in one by one and take the child. She agreed without hesitating and called me up yesterday morning before school to get me to look at the letter she was sending the parents to say following a serious incident they were changing the way they did it and it was done like that yesterday.
She has reported it to the school and to the head of the commitee (one of the vicars from the church up the road apparently.) The whole of the school grounds are under review at present and will be changed pretty shortly. To get from the nursery to the main road you go through two small gates with latches and bolts. They are not self shutting. Then there is the main school gate. When they are out at play the small gates are bolted apparently. I think they would be possible for a small child to open so it's reliant on the staff keeping a close eye on the gate which is slightly round the corner to the nursery door.
I have said that I am intending to send DS back tomorrow but that if I find I can't bring myself to I will let them know. I have since found out from my friend's DH that he has been to pick up and there wasn't anyone on the gate as supposed to be.
Sorry this is so very long. I really can't get my head round him going again, I don't think I would be able to relax. If it wasn't for the fact that he loved it so much there wouldn't be any question in my mind, he wouldn't go. If anyone has got this far and wouldn't mind putting down what thoughts you have about what you would do in a similar situation they would be very welcome ! Many thanks.
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DS was found in the road at the end of his first day of nursery. Opinions on what to do now please.
19 replies
Kittypickle · 20/04/2006 08:21
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cat64 ·
21/04/2006 21:52
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