Nursery only been open over a year and on 4th new manager!

[NameChangeNora]

Its not usual to have this level of staff turnover at management level is it? There is also a really high staff turnover at nursery nurse level but I would expect and understand that a little more. Parents don't appear to have actually been informed of the new managers departure, just been given a new staff structure to indicate the deputy manager is now the manager.

My DD attends this nursery and I do have other concerns (some of them minor) but it is my only option at the moment and she loves it and so I have tended to try to overlook the issues I have as long as she is happy and safe obviously. Although there was one incident where she was given a food she has a potential allergy to but luckily she didn't eat it and measures have since been put in place to ensure that will not happen again.

Would the high level of turnover worry you? I don't know whether to mention it to the new manager as obviously I am not entitled to know the reasons why the previous manager left and also I am not a very confident person and don't want to be seen as a nosy parent etc but it just doesn't seem right that the staff aren't staying. If there was a serious issue with the nursery would the managers who have left have a duty to report it so OFSTEAD?

Sorry I am rambling a bit but I don't speak to any of the other parents to mention it to them so would be grateful for any one else's thoughts

[grumpalumpgrumped]

4 managers in a year is extreme. They have to inform Ofsted of changes of managers. I would ask the owners to be honest. I am a nursery manager.

[insancerre]

sounds like something is majorly wrong there
a nursery is only as good as the manager, as ofsted inspect very heavily on leadership and management
the nursery should expect a visit from ofsted any day as that many chnages of manager and staff will trigger an inspection

[grabaspoon]

In my last nursery we had girls who stayed 18months-2 years and others who were there 4,6,10 years! 4 managers in a year is bad and id also be worried about the high turnover of nursery nurses. is it private or a chain?

[NameChangeNora]

Thanks for your replies.

I wouldn't feel particularly comfortable in trying to speak to the director as I have come across him briefly on a couple of occasions and found him to be very unapproachable and he doesn't appear to be particularly pleasant.

Its a franchise - I think there are about 12 others in the UK. I had a quick chat with the new manager today and apparently the previous manager had wanted to 'put her own stamp on things' and couldn't work in the nursery franchise way (which the manager likened to as a McDonalds ) Kind of makes me think perhaps the new manager wanted to change things for the better but was unable to deviate from a specific (money saving/making) plan??

The nursery had an Ofsted report in December and received a 'Good' rating there was a further inspection in June - which was brought forward due to concerns - and they were then rated 'Satisfactory'

[Belugagrad]

I could have written your op but my dd's nursery is only a
Chain of 4 and not a franchise. All I do is keep and eye on things and stick my beak into everything. I don't care if I am 'that' parent. We have had 4 managers
In 18 months. It's my right to ask questions and keep abreast of everything . I have looked at other nurseries but I'm sticking for now.

[TiggyD]

Monkey Puzzle?

Not sure how a franchise affects children or staff. Not sure how it would work in a nursery setting.

[TiggyD]

Oh, and 4 managers is very bad. If the managers were crap then it's not bad they're leaving, but why were they hired in the first place?

[nextphase]

We went through 3 in less than a year.
No 1 had been there for ages, but there was obviously some scandel, and her and 3 others left with 0 notice.
No 2 was booted out for inappropriate behaviour to staff.
No 3 still going strong 10 mths later.

It felt very uncomfortable in the periods when there was no manager - as they both left suddenly, but for short periods of time, the competency of the staff carried them through. if it was a new nursery, with less well established rules, procedures and staff, it may cause problems.