Has anybody actualy worked in a GOOD QUALITY private day nursery? Do they exist?

[chloemegjess]

Hi, not wanting to scare parents here, but I have worked in probably 30 or more nurseries at some point (I did 2 years in one and then did temp work). I did not find one single one that I would want want to put my own children in or recomend to friends.

I saw how much they all put on such a front when parents were around, and one took about 6 months preparing for ofsted - telling everybody what to say, what not to say etc and even re-decorated for them! Nothing that ofsted saw was real at all, so the report meant nothing.

This isn't just one nursery, all the ones I have been to are like this. Yet the parents think it is a great nursery, as all they see is a "front" that the nursery put on for them.

Most are just about making money. The children were given tiny portions of food and told they could not have any more if they were still hungry, as it needed to fit in with the budget, yet parents were told they could have as much as they like. Nappies were not changed when they said they did, ratios were never stuck to, staff were mostly young trainees etc etc the list could go on forever.

Anyway, what I want to know, is are there actually any good nurseries out there? I am more asking staff rather than parents, as they are the ones who see the real side of things.

Sorry, just needed a rant about the nurseries as I get stressed out everytime I hear somebody recommend one!

[cthea]

Wow, 30 job changes. Are you sure you are in the right profession?

[chloemegjess]

I did state that I did 2 years in one and then did temp work - so no, not 30 job changes, 2. I worked for an agency who supplied temp staff to nurseries.

[cthea]

I find it impossible to believe that in 30 nurseries children were underfed, nappies not changed, ratios not stuck to. Have you considered bringing up your concerns to Ofsted before Mumsnet? I don't see what you're trying to achieve (apart from the obvious: stirring).

[chloemegjess]

I didn't say ALL those problems happen in every nursery just giving some examples.

And Yes, I have spoken to ofsted and I don't work in Nurseries anymore.

I just wanted other peoples opinions as I wanted to know if I had just had bad experiences or if it was like this everywhere. Sorry didnt mean to offend anybody!

And no, I wasn't trying to "stir"

[RubySlippers]

DS is in a FANTASTIC private nursery

they received at outstanding at their last OFSTED

they talk the talk and walk the walk all year round - in 18 months i have only ever had to raise one issue with them, and they then re-trained the staff on it

the food is plentiful and home cooked and DS frequently has seconds!

Staff turnover is low and i can arrive at any time and guarantee what i will see is brilliant

[ByTheSea]

I work p/t in an excellent day nursery, which is now also a children's centre. Children ARE put first there and lots of attention is paid to providing a stimulating and safe environment for them. I am very impressed with almost all my co-workers and the supervisors there, and the owner is very involved. Food is prepared on-site and the children seem to enjoy it (although many bring packed lunches too). It is rated outstanding by Ofsted, who cited no areas for improvement and I wish my children had gone to the one I work at now than the one they did (when I used to work in the City).

[chloemegjess]

Marla, sorry I missed your post. Thats good they have an open house, I have never seen that before. What do the parents do there? Surely most work during the day?

[RubySlippers]

i do see the real side of things

am not DAFT and I wouldn't leave my DS somewhere where i did not have 100% confidence

[cthea]

Well, what do you HONESTLY think? That all nurseries are full of problems and all parents but you are idiots who don't see the obvious? No, not all places are like the ones you saw.

[chloemegjess]

Whats the TES staffroom? Sorry didnt realise I was in the wrong place.

Bythesea - thank you for that, sounds great!

I don't really see how I am stirring? I havent mentioned any names or areas or anything?

Sorry I have obviously caused an issue here, maybe I should ask for this to be deleted? Didnt say anything that wasn't true though, as I didnt say all nurseries are like this. Oh well

[RubySlippers]

i frequently stay with my DS for around 30 mins in the afternoon when he is having his snack and they are all singing songs

i also stay with him whilst he starts on his breakfast

my nursery has an open door policy too

[chloemegjess]

God I wish I hadn't asked!

[LazyLinePainterJane]

There is one in my town (the only one so a lot of parents have no choice) that charges a fortune, doesn't change nappies as often as they should, refuses to wipe bottoms of toilet training children, leaves eating children unattended, hires almost exclusively young trainees...etc etc

Am sure they are not all like this but having heard what I have...I would think twice.

[undercovercat]

I used to work in a nursery that I was happy to leave my children at.
BUT thats not to say they didnt cut corners.
The hot water was only on in the kids bathrooms for ofsted coming, on that day a member of staff would stand in the bathroom and each child would wait thier turn and have hands washed, somehow, noone ever said, Why are we doing this? We dont normally. Most odd
Quite often we were understaffed. 3 of us with 30ish kids.
However, the keyworkers knew their children and were constantly mentally checking they were ok even whilst having one to one with someone and the doors were always locked(I worked in a nursery where the doors were not always locked and stair gates not shut and it was on a main road and it was AWFUL)
The staff were sent on courses, just to have the certificate, the new things we learnt were rarely put in place, when they should have been, but the boss wouldnt shift from the way she liked things done.
I knew my kids were SAFE there, and well looked after.
The other places I have worked, all awful, babys unstimulated, same one box of bricks for the whole morning, babys left crying etc.

[aGalChangedHerName]

I have worked in 1 fab nursery. The rest were shit

Parents were happy with the care given The daily diary sheet was mostly fabrication i am sorry to say. I was a trainee there and it put me off doing my nursery nurse training.I walked out and reported my concerns to ELRIS (was many years ago) and they were visited once(an announced visit) and of course they cleaned up their act.

My s-i-l put both her dc in there even after i told her what it was like. The owner used to smoke in the main area where the children were. She used to make all the other dc get off the chute/give a toy they were playing with to her dd who was a spoiled brat!!

My s-i-l still raves about the nursery and tells everyone how lovely the staff were (yeah right) and reccommends it to all and sundry. I say nothing unless asked directly,s-i-l gets pissed with me saying it was shite,but i have to say what i saw don't i??

[cthea]

Those sound like horrible nurseries. I know I wouldn't send my child to a nursery were staff smoked inside (even before the smoking ban on workplaces). I'm surprised some parents have such low standards.

[chloemegjess]

agalchangedhername - sounds very similar to a lot of the nurseries I have been to. Except not the smoking.

Thats the problem with reporting them, it is usually an announced visit. And unles ofsted get loads of reports, they dont seem to do anything other than tha announced visit, when of course everything is changed.

I have recently found out that one of the nurseries has now closed. which is good news

[saralou]

i sent ds's to a shit nursery... thats how i know their current nursery is a good one!!!!!

[juneybean]

I've been going for a few interviews lately as trying to get my first nursery job and the thing I notice first is how scruffy they are :/

[skydancer1]

Rubyslippers - what's the name of that nursery? Sounds fab.

[RubySlippers]

it is this one

Juneybean - lots of nurseries are scruffy - the wear and tear is monumental on fixtures and fittings and toys

now, if they are dirty and neglected that is a different matter

[Bubble99]

Private day nurseries get no notice at all for routine OFSTED inspections, unlike nurseries (whether private or otherwise) attached to state primaries and childminders.