Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery key worker worries

37 replies

LuckyBrickPombear · 06/09/2024 20:45

Hi all,

First time poster and desperate for advice.

DS is starting nursery in a few weeks and we attended our first settling in session today and I have left feeling so deflated and worried.

He is 13 months so attending the baby room, we met our key worker and he had a little play. When we were there all the babies seemed very unsettled and didn’t seem happy. Our key worker informed us she had only just started and our DS is her only key child. She also informed us that she had not had DBS clearence yet as the paperwork takes a long time (she had only been there a month). I overall didn’t warm to her and don’t feel reassured leaving my baby with her. The other girls in the room also seemed quite miserable and didn’t want to be there.

I have been a much more anxious first time mum than I ever thought I’d be and the thought of leaving him there is making me feel so guilty and sad.

AIBU? Or would you feel the same?

I’ve voiced my concerns with DH, he says give it a chance and if DS doesn’t settle after a month we can have a word about changing key workers or even looking at other nurseries.

OP posts:
gossipgirl1 · 06/09/2024 21:33

Actually they can, I am a nursery manager and its common that a DBS can take a while to come (up to three months) they are never left alone with the children and don't do nappies or toileting until it comes through.

Stardustmoon · 06/09/2024 21:31

gossipgirl1 · 06/09/2024 21:21

Nursery manager here. Its actually quite common for nursery nurses to work without their DBS as it can take months to come through. However, they are not to be left alone with the children until they have it nor do any intimate changing or toileting. If the other babies have not long started that could explain why they were not happy. I have had three or four babies start around the same time which can be challenging but they are well cared for. It can take up to six weeks for a child to settle and then its like they have been here forever and their faces light up when they see their key worker, don't give up yet.

This is awful. I'm a teacher and safeguarding lead and we wouldn't let any member of staff onsite until enhanced DBS has come back.

Stardustmoon · 06/09/2024 21:29

She should not be allowed to work here until her DBS has come through. This is worrying.

Rory17384949 · 06/09/2024 21:27

Go with your gut feeling with nurseries. We saw our preferred one for DD (preferred because of convenience) but I just didn't like it. We saw another one just to be sure and I just instantly felt more comfortable with it- so she went there

gossipgirl1 · 06/09/2024 21:21

Nursery manager here. Its actually quite common for nursery nurses to work without their DBS as it can take months to come through. However, they are not to be left alone with the children until they have it nor do any intimate changing or toileting. If the other babies have not long started that could explain why they were not happy. I have had three or four babies start around the same time which can be challenging but they are well cared for. It can take up to six weeks for a child to settle and then its like they have been here forever and their faces light up when they see their key worker, don't give up yet.

Abigaillovesholidays · 06/09/2024 21:16

When I took my daughter for her first settling in sessions, I wasn't happy with the nursery at all. There were so many things that didn't seem right, I was worried if I was being an over the top first time parent. We had a second settling in session and I just knew I couldn't leave my daughter there so I told them she wouldn't be starting.

qualifiedazure · 06/09/2024 21:08

Staff can work before their DBS comes through so long as they're always supervised.
It's not always possible to wait as it can take weeks.

I wouldn't worry particularly about clicking with the key person or choosing another one - all the staff in the room will care for your child, they key person is mostly just to do the admin related to a particular child.
If you want to be able to choose the actual person caring for your baby you'd need to go down the childminder route.

The babies being unsettled and staff looking miserable is more of a worry.

NuffSaidSam · 06/09/2024 20:55

It doesn't sound great.

Does he need to go to nursery for childcare? If so, I'd look for another nursery or better still a childminder (or if you can afford it a nanny).

If he doesn't need to be there, just don't send him.

Kitkat1523 · 06/09/2024 20:49

I’m guessing the keyworker is having to work under supervision until her dbs comes thru? Not great tho ….I wouldn’t be very happy

Slinkyminky22 · 06/09/2024 20:49

Always go with your gut instinct on these things, I find.

Overthebow · 06/09/2024 20:49

I would be concerned about not having DBS, I'd question this with the nursery.

Sirzy · 06/09/2024 20:48

i would worry about the safeguarding policies of a setting that allowed someone to work before their DBS is through. Although the DBS system is in no way a guarantee of safety it should be a minimum before starting - her start date should have been delayed until after it was through.