Page 2 | Worried about the nursery that I work in

KeyLimePie98 · 2024-09-24T14:08:54+00:00

I started work as a practitioner a month ago but I’m starting to have concerns. First of all, staff are often out of ratio, meaning two staff to many children outside and it’s hard to be watching everyone all at once. The manager has apparently complained about the state of one of the rooms, the toddler room (I don’t work in this room) that toys are everywhere and it’s a mess. staff aren’t happy saying that the manager isn’t supportive. I’ve also noticed mould around the window sills. Staff stand chatting and children have accidents. I’ve been into other rooms to get something and children are often left to cry as apparently nothing will soothe them. Would you raise concerns and how?

qualifiedazure · 24/09/2024 20:35

Ifoughthefight · 24/09/2024 19:14

how is any of what you say, normal????

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It's common. Lots of nurseries are pretty dirty, run on minimum ratios and babies cry.

It should be physically safe though and if it isn't the OP should raise it - with her line manager or the nursery manager, or escalate to Ofsted if it is still unsafe.

Newsenmum · 24/09/2024 20:33

Sweetcarolinedadada95 · 24/09/2024 15:21

Welcome to the childcare sector 😅

I worked with kids for 10 years (nurseries, schools and as a nanny) and this is all very normal I'm afraid.

I worked in 3 different nurseries (mainly private which are worse imo) and they were all terrible, always over ratio, unqualified miserable staff who clearly didn't even like kids but needed a job. Owners only interested in making a profit. I was a supervisor in a baby room for just over a year and had 4-5 babies by myself on a regular basis. There's so many stories I could tell you. I wouldn't have sent my kids to any of them let's just put it that way.

Basically, you pay peanuts you get monkeys. I'm glad I changed careers a few years ago.

Sorry to put a downer on things but childcare really isn't for the faint hearted. It's a hard job with generally in shit conditions.

Where would you put your kids?

Toothpastestain · 24/09/2024 20:23

Completely normal. I worked in an "outstanding" nursery where the was so much mould and slug trails every morning, massively out of ratios, kids crying all the time, just rubbish. Manager never around, no one cared.
I complained to ofsted on several occasions, no action from them.
Mould was hidden from parents with pictures, fabric, furniture. It was/is a joke amongst staff. Grim. It's still there too.

Takeoutthegluten · 24/09/2024 20:08

How awful. I hear this sort of thing a lot and even most of the responses on this thread seem to point towards this kind of situation not being unusual. Then we are puzzled why CAMHS waiting lists are years long for older children but if the majority are having sub standard care in their early years that could be so damaging long term

queenofthewild · 24/09/2024 20:02

Your setting should have a whistleblowing policy. It should be published on their website. Follow the process to the letter.

If no whistleblowing policy, then contact the LADO at your local authority.

This would absolutely not happen at the setting I work in. I have an office role but will absolutely step into a room to comfort an upset child or help with first aid. Leaving children to cry or have accidents is not on and not standard in childcare.

PrincessOfPreschool · 24/09/2024 19:57

Ratios have gone up. At preschool age it's something like 1:15 with certain qualifications. Even Level 3 staff it's 1:8 so 2 staff could be 16 kids. It's also a recommendation rather than law, I believe.

Not saying it sounds great. Sounds like one place I worked which has a huge staff turnover as it was horrible to work there. I've been in my current place for 4.5 years and yes, sometimes we're understaffed and things could be cleaner, or children are 'left crying' (if they have had 1:1 cuddles for the past 3 weeks!) but management is good, staff are pretty happy, kids are mostly happy (which kid wouldn't rather be at home with family?).

Butterfly43 · 24/09/2024 19:43

Report. It's really worrying that after a month you're not sure who to report your concerns to, this should absolutely have been covered in your induction safeguarding training. You can report anonymously to Ofsted or the LADO at your local authority if you don't feel able to speak directly to the manager. Please don't not do anything though, safeguarding is everyone's business and ratios are there for a reason.

twinmumoffour85 · 24/09/2024 19:39

KeyLimePie98 · 24/09/2024 18:07

For an example, I went into the room to cover and as I entered I’d seen one child had actually thrown up on the floor from crying so much as he’d been left to cry as his key person had gone for lunch and they admitted that he just won’t settle with anyone else

This is something that should definitely be reported to a manager and if nothing happened/parents weren’t informed then Ofsted. I would be absolutely heartbroken if my child was left like this. I had the unpleasant experience of working in a private nursery for 10 months and I would never ever send my own children to one. Your experience sounds exactly like mine. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same nursery.

Icannoteven · 24/09/2024 19:23

Ifoughthefight · 24/09/2024 19:13

That breaks my heart. Kids left alone crying...
Money is not everything and a mum's presence in the early years is more than everything, more than a big house, oversized car, expensive clothing, foreign holidays

What a strange response. I don’t live in a big house, or have a car, I don’t have expensive clothing and I haven’t been abroad in over 20 years. I still had to send my kids to nursery and work though 🫤. I would probably still chose to even if I was in a position where it was optional. Mums getting back in the kitchen isn’t really the solution.

Ifoughthefight · 24/09/2024 19:14

qualifiedazure · 24/09/2024 17:59

Sounds quite typical for nursery to be honest!

Ratios can be taken over the building, not the room/area. Are you sure they are out of ratio? If you're not sure ask your line manager.

Mould/dirt is fairly normal, nurseries often won't have a cleaner.

Kids crying is normal.

If you feel care is unsafe, email the manager though.

how is any of what you say, normal????

Ifoughthefight · 24/09/2024 19:13

That breaks my heart. Kids left alone crying...
Money is not everything and a mum's presence in the early years is more than everything, more than a big house, oversized car, expensive clothing, foreign holidays

qualifiedazure · 24/09/2024 19:05

KeyLimePie98 · 24/09/2024 18:03

Definitely out of ratio at times. There’s two staff and loads of children running around both from toddler and the pre school room. Whilst some staff are inside but it’s way too many children between two staff at times!

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Including the staff inside though it could still be within ratio. However if you feel staff deployment is unsafe you should raise it.

Happii · 24/09/2024 18:09

Sadly it doesn't sound wildly uncommon, but I would report if you have concerns, trust your gut.

Original poster

KeyLimePie98 · 24/09/2024 18:07

For an example, I went into the room to cover and as I entered I’d seen one child had actually thrown up on the floor from crying so much as he’d been left to cry as his key person had gone for lunch and they admitted that he just won’t settle with anyone else

OP posts:

Original poster

KeyLimePie98 · 24/09/2024 18:04

I agree children crying is normal but the children seem to be left crying in the corners which isn’t nice to see

OP posts:

Original poster

KeyLimePie98 · 24/09/2024 18:03

qualifiedazure · 24/09/2024 17:59

Sounds quite typical for nursery to be honest!

Ratios can be taken over the building, not the room/area. Are you sure they are out of ratio? If you're not sure ask your line manager.

Mould/dirt is fairly normal, nurseries often won't have a cleaner.

Kids crying is normal.

If you feel care is unsafe, email the manager though.

Definitely out of ratio at times. There’s two staff and loads of children running around both from toddler and the pre school room. Whilst some staff are inside but it’s way too many children between two staff at times!

OP posts:

Original poster

KeyLimePie98 · 24/09/2024 18:00

Sorry WFH

OP posts:

Original poster

KeyLimePie98 · 24/09/2024 18:00

Lemonadeand · 24/09/2024 17:34

I don’t see how a nursery manager can effectively work from home. Ours is on the gate every morning, greeting kids and parents. She really sets the tone of the setting.

She WFM or is in the office but doesn’t come into the rooms much/greet parents etc

OP posts:

qualifiedazure · 24/09/2024 17:59

Sounds quite typical for nursery to be honest!

Ratios can be taken over the building, not the room/area. Are you sure they are out of ratio? If you're not sure ask your line manager.

Mould/dirt is fairly normal, nurseries often won't have a cleaner.

Kids crying is normal.

If you feel care is unsafe, email the manager though.

LightSpeeds · 24/09/2024 17:55

Lemonadeand · 24/09/2024 17:34

I don’t see how a nursery manager can effectively work from home. Ours is on the gate every morning, greeting kids and parents. She really sets the tone of the setting.

^This.

I did think WTF when the OP said the manager works from home a lot.

Lemonadeand · 24/09/2024 17:34

I don’t see how a nursery manager can effectively work from home. Ours is on the gate every morning, greeting kids and parents. She really sets the tone of the setting.

Lallyhead87 · 24/09/2024 17:25

Report! I was in a similar setting where really the care was very poor. It was my first job and although I knew it wasn't right I had nothing to compare it with and I was also scared I would lose my job.
I often think of it actually and really regret not reporting.

Skybluepinky · 24/09/2024 16:57

Phone Ofsted.

BrightYellowStar · 24/09/2024 16:56

I would report this to Ofsted in England or the Care Inspectorate in Scotland.

Take photographs of the mould - include them in your email.

GG1986 · 24/09/2024 16:53

Yes report to ofsted