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AIBU?

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New to working in a nursery and witnessed horrible treatment

264 replies

Emrald1 · 31/01/2025 21:16

Today, my colleague was in a bad mood and just wanted to do tasks like clearing drawers and not interact with the children. She was frustrated with a DC crying and said 'right, this is what we're going to do' and she forcefully grabbed her by the hand and marched her over, plonked her hard down on the floor and then chucked her doll that she had brought in from home down on the ground next to her really hard. A bit later on, she aggressively marched over to the same DC with a angry look on her face and forcefully removed her dummy from her mouth. Whilst having dinner, the same DC was trying to take food from another's plate and she again grabbed her hand away in not a nice way and shouted NO. I don't do nappies as I am lunch cover so I let her know that this DC had soiled their nappy, as she was on nappies and there was no other staff present. She gave a look of disgust to the DC and didn't say anything. I made a note of these things. I was looking for advice as I know I need to report this but this member of staff has been there a long time whereas I haven't and I have a feeling I won't be believed as I think she is seen as a very competent member of staff but this was witnessed by just me. How can I approach this please

OP posts:
Uneventfully · 31/01/2025 21:25

This is so heartbreaking.

Please report to the manager but be prepared for this to be swept under the rug.

Therefore also raise a concern with the Local Authority or Ofsted.

GrumpyWombat · 31/01/2025 21:25

This makes me feel so sad 😢 please report this

Greenbottle123 · 31/01/2025 21:25

User67556 · 31/01/2025 21:18

God I feel so lucky my DC nursery is so bloody amazing and loving - the thought of this absolutely breaks my heart. Please do what you can.

How do you know?

PleaseStopEatingMyStuff · 31/01/2025 21:24

I'm sorry you've been put in this position OP, but you absolutely need to report this properly to management.
She must be causing this little child distress. She's clearly in the wrong job. Awful woman.

StSwithinsDay · 31/01/2025 21:23

I think I'd have to tell the child's parents that this is how their daughter is being treated.

VividFish · 31/01/2025 21:23

Please please please report. It makes me think of the little girl who was killed at a nursery near us and apparently it was well known she had taken a dislike to her. I would be heartbroken to think that my child was being treated like that.

arcticpandas · 31/01/2025 21:23

User67556 · 31/01/2025 21:18

God I feel so lucky my DC nursery is so bloody amazing and loving - the thought of this absolutely breaks my heart. Please do what you can.

That's the problem. She's probably really sweet to the parents so they would be none the wiser. I have worked in nurseries but I have never witnessed abusive behaviour like this. OP, I think you will have to report this because this poor child is a victim. And if it's not being dealt with I would tell the child's mother myself because we as adults do need to protect vulnerable children. This post made me sick to my stomach.

Tittat50 · 31/01/2025 21:22

I wonder how many like this are in there. I don't think this is as rare as we'd hope.

I'd speak to the manager. I'd say it was bad enough that you had to say something. This could be tough working together. I would find this hard to deal with if I said nothing. It's the right thing. She sounds a menace.

StSwithinsDay · 31/01/2025 21:22

Is there cctv?

marshartist · 31/01/2025 21:21

Report to highest person in the nursery with your written down evidence.

QuirkyOpal · 31/01/2025 21:19

Be strong OP. Write it all down in a log and ask to speak to someone to report it. She is not your friend and that is not good practice.

fluffyblanky · 31/01/2025 21:19

If it was me, I would report it to the nursery manager. If it causes you a problem then you leave because you wouldn't want to work somewhere that deems this acceptable.

Although I find it unlikely that no one else has ever witnessed this behaviour from her.

User67556 · 31/01/2025 21:18

God I feel so lucky my DC nursery is so bloody amazing and loving - the thought of this absolutely breaks my heart. Please do what you can.

Alwaystired2023 · 31/01/2025 21:18

Please report her to management immediately, is the nursery part of a chain? You could report it to another branch if you think the management in that nursery are not likely to act