New to working in a nursery and witnessed horrible treatment

You still need to get in and report it. In my opinion, you have a moral duty and you should already have done it. Surely, when a complaint like this is made, the Nursery would have a duty to inform the child’s parents? It’s horrific.

As an ex manager of a preschool, look into your whistleblowing policy which you should have access to and follow that. If the nursery doesn’t act on your information, you need to escalate it to your Local Authority safeguarding team via the LADO. This is unacceptable.

If it's not taken seriously you go to your LADO.

Have you had safeguarding training? This is extremely basic knowledge for anyone working in a nursery. Report to your DSL and if their response is remotely dismissive, call the LADO (or online report as many counties are now doing).

I’ve worked in nurseries and seen similar. That’s why I’ve decided to be a SAHM until my twins start school tbh (not judging working mums, I’m very fortunate to survive of partners wage) and I will never work in a nursery again. Report this woman immediately

The woman was being abusive to the child. Report her anonymously to your local social care office. It’s a safeguarding issue. They will deal with it and you won’t need to be involved.

Because this is little babies, and given what happened with Genevieve Meehan, I would whistleblow. That staff member needs to be suspended. Personally, I would go to Ofsted rather than anyone working for the nursery.

Op this is awful. Please please sure you report this behaviour escalates. If she behaves like this in front of others imagine what she does without them looking....

Who, and she was a baby strapped face down onto a beanbag and left for over an hour and a half who died of suffocation.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/20/nursery-death-of-baby-genevieve-meehan-raises-troubling-questions

@AleaEim This thread is making me feel better about giving up work because I can't afford childcare!

Nursery owner here - shocking behaviour and this practitioner has no place in childcare (not in my setting for sure) you are contractually obliged to report this under your whistleblowing policy and you must do so right away. Good on you for being proactive on this, it’s all of our duties to protect children - you may save a future serious incident

Under safeguarding you have a duty of care to report this.
I realise that things may feel uncomfortable for you but you should ensure that you do report officially as in addition to the child, this will afford you some protection

@HowdoyoureallyKnow
*"Nannying and childminding have high levels of autonomy, which humans need for job satisfaction. You can choose what to do, where to go, visit nice places and be outside in the sunshine.
The only downside can be a lack of interaction with other adults which is why the chats at toddler group are so important.

Nursery staff are generally working from one room all day, with very little autonomy - the work is high stress, high stakes (you literally have the lives of vulnerable children in your hands) but simultaneously boring and repetitive.
High responsibility and low autonomy is the worst combination in a job for satisfaction/happiness.
But also they are held to much higher standards than parents in terms of never being irritable or losing their temper"*

I just wanted to highlight your post because I think it's a very important one. Being able to go outside to a park, a toddler group, for a walk and to break up the day will make for a much more interesting day for children and nanny / childminder alike. Parents here often berate the childminder's school runs, preferring nurseries but in fact young children often enjoy the extra walk and older children fussing around them, and seeing the world.

Otherwise they are in a room with high levels of noise following a very rigid structure. Yes there is outside play but that can be limited and even boring

@Mrsdyna from what people have said absolutely.

Op just needs to make sure it's reported in a way that will be followed up

Please report it.

This is so much more common than we are led to believe. Everyone thinks that they've sent their kids to a good one but sadly that's often not the case.

My dd, eyp level 3, has seen very negative staff behaviour in several nurseries she has workied in both private and chain.

One place the culprit was besties with the maanager so her behaviour was ignored or blind sided. CCTV wasn't allowed in certain rooms.
DD was left to get on with it sometimes whilst other staff sat around watching her and playing on their phones, again this wasn't allowed. Her complaints to management were either ignored or she was accused of lying and staff in one place ganged up on her.
She loved the little ones she cared for and was often in tears about it. She told me once, she wished parents really knew what was happening, they awere paying all this money for such poor care.
She whistle blew and contacted the police over two nurseries and investigations were carried out. One place was closed down as a result.

And, you said nothing at the time?! That poor child.

@littleluncheon excellent post

@AleaEim

I had a little circuit of toddler groups I went to so Monday was x church hall, Wednesday blah church hall.
Loads of child minders went because it's super cheap and has a good loose structure, dc can play and socialise. Many have a craft then offer biscuits and tea, have books out toys and do a sing along at the end.

Nannying and childminding have high levels of autonomy, which humans need for job satisfaction. You can choose what to do, where to go, visit nice places and be outside in the sunshine.
The only downside can be a lack of interaction with other adults which is why the chats at toddler group are so important.

Nursery staff are generally working from one room all day, with very little autonomy - the work is high stress, high stakes (you literally have the lives of vulnerable children in your hands) but simultaneously boring and repetitive.
High responsibility and low autonomy is the worst combination in a job for satisfaction/happiness.
But also they are held to much higher standards than parents in terms of never being irritable or losing their temper.

Great idea yes but how would I know where they spend their time? Would they tell me what groups they go to do you think?

Exactly this, I will admit I fell into childcare myself and nannied in my twenties when my freelance career wasn’t going well, I was good at it though (I think) and am a v honest/ conscientious person so I gave the kids the best time I could. I met many other Nannies who were amazing and some who were weren’t, most Nannies have other things going on too with many interests/ hobbies/ life experiences so they appeared to have a more positive approach to the children compared to the nursery staff I encountered. This is just my experience though, not saying all nursery workers are like this.

This breaks my heart to read. OP you're a good person for noticing this and caring. Even if it's hard please take this further, report to management chain and Ofsted.

My youngest DS (2) was at a nursery where I had strong suspicions things like this were going on but I couldn't prove. The staff seemed stressed, were constantly changing, and the children seemed so unhappy. There was always one or two crying by the door wanting to escape. One time I collected him, it was outside play but he was soaking wet (even his socks and trainers were dripping wet) and he was covered in poo they hadn't noticed. I pulled him out and found somewhere much better. The change in him has been really noticeable, he is so much happier and making friends. I feel like there are things that go on at nurseries that are hard to monitor. He is my rainbow baby after 3 miscarriages. Not that's its relevant but I didn't go through all that hell to let him get treated badly at nursery.

Please report this OP, these little children deserve to have the best start in life.

@HHowdoyoureallyKnow I agree, perhaps an email to all three? Ofsted, Lado and manager of nursery? Governing body should be informed tho. That's what all our child protection training tells us to do.
I'd also may e check if there's a whistle blowing policy. Just in case you feel your concerns aren't taken seriously enough.

If behaviour like this is being done in front of a new member of staff, I dread to think how that child (or others) are potentially being treated. It's sad, but not everyone caring for children should be doing the job.

@Anothernameonthewall ofsted isn't the amazing swift acting investigative body that people think.

I think laddo would be better as well perhaps

Should add that my children were toddlers when I started childminding. It meant they stayed home with me and got friends to play with too. It was the best choice I ever made. Utterly adore my kiddies.

My kids are 18 and 16 now and are so good with small kiddies. So beneficial to all ❤️

Of course you must report. This is a safeguarding concern about a colleague, so you will need to follow whatever your safeguarding policy tells you to do in that situation. If it is not handled properly, then you raise it further. Sorry that you had to witness this.