To worry about this DC

The nursery can claim free milk

Whoops. Schools can get free milk at lunch time for all under 5s and for all UFSM children up to and including year 2

There is so much provided we offer it to anyone who wants it at lunch time.

Mention it to some one who understands the rules properly

OP, you sound out of your depth with this and as if you haven't had proper training or developed a clear understanding of safeguarding and "norms" in pre-school education yet.

Report your concerns to the manager and explain why you really don't think the milk should be withdrawn, but ultimately you have to detach after that.

I don't think the people telling you to disobey the "higher ups" over the milk are being very helpful, and I doubt they would be prepared to lose their jobs, if they actually were in your shoes, so please do not listen to them.

They

Report it and pour the milk. The child doesn’t need to be punished for the parents financial.
also MASH report it anonymously.

please do something, you might save his life.

Definitely report poor boy - pretty shocking of the nursery to deny giving him some milk even if his mum is behind with the payments.

Yes but not everyone is aware of when to report safeguarding concerns. It's good OP asked and will now be able to go in tomorrow & report concerns. Poor kid

Anyone who works with children should have their safeguarding needs at rhe heart of what they do

Tbh id be very concerned this wasn't being picked up by trained childcare workers

Has to last him till teatime ? And nobody is noticing?

100% It could be part of a wider neglect picture which should be investigated.

Awful nursery. If I was working there I'd pay out of my own pocket for his milk and buy him a decent lunch. I've worked in a couple of nurseries and any staff member would have done the same if it came to it, which it wouldn't because management would have it covered anyway. Given the nurseries appalling treatment, I wouldn't depend on them to be reporting concerns of neglect to social services. If I was you I would speak to management first to check if they have raised a safeguarding, if they haven't say you want them too and you want to know the outcome. If they don't, report it yourself to social services.

Yes of course, but they can’t even pay part fees or feed him properly per OP.

Agree.
FFS OP do the right thing and do it quickly.

Report it?

to the school of course. And then higher up if nothing been done. The kid needs to eat.

Make sure they are out of date and not just over their best before date (most crisps only have a best before date) as they are meaningless. Is he from British heritage? Only because a lot of people I know will only eat their bananas black (they’re from the Caribbean originally)!

OP have you considered the food might be from a food bank? They often give best before so still edible but past the best please speak to your DSL as it will be part of a bigger picture

Many parents get funded hours for nursery so don’t pay full fees.

This absolutely needs reporting.

His lack of speech is concerning and could also point to neglect.

Please speak to your safeguarding lead first thing tomorrow OP.

Id report the person who denied the child milk, that is appalling. And definitely discuss the lunchbox concerns with safeguarding lead asap.

If the parents haven’t paid, then why are the nursery letting him in? If the parents can’t afford to feed him properly why on earth do they think they can afford to send him to a private nursery? In any case, sounds a safeguarding issue that needs reporting.

I worked in a secondary school where a child never brought any packed lunch nor had a school lunch. He said his Mum gave him a meal each evening. I got him to help me make and sell toast at break time for charity and told him he got as much toast as he wanted free for helping me. I also took in too much fruit for my lunch and told him my DH packed it up for me and he'd be helping me out if he ate some of it as I didn't like wasting food. I'd have found a way to give the DC food. I'd have given him milk too. Report lack of food coming in for him to eat to safeguarding lead. I can remember a few years ago a small DC in reception or Year 1 starved to death, hardly ever took much food in to eat and used to try to eat the play food and take food out of the bin. No one reported this and the boy starved to death over a school holiday. I can remember thinking someone must of noticed but noone reported it or gave the DC any food. When people notice things and say nothing DC suffer and they can't fend for themselves so have to rely on adults looking out for them. I know you're in a new job and probably don't want to rock the boat but please don't let this little boy go hungry and without milk. 🙏🙏

I’ve worked in early years settings and this needs to be reported no question. It could be that the family are really struggling and may need some extra help.
its quite cruel they aren’t giving him the milk also. I presume the government pay for his hours so any extras need paying for but it’s a bit of milk FFS. Poor child.

Poor little thing, what kind of nursery refuses milk ffs?

As to the state of his packed lunch box, I'd definitely report it as imo giving the child inedible and obviously stale food items is neglectful.

Ah it breaks my heart, poor baby. Definitely report it, they need to do a social services referral so the family can get the support they need and there may be other children in that household at risk.

Also say to whoever is in charge this is a welfare issue so the child should be given milk even if the fees aren’t paid. A child starving on their watch is just not acceptable. If they were arsey about it I’d say well imagine if it’s on the news this poor child starved and staff wouldn’t even give him a glass of milk…people in charge tend to care more about that stuff 🙄

I don’t know your circumstances but personally I’d take food in to make sure he at least had something in his belly. I just couldn’t live with a baby being hungry and not being fed, the poor thing. That milk could be the only nutritious thing he has all day.

He’s at nursery

You have a duty of care to report this situation. Protect this little one as they’re too little to help themselves.