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Just started nursery, are staff being weird?

171 replies

Maria123456789 · 22/10/2025 08:54

I did lots of research before I sent my son to nursery this October. It’s a forest school so they’re meant to be getting lots of outdoor play looked lots of fun and when we went to visit he seemed to really enjoy it since he’s been a few times now he doesn’t seem upset after nursery or anything he actually seems like he’s in quite positive mood but the second time I went to pick him up a member of staff came out and the first thing she said in quite a patronising tone was how he wouldn’t sit with all the other kids while they were eating lunch and he kept getting up and as much as I took it well I didn’t wanna cause an issue but I thought to myself don’t most kids struggle with that he’s a two-year-old boy with lots of energy anyway I left that and I think the third time I went to pick him up I have another negative comment from another member of staff where she said things in a really weird way and I couldn’t quite work out if she was just being bitchy or genuinely raising a concern. she asked me and if my son had a habit of storing things in his mouth and and how he was walking around with some food in his mouth when he arrived, and I said I gave him a bit of food before nursery because he doesn’t eat much for breakfast and she made me feel like I have been told off or was being judged as a parent to my child when I had done nothing wrong. Is it just me or is something weird about this place? Is it normal for nursery staff to be a little niggly with these things? Should they really be making the parent of the child feel like they’re not doing a good job? anyway it’s my first kid. I’m not too sure what nursery experiences are supposed to be like so maybe this is how it is??

OP posts:
Differentforgirls · 23/10/2025 06:58

Hedgehogbrown · 22/10/2025 22:00

Oh god two year Olds do not have to sit at a table to eat. They are two! Good for you and your angel children. Some of us don't want to make meal times a trauma. What fucking difference does it make?

My two sat at a table eating from younger than two. If it's a family habit, they just think it's normal.

Erorgreys · 23/10/2025 06:53

Owly11 · 23/10/2025 06:53

They are asking for your co-operation in addressing these issues at home and supporting their looking after him, not trying to make you feel like a bad mother. Do you always take everything so personally?

OP’s responses on this very thread would indicate…. Yes!

Owly11 · 23/10/2025 06:53

They are asking for your co-operation in addressing these issues at home and supporting their looking after him, not trying to make you feel like a bad mother. Do you always take everything so personally?

Peridoteage · 23/10/2025 06:44

any good tips for getting him to stay at the table at home?

You're the grown up, you're in charge. You jusr keep telling him to sit down/returning him to the table. Strap him in the high chair. Rules in our house were always that you have to spend x mins at the table, you won't be forced to eat if not hungry, but you have sit with everyone.

Some children have very small appetites and are constantly being made to eat when not hungry, it can really put them off food. Being offered things when you are not hungry can make you seem picky when you'd probably enjoy it if hungry.

Duechristmas · 23/10/2025 06:34

Maria123456789 · 22/10/2025 09:26

Thank you everyone, have found this reassuring.
with the eating, he was weighing on the lower end 3rd percentile and went through a phase of looking really skinny. Since he wasn’t taking enough at mealtimes pin a sitting we started trying to feed him snacks more frequently and make sure to feed him what he hadn’t finished for his lunch thoroughout the day bit by bit. Unfortunately this habit seems to have stuck to him. We will keep working on it at home. Also agree that the staff probably unintentionally adopt the style of talking to toddlers since they’re with them all day.

any good tips for getting him to stay at the table at home?

Eat with him, and stick to the rule that once you're down, your dinner is done.
Like all things parenting, consistency is the key.

Erorgreys · 23/10/2025 06:05

Hedgehogbrown · 22/10/2025 22:00

Oh god two year Olds do not have to sit at a table to eat. They are two! Good for you and your angel children. Some of us don't want to make meal times a trauma. What fucking difference does it make?

Well they do at nursery

Hedgehogbrown · 22/10/2025 22:00

Ilovemychocolate · 22/10/2025 09:57

What’s that got to do with it?
By age two he should be able to sit at a table to eat.
I look after 4 two year olds every day and they all sit at the table during meal times.

Oh god two year Olds do not have to sit at a table to eat. They are two! Good for you and your angel children. Some of us don't want to make meal times a trauma. What fucking difference does it make?

HoppityBun · 22/10/2025 20:31

mamagogo1 · 22/10/2025 20:14

Having food in their mouths moving is a choke hazard, yes it’s an issue

Surely the issue is how the staff related to the OP. It seems daft to me that they could not explain this and to her as the PP on here have done.

mamagogo1 · 22/10/2025 20:14

Having food in their mouths moving is a choke hazard, yes it’s an issue

Ilovemychocolate · 22/10/2025 20:13

Sorry your thread has been hijacked OP.
Hope you have got some reassurance from the otherwise sensible responses you have received.

Ilovemychocolate · 22/10/2025 20:02

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Ok enough.
Reporting you now.

Alaiya13 · 22/10/2025 20:01

Ilovemychocolate · 22/10/2025 19:50

I think we can confidently assume that the very aggressive person who is attacking people on this thread is not the owner/manager of an Ofsted rated outstanding nursery 😂

No we have realised you shouldnt be! No patience's with a two year old or his mother. No empathy then you should not be working wirh children. End of!

Alaiya13 · 22/10/2025 19:59

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Alaiya13 · 22/10/2025 19:58

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Ilovemychocolate · 22/10/2025 19:50

NeverDropYourMooncup · 22/10/2025 19:45

Entry level - L2 classes in Literacy are free in England. They're very useful for anybody who is responsible for children and/or have to demonstrate/record/evidence meeting standards for Early Years provision, especially when tuition will hopefully also improve reading comprehension skills.

It would be vaguely interesting to know how my child deciding to sit at a table without any actions on my part beyond buying and building a table and chairs has led you to conclude that I was unkind to my child. At least I didn't have to invert her and deliver sharp slaps to her back to dislodge any food blocking her trachea, though - because she was sitting down and supervised instead of wandering about with her cheeks filled like a hamster and nobody aware of her potential for asphyxiation.

I think we can confidently assume that the very aggressive person who is attacking people on this thread is not the owner/manager of an Ofsted rated outstanding nursery 😂

NeverDropYourMooncup · 22/10/2025 19:45

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Entry level - L2 classes in Literacy are free in England. They're very useful for anybody who is responsible for children and/or have to demonstrate/record/evidence meeting standards for Early Years provision, especially when tuition will hopefully also improve reading comprehension skills.

It would be vaguely interesting to know how my child deciding to sit at a table without any actions on my part beyond buying and building a table and chairs has led you to conclude that I was unkind to my child. At least I didn't have to invert her and deliver sharp slaps to her back to dislodge any food blocking her trachea, though - because she was sitting down and supervised instead of wandering about with her cheeks filled like a hamster and nobody aware of her potential for asphyxiation.

Nickyknackered · 22/10/2025 19:38

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Your poor SPAG cannot be blamed on typing errors.

Ilovemychocolate · 22/10/2025 19:38

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There is absolutely no way that someone with your lack of knowledge about safe eating, and your atrocious grammar, would be rated outstanding in anything.

Erorgreys · 22/10/2025 19:31

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😆

Alaiya13 · 22/10/2025 19:29

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Alaiya13 · 22/10/2025 19:29

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takealettermsjones · 22/10/2025 19:25

Well, this escalated.

Erorgreys · 22/10/2025 19:22

Alaiya13 · 22/10/2025 18:51

Exactly some children struggle to learn this. Someone that has no empathy in this field should not be in this field at all. There children. Still babies even and all a person can do is encourage and try to teach in the best and safest way. There are so many chilsren with autisum that will not sit and ive known one that would never eat anything if he had of been made to. Bloo*y keyboard warrors trhing be something there not and half of them shouldnt even be around kids of they think every 2 year old dhould be sat eating after there second session right away if they have never done it before.
No need for rudeness and people stating its dangerous. Idiots. THERE CHILDREN!

Spell check

Alaiya13 · 22/10/2025 19:22

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NeverDropYourMooncup · 22/10/2025 19:15

Alaiya13 · 22/10/2025 18:51

Exactly some children struggle to learn this. Someone that has no empathy in this field should not be in this field at all. There children. Still babies even and all a person can do is encourage and try to teach in the best and safest way. There are so many chilsren with autisum that will not sit and ive known one that would never eat anything if he had of been made to. Bloo*y keyboard warrors trhing be something there not and half of them shouldnt even be around kids of they think every 2 year old dhould be sat eating after there second session right away if they have never done it before.
No need for rudeness and people stating its dangerous. Idiots. THERE CHILDREN!

Christ Almighty, how on earth do you follow the EYFS statutory framework?

3.68 Babies and young children should be seated safely in a highchair or appropriately sized low chair while eating. Where possible there should be a designated eating space where distractions are minimised.

3.69 Children must always be within sight and hearing of a childminder or assistant whilst eating. Choking can be completely silent, therefore, it is important for providers to be alert to when a child may be starting to choke. Where possible, the childminder or assistant should sit facing children whilst they eat, so they can make sure children are eating in a way to prevent choking and so they can prevent food sharing and be aware of any unexpected allergic reactions.

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