Nursery teachers snarky comment

OP that sounds infuriating with nursery, I’d have initially felt sad/guilty and then angry too. I work long shifts in healthcare - made longer by condensed hours as it’s how I can afford to collect my kids three days per week directly from school! Completed my final professional exams when I had two under two (and gasp, a three day p/w NHS job!) so know the constant balance of working studying and parenting. Now, I’m often last to collect my kids on the days the are in childcare! It’s two days per week till 6:30, I’m rarely there before 6:25. Mine are older now (age 4&5) so do often have their coats on (which am actually ok with as we then run and get their younger sibling from minder) and they all do tidy up together, but there’s a small box of colouring/toys left out and generally by the end of the day they are shattered so it’s story (or tv) time. It’s two days per week. While they don’t love it, it’s allowed me to be with them for multiple afternoons AND to have a week day with them each week of the summer holidays, which they love.

It’s very much not acceptable that nursery were rude to you. Calling at 6:20 is also unreasonable (unless the child was inconsolable) and again, why were they not calming her or playing with her to distract her - instead of “waiting” (which it sounds like they were doing and would also always have triggered my kids). Please do say something.

I do wonder, if staff are literally only paid until 6:30 in the setting - and hence want the earlier collection times as they’ve paperwork and tidy up to do. However if this is the case it reinforces that it’s a systemic/organizational issue. And also means long term, a solution will have to be found that meets your daughters needs (I know in my kids settings one member of staff is allocated to play with the ‘late collections’ kids while the others do the strip down and reset for the next day).

I mean, they’re open and you’re paying for it so well within your rights to use it - and expect no comments about that.

But - I’d also say, they’re open might be used to the children usually being gone by that time on a Friday and so being able to go. At my nursery most of the children seem to be picked up earlier on a Friday - more parents WFH etc.

I think 10 minutes before closing is fine.

I have a business and people coming right at closing time infuriates me. Once they have gone, I still have about 15 minutes of work to do before I close.
I don't say anything though, I just internally roll my eyes.

It's like going to a supermarket, you wouldn't go bang on closing time, just like you didn't.
You're probably going to have to clarify if 6:30 means 6:30, I don't see why it shouldn't 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s the world we live in. Huge amounts of people can’t afford to have children without putting them in childcare. You’re suggesting they shouldn’t have families? Hardworking people shouldn’t be allowed to have families?

What irritating nursery staff. Ignore them and ignore the misogynistic 1950s mums trying to make you feel guilty; they would never say this to dads!

Generally I would say YANBU but given you are using your days to catch up on uni work and presumably have some flexibility, could you not choose another day? Most people do finish early on Fridays so if the nursery is accustomed to not having children left by 6.30, I can see it would be a bit annoying for them after a long week. That being said they absolutely shouldn’t have phoned you! And were being very cheeky. I do feel sorry for the last child left at nursery, (sometimes mine!) and it’s likely she may have been there on her own for a while given it was a Friday.

She’s two. She doesn’t have associations that Friday is the end of the week.

I think the OP is absolutely inspirational. She’s working, she’s studying and she’s bringing up her child. I think the nursery were completely out of order.

Not everyone wants the same things in life. Some people I don’t are content within their lot and some people try to improve their situation. I don’t think it’s ‘grim’ for people to use childcare in order to do that.

It is a long day and very few children of that age are in care until so late

My daughter went to nursery from 8am to 6pm 5 days a week from just over 5 months old until she started school. So did plenty of other children at that time.

many children picked up at that time are over tired

I don't understand that, why would they be more tired at nursery than at home? The nursery should be managing activities and quiet times so that children don't get over tired.

@CheekyTealFawn Waiting by the door with hats and coats on as if you were late is outrageous and unprofessional. They should have been engaging your daughter so that she felt special (not abandoned!).

The Handmaids have had their say, back to the kitchen for them.

Definitely agree with comments asking to clarify the opening hours and explain that is why you chose their nursery for the late opening. Are there any other nurseries that open that late should you need to change? (Around here 6 is the latest so not sure whether this is why you went for that nursery as it was the only option).

However I would also try and find out what time other children get picked up on Fridays. Usually on Friday parents do try to pick up early if they can, so it may be that your DD is always last, and if others pick up at 5.30 for example then it will feel like a long time on her own, and there will be staff presumably starting tidying up around her which she might notice more with no other children around her.

Absolutely cheeky fuckers! Not only that, unprofessional and cruel to do that to your daughter (and you, but especially a child)!

My DD was sometimes one of the last ones there when she was at nursery and I'm sure the staff there wanted to go home too, but they never behaved like that! My DD did used to get a bit upset when the bolk of the other kids had left, but her keyworker would distract her/cheer her up.

You're paying for a service until 6:30, you're within your rights to use it until then.

Well that’s unacceptable. You should tell the manager that you’re not happy with this at all and want to know how long she was dressed waiting in her coat to go home. Also they need to change their closing hours accordingly as they cant say 6.30 but expect you there by 6?! Talk to her and explain. Perhaps report it to the owners.

Op, just ignore these stupid, ignorant comments.

Clearly the child isn’t ’outsourced for the majority of her waking hours.’

With that said I do kind of agree that until 630 is a long day, even for two days a week. I just think it’s a lot for the staff and the children, but the way this was explained was unprofessional.

I can see that a setting closing at 630 and having parents pick up at 620 would grate a bit and I wouldn’t do it.

They were very unprofessional. This is not a 'you' problem. I would speak to the manager if it happens again, asking to change your days.

That’s actually uncalled for.