AIBU to complain after being unable to collect my child from nursery

Owly11 · 16/06/2026 07:30

Honestly find a new nursery. If they can't even get a buzzer fixed and don't seem that bothered by it they are hardly going to be looking after your child well.

JumpingRabbit · 16/06/2026 06:11

Having read the updates (ie normal collection time, happened before etc), I would complain but to the nursery and not ofsted. I would ask them to confirm in writing what the pick up process is and what the emergency back up contact option is.

ENGLANDalltheway · 15/06/2026 19:20

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 18:10

@ENGLANDalltheway if u read the thread this is not the first time
last time me & my child stood in the rain trying for 10 minutes i was so close to putting him in the car and taking him back home

i complaim to manager last time and she agreed it was a pain
nothing has been done,

yes i left after calling the phone & buzzing the intercom
on gates for 20 minutes, yes it was 20 minutes as i have a call log
i trust the nursery workers thats why i left i had to go to my appointment

Find a better nursery

anrom1969 · 15/06/2026 18:18

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 12:55

I went to collect my child from nursery, i was pressing the intercom to get into the gates, no answer. Tried phoning, no answer.
20 minutes i tried for until i gave up and went. Im livid,
am I unreasonable to complain to ofstead? Or remove my child?
this isn’t the first time either.

So you want to complain to Ofsted . You trust the nursery . It’s happened before. I’m sorry I just don’t understand why your complaint

Original poster

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 18:10

@ENGLANDalltheway if u read the thread this is not the first time
last time me & my child stood in the rain trying for 10 minutes i was so close to putting him in the car and taking him back home

i complaim to manager last time and she agreed it was a pain
nothing has been done,

yes i left after calling the phone & buzzing the intercom
on gates for 20 minutes, yes it was 20 minutes as i have a call log
i trust the nursery workers thats why i left i had to go to my appointment

OP posts:

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 15/06/2026 16:57

Ofsted won't care but you should absolutely complain to the manager. It's not really on for a parent to have to wait more than a few minutes to pick their child up. Even if they pick up earlier than usual it shouldn't matter (which wasn't the case here). Parents can pick their child up when they want.
It's up to you if you move your child up or not, however I'm pretty sure you don't trust them so why would you keep your child there?

ENGLANDalltheway · 15/06/2026 16:56

"they said the lines were down/ problem with buzzer"

So a one off incident then. Do Ofsted really need a report about a buzzer not working one random day. Frustrating but not major.

ChasingRainbow5 · 15/06/2026 16:53

Sartre · 15/06/2026 16:44

Why didn’t you tell them when you dropped him off that you’d be collecting early?

Read the thread.

anrom1969 · 15/06/2026 16:46

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 13:03

No i went as i have an appointment i will have to try again after my appointment

So you left your child with no contact and went to your next appointment. Not sure I understand how or why you did this . I’d have been worried, you obviously weren’t so you must trust the Nursery?

Sartre · 15/06/2026 16:44

Why didn’t you tell them when you dropped him off that you’d be collecting early?

ENGLANDalltheway · 15/06/2026 16:43

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 12:55

I went to collect my child from nursery, i was pressing the intercom to get into the gates, no answer. Tried phoning, no answer.
20 minutes i tried for until i gave up and went. Im livid,
am I unreasonable to complain to ofstead? Or remove my child?
this isn’t the first time either.

What did the nursery say when you said how long you'd been waiting?

PinkPonyAnonymous · 15/06/2026 16:42

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 15/06/2026 13:11

Bonkers answers.

Absolutely YANBU to both complain to Ofsted and withdraw your child.

If it’s a private nursery you’re entitled to pick up when you want. And you should be able to raise them in an emergency.

AGREE! This reads as if a private Nursery. At ours they let you know if they are heading out for a local trip, but that’s usually only mornings and you can collect any other time, though would be wise to avoid mealtimes. I think it’s very poor you couldn’t collect your own child! I’d be frantic!

BruceAndNosh · 15/06/2026 16:13

i hope they are not planning on charging you for an extra session

rwalker · 15/06/2026 15:49

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 15:14

@rwalker the manager is aware of the problem

and its a chain, i couldn’t find a number for anyone above her at the time

i was the only one there, i think majority in my childs room do full days its toddlers

What did she say when you complained to her

HiCandles · 15/06/2026 15:36

I would be absolutely hopping mad. I think after 10 minutes of no response by any method I'd have been going around banging on windows. Is there an app you could have message? I'm sure you would have, though. If they know there is a communication issue, they should have informed parents and have a back up plan such as a dedicated emergency mobile number.

Original poster

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 15:14

@rwalker the manager is aware of the problem

and its a chain, i couldn’t find a number for anyone above her at the time

i was the only one there, i think majority in my childs room do full days its toddlers

OP posts:

rwalker · 15/06/2026 15:06

I would hope offered would just refu to deal and bounce it back to you

why can’t you complain to the manager like an other normal person

Nofeckingway · 15/06/2026 14:58

How frustrating. If it is a regular pick up and they knew intercom was working , one staff member should have taken the child out to the gate or kept an eye out . If necessary, take the other kids outside too .
Doesn't matter what the OP had to do , they don't know if it was nails or picking up another child . I would be very annoyed and definitely bring it to the manager's attention.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 15/06/2026 14:58

Cosyblankets · 15/06/2026 14:47

Every appointment is important because the person you've made the appointment with has set that time side. Nail tech / mortgage advisor / bikini wax/ doctor / house viewing. They are all important.

Show quote history

Not really sure what your point is in relation to what I was replying to there.

lornad00m · 15/06/2026 14:48

Of course you should complain to the nursery. Removing your child is really up to you. Involving Ofsted? I mean, okay. But I highly doubt they'll care.

Cosyblankets · 15/06/2026 14:47

ToKittyornottoKitty · 15/06/2026 13:32

You are assuming, you’ve no idea though. The importance of the appointment is relevant. But unless it was life or death I’d have waited and collected my child. Agree about complaining though

Show quote history

Every appointment is important because the person you've made the appointment with has set that time side. Nail tech / mortgage advisor / bikini wax/ doctor / house viewing. They are all important.

Dweeb63 · 15/06/2026 14:42

This is quite weird. I can understand why you’re not happy with that and I would complain to the nursery.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 15/06/2026 14:41

Why didn’t you say in your initial post that you pick your child up at the same time every day? It’s so irritating when posters don’t give essential facts straight away.

ShetlandishMum · 15/06/2026 14:38

Ofstead doesn't care. Speak to management.

DysmalRadius · 15/06/2026 14:37

Don't they have a mobile? It sounds like a very weird setup and I can see why you would want to move him.