Page 2 | AIBU to complain after being unable to collect my child from nursery

Yousernane · 2026-06-15T11:55:13+00:00

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.

ChasingRainbow5 · 15/06/2026 14:33

If the phone lines are down AND the intercom isn't working they should be communicating to parents another way for them (parents) to let nursery staff know they've arrived for pick up. Even if they're really busy, leaving someone standing outside for 20 minutes at regular pick up time is nuts.

I don't think Ofsted will care but I'd be complaining to the nursery and asking how they plan to stop it happening again.

Theunamedcat · 15/06/2026 14:12

I hope they dont try and bill you for them not answering the door

ToKittyornottoKitty · 15/06/2026 14:09

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 13:50

Yes @ToKittyornottoKitty what else was i supposed to do stand there for hours?

Do you think they would have not answered the door for hours?

Bababear987 · 15/06/2026 14:01

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 13:51

@JumpingRabbit they said the lines were down/ problem with buzzer

So the lines were down AND a problem with the buzzer? That seems weird.

I mean they should definitely be contactable at all times

Needmorelego · 15/06/2026 13:58

If you really had zero response for 20 minutes of constant ringing/buzzing personally I would have called the police incase something had happened in there (ie everyone unconscious from carbon monoxide or something).
Just giving up and walking away is weird.

Original poster

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 13:51

@JumpingRabbit they said the lines were down/ problem with buzzer

OP posts:

Original poster

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 13:50

Yes @ToKittyornottoKitty what else was i supposed to do stand there for hours?

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hourspassed · 15/06/2026 13:42

Sounds very odd! If your child is only there for mornings then of course you're not unreasonable to complain. Were there no other parents collecting? I would have thought you wouldn't be the only parent with a child doing mornings only?

BlackCat14 · 15/06/2026 13:38

What happened in the end? What did you say when you eventually picked your child up? If they were expecting you at this time, I can understand your frustration. But complain to the nursery staff, you really don’t need to bother Ofsted with this.

Smartiepants79 · 15/06/2026 13:38

You can complain to nursery.
You can move nursery.
but I’ll be very surprised if ofsted cares about this much.
It’s a pain and a bit weird but try and find out why it happened first.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 15/06/2026 13:34

Vaguelyclassical · 15/06/2026 13:33

Had you actually informed the nursery in advance that you would have to pick your child up earlier than usual that day?

She wasn’t collecting earlier than usual

hugasaurus · 15/06/2026 13:34

The gave up and went bit has buckled me ‘Fine, you keep him.’

Vaguelyclassical · 15/06/2026 13:33

Had you actually informed the nursery in advance that you would have to pick your child up earlier than usual that day?

ToKittyornottoKitty · 15/06/2026 13:32

Tillow4ever · 15/06/2026 13:27

What were they supposed to do if the nursery wasn’t no answering the door or phone for 20 mins and they had an appointment to get to? Without knowing what the appointment is for, or how long they’ll be, it’s hard to judge - but I’m assuming it was an important appointment like the drs rather than a hair cut.

OP id start by complaining to the nursery. I would look for a new setting as you aren’t happy.

Show quote history

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

Tillow4ever · 15/06/2026 13:27

ToKittyornottoKitty · 15/06/2026 13:22

So you’ve just left your child there even though their session has now ended and gone off to your appointment?

Sorry edited to add, I do think you should complain absolutely, but I’m not sure that makes just leaving your kid there for a few extra hours ok either to be honest

Edited

What were they supposed to do if the nursery wasn’t no answering the door or phone for 20 mins and they had an appointment to get to? Without knowing what the appointment is for, or how long they’ll be, it’s hard to judge - but I’m assuming it was an important appointment like the drs rather than a hair cut.

OP id start by complaining to the nursery. I would look for a new setting as you aren’t happy.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 15/06/2026 13:22

So you’ve just left your child there even though their session has now ended and gone off to your appointment?

Sorry edited to add, I do think you should complain absolutely, but I’m not sure that makes just leaving your kid there for a few extra hours ok either to be honest

omghereistrouble · 15/06/2026 13:20

used to happen with my grandson. the problem is its members of staff who answer and obviously they are looking after the children so if they are busy and cannot leave the children safely, then the intercom has to wait. its very frustrating but safety is important

worldsgonemadnow · 15/06/2026 13:12

@Yousernaneapologies I thought youd collected early. . If you were collecting the same as you regularly do on the same day/time then absolutely yes I'd make a complaint.

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.

worldsgonemadnow · 15/06/2026 13:10

The fact no-one was answering the phone would concern me. They should be contactable when they have children in. What if you have a family emergency and need to contact them?

However if you are going to collect your wee one and haven't pre-arranged that's not really ideal. If you'd said at drop off that you were going to collect your wee one early, they could have told you if the plans were to be out at the park or something.

JumpingRabbit · 15/06/2026 13:09

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 13:07

@JumpingRabbit i didn’t collect early my child does morning sessions only i collect him after lunch the same time every week

What was the reason and outcome / solution they gave you last time you spoke to them about it given it’s happened before?

Original poster

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 13:07

@JumpingRabbit i didn’t collect early my child does morning sessions only i collect him after lunch the same time every week

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CheddarBiscuit · 15/06/2026 13:06

I don't think it's an either/or situation: if you complain to Ofstead, they will take the choice out of your hands and refuse to accept your child so yous do well to find a new space first.

Original poster

Yousernane · 15/06/2026 13:06

The whole nursery woudlnt have gone to the park i tried the telephone & gate buzzer

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JumpingRabbit · 15/06/2026 13:05

You gave up and went?

Is it ideal you couldn’t get in touch no of course not but if it was in the middle of lunch or all the children were outside mid afternoon when no one normally gets collected I can sort of understand it. Different if it was normal pick up time or you had told you them you were collecting early for an appointment.