Hoping to get some advice here.
I am currently 2 months into working at a nursery which my DS (3.5) has recently joined. I have always thought the preschool practitioners are very harsh on the children but now my little one is there I am even more concerned about this.
So, my DS is not the biggest and best eater. I have had around a year and a half of struggling with fussy eating but his previous nursery have done an amazing job in the past 4 months with encouraging eating and trying new foods. His new preschool which is also my new workplace don't encourage but more so, make them eat and it must be all within a time limit otherwise no pudding. This is done infront of the other children, their uneaten meal and pudding is put in the bin infront of them and if or when they are upset by this, no comfort is given.
Quick example, my DS doesn't like curry, never has.
Today lunch was Thai green chicken curry & rice. DS loves rice but nursery mixed the curry up with the rice and made him eat. He sat and cried whilst forcing himself to eat, he managed half. They allowed him his flapjack pudding, he didn't want it by this point so they took it away.
4 hours later at tea time, they serve up turkey paste rolls and cucumber slices, DS isn't hungry but again, made to eat. He eats half the roll and no cucumber. Because he didn't eat the entire roll they told him he wasn't allowed his fruit yoghurt and put it in the bin as punishment for not eating his entire roll.
So really all I want to know is;
1 - can nurseries without food from children as punishment?
2 - I have approached deputy about my disagreement of this to be told, this is how they do it and he will eat eventually. Should I take concern higher to owner?
3 - Surely, if the pudding is a healthy option this shouldn't be taken away without parents agreeing to this? Calories are so important in growing children.
I work with the younger children so am not in the room with DS when this is happening otherwise I would assist in encouraging him to eat. I would never force a child to eat or remove pudding as punishment
Grateful for any advice please, I am only a trainee practitioner so not currently qualified