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Original poster

Nursery emergency contacts

9 replies

Doodahdoodahdoodahdah · 04/09/2025 11:58

DD is just starting at a new nursery, all fine, great lovely little independent place. They are saying under the new guidance I have to provide at least 5 emergency contacts, is this right? It seems like such a lot but apparently it needs to be at least three contacts in addition to parents. This just seems like such a lot of people, we’d have to rely on friends but can’t really have them effectively on standby in case nursery call - they have jobs and their own lives!

OP posts:

savoycabbage · 04/09/2025 12:04

It’s a lot, there is no doubt about it. However, it’s unlikely that they will ever get to the bottom of the list. They are just being cautious.

It is honestly awful if you have a serious issue with a child and the emergency contacts don’t answer.

Even if it’s just a neighbour at least they can give some help. Look out of a window and see if the car is there or whatever.

Sweetleftfood · 04/09/2025 12:11

Seems excessive, we always had our neighbour as emergency contact only as we don't have any family living nearby or in the same country even. Just put friends down as it is highly unlikely they will contact them.

frenziednurse · 04/09/2025 12:21

Seems very excessive. If I was asked to do that the other 3 would be over 60miles away in an emergency so what good would that be?

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Cuwins · 04/09/2025 12:25

When I was working in a residential special school we had to have atleast 1 preferably 2 that weren’t parents- I believe due to the fact that incidents have happened where either parents are together and out of signal etc somewhere or where parents have been involved in a car accident together.
But 3 seems excessive! However they aren’t going to be calling them unless they are unable to get hold of either parent so it’s going to be pretty extreme circumstances.
I was surprised when DD started pre school that we were only asked to provide both parents details

Comedycook · 04/09/2025 12:26

Five is a lot...I had to provide two I think. I have been one for my nieces and a friend's DC as she had no family in the area. I've never once been contacted and my DC emergency contacts have never been contacted either. I'd just put down nearest first and work out with distance.....it's extremely unlikely they'll ever call the fifth person on the list.

Original poster

Doodahdoodahdoodahdah · 04/09/2025 12:30

Thanks all, I’ve just been looking at the new framework and all I can see is that you need “at least two” emergency contacts, I just don’t know where this additional three has come from! I get the point about it being an issue when you can’t contact either parent, but how is an elderly neighbour with no car seat or a friend who’s 10 miles away and tied up with work going to be any use? Argh I guess I’ll just have to give some numbers and hope for the best!

OP posts:

Sera1989 · 04/09/2025 12:33

Emergency contacts are to be used to get hold of you as well as for contacting someone who could collect your child in an emergency. So e.g. the other parent/carer and a family member might be useful for collecting your child, while a friend, coworker or neighbour would be useful for getting hold of you (for example if you didn't turn up to nursery one morning then a neighbour could easily go to your house to check on you)

It seems excessive but there was a really awful case that made cry when I read about it during safeguarding training. From the investigations into that tragedy, nurseries now ask for at least 3 non-parent contacts (some ask for 5) and take their attendance policies seriously

TickyandTacky · 04/09/2025 12:43

Doodahdoodahdoodahdah · 04/09/2025 12:30

As the PP said these are also used if you dint arrive and do not contact the setting. A neighbour who doesnt drive coukd be useful in knocking at your door or remembering you've gone on holiday.

mindutopia · 04/09/2025 13:18

I think it’s fine. It doesn’t even have to be anyone local, just literally another person who knows you or your child. It’s simply in case you and Dh are killed in a car accident on the way to collect. They won’t actually call them all if your dd has a fever. They’ll call you and her dad. Probably only you. 🙄 Dh never gets a call even if I don’t pick up. Our emergency contacts are Dh’s auntie who lives 4 hours away and BIL’s ex who lives 6 hours away. Because if ever Dh and I were incapacitated, these were the people I trusted most sensibly to make a decision on our dc’s wellbeing. They could then activate some response by people closer to us.

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