to tell this parent their child couldn't use the nursery toilet?

[insancerre]

I work in a nursery next to a park and recently parents have started to come into the nursery and ask if their child can use the loo.
These are parents of children who attend the setting but their child is just visting the park with their parent and not being cared for by us.
We used to let them in but we have realised it is a safeguarding issue as we don't want parents in the loo when our children are using it plus we change nappies in there and also children who have soiled/ wet their clothes.
So, I started to say no when they came in and asked.
Most are fine about but one parent today practically bullied me into letting her daughter in.
I did let her in but I don't want to be used as a public toilet, especially with the weather getting warmer.
What do you think?
Am I over reacting or are some people just feeling a little bit over entitled?
I can only see it from my side so I am interested what other people think.

I think you are right

They are on the premises and not drb/crb checked

Yanbu. Can you send a letter out to all parents informing them that you are unable to allow access to toilets outside of the children's usual nursery hours due to safeguarding?

No, I think you are absolutely right. It's disruptive and a safeguarding issue. I'd be putting it in the newsletter and putting a poster up about it and enforcing it rigidly in your position.

I think you are right. Nursery workers have loads of kids to keep tack of and any do so effectively with people in and out all day using facilities meant for those staying in day care.

I wouldn't walk into an office and ask to use the toilet.

And I wouldn't walk into a school dd doesn't attend asking to use the toilet

Yanbu. This needs to be made clear in writing with a sign or letter/newsletter and stuck with whoever the parent/child is though so there is clarity and no-one feels that they are being picked on.

Of course YANBU.

You are right.

How could you be sure a child didn't escape/leave with/be put at risk?

It's a council issue not the nurseries. If mine I'd be cross as a parent that adults and unsupervised children were wandering around.

What if a violent /DV accused seperated parent came in bypassing the password system with a step sibling? Would all staff know? Can't always be the right person on te desk...

You are completely right, the toilet shouldn't be used by anyone who isn't supposed to be in the nursery that day.

Thanks for the replies
I was just doubting myself as she made me feel very uncomrortable when I saud no, which is why I relented.
Just to clarify, these are children who we do care for but they are asking to use the toilet on the days when they don't attend or after they have finished their session and have gone to the park.
I had intended to do a poster and put it in the newsletter, so i will crack on with that tomorow

Definitely say no, do the poster and pop it in the newspaper! You have H&S, safeguarding and fire regs to comply with - cheeky fuckers!!

Stick it in the newsletter and put a sign on the door.
Yanbu

a definite no no. The children might be fine, but you do not crb the parents so it would be irresponsible to let them into the premises and toilets. I had a similar situation at work where I would not let a teenager use the toilet when younger kids were in the building (joint youth and play centre) the teenager never let me forget what an unfair bitch I was, but the right decision was made!!!

If one of these parents or their children were injured while just nipping in from the park, would they be covered by your insurance? It is worth looking into to strenghten your argument.

Aside from the safeguarding issues, you have better things to do with your time than keep answering the door to let everyone in to use the toilet as they please!! Some parents eh?

DS's preschool has a v similar location and the manager puts reminders about not using the loos in the weekly email, has a notice up by the door, and generally announces it to the queue of waiting parents as and when she feels like it "Just a reminder, please don't use the upstairs loos, they're for the children still in session...." - everyone knows, and therefore she doesn't get entitled twazzocks demanding to use them.
I'd start mentioning it regularly if I were you, til it'll eventually sink in.
The manager here takes the same approach to all notices, and while she might sound like a broken record, at least people don't take advantage.