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AIBU?

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Original poster

Nursery went home and left dd!

999 replies

lookingfortheanswer · 28/04/2014 18:36

Posting here for traffic, I don't have an aibu.

Went to pick up dd from nursery this afternoon and found the whole place locked up and nobody there. After frantically calling, banging on doors, checking nobody else had picked her up we managed to contact the neighbouring school. The staff who were still there were amazing, helped us to get into the building where we found dd on the toilet, on her own, lights off and doors closed, staff gone home. It took us half an hour to get in so she was there at least that long. She was obviously very upset but is now home and fine and drinking lemonade as a treat while I try to stop shaking.

Obviously this is a huge safeguarding issue and there is no way she is going back. The head of the neighbouring school has been in touch and is organising a meeting for the morning.

Any advice on where to go from here, who to complain to? Should we get legal advice? I am so so angry!

OP posts:
AlpacaYourThings · 28/04/2014 22:32

I seem to be the only one who thinks it is a police matter.

No, I think it's a Police matter, too.

icanneverremember · 28/04/2014 22:32

How is this not a matter for the police?

Sigyn · 28/04/2014 22:32

It is certainly a local authority matter and it is certainly a safeguarding issue.

That doesn't preclude it from also being a police matter.

A parent, for example, could certainly be prosecuted for leaving a child alone in this situation. They probably wouldn't be, but my understanding is that the law certain provides for prosecution.

It is probably academic now as the police have been contacted by the OP's partner.

If nothing else, the police will log the matter, and signpost to another agency. I seriously doubt they will object to the phonecall having been made.

thebodydoestricks · 28/04/2014 22:33

It's very worrying op.

Children should be signed in and out, what if the place caught fire? They sound very casual and unprofessional.

You just don't make basic safeguarding mistakes like this as you have strict procedures, or should do.

Very sloppy.

Hope your dd is ok but guessing it's you that will suffer more.

scottishmummy · 28/04/2014 22:33

The local authority have more authority and scope than police.its not a police matter.its a civil matter

PavlovtheCat · 28/04/2014 22:36

spider nice to see you popping back onto an AIBU for a bit of supportive posting…

Falconi · 28/04/2014 22:36

Instead of taking notes during the meeting just record the whole conversation.
Definitely take someone with you for support.
Contact your LA before agreeing to any meeting maybe they can offer someone to go with you.
Definitely don't send your child back.

CalamitouslyWrong · 28/04/2014 22:37

Ofsted and the local authority have more effective powers in this sort of situation anyway.

icanneverremember · 28/04/2014 22:37

Having eggs thrown at my house was a police matter. Recovering an elderly gentleman to his care home for people with dementia was a police matter. So how can a 2 year old child's immediate and very real danger through negligence (however "accidental") not be a police matter?

AlpacaYourThings · 28/04/2014 22:38

I would still inform the police as well, regardless of if the LA have more authority.

scottishmummy · 28/04/2014 22:38

No.you cannot record a conversation without consent thats wholly inappropriate
Op has no business recording discussions.theres a due process and it doesn't involve op taping

LottieJenkins · 28/04/2014 22:39
Shock
BerylStreep · 28/04/2014 22:39

In our area the police would automatically become involved because it would be dealt with as a multi-agency matter - Ofsted, Police and Social Services.

Not sure if it needs to be reported to police tonight, although from an investigative point of view, signing in records, CCTV etc should be seized ASAP to prevent them being tampered with / destroyed. If Head of Children's Services has already been in touch, I would take their advice.

It doesn't sound like the nursery staff are aware it has even happened yet, as you would expect someone to have been in contact.

Is the nursery privately owned? Is it a chain?

minibmw2010 · 28/04/2014 22:39

Your poor DD, I hope she sleeps ok tonight and it all gets dealt with tomorrow.

Canthisonebeused · 28/04/2014 22:39

It is an offence to abandon a child, cause ill treatment and suffering. Generally difficult to press charges and often in the case where parents are concerned there are often no charges in neglect cases. However there is clear witnessed evidence of abandonment and ill treatment. The police certainly would investigate this as a criminal matter too. It does not fall into the realms of only a civil matter it is very clearly a criminal matter too.

Falconi · 28/04/2014 22:39

I would have called the police once I saw the school locked down.
Now that DD is safe at home, LA and OFSTED is the way to go. The only thing police will do is contacting LA anyway.

PavlovtheCat · 28/04/2014 22:39

OP. IMO this is definitely a police matter. The worst that can happen is they refer you to OFSTED etc, but chances are they will take this seriously themselves independently.

A 2 year old was left on her own, in the dark, for at least 30 mins, could have been longer with no means of escape if there were a fire. If this was an adult in charge of this child, a parent, for example, this would be criminal offence. I can't see how it wouldn't be because it's an establishment responsible for the toddler, the risks to that child would be the same if a single person or a group of people who locked her in, on purpose or not is irrelevant, the outcome was that she was alone and unable to keep herself safe.

Falconi · 28/04/2014 22:40

scottish mummy and if she asks for consent?
I wouldn't even start the conversation if they didn't let me record it.

scottishmummy · 28/04/2014 22:40

Ican,op situation is civil matter.the local authority and ofsted have considerable sanctions
Your two situations aren't comparable

hoppingmad · 28/04/2014 22:40

Bloody hell op, are you ok? I think I would be in complete shock if this happened to one of mine. Thank goodness nothing happened to her but she must have been very scared.

Not surprised she's not going back there. Good luck pursuing this, definitely don't let them sweep it under the carpet

scottishmummy · 28/04/2014 22:41

Op has no business taking or trying ti take statements.it unboundaried and not appropriate
Its a daft suggestion.

minecrap · 28/04/2014 22:41

This is terrifying. I hope tomorrow goes well for you, OP.

icanneverremember · 28/04/2014 22:43

"It is an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk" - Quote taken from the direct.gov website. I think that involving the police will highlight the gravity of the situation to the nursery and people involved.

Falconi · 28/04/2014 22:43

Daft suggestion or not, that is what I would do and this situation.

CalamitouslyWrong · 28/04/2014 22:44

Both of those situations would benefit from immediate police intervention. In this case, the DD is safe at home with her parents. There isn't really anything that the police could do that would be useful right now.

A phone call to ofsted and the local authority tomorrow morning will produce the kind of response that is useful in investigating and sorting out the serious safeguarding issues at this nursery. That's going to be far more effective than the police.