Nursery went home and left dd!

[lookingfortheanswer]

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!

My god, your poor little one must of been so frightened! I felt sick reading your OP, both as a parent and a nursery practitioner

Holy fuck! Maybe write everything down so it's fresh in your mind for when you speak to OFSTED? I know I'd end up getting emotional and forgetting everything I want to say.

It is irrelevant if the op was late as tge child was in the nursery's care, they are responsible for the child until the parent collects regardless of how much after the agreed time the parent comes.

How can this even be in AIBU? Its not even faintly U! Hopefully the OP is contacting OFSTED and the nursery people right now. i am curious about the circumstances as well, but I can't even begin to imagine how angry I'd be if it was my daughter left in that situation.

Poor sproglet. Hope the lemonade is helping to cheer her up.

OP, can you give us some more circumstances surrounding the events? How late were you, had they phoned you etc?

It doesn't make any difference to the outcome, I know. Just may alter the advice we are able to give.

I'd be furious!! Beyond incandescent

I get what some of you are saying if the op was late, but never ever ever does it excuse leaving z child behind.

Thank god that the child is safe and well.

It doesn't matter if the op was two hours late...you NEVER lock the building up with a child inside....there are so many other things the staff would do f (emergency contact, go to the ops house and call the police or social services) there is NEVER a reason to leave a child alone

That is absolutely terrifying. Poor you and your DD.

I would be going absolutely bonkers at everyone concerned.

BLOODY HELL!

This is the kind of thing OFSTED would want an immediate complaint about.

How to make a complaint to OFSTED about a provider

I guess the place didn't have an alarm either.

That's horrific and unacceptable. Please phone OFSTEDand your local counc.

They shut when the last child has left, dd does different sessions to most of the kids because we both work, so she is often one of the last ones there.

I wish it wasn't true but honestly it has happened.

So ALL the children were picked up by 5.20 (giving time for staff to lock up and miss you arriving)???!

Ring ofsted and the lado as soon as possible. The registers should have been checked and the someone should have looked around the building as part of the closing down checks. Plus all staff should be aware of how many children there are in their room at any time and where they are. This is a massive safeguarding issue.

Just out of interest how old is she and what kind of setting is it?

If it was already closed at 5.30, I would be assuming something's gone badly wrong. Serious illness? Fire alarm?

None of it remotely justifying leaving a child behind, but I can't imagine any non-emergency reason why the place would shut up early with a child still there.

I'd hold off the police and speak to Ofsted/LA for advice first thing tomorrow.

What dear dear people helping you, the HT and so on.

Do not doubt that they will contact the authorities as well.

sunnydaze why are you so suspicious? More than feasible that nursery closed up believing everyone had left for the day. Outrageous yes but not unbelievable.
Heads should roll regardless

I don't actually think it matters if the OP was late or not it's the fact they left a child there locked in and had not taken her into account at all! I think you would want to know your cold was being listed for if you were running late for any reason at all and were unable to contact the nursery for some reason.
Children should surely be signed out and all areas checked upon leaving!!

I hope you and your DD are ok and the correct procedures are dealt with. Maybe you can note down times and any other info whilst it's fresh in your head as I bet someone will want something in writing.

So if the school aren't linked, how did they manage to get in?

This doesn't make sense!

Why did you think she was inside if the doors were locked / lights switched off etc and she was sitting on the toilet out of sight? And just how late were you?

Oh my god. That is terrible. Do keep us posted and kick some serious butt. That is surely gross misconduct. Your poor poor daughter

It wouldn't occur to me to break in to find my child I'd assume they were elsewhere and be phoning around.

Weird.

Jenwa, the OP was on time, the nursery closed early.

Omg, Ofsted asap.
They will not be able to brush ofsted off, like they will with you.
Also contact the LEA and let them know what happened and that staff are clocking off early.
If private, get in touch, make formal complaint and again, staff clocking off early.

I am not generally prone to over-reaction but I think you should call the police on their non-emergency number. And then call OFSTED tomorrow.

This is such a spectacular and indefensible failure of basic safeguarding that I imagine social services might need to be involved.