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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:
Bloodyteenagers · 28/04/2014 18:59

It perfectly possible.
A building near me has a school or two, children's centre and a nursery, and each have their own part. They have a few communal areas, and some staff work in all areas, these staff have access all areas and in case of emergency, other staff on the site could ask for the area to be opened.

Forgettable · 28/04/2014 18:59

OP another thought

Do not put on Facebook or other social media in case it's picked up and run by unscrupulous persons

girliefriend · 28/04/2014 18:59

How could that happen? Confused

What time are you meant to pick her up and what time did you get there?

How old is your dd?

I think contacting the press isn't a bad idea....

BiscuitCrumb · 28/04/2014 18:59

Seriously I'm even imagaing worse. Thank god she was in the nursery to a certain extent and not missing. How did you know she was in there? Could you hear her, see her? Did you not just think. Fuck she's missing - call 999.

You must be very shocked. I hope your dd is okay.

FatalCabbage · 28/04/2014 18:59

This gives me the chills.

They are not adequately safeguarding any of the children if they aren't safeguarding all of the children. It is absolutely unacceptable for a setting to make assumptions about the whereabouts of any child at any time, or to have such lax procedures that they don't have clear paperwork around which children have been collected.

Today they locked up early thinking all the children had gone home. Tomorrow they might have a fire and assume they had evacuated everyone.

FiscalCliffRocksThisTown · 28/04/2014 18:59

Unbelievable

MrsMaturin · 28/04/2014 19:00

I can understand them shutting a bit early if everyone had gone but to shut super early - 5.30 or so - which they must have done because the Op was home and posting calmly(ish) at 18.36 having had time to get home and having spent at least 30 minutes getting in to the building. That seems odd.

Also I don't understand why the OP didn't call the police on finding nursery abandoned and her child vanished.

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 28/04/2014 19:00

I've worked in nurserys and if all children were picked up 1hr/30min before the official closing time then it wasn't unusual to shut up and finish early, cleaning was done as the nursery closed (when we got to under 15 children in the building, they were all put into a room that had been cleaned for quite activities, the rest of the building was cleaned then that room after last child had gone.

There is not a single reason I can think of that would make this even close to acceptable

KepekCrumbs · 28/04/2014 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RiverTam · 28/04/2014 19:00

good god almighty, I would be beyond livid. If at all possible I would remove her, with no payment of fees, until this is resolved - though I appreciate that's not terribly practical.

DD would be so distressed if that happened - not that it would, if every parents have been late someone stays with the child, of course - they're not happy and I think the parent may have to pay a fine, but they don't just bugger off.

No idea if the children are ticked off as they leave, it can be an absolute scrum between 5.30 and 6, we try to speak to a teacher before we go but I think on occasion we will have left without it being noted.

softlysoftly · 28/04/2014 19:00

Really?

Really?

Seriously, really?

Its so out there as to be unbelievable, they would have to have locked up early without realising the child that is frequently last to be picked up wasn't picked up.

There has to be more to this from their side.

Not that anything excuses it, its absolutely appalling and I would be calling, well, everyone. But i'd also want to know what happened, I couldn't settle without.

Oh and if its a private nursery I would be finding out and contacting their insurance provider!

olaflikeswarmhugs · 28/04/2014 19:01
Shock

I am shocked !!! So angry on your behalf I can't even begin to think about how I would feel in your shoes !! So glad your dd is ok and I hope you take this the whole road !!

Original poster
lookingfortheanswer · 28/04/2014 19:02

Quite often I get there for quarter past/ half 5 and she is the last child there, so it's feasible that they thought all the kids had gone and shut early.
The school and nursery have a joint caretaker, the school called him and he let us in. No way we could break in, there are shutters on all the doors/windows.

OP posts:
MintyCoolMojito · 28/04/2014 19:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoffinMum · 28/04/2014 19:02

Bet you they left a comparatively junior nursery nurse in charge at home time.

Original poster
lookingfortheanswer · 28/04/2014 19:02

Dd seems fine now, she's chattering away in the bath.

OP posts:
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 28/04/2014 19:03

Also, to keep yourself "right" if you've left the building unsecure, you should contact the police via 101

SigningGirl · 28/04/2014 19:03

I'm sickened by this...

I completely agree with the poster that said make a note of everything just to make sure you have it in order and in case they try to minimise (I don't know how they can...).

How old is your DD? I hope she is ok and has settled down now.

Best of luck with hitting the roof with them tomorrow. Try to stay calm though I imagine it will be difficult...

TheScience · 28/04/2014 19:04

I think it's quite normal for a nursery to close up early if all the children have left - why would they stay open til 6 if everyone had gone by 5?

Obviously something has gone very wrong if they didn't realise one child hadn't been collected though. Could be as simple as moving all the children into one room/her room staff handing over to late staff/the wrong box being ticked on the register.

jeanmiguelfangio · 28/04/2014 19:04

Good god, I dont think it us a bad thing to go home early if all the children have gone home- but she was in the toilet! Surely they check everywhere, have a register to sign children in and out, know how many they have and how many have gone.
I would have gone nuts, it is so awful, hope your dd is ok op, amd her lemonade did the trick!

MintyCoolMojito · 28/04/2014 19:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
lookingfortheanswer · 28/04/2014 19:05

She is 2. Angry

OP posts:
GobbolinoCat · 28/04/2014 19:06

call the NON emergency number - poilice and tell them what has happened....

BoffinMum · 28/04/2014 19:06

You are supposed to sweep the building for people before locking up.

NachoAddict · 28/04/2014 19:06

Wow this is shocking.

How did you know she was inside, that was lucky.