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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:
BertieBotts · 28/04/2014 19:26

I was once an hour and a half late for pick up due to a misunderstanding, and MULTIPLE staff stayed with my child, and he is 5.5 years old and lives around the corner and we live in Germany where it is considered quite reasonable for children just a year older than him to walk to and from school by themselves.

Of course they were pretty cross with me when I turned up but they didn't leave him.

This has to have been an accident, an awful oversight. I can't imagine that anybody would leave a small child alone on purpose.

Darmok · 28/04/2014 19:27

I would be raising hell tomorrow.

Write everything down OP so you don't lose track of the facts.

Fwiw I believe you, and I have worked in a similar field.

BertieBotts · 28/04/2014 19:28

True, DS once decided to play hide and seek in a motorway service station when he was 3. Fucking terrifying, I thought he'd run out onto the road! We found him under a table in the restaurant, but none of us noticed him slip off, he was there one second and gone the next.

Darmok · 28/04/2014 19:28

Not a crime, abandoning a 2 year old locked alone in a building? A child you are paid to care for?

I think it's a crime.

maggiethemagpie · 28/04/2014 19:28

My first thoughts were that this post is not true - it just doesn't add up. happy to be proved wrong though, so OP if this is true I suggest you go to the papers, I'm sure they would be interested in printing this story and this would get the nursery into a lot of (deserved) trouble.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 28/04/2014 19:29

I have asked for my previous post to be deleted. There are questions, but of course there would be because this just obviously shouldn't be possible.

Sorry for airing the questions on this thread OP - I am sorry this has happened. I would be beside myself with all sorts of emotions (as would DD I'm sure).

AnnieLobeseder · 28/04/2014 19:29

OP, is the nursery aware of what happened yet? You say the head is organising a meeting, which I imagine would mean contacting nursery staff. They should be calling you this evening and absolutely grovelling at your feet - you should certainly take it up with them tomorrow if they don't even bother to get in touch this evening to apologise, or at least make sure your DD is okay!

BertieBotts · 28/04/2014 19:29

I reckon they weren't signing out properly and everyone assumed that someone else had seen her go. They didn't see or hear any children around the place so assumed it was empty, locked up and went home.

Original poster
lookingfortheanswer · 28/04/2014 19:30

It obviously wasn't so ridiculous to think she might still be in there, since that's where she was.
I'm going to stop defending myself now, if you don't believe me then don't read it. I've had a shit day and I'm going to put dd to bed.
Thbanks for all the advice, I'll let you know what happens. I needed to channel some mumsnet anger.

OP posts:
CheckpointCharlie · 28/04/2014 19:30

Oh. My. God.

How utterly terrifying. You defo need Wine you must feel so shocked and unreal.

I might have missed it but have you been in touch with anyone from the nursery?

Oh OP my goodness, I am speechless.... Poor dd. Angry

Aeroflotgirl · 28/04/2014 19:30

Yes but fatal staff should check all parts of the building before locking up. I used to work in a day centre and we would check everywhere even store cupboards before locking up.

Darmok · 28/04/2014 19:31

I believe you.

So sorry, you must be in shock.

I'll look out for an update tomorrow.

Aeroflotgirl · 28/04/2014 19:31

Yes for all those troll hunters, it does happen, staff can fail in their duty of care.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 28/04/2014 19:32

Absolutely awful. How did you find her? I'd have been hysterical...

Being late or not is irrelevant and not sure why people are assuming thats the explanation.

Even of you had been late the nursery are legally responsible for your child. Hence the draconian fines (of £10 per minute etc), and then social services get phoned after 30 mins or however long is in the nursery manual.

TenMinutesEarly · 28/04/2014 19:32

Wow OP what a shock. Similar happened to Dds little friend at her nursery. She nipped to the loo when they were setting off to the IT suite in a different building. On their way back an hour later they realised she was missing, scoured the building they were in and the grounds before realising she was still in the first building! Contact ofsted. They will do an emergency inspection. You have lots of witnesses. Thank goodness your dd is ok.

thebodydoestricks · 28/04/2014 19:32

Jesus Christ op. Personally I would call Ofsted first thing. Totally unacceptable.

Tiredemma · 28/04/2014 19:33
Shock

how could they make such a terrible mistake????

tootiredtothink · 28/04/2014 19:35

They close because it's an added bonus if all the children have left early. Or so they thought....

SomethingAboutNothing · 28/04/2014 19:35

Your poor DD, she must have been so scared Sad

I hope Ofsted thoroughly investigate this and steps are taken to ensure this never happens again. Sounds to me like someone has made a shocking error that could have ended up so much worse, heads should roll.

crispyporkbelly · 28/04/2014 19:35

I can't imagine how this could happen. When I worked at a preschool/CC it closed at 6pm for children but there were always a couple of people knocking around after doing paperwork. Then the caretaker would be there til 7pm.

Crazy they all went home half an hour early.

Call ofsted first thing in the morning.

ICanSeeTheSun · 28/04/2014 19:35

DD went 'missing' in play group, what happend she went to the dress up box went inside and fell asleep.

It took the workers 10 minutes, it was noticed at snack time.

The play group said they do a head count multiple times a session.

It is possible that such a small child may have fell asleep.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 28/04/2014 19:36

I assume they must have a policy on Children Who Have Not Been Collected or some such. Would be.... interesting.... to see it.

I guess they don't have an intruder alarm either, which would have caused someone to check the whole building before locking up... But even without that I would have thought they would have (need?) a locking up procedure at the end of the day that would involve checking the school.

OP I am so glad your DD is safe and apparently unscathed.

IneedAwittierNickname · 28/04/2014 19:36

Your poor dd :( I.hope she's ok now.

Soditall · 28/04/2014 19:36

You should call the Police Op,(DH was a Police Officer)it is a child safe guarding issue.They have seriously failed your child and yourselves.

hashtagwhatever · 28/04/2014 19:37

Poor dd poor you