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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have concerns about nursery after visits

17 replies

ohlittlepea · 14/03/2015 23:07

First of all I do understand no nursery is going to be perfect but I'm a bit concerned after a few visits with my daughter. I made the choice for a small nursery in a person's home with plenty of mixed age play which i really like and what seemed like very gentle policies never leaving a child to cry, running at high staff to children ratios and so that there is lots of support. It hasn't rung true at all in how things actually work. Reply worried about finding somewhere else and being able to settle her in in time :(
My concerns are;
No monitoring of the nap room and very infrequent checking.
Before snack time no hand washing and afterwards wiping hands with a baby wipe (but each child has to provide their own packet so.it.takes absolute ages for the staff to.go.through and allocate wipes.
Nappies seem to be done on a Rota not when the child needs them done.

Staff ratios might be ok across the building but I've never seen the right number of staff in the room.for the children on my 3 visits.
There are no batteries in an of the electric toys so they don't work...I know this might be a policy thing but I t just seems a Shame.

My daughter is cmp intolerant and at back time the children have toast and fruit , I offered to bring in a block of her bitter substitute and they said no the intolerant children just get fruit.

It's a premium price so I'm really disappointed with the service.
Are these things t normal?

OP posts:

Arsenic · 14/03/2015 23:20

No, not normal. More importantly, you are uneasy. Find somewhere else.

OddBodkins · 14/03/2015 23:22

That's quite a list of concerns. No, I don't think yabu.

Cookiesallforme · 14/03/2015 23:25

Go with your gut. If it doesn't feel right , don't do it.

Cookiesallforme · 14/03/2015 23:29

Also looking at your list of concerns, none are unreasonable at all. Seems a pretty lax nursery re implementation of policies and procedures and , More worryingly, safeguarding the children in their care.

No, find somewhere else. You may take a while finding it but better to find somewhere you feel completely happy with than putting your DD in somewhere where you'll probably be on thorns all the time, worrying how she is. Not worth that at all.

OddBodkins · 14/03/2015 23:39

When dd was little a friend recommended a private nursery that she just absolutely loved. I went with Dd to visit and really disliked it. It was pokey, boring, they had a ridiculous system of all the children doing the exact same activity at once like in a classroom (but these were 2 year olds). Anyway, despite it's great reputation it wasn't for us. We much preferred a local playgroup held in a village hall.

Cookiesallforme · 14/03/2015 23:45

Wouldn't have like that either OddBodkins.

One of the things I love about my DC nursery is the fact that the children are never, ever in one big homogenous group. Whenever I pick him up, I never know where in the building he will be as the staff take the children into small groups all over the nursery ( inside or outside) and do different activities with them. The children can choose too what it is they would like to do. It's fantastic :)

Good luck OP

BackforGood · 14/03/2015 23:49

If you are not happy with a whole list of things that happen when they know you are there and watching them then don't send your child there.
Whereas nothing you state sound dangerous, it doesn't sound perfect either, and I think, when you are about to leave your dc for the first time, you want as near a fit to perfect as you can find. You are already uneasy here, and you've not even left them yet.

Newyearsunresolutions · 14/03/2015 23:49

No I wouldn't be happy with that either.

ShadowStone · 14/03/2015 23:58

This doesn't sound good. Especially as they know you're there watching them.

I would start looking at other nurseries.

Original poster

ohlittlepea · 15/03/2015 00:24

Thank you, I have written up a list of places to call on Monday :)

OP posts:

TiggyOfQuirm · 15/03/2015 08:34

No monitoring of the nap room and very infrequent checking. - Every 10 minutes is the usual standard and no nursery I know have a problem doing it. Bad.

Before snack time no hand washing and afterwards wiping hands with a baby wipe (but each child has to provide their own packet so.it.takes absolute ages for the staff to.go.through and allocate wipes. - That's idiotic. Wipes/nappies for changes I can understand but that is making a huge amount of work and confusion for themselves. Nobody else does that. Bad/supid.

Nappies seem to be done on a Rota not when the child needs them done. - All nurseries have set nappy change times to check/change the children but will also do it when needed. Fine.

Staff ratios might be ok across the building but I've never seen the right number of staff in the room.for the children on my 3 visits. - But are they meeting the legal requirements? If they say they're trying to overstaff, the 'extra' person might be doing some of those important jobs that have to be done on top of childcare. Keeping records up to date, making playdough, sorting a cupboard etc. Sounds a bit dodgy.

There are no batteries in an of the electric toys so they don't work...I know this might be a policy thing but I t just seems a Shame. - Lots of nurseries do this. It's annoying. Children know the toys should do things. Bad.

My daughter is cmp intolerant and at back time the children have toast and fruit , I offered to bring in a block of her bitter substitute and they said no the intolerant children just get fruit. - But the toast provides carbs for energy and your child misses out. Poor.

It's not a premium nursery.

HoggleHoggle · 15/03/2015 08:38

I'd avoid too.

I started settling sessions for my ds at one nursery and pulled him out after 2 sessions. Nothing dramatic I could put my finger on, but I got a horrible feeling about the staff's attitude and procedures.

My ds is now very happily settled at a wonderful nursery. Trust your instinct.

bumbleymummy · 15/03/2015 08:41

Yanbu. Good luck with your search on Monday :)

insancerre · 15/03/2015 08:42

I agree with Tiggy
In fact I was going to post what he said
Find another nursery

iwishicouldsing · 15/03/2015 08:44

I'm another one for going with your gut feeling. If you have doubts find another nursery.

Purplepoodle · 15/03/2015 08:47

the intolerance issue would be my bug bear. Our daycare provides suitable substitute food for children with allergies at their own cost.

DrinkGirlsFeck · 15/03/2015 09:00

Nappies wouldn't worry me as long as they will do additional changes if needed. The other things are not good. Particularly the CMP.

My DC's nursery provide for all allergies or food choices (veggie/religious) at no extra cost. And made sure that the children were not made to feel weird about having different food.

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