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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Remove LO immediately and not pay 4 weeks notice?

64 replies

myfusion · 23/04/2016 10:32

LO (22 months) attends a nursery that has a separate soft play area for use of the general public. Nursery now uses the soft play before it opens to the public and after it closes so I drop LO off and pick up from the soft play area.
I have had some misgivings about this arrangement because it always seems a bit chaotic and I've seen children climbing up the slide, going behind the counter that the soft play serve food and beverages from and this week saw a child running around with a toilet brush.
Yesterday when I collected LO I looked in the under 2's bit where he usually is and couldn't see him, all the staff were busy with parents picking up so I was looking around for him when another mum said she'd been watching him coming down the slide (a great big bumpy one) and she'd been concerned as he's only little and seemed totally out of control bumping of the sides and tumbling over towards the bottom.
I then spotted LO who had climbed to the top of the steps back up to the slide and at that precise moment lost his balance and tumbled, head over foot, all the way back to the bottom - probably a 10ft+ sloping height down (fortunately) rounded/padded steps so no injuries just shock and tears.
Not one member of staff had been supervising him and hadn't for some time by the sound of it, not one member of staff saw him fall and not one member of staff noticed him crying - he was still crying on the floor by the time I'd made my way over to him.
The upshot is I feel very strongly that I don't want to take him back there ever again, I don't trust them to care for him and keep him safe anymore. Who knows how many times this has happened previously, he is 22 months old and using a large play frame totally unsupervised.
If I remove him I will need to find alternative childcare asap, I can't afford to pay two providers at once though so, I either let him attend for the 4 week notice period which I am loathe to do, or I don't take him back (I will take annual leave until I find an alternative and settle him in but `i can't do this for 4 weeks) and don't pay the 4 weeks notice. Under the circumstances, would it be unreasonable to do this?

OP posts:
Cagliostro · 23/04/2016 11:50

The toilet brush thing could be ok, it might be a brand new one used just for sensory play (like a treasure basket thing where you have sponges, spoons etc)

Not that it's relevant as the slide incident is more than enough for you to pull him out :( horrible to have your trust broken like that.

Original poster
myfusion · 23/04/2016 12:22

I feel the toilet brush was definitely one used for cleaning the toilets.
The little boy that had it (he's in the same room as my LO so no more than two years old) came running from the toilets with it, he must have been in there unsupervised, and when a member of staff saw what he had she was all "eugh, yuck" and took it off him.

OP posts:
OurBlanche · 23/04/2016 12:37

Social worker? That should make it easier for you then. Tell the SW and ask them to help you report/resolve etc.

Definitely make sure the CM logs the incident and report them to LA/Ofsted et etc.

Cagliostro · 23/04/2016 12:38

Oh I see :( was trying to give the benefit of the doubt but... no that's pretty clear isn't it! Gross Angry

MeDownSouth · 23/04/2016 12:41

If you wandered in and nobody noticed how can you be sure that a child couldn't wander off or as pp said nobody could wander in and take a child? I'd think this is especially important for a looked after child where the family might be NC and might be trying to get access (not necessarily in your case). Bit scary they didn't log it even if just in the accident book, what if he got home and then showed signs of a head injury, they'd be in major trouble.
Do what Finola said and hope LO is ok :)

Original poster
myfusion · 23/04/2016 12:48

The main door to the soft play has no access control but once through the door a member of staff has to buzz you in/out of a little gate. Last night the soft play had not long been shut and I was buzzed in by a member of the soft play staff who was still there & recognised me.

OP posts:
Original poster
myfusion · 23/04/2016 12:49

Griphook - I had no idea a toilet brush could be so dangerous, poor Heston!

OP posts:
rumbleinthrjungle · 23/04/2016 12:53

Afreshstart says it all.

Remove.
Don't Pay.
Report.

That's appalling practice and they don't have a leg to stand on. And please let the Early Years local authority team know as well as Ofsted. (Just ring your Local Authority main desk and ask for the Early Years team.)

TheHobbitMum · 23/04/2016 12:57

Absolutely report and not pay for the remainder of the term. Unbelievable

Maisy313 · 23/04/2016 13:03

Just echoing everyone else really, remove him, explain why and I doubt they will chase for money. Sounds chaotic and now the trust is gone it's gone and you won't feel safe leaving him there. If you have a direct debit make double sure they can no longer access your account.

septembersunshine · 23/04/2016 13:03

Sounds like a nightmare set up. Once I went to see a nursery for my son. It was joined onto the public library and kids would play outside the library most days. The entrance to the library was just a metre from the place where the kids played. The problem was staff never seemed to be around and in and out the building all the time and an adult could literally step over this tiny fence and take a child. Put the fear into me. Needless to say I walked away. This sounds even worse because they are just let loose in this soft play without anyone with them.

As above - I would write the letter, report and remove my child asap. Your gut instinct is right. And I wouldn't pay.

Kittyinthewood · 23/04/2016 13:06

What is LO?

TimeOfGlass · 23/04/2016 13:20

YANBU. This sounds completely unsuitable - they shouldn't be letting the children on the soft play equipment if they're not able to supervise them properly.

Agree you should put your reasons in writing.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 23/04/2016 13:24

LO is little one, Kitty.
You just to remove him, Fusion. He's clearly not safe guarded nor supervised there. Imagine if that happened 10 mins before you got there. You'd have been none the wiser. Also there can still be serious injuries or even worse if they land on soft furnishings. It's also about the angle they land. Not just what they land on.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 23/04/2016 13:25

It sounds like a bloody circus. I don't know about a nursery

IdentityRequest1 · 23/04/2016 13:25

Yes to what Finola said. Also, insist that the incident be logged and a copy provided to you immediately for you to sign (providing you agree with what is says).

ShinyShinyShiny · 23/04/2016 13:25

There is a nursery adjacent to a soft play in a town near us that has a similar arrangement and I must admit I wondered how they could supervise the children closely enough when using the equipment. You need more supervision than the standard ratios in that environment IMO.

I would definitely remove, inform your social worker and back up with a written compliant.

Glad your LO is OK after the fall.

EverySongbirdSays · 23/04/2016 14:01

I imagine your Social Worker will be fucking fuming as well

I know about LAC scenarios

She/He will likely pay them a visit and say in no uncertain terms that the FC will not be bringing their charge back nor paying notice fees. They should have your back on this.

blankmind · 23/04/2016 14:03

Could you ask the other mum who saw what happened to be a witness for you? It will surely help you if a third party can corroborate your version of events as the staff for whatever reasons 'didn't see' what happened.

Sparklycat · 23/04/2016 14:18

Did you pay a deposit? They'll keep that for the months notice if you're not careful so maybe put that in writing that you want it back too?

TitaniumSpider · 23/04/2016 14:35

My DD left a nursery without giving notice, they sent me a letter threatening court proceedings if I didn't pay. I reply saying that DD had left due to their negligence and they wrote back saying that they had waived the fee as a 'goodwill' gesture.
My 'goodwill' gesture was, they hoped, not reporting them - in their dreams!

insancerre · 23/04/2016 14:50

I'm a nursery manager and my advise would be to take him out and to write a letter of complaint to the manager and let them investigate
Then when they have investigated and have reported back to you report them to ofsted
The nursery legally have to log complaints that relate to breaches of the welfare requirements so when ofsted contact them the nursery must produce the complaint file
They are not supervising the children adequately and that has to be a major concern
I do think you need to talk to your social worker as a matter of urgency and find alternative childcare

insancerre · 23/04/2016 14:51

I also very much doubt they will take you to court