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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

7 year old being made to do this by after school club..

96 replies

Figureitout1 · 04/06/2017 11:30

Picked up my DD7 from after school club (based in a nursery) on Friday and she was very upset. Turns out she and a friend had been in the loo (shared with 2 other classes - 3-5years class and 1-3 years class, about 60kids altogether). The friend had come in with muddy shoes and left muddy footprints. One of the cleaners in the nursery noticed and had a massive go at them and made them clean it up with paper towel!

I am very cross about this
a) because it's a toilet floor used by so many kids so the potential of them picking something up is high
b) my DD hadn't made the mess in the first place
c) they are kids and although they have to learn to clean up after themselves I feel this overstepped the mark.

I plan on speaking to the nursery about this next time they are in (Tuesday) but AIBU?

OP posts:
ineedamoreadultieradult · 04/06/2017 11:34
  1. they won't catch anything from wiping the floor with a paper towel
  2. the friend made the mess and your DD was with her sometimes you just have to suck these things up, it's a life lesson. Just wait until she gets while class detention for something she didn't do.
  3. which mark did it overstep? You say they should be taught to clean up after themselves and this is what happened.
ineedamoreadultieradult · 04/06/2017 11:34

*whole not while

BarbarianMum · 04/06/2017 11:36

They had to wipe up some mud with paper towels, not scrub the loos with a toothbrush. Hmm Just give your dd a hug and tell her she was kind to help a friend.

BoraThirch · 04/06/2017 11:36

Don't be ridiculous!

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 04/06/2017 11:36

Are you pissed off because the cleaner told them to clean it up rather than the after school staff?

Hoppinggreen · 04/06/2017 11:38

Your 7 year old wiped the floor and you are " very cross"?
Ridiculous

JigglyTuff · 04/06/2017 11:39

I don't know why you're very cross. Yes, her friend made the footprints but if your DD was there, she could help clean so that it was done faster. Useful learning point for both of them I'd think. They're old enough to know that if you make a mess, someone has to clean it up.

Purplemac · 04/06/2017 11:42

Sounds like the cleaner had likely just finished cleaning the floor themselves, or I'm not sure how they would have noticed in time to "catch them". In which case, they were wiping mud off of a clean floor. Really no big deal at all. It's annoying that your DD didn't make the mess but that's life sometimes.

HighwayDragon1 · 04/06/2017 11:43

So they made a mess and were told to clean it up?

What's the outrage?

Amanduh · 04/06/2017 11:56

Yes YABU. Happy to help!

FatOldBag · 04/06/2017 12:03

I'd be pissed of if my 7yo was made to wipe the toilet floor, wtf? Were they supervised to ensure they washed their hands after as well? They could get really sick. And what the fuck was a cleaner doing telling kids what to do? Presumably they have no childcare training (which is why they thought this appropriate). The nursery should have been very clear where the lines are for non-childcare staff interacting with children if they're having cleaners in at the same time as the kids are there. I also wonder if anyone has thought this policy through; are they background checked? I doubt it for cleaning, but they have unsupervised access to children's loos. Also, everyone knows if you clean while kids are around, the buggers will mess it up again, it's a waste of time. OP YANBU.

hmcAsWas · 04/06/2017 12:09

You are being precious.

HighwayDragon1 · 04/06/2017 12:10

Fat, anyone who works in a building with kids HAS to have an enhanced DBS check.

Of course it's appropriate, make a mess, clean it up

BoraThirch · 04/06/2017 12:12

Yes, of course nursery cleaners are dbs checked if they're there when the children are. And of course other nursery staff (admin, cooks, cleaners, caretakers) are able to interact with the children.

FatOldBag · 04/06/2017 12:20

I'm not sure that's true, as you can't get a DBS check unless you work with unsupervised contact with kids, and cleaners and cooks etc don't (or shouldn't) it's not their job. I have to work in schools occasionally, but not with kids (but while kids are there). My work tried to get a dbs certificate for me and they were told no, for my job they wouldn't do one as I didn't need it for that role.

Beyondworried · 04/06/2017 12:26

Massively OTT response Fat A kid was asked to wipe some mud off the floor Hmm
OP.... YAB a bit U.
It's no big deal really is it.

PurpleMinionMummy · 04/06/2017 12:26

Wouldn't isn't the same as can't fatoldbag.

PurpleMinionMummy · 04/06/2017 12:27

Afaik anyone wondering around a school unsupervised should have an enhanced dbs, that would include cleaning staff.

BoraThirch · 04/06/2017 12:27

Fat - you work occasionally and supervised. School/nursery staff will all have dbs checks.

MsWanaBanana · 04/06/2017 12:28

FatOldBag I'm not sure why you would were told no because my dd school and my ds both require any person they employ, including any outside contractors, to have a DBS contract. Even if you're not in direct contact, there are still children around so you would need to be checked before being given the job

lovelycuppateas · 04/06/2017 12:28

If they happened to one of my dc, I'd tell her well done for helping out for clearing up the mess her friend made. It's important that they learn things don't just clean themselves. Honestly, cleaners have a hard enough time already, be a bit more empathetic!

WooWooSister · 04/06/2017 12:28

YABU - they made a mess. They cleared it up. You can argue about the merits of collective responsibility but there's nothing wrong in making DCs clean up mess. Your hysteria about toilet floor bugs seems ott when they'd obviously been in a muddy environment full of germs in the first place.

MsWanaBanana · 04/06/2017 12:29

OP YWBU it's a little mud on the floor your child be fine

gillybeanz · 04/06/2017 12:34

All staff are dbs at my dd school, whoever they are, they have to be to meet requirements of school safeguarding.

I don't believe in punishment by association so I'd be mad about this.
I also don't believe that we should learn to suck it up as life is unfair.

OP, I'd be mad too, tbh. It's what the cleaners get paid for and if they had already done the floor, why? when children could still make a mess.

unapaloma · 04/06/2017 12:41

I really hope you haven't given you DD the impression that it was wrong for her to have to help clean up, and for a cleaner to dare to ask such a thing. But I strongly suspect you have.