To hate the nursery I have chosen for my children.

[MGFM]

I think a bit of back ground is always useful.

DS 2.5 went to nursery when he was 9 months old. I withdrew him when he was 18 months old when I had my DD. We couldn't really afford to spend out on nursery when I was at home. Plus I really liked spending the extra time with him. He was in nursery full time.

He has been off with me for a year and is now 2.5 and I am returning to work in a few weeks. We chose the nursery a few months ago and I was happy with it.

We had settling in with my daughter a few days ago and that was by and large ok. The toddlers and the 1 year olds mix together in the garden and I did feel the supervision wasn't great but that was my only gripe.

Settling in today with my son. He is at an age now where he actually likes to play with things properly. Be it his train track or kitchen or dolls house.

Firstly the room felt like t had zero energy and quite frankly the children looked like extras from the cast of walking dead. They were just moping around the room. The practitioners weren't really engaging with them. One asked my son if wanted to play trains. Well it's only his favourite thing in the world. She tipped the train box upside down all the toddlers descended and then she walked off. Is this what counts as playing with trains? My son sat there not knowing what to do as 6 or 7 toddlers sat on top of the train track chucking it around. He then went off and found a doll and a baby bottle and started doing role play on his own. Had the baby in the high chair. I have to say he had fun and seemed animated etc. The other kids looked bored and uninspired. We went outside for a few mins and he played nicely. Again I felt lacking in supervision. A toddler put something small in her mouth and someone shouted to her to take it out of her mouth. Where has that bit of whatever ended up? My one year old will be walking around out there on Monday and she puts everything in her mouth. I am very concerned about this. There was also a massive water spillage in the classroom that was clearly being ignored and another staff member who was sat right next to it had to be told l clean it up when I walked in the door. Who knows how long it had been there.

All in all I found the room to have a lazy vibe and I hated it for my son. I am really upset and don't know what to do. The other two nurseries where he could go are too expensive. One was his former nursery and they have put their prices up too much. I have called the local pre school near us and am frantically trying to get a child minder. September not a great month for that. Argh! I'm so annoyed at myself. I don't really know what to do. Were my expectations too high? Is this was all toddler rooms at nursery are like?

No it's not what all toddler rooms are like, it sounds awful. DS2 is in the toddler room at the nursery (DD is in the 3-5) and they're fab! The staff love the kids, they actively engage with them, really enjoy interacting and planning new experiences for the kids, get genuinely excited at a new milestone or event with the kids either at home or in nursery and are really welcoming and supportive. DS2 has hearing loss, autism and speech delay and they've been so amazing every step of the way, when he said his first word one of the staff burst into tears she was so happy. They're also hot on safety, supervision and on the one occasion DS2 got a bruise (he was hit in the eye by another child) they had written an incident form detailing what happened, how they treated the injury (cold compress and cuddles), and how they would risk assess to prevent it happening again which I was really impressed with.
I hope you manage to find an alternative place for your two OP, I think your instincts are right.

Our nursery not the nursery

It's not normal no. Not all childcare settings are created equal. It sounds as though the staff are inexperienced, lazy or both. It happens. If you are getting bad vibes then go somewhere else, letting them know exactly why.

Find a childminder or look further afield. Don't discount playgroups either, some offer extended hours and have a great ethos.

If this is how the staff are when parents are there...imagine how crap it gets when they aren't!

I'm going to have a word with the manager about the lack of supervision in the garden. I will probably have to kee them in for October as I will need to give one month's notice. Hopefully I will find something else for them. Not always easy as I need to drop off at 0730.

Nope, not right at all. I've worked in the early years for 20 years and know nurseries that have received inadequate ratings because of lack of interaction.

First thing first, speak to the Manager. Just remember, you are paying for this service and you have every right to query the level of care (or lack of) your child is getting.

And as you know, children put everything in their mouths. A half decent nursery would go over, take the piece off the child while explaining that we don't do that and either remove the small piece or remove the small piece and the part it came off.

Child interaction is very much dependant on the ethos of the nursery. Often if a child is being observed, the staff won't be interacting, however it's clear when they are being observed. If I had parents in the room and I was observing I'd let the parent know. If course it could be child led and the children could be interacting with each other but I'd still expect staff around the children and not imposing on play.

Spilt water should be cleared up immediately with a wet floor sign out.

Mixing age groups is expected and fine in the garden bit should still be supervised. Non walkers should have their own safe space where they can explore without getting in the way of the older walkers etc and ratios should be at the very least maintained and increased outside for best practice.

But you booked places knowing the supervision wasn't great? That wouldn't have gotten off the drawing board for me, it would be top priority.

That sounds awful op, I'd always think, if they're like that while a parent is watching, what are they like when nobody's watching?? I'd honestly look again and see if you can find better.

When I had my original visit everything seemed fine. The lack of supervision I noticed when my DD had her settling in. I am a bit stuck as I start work in a few weeks. I will have to speak to the manager on Monday but will have to continue with the settling in. I am making enquiries elsewhere. I have a meeting with a child minder tomorrow

I have no issue with the shared space in principal. But there were colouring pencils randomly on the floor and if my one year old got hold of one and walked with it and fell and dread to think what damage she could do to herself. I'm def pulling both of them but need to find somewhere else first.