To start a thread of appreciation for nursery staff?

[StrugglingAlbion]

I recently saw some charmer on another thread describe nursery childcare as "leaving your children in the care of disinterested 18 year olds" or something to that effect. This is so far from my DD's experience at nursery that I really wanted to post a positive nursery thread. I may have had a prosecco or two...

My daughter (about to turn three) attends a private nursery three days per week, and has done since she was 10 months old. This enables me to work. I won't lie, I was hugely trepidatious about leaving her in a nursery at the time, but she has been so, so happy there.

Today I attended their wee carol concert. It was a lovely afternoon, carols out in the garden. It really brought home to me that my DD is so lucky to go there, and to have these women in her life. They have worked so hard with the kids to learn the carols. They have made the Christmas period so special for the kids, with stories and arts and crafts and singing and dancing. They've built up the Santa excitement, they threw a really lovely Christmas party for the kids. They even taught them party games (my DD struggled with musical bumps and they worked so hard. She ended up winning the game at the party 😭)

Every day DD comes home with new things that she has learned. She raves about these women, she just adores them. She made them all Christmas cards (off her own back, I didn't suggest it to her).

These women, often paid little more than minimum wage, really genuinely care about the children in their care. They are warm and gentle and they spend their own time and money planning activities etc. They give cuddles when the kids are sad or sick. They sort out bickering and arguing and take it all in their stride. And yes, some of them are only 18 or 19 and they seem to me to be every bit as good as their older, more experienced counterparts.

These lovely people have enabled me to return to work, safe in the knowledge that my daughter is happy and well cared for. I'll be putting my now-six month old into the same nursery in March and I feel fine about it.

So, if any of you are out there, thank you xx

When my eldest DD was the age to go to nursery, they were mainly staffed by 'Mums' who wanted a little part time job to fit in round their own DC once they went to school! They were lovely and caring but not as professional as nowadays.

It seems to be a real career now, instead of a stop gap!

I think they do a fabulous job of looking after other peoples children while setting them on the way to start learning. They keep a track of their achievements, even though they don't have the time to record them in sessions very often, so must be done in their own time.

My DCs nursery staff are amazing!

Here here OP. Much the same experience here with 2.5 yo DS. He's been at nursery from 7.5 months old and honestly adores it. He has multiple food allergies and has added to his collection since starting there, but bless them they have always gone above and beyond to create a homemade healthy menu for him. And believe me that's not easy! I'm so, so grateful for their care and effort in all respects, I'm more than confident for his baby sister to join him there in the new year.

Our Nursery is great. They do a wee profile each year of your child’s likes and dislikes and interests and strengths and weaknesses. They always get it spot on! They know him so well (he only does three days a week 9-5).

Yeah they're amazing they just go above and beyond all the time.

My son's nursery workers are great. They are so kind and loving, and he is happy in their care. I wish they were better paid, but I don't know what the answer is as nursery bill is currently higher than our mortgage.

They deserve a lot more than they get though.

My DS goes to nursery. He has just turned 1. He has been there since September as I wanted to return to college. He goes twice a week for roughly 8 hours each day, and he absolutely loves it. He now does not have social anxiety, he quickly makes new friends/admirers (adult and children). I honestly could not be more grateful, the women that work there are amazing and do really care for the children. Its the best thing i could have done. Dont get me wrong, before he started there were days i would cry and cry and wonder if im doing the right thing but now i am so pleased with my decision and would recommend the nursery to anyone.

My dc nursery is supppsed to be amazing. But I get the feeling my dc is forgotten about alot. Never brings back any drawings or crafts. He didn't do a christmas card. No nativity for him but they did do one. I only realised I was supposed to have a parent zone login when chatting to another parent. Rarely any updates on what he has been doing. Only had 4 updates on the parentzone since september. His keyworker can barely look at me.
All other parents rave about it.
None of them are 18 however.

My DS nursery staff are also amazing. Every single one of them

Thank you.

The nursery my DSs went/go to is absolutely lovely. They've both had to be there full-time from 8mo and I'd honestly rather they were there rather than with family! The same staff that looked after DS1 now look after DS2 (staff retention is amazing), and they always come home smelling slightly girly because they get cuddled so much I absolutely love our nursery and the staff and will probably cry buckets when DS2 leaves there to start reception next year.

My ds nursery is also lovely. Nice thread.

As a nursery nurse I'll be watching this with interest. Thank you for starting such a lovely thread!

As it happens I am not 18, and not disinterested. I've worked in childcare for almost 12 years. I genuinely care for each and every one of the babies I look after. And yes I am only paid minimum wage.

DS is in a lovely nursery. He only goes one day a week and cried for the first 6 weeks. On the 7th week I got a phone call from nursery at 2 in the afternoon just to let me know he was like a different child. He was eating, singing and dancing, painting and playing with the other children.
The carer was so pleased he had finally settled in and continues to be enthusiastic about him and his accomplishments. The staff are genuinely caring and truly amazing.

We also get files full of crafts, emailed photos of them doing the same random stuff that I would take of them at home that I find adorable but assume no-one else would, lovely comments at handover, all meals cooked from scratch are full of veg and fruit...

Honestly, love our nursery and the women that work there.

Great thread OP!

I agree! My DGD loves her Nursery and the staff clearly love her. It's such a lovely feeling dropping her off somewhere where she's so happy.

My friends daughter has an apprenticeship st a nursery. She loves kids, works hard to make sure they are all well looked after and enjoy their time in the nursery. She does long hours often not getting out on time as a parent is late doing a pick up. All for under £4 per hour but she loves her job and hopes for a job offer at the end of the apprentership.

DS loved his time at nursery. They were so good at bringing him out of his shell. I don’t know where they get the energy from to do their job.

The staff at DDs nursery are fabulous! You can tell they really care for the children massively and have taken time to help DD understand the impending arrival of her sibling which I’m so greatful for. They’ve Given me invaluable advise when we’ve had bad patches and since she started only a few months ago she’s grown in confidence, she’s learnt to write her name and understand word sounds, read numbers. I am so thankful for each one of them, I look like hell after spending a day looking after my headstrong child and they still have the composure and happiness at the end of the day with 30 of them. Love them!

I’ve used two private nurseries. The first closed down because Boone would buy it from the retiring owners. I sobbed. The women who worked there adored their charges and were fabulous. I’d actually taught their children so it almost felt like family.
I was really nervous about the second nursery as a result. I was wrong. They are just as amazing (in a different way).

My children have been loved and nurtured and given opportunities I’d not have been able to do myself.
I have massive admiration for all those who do the job.

No one not Boone. Agh.

My sons' nursery staff were highly intelligent, highly emotionally attuned and highly educated (manager Phd, some other staff with degrees and masters, some bilingual) . They were articulate, passionate about the way they worked with children, clear about the values they worked to and really, really respected, listened to and understood children.
I loved that nursery . It had such a nice, happy atmosphere and the children had so much freedom to move around the nursery as they wished and outside as they wished. I used to hang out there for half an hour after work, it was just so nice!
A truly special place.

Our DS's nursery is fantastic. The staff are wonderful and he is so happy with them. They've done so many fantastic Christmassy things with them. And they are a great mix of ages. One of the staff was looked after another member of staff when she was at nursery as a baby! It's a wonderful environment, like an extended family. We try to make sure they know they are appreciated.

My DS (2) has a severe speech delay and additional needs. I was so nervous about sending him to nursery but his keyworker is an angel. She gives him so much attention and has built up a wonderful bond with him in just one term. He jumps out of my arms into hers when we go to nursery. I’m so grateful to have her in my son’s life. Like others, I try to let her know how fantastic she is and how highly we think of her - she’s made a real difference to all of our lives.

Totally agree OP. My 3 DC have all been to same lovely nursery - youngest is 19mo and so still there - and I'm frankly in awe of the women who work there. They are so hard-working and patient, and are just brilliant.