To complain about DS nursery key worker

[Thegracefuloctopus]

DS is 13 months and has been in nursery since he was 9 months. The 1st nursery he was in we pulled him out of after 3 weeks because the nursery was too big and for a number of reasons, we weren't happy with it.
We moved him to a small nursery that has 6 members of staff accross two rooms.
We have loved this nursery so so much and really got on with it. However, recently we have found one particular member of staff is slacking massively and its creating a bit of tension.
This week the manager has been off and these things have escolated.
We have an online system where they keep track of what DS has done that day. DS has a key worked who we shall call A. He is the staff member we have noticed a difference in.
Whenever A uploads details onto DS file, it's not specific. Such as I find it unlikely that DS has gone to sleep at 12.23 every day, which makes me question what of the information is true.
We have also noticed a drop in the updates of what DS is doing in his day. We used to get "DS has been making prints today with brocoli, making them into trees". We now get nothing.
This week dh got there to find DS in soaking wet clothes in the garden, no coat on (despite me sending him with one) and eating mud. There were 10 children of varying ages in the garden and A was the only member of staff. Another was cleaning inside the nursery.
I did drop off and handed DS over with a large lack of conversation, just "what time did he get up" and then walking off.
Yesterday, DH picked DS up to be told "we've put him in some socks we found, we don't know if they are his but he took his off and we couldn't find his" I had noticed the pair of socks that morning drying on the drying rack. DS has now come home in them and they arnt his. There are spare socks in DS bag and I found the socks I sent him in that day in his bag too. AIBU to think you shouldn't put a child in a pair of dirty socks from another child, full well knowing they don't belong to the child you're giving them to?
We have also noticed A speaking to the children in a snappy way, such as "I'm not picking you up" despite the child crying with his arms up. Child in question is not much older than DS.
So, WIBU to mention it to the manager and ask why standards have slipped recently, especially with this staff member. and really question the socks thing.

There are some issues here and some non-issues. But you really should speak with the manager if anything concerns you at all.

Whilst I understand PPs saying the key worker is the problem... the reality is that, if Ofsted saw the situation, they would judge it within the terms of 'Leadership and Management' quality. So it really is a management issue, first and foremost.

I would not be happy about a 'snappy' worker, though maybe we all have differences in what we'd regard as 'snappy' as opposed to merely 'firm'. The garden issue is a bit circumstantial. Wet children outside depends on the temperature at the time. The matter of adult-child ratio can be difficult to pin down. EYFS regulations specify clear ratios, but they are assessed across the whole premises, not a specific room or outdoor space.

The online journals are, yet again causing problems. I see and here this in so many settings these days. They’re a gimmick which all too often ends up with childcare providers putting the cart before the horse. Because parents love them so much, you end up with staff spending far too much time filling them out instead of focusing on the children.

As an ex nursery manager I would not be happy. The ratio is 1-3 for under twos.
Also regardless whether short staffed etc that is not your problem. You are paying money for your child to be cared for and I would expect more!
Have a word with the manager.

It sounds like the nursery is very short staffed and A is getting strained because of it. Yes he shouldn't snap, but he's in charge of 10 kids in the rain, and he shouldn't have been put in that position. I.would definitely complain you the manager and say the concern is the children's safety; kids should not be without coats, wet and eating mud unsupervised; coupled with issues in the reports you're worried they are short-staffed. I couldn't get excited about the socks, but as you say the odd time of sleep means you can't rely on any information you're given. Not picking up an under-2 who wants a cuddle isn't appropriate, but might be linked to being short-staffed because he had TEN kids to try to keep alive, so I might mention it but in the context of lack of staff and therefore care standards rather than his behaviour being an issue.

It really amazes me what some people here would apparently be happy with their non-verbal babies having to deal with. They are literally dependent on these adults for their care; if the nursery aren't at least keeping babies safe, warm, dry, fed, clean, well rested and happy or comforted then the child is being failed terribly.

Would you rather she spent her time updating you every detail of the day? They are busy doing more important things, minding your children. It is not possible to pick up every child that wants to be carried. You’d get a very sore back, children are there for a couple of years but the staff has to last to work for 30 years or so. Your child had socks on, and was not cold. If you really need to know the minute he fell asleep you should stay at home with him yourself. YABU and sound like hard work.

*There were 10 children of varying ages in the garden and A was the only member of staff. Another was cleaning inside the nursery.

*I'd be furious with the above and would have removed my dc immediately on that and the soaked outside incident alone. You don't pay a small fortune for them to half arse looking after your dc. I thought it was illegal to run a nursery without the proper ratios for young dc?

If I were you I'd start looking for another nursery. Once you loose trust it's hard to gain it back, especially when it comes to your babies! We had concerns with our dcs nursery recently after a room change it was like a completely different nursery, we took the advice of speaking to the manger and it ended up in us withdrawing him the next day.

I'd move on and find another. There's plenty of nurseries and some are definitely better than others in my experience. The one we recently left was all about the ££ and clearly couldn't give a toss about the care they were providing.

Not picking up an under-2 who wants a cuddle isn't appropriate
Since you have no idea of the circumstances, you can't know that. Some children want to carried all the time and that just isn't appropriate on a 1:3 ratio where other children need care too. Plus think of the poor staffs' backs!

Thanks for the responses. I've left it for today as I'm really happy over all with the setting and these incidents have been limited to this week (when the manager has been off). I will mention it to the manager when she's back next week.

For all those saying I'm hard work, I'm really not. I'm happy with them in general, I've just noticed a change recently that happens to come at the same time as the manager being off and therefore slightly understaffed.

Is the manager usually working in one of the rooms? I just wondered if they are genuinely understaffed or taking the p because the manager isn't there? I know you said you were going to leave it until the manager gets back but is there any other senior staff like a deputy? Could always mention it to them if you don't want to wait.

I don't even look at the updates of what they've been doing! I think a lot of parents don't. My DC is happy when I drop off and collect. Loves the staff and has a good bond with them. She's made friends and enjoys the setting. I'm sure lots goes on in the day I'm not aware of but nurseries are extremely busy places.

As for the socks, it's a non event. Missing or incorrect clothing is just part and parcel of DC's IME and last well into the school years.

I think you definitely have some valid concerns. With pre verbal babies it’s so important to be 100% happy with the setting, as they can’t tell you if something is wrong.
WRT the online diaries though.. when I worked in a nursery (many years ago!) it was all on paper, and it was simply what was for lunch, whether they slept, how many dirty nappies, and maybe one activity they had done during the day. We tried to fill them in quickly during naptime, because anything else meant time away from interacting. They probably weren’t a full and accurate reflection of their day though.

A 1 year old soaking wet and eating mud with hardly any supervision? Not on.
Find a lovely childminder that you can get to know and build a rapport with. Best decision I ever made.

Not picking a child up is Ok, snapping at the child when they are crying....not ok.

The op isn't hard work

Dry, safe, cuddled, looked after, having fun - these are the basics....if they aren't there, they are not doing their job well.

I wouldn't care about the socks.....I have been a nursery practitioner for 20+ years and can't imagine having time to send multiple updates to parents throughout the day either.
One person with 10 children which includes your 13 month old is way too many children. This is the main issue. Ask the manager about this asap

Do you really have to complain. Cant you just speak to key worker and say, I'd like more detailed info please.
A complaint in a nursery can have a massive effect on that person's career when she is might just be shit at updates

I'm pretty sure I remember you from your original posts complaining about the sister site nursery and when you decided to move to this smaller sister site. Sorry if I'm wrong. As an outsider it sounds like there are two elements to both of your posts - some real concerns, which appear to be problems at both nursery sites of this chain, and if I was concerned about them (like the wet outside one) and those concerns weren't addressed quickly by management, I'd move child to a different setting that isn't run by this chain as I'd be thinking as PP said it's in part to do with the way the chain is run which is poorly! But your child has already been in two different settings at such a tender age and the upheaval isn't great. The second thing is that despite some of your concerns being valid, I still agree with PP that lots of your concerns are absolutely not valid and are silly and you do come across as if no setting would be acceptable to you. In which case you really should look after your own child. Sorry and I say that as someone whose toddler is in nursery. But as PP said even the best nurseries cannot possibly provide the same type of care as one adult with one child to care for. Also I don't have time to keep accurate records of what my child is doing when they're with me all day and I only have the one. I really want record keeping to be at the bottom of the list of my nursery worker's priorities tbh. I want the actual care to be their priority.

Ask about their policy on alone working. That staff member was alone with kids whilst the other staff was inside?

Do you really have to complain. Cant you just speak to key worker and say, I'd like more detailed info please.

So if your very young child was one of 10 very young children being supervised by one adult you’d be ok with that ????

At that age the ratio of children to staff is 3:1 so that is the minimum if what you should expect.

The sock thing I cant be that excited about.

I would certainly raise if you are unhappy about how children are spoken to.

As for the online updating I would rather staff are cating for my child than taking time to update, though our nursery do update a lot.

I think the staffing ratio is the biggest concern and based on that I would honk about another nursery. What's their Ofsted like?

“The not picking you up comment” may seem harsh but may have been said in a light hearted way. I’m a nursery practitioner and have 1 little girl who is my shadow and I have cared for her for over a year now. She will cry if I leave the room, try interacting with other child or speak to parents. It’s dramatic and her mum says the same. I have probably said to her “I’m not picking you up” many times....

What I also get from this post is that their is an issue with the nursery so every little thing is now becoming an issue, such as socks

People who are saying you are being unreasonable make me never want to send my baby to a nursery..

I used to feel sorry for the nursery workers paper work load. I'd rather they just looked after the kids. I dont need written reports and updates.

Some of your concerns are valid. Some are non issues. The socks, the exact nap timing and eating a bit of mud. Who cares? Not writing down and photographing every moment of your child's day... really?! The ratios are the real problem and yes, this needs to be addressed. Make a meeting with your manager, and rather than going in to complain, why not have a discussion?
If your child is happy then I'd be happy to try and work things out rather than having a personal vendetta against a member of staff. The impact of continuously changing nurseries will be huge on your child.
As others have suggested, why not look into childminding if you really do want to change.
My son is at nursery and they sometimes forget to write down naps, he has been given someone's coat to wear that isn't his, he's almost certainly eaten a bit of mud. Some weeks he has lots of evidence uploaded online as he is a focus child, other weeks not alot. But he's happy and I know they look after him well.

speaking to the children in a snappy way, such as "I'm not picking you up" despite the child crying with his arms up

The op described it as snappy, I'm not sure just over 1 year olds get 'light hearted' when they are crying

So you want every single second of your child's life documented? Maybe they are busy, which they would be working with so many little kids! I sometimes get a few lines, sometimes nothing, no biggie, if I want to know more, I ask. I'd rather they key worker spent time with kids rather than filling in online logs with a stop watch to let you know that child slept from 10:34-11:56.