Would you complain to nursery?

[alwaystired234]

DD has been attending nursery for around 3 weeks and yesterday when I went to pick her up there was a member of staff I hadn't met before. She didn't seem to recognise me and didn't know who my child was. She sort of just looked blankly at me and I stated that I'm here for x. She then got her for me and we left. It just unsettled me a bit as she didn't know me or who my child was. Not they would but it just got me thinking that anyone could pick her up and there was no question asked. Should I complain or am I being dramatic?

I don't think she's done anything wrong. If you shouldn't have been collecting your child due to some sort of ban then I don't think you'd show up at the nursery when the other staff members know you.

@Feelingmeh4545 you would be surprised

I wouldn’t officially complain but I would certainly be discussing my concerns with the child’s key worker / room co-ordinated or someone from the management team.

You’re right it’s a safeguarding risk and it needs addressing, but, it’s probably that a new member of staff was feeling flustered and didn’t get it right this time rather than the nursery not having safeguarding procedures in place, there was no harm done in this instance and the nursery probably just need to go over the procedure again with the new staff member and do a little extra training.

I think I would mention to the nursery, not complain as it’s not her fault if she’s new and not been given a procedure for pick ups. I used to manage a childcare setting and I used to stay with new members of staff at collection time until I felt certain they’d learnt most of the children’s parents.

I wouldn’t complain but possibly mention you were unsettled and suggest they come up with something for new staff to make sure it’s the right person collecting. It is genuinely hard getting to know so many children’s names and remember both parents, grandads, granny’s, aunts, nanny’s, siblings, ect, ect, ect, who do pick ups.

How old is your child? If she went inside to get her is there a chance she asked someone else to look out a window and identify you? I would not do a formal complaint but check again with her boss how people identify parents.

My son goes to a childminder. If someone other than me picks him up I have to provide a photograph of the person and give them a one-time password. Childminder has photos of my parents and my brother. I also have to inform her that someone else is picking him up.

I would be unsettled by your experience OP. I wouldn't necessarily complain, but simply ask what their procedure is and whether it was followed on this occasion as you suspect it may not have been.

I would be asking for clarification of the safety procedures.

Our nursery have photos of everyone allowed to collect each individual child, and anyone other than the parents have to have a password.