To think this isn't OK in a nursery?

[Pfbing]

Started looking around nursery's for DD when the time comes. Not sure if I'm having a PFB moment and seeing issues that aren't issues, or if this is below standard. We've only looked around the one nursery so far, and I'm not going to send DD there, but this is all so new to me I just want to know if IABU to expect more?

Nursery we went to was based in a portacabin. I have no issue with this but it just helps give an idea of size maybe. As we walked into the cabin the entrance area was completely overflowing with stuff. Seemed like it was the children's bags maybe, but they where all just pilled up on the floor with piles of coats and other stuff. I'm talking a waist high pile of stuff. Me, DH and the nursery manager struggled to fit into the space with all this stuff and couldn't get the inward opening door open properly without stepping around it one at a time. There was another way out of the building at the back, but into a smallish fenced off area. I can't help but worry about what would happen if there was a fire? But then I don't know if I'm just catastrophising and having a PFB moment!

The other thing I noticed was an extension cable. It was one that had 4 sockets on it, plugged into the wall with one socket of the 4 being used. The 3 empty sockets on the extention plug where not being used and didn't have child safe covers on them. The extension was turned on at the wall as the 4th plug was working. So that's unsafe right? We don't have a mover yet so haven't delved into the world of childproofing, but that jumped out as not right! It was on the floor where the soft play toys where.

The nursery is rated as good with ofstead, but hasn't been assessed since early 2018.

Vote - YABU these are non issues and you are being PFB about the whole thing
YANBU - this doesn't seem up to standard.

Trying to manage my expectations before we go to the next one!

I wouldn't be happy with that. You'll get more of an idea of what to expect when you see more places anyway. Porta cabin sounds small and cold too.

Well, socket covers are not safe so it's good they didn't have those tbh! But it generally sounds a bit chaotic. I would expect them to have somewhere to hang up jackets and bags as it's part of a child's morning routine to take their outdoor things off and put them away, etc. and teaches agency of their own things and independence. DD's nursery, the kids have their own pegs with their picture on.

I'm big on gut feelings when it comes to nurseries. The minute we set foot in DD's nursery I just knew it was the one for her. If you're getting a bad feeling, then I'd follow it and find somewhere else.

Not being able to get in and out easily... worrying
Overloading power sockets... worrying
If this isn't an exaggeration, I would be looking into reporting the setting as dangerous.

(However you aren't supposed to use the "safety" caps for sockets which go into the plugs themselves...they make sockets more dangerous. Completely covering the sockets is fine)

Go with your gut, regardless of what other people think anyway. If you are not comfortable with the setting for whatever reason, don't send your child there.

Entryway situation sounds worrying but socket covers are more dangerous than sockets so I would strike that off your list of things to look for in any nursery.

the entrance being full of a pile of stuff is not good.

But the socket is fine.
Socket covers are dangerous on British sockets. In order to have a problem, you have to first push something in to the Earth socket, then, while it is still in there, push 2 things which conduct electricity, (and fit) into the live and neutral sockets at the same time.
Actually incrdeibly difficult to do.

Socket covers are dangerous so I'd be pleased to see they were not being used.

In guessing the lack of space is why they have no place to hang coats and bags but this would annoy me. How are staff meant to get a child's bag easily if it's just in a heap and it's hardly teaching kids to be respectful and responsible for their belongings if they are just left in a pile. If expectel each child to have apag or cubby hole to store their belongings in.

I think when you find the right nursery you know it's right and in the long run you can overlook some minor grievances if you know your child is safe and well cared for.

If expectel each child to have apag or cubby hole to store their belongings in.

Should read I'd expect each child to have a peg or cubby hole to store their belongings in.

Silly fat fingers on a small keyboard. Oh for an edit button.

We viewed one in a portacabin too, quite nice but the environment just wasn't for me. Went to view the next nursery and its a large converted house and outbuildings set in woodland (same cost) absolutely loved it and knew it was "the one". Just keep looking. No excuse for the piled up stuff, all the kids should have pegs for their stuff or stored away in baby room. YANBU.

The fire safety and evacuation procedure would worry me a lot
Keep looking

Good to know about the socket covers! We haven't got the child proofing brains on yet, DD is only 10 weeks but nursery spaces are snapping up fast! I'll take that off my list of things to worry about.

The pile of stuff in the entrance way did concern me enough to wonder if it's safe! Also the kids get picked up and dropped off in another building and are then taken across to this cabin, so I suppose parents may not know the mess it's left in?

I wouldn't be happy either. You're quite right to question fire safety. Sounds very disorganised and very tiny too. How many DC were in there?

Just to give you an idea at my DD's nursery each child had their own peg for their bag and coat. There were also cubbies where lunch boxes were put (they were then put in the fridge by staff). There were separate rooms for each age group, a Montessori room, a studio for yoga, music etc and a library/quiet room. There were also a good sized outdoor area with play equipment.

Sockets not an issue.
Coats and bags sounds pretty chaotic.
Portacabin not an issue.

I'd base decision on how happy the other children are and how the staff are interacting with them though over the pile of coats and bags issue.
Some nuseries mine have attended have been super clean and organised, and looked brilliant, but the DC hated it as so regimental and the staff were not 'fun', more keeping order, keeping tidy. Another which was a temporary solution but ended up being much more long term looked chaotic, was small but the staff were so lovely and the dc so happy and emphasis was on play, teaching, being interactive with the kids and ended up being a lovely environment.

Ask also if they are doing anythign to sort the access/coat area as maybe they are in the process of changing the space so why stuff is on the floor.

Its so hard to get a feel for somewhere with a short visit, but if you don't get good vibes from a place, Or it doesnt feel 'right', I think thats key.

@UndertheCedartree

I wouldn't be happy either. You're quite right to question fire safety. Sounds very disorganised and very tiny too. How many DC were in there?

Just to give you an idea at my DD's nursery each child had their own peg for their bag and coat. There were also cubbies where lunch boxes were put (they were then put in the fridge by staff). There were separate rooms for each age group, a Montessori room, a studio for yoga, music etc and a library/quiet room. There were also a good sized outdoor area with play equipment.

Agreed this should all be the norm and not the exception. Ours didn't have a yoga studio but did have separate rooms and amazing outside play space big enough for hundreds of kids but each age group used it per time only so lots of space for them.

Definitely below standard, well below and that all points to bad management. When you see others you’ll get a feel for what a well run nursery looks like.

Sockets not an issue.
But nursery in a portacabin? No space for clothes and bags? That's ridiculous.

PS about the 4 way extension cable - it’s not good to use these at all, but if it was on the floor it shouldn’t be. There’s a risk of damage and water getting into them if they’re on the floor. Not allowed in my workplace and many others.

@FictionalCharacter Workplaces tend to ban extension leads because under lots of desks etc it's hard to tell how much is plugged in and they have to assume that all users are the lowest common denominator of intelligence to prevent the kettle, hoover, microwave and a heater being plugged in together which will likely overload the socket. Using and even daisy chaining extension leads if done by someone who can do the quick sums on the current draw and cable length is not dangerous at all, and is perfectly sensible if what you were plugging in was 6 sets of fairy lights that needed to be spread out around a room but you wanted them all to come on and off together. Apologies for the slight tangent, but people banning things that work and are fins for sensible people just because some people are idiots is one of my big bugbears!

I know it sounds odd but a nursery that's just had a less than good ofsted is a better place for your child to be than one that got a good a few years ago. Things can change so fast. DS2's nursery had 'requires improvement' for a reason that was understandable. They threw all the stops at it and have just received a Good. Definitely go with your gut rather than the rating.

@lampygirl I didn’t mean extension leads are banned. I meant it’s not allowed to have them on the floor for the reasons I gave.

We don’t allow daisy chaining. It’s not just about the total draw and cable length, it’s also about all the extra connections you’re introducing into the system, which are all potentially loose connections, so you’ve added in extra potential failure points. Plus if you have leads in series and multi-way sockets everywhere it can result in confusion about what’s plugged in where. The Fire Brigade will give bollockings about this if they inspect. It isn’t a silly blanket rule, it’s for good reasons, because bad setups are very common. The person who sets up a daisy chain from a multi-way extension might have made sure the total draw is low enough, but one day some numpty will come along and plug in something else.

Our policies were drawn up on the advice of electrical engineers.

I would give this one a miss if I were you! As a Former Nursery Teacher this seems very below par! Seems like they need a new inspection here! lack of space and crowded electrical sockets defo not good. My Nursery was attached to a School and was well equipped modern and safe !