To expect the nursery to keep him?

[Tiredandfireddd]

So I’m a single mum, my little boy is 18 months. I have gone back to work and have found my little boy is sick every week. I expect this as he goes to nursery. I pay a lot of money for nursery with no help from his dad. Nursery often call me at work to day pick him up and I do obviously.

Today, I dropped him off at 8, now is the busiest time at work. He was fine this morning, if a bit quiet, he ate his breakfast, normal nappies and no temperature. Nursery have called me to say he’s a bit teary can I collect him? I don’t if it’s normal to collect him because he’s not ill? I manage a project at work, without me at work nothing will be done. I’m on my way to collect him again I’m just annoyed I’m paying for another day at nursery with no work

What happens if you challenge slightly? My son started nursery recently and one day they called to tell me (at 11ish) that he'd come in, bouncing and fine, but then didn't want breakfast, curled up in the reading corner and went to bed and was now looking a bit pale, teary and spacey. I suggested as it was basically lunch time, could they either see how he was with food in him, as he hadn't eaten since 7pm the night before, or if he wouldn't eat/settle, I'd bring him home and to call in an hour to let me know.

1.5 hours later I called as I hadn't heard anything, he'd eaten lunch and was playing and was fine.

Ex Nursery Manager here.
This sounds ridiculous. One of the main rules of nursery staff is to deal with teary children. It's their job.
Ask to speak to the manager and say will not be picking up and the nursery need to do their job.
I agree it sounds as if they short staffed and trying to get rid of a few children whose parents would not usually question a phonecall.
Mention you are thinking of taking your child out of their establishment as you get far too many phone calls to pick up when you are trying to hold down a job and cannot drop it and race over at a moments notice for no reason.

I'd be thinking about moving to another nursery if I'm honest.
At the end of the day you pay them to look after your child and asking you to come and pick him up bevause he was teary is a ridiculous reason. Alot of kids get upset at nursery. It would probably be a bit different if he was teary as well as other things like being unwell or a high temp, but teary alone is not a reason to send him home. Honestly sounds like they just can't be bothered looking after the children their if they get a bit upset.

I doubt they will be charging you for the full day after asking you to collect him of course.
I would be saying no. Unless he’s unwell then no chance.

Is it ‘a bit teary’ every week or is he ‘ill every week’?

Whenever our nursery has messaged/rang because I asked them to and said he’s not himself I’ve gone to get him, they don’t ring/message if he is ok in himself, even if unwell they just administer calpol or whatever.

@Starcaller

The cynic in me wonders if they have staffing problems and need to reduce their numbers for ratio reasons.

That's my first thought too.

We had exactly the same a few weeks ago. I've constantly had to pick my DS up since he started nursery with illness (hard with work but fine), then we got a call with the same just saying he'd been more upset than normal. Turns out a new girl had started and think he was just a bit put out that she was been given attention. I was the same as you though and as a FTM a bit unsure so I agreed to pick him earlier than normal. In hindsight I wish I hadn't as when I got there he was smiling away!

For context my child has been at nursery for 2 years.
In that time nursery called me to collect him once, as he wasn’t himself.
Once in 2 years. Obviously I keep him at home if clearly unwell but he’s been in when at the tail end of a cold or other illness. Not been sent home.
Sending them home all the time isn’t the norm in my experience.

Hi everyone thank you so much for your comments. This nursery isn’t even the one I want him to go to, the best one in this area is closed due to Covid still

Anyway, I picked him up he was quiet again, I can see he has about two teeth to come in, he’s definitely not ill. I am sending him in today, and hopefully we can finish this week without any illnesses

If they call again please hold firm and say you're not able to collect him. Taking this much time off when there's nothing wrong with him is ridiculous, and could seriously impact on your work.