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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a word with the nursery staff?

32 replies

ohdeear · 24/05/2022 19:00

Hi all

My DD (3yo) has been attending nursery for 2 years now.

We've never had any issues. However the staff has changed and for 3 months or so .. every single day there's an incident.

I have to sign accident forms on a daily. In the last few months She came home with cut chin/ bruises etc etc. She's either hurt herself/ or on a different occasion the practitioner dropped her off the changing table / been pushed by other DC of a table? etc etc.

Whilst I do understand that accidents happen. I'm a little disappointed that WITHOUT exaggeration it's a daily thing.
When I go in to pick her up all the new staff (18-20 yo) are sat in a group chatting and the kids seems to run around doing what they like. (Standing up on tables etc)

I'm usually pretty relaxed But I Would love to have a word and get understanding of how she's being looked after .. and what can be done to stop some of these incidents.
DH thinks it's pointless and we shouldn't upset them as we're leaving our DD in their hands for a few hours.

AIBU to want to have a polite word?
As I said I totally understand that accidents happen but it's every day (I promise I'm not exaggerating) today she's got a bruise on her forehead from falling off a bike as she was standing up on it 😩 why was she standing on a bike in the first place... I'm sure it wasn't a matter of seconds as judging by how they all sit in a group chatting at all times .. I'm expecting nobody noticed

(Sorry for the spelling mistakes- writing this as I'm trying to get my newborn to sleep)

OP posts:
Lilililili · 24/05/2022 19:03

Are you serious??? The staff are sat chatting to each other?????? Wtf! I would most definitely have a word

Bakedpotatoesfortea · 24/05/2022 19:08

I would just approach it by asking them if there is anything that has changed recently at the nursery because you are concerned about the Number of accidents your child is having. If you're not satisfied with their answer, or even if you don't want to ask first, if there is genuinely an accident every day I would be making a formal complaint. I have a very accident prone child with no fear (ADHD) but when they were at Nursery accidents were nowhere near that frequent (if anything their were less at nursery) because their environment is totally catered to young kids, whereas outside the setting there are more hazards.

Original poster
ohdeear · 24/05/2022 19:08

Lilililili · 24/05/2022 19:03

Are you serious??? The staff are sat chatting to each other?????? Wtf! I would most definitely have a word

I'm sorry My issue isn't that they're chatting to each-other.. I just said that as it comes across that nobody is watching the little ones.
The other day they were all on a group in the middle and a little boy was on a table .. my point I guess was that maybe one of them should've noticed? And go get him off ..

OP posts:
Blarting · 24/05/2022 19:09

I'd removed her!

Sciurus83 · 24/05/2022 19:10

I'd be moving my child if I thought they weren't being supervised. I'm not financially crippling myself over nursery for them not to be cared for properly.

MissBPotter · 24/05/2022 19:11

I would complain to management and remove my child. I have done so for less than you describe!

RunawayPea · 24/05/2022 19:12

I would go with @Bakedpotatoesfortea Idea

dontyoubother · 24/05/2022 19:12

I pulled DD1 out of a nursery for far less, you'd be very reasonable to ask to speak to a manager to explain the increase in incidents and what you're seeing from staff.

ForeverFleur · 24/05/2022 19:12

Mine get an accident form once a quarter if that? Sounds negligent to me

ViaRia · 24/05/2022 19:13

Not sure if this is the best approach but I think I would just start asking more questions each time they ask me to sign the form. Ask specific questions about how it happened, e.g “how long as she standing in a bike for” etc, so that you can add those details to the form before signing.
Obviously be nice about it etc but once they see you are making these observations and recording them formally, they might start looking out for your child more carefully, and not drop her off the changing table !!?

OppsUpsSide · 24/05/2022 19:13

They shouldn’t be sat chatting whilst the children play around them, they should be supervising/interacting/playing with/caring for the children, that is their job.

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 24/05/2022 19:14

That's your child. Your child who is being hurt regularly. You know what you need to do for them so do it.

Kite22 · 24/05/2022 19:15

I would definitely make an appointment with the Manager.
I know, as you say little ones do have accidents, but that situation sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

TheSnowyOwl · 24/05/2022 19:16

It’s the manager that you need to speak to and I’d be looking to move her elsewhere.

mynameiscalypso · 24/05/2022 19:18

My accident-prone nearly three year old gets maybe one accident form a month (apart from when we had three in two days...🙄). I would not be happy with the lack of supervision at all. Accidents happen and I totally understand that children need to explore for themselves but that needs to be done in a safe way.

Original poster
ohdeear · 24/05/2022 19:19

Thanks all

This is exactly what I'm trying to explain to DH. It's not normal and very out of character for her to get injured so often...

I will be doing the drop off tomorrow morning and will have a chat with the manager. Then if things don't improve will take her out.

Thank you

OP posts:
Lilililili · 24/05/2022 19:23

ohdeear · 24/05/2022 19:08

I'm sorry My issue isn't that they're chatting to each-other.. I just said that as it comes across that nobody is watching the little ones.
The other day they were all on a group in the middle and a little boy was on a table .. my point I guess was that maybe one of them should've noticed? And go get him off ..

Show quote history

I agree with you OP! This wasn't intended to sound snarky or sarcastic. You would expect nursery staff to focus on the children, not each other!!

Ardmano · 24/05/2022 19:25

Pull her out. My DS nursery has 2-3 members of staff in the room. They are always busy doing changes, getting drinks, laundry and interacting with the kids to both supervise and facilitate. There is never any time for them to be stood around in a circle chatting. I rarely see two of them together! This is a room with only 12 kids so it's not an over capacity thing they just know how to do their jobs well...

Looneytune253 · 24/05/2022 19:27

I would defo start with the staff sitting around chatting and then lead into the increase in accident forms. Do you have evidence of any interesting activities set up/ messy play photos or decent outdoor play?

Hiddenvoice · 24/05/2022 19:28

I too would speak to the nursery manager. Yes 3 year olds have accidents but they shouldn’t be on top of tables and regularly falling off of them.
As a pp has suggested, whenever you next get an accident form, I’d question for more information of how it happened

Maytodecember · 24/05/2022 19:28

A member of staff dropped your DD from a changing table???? I had to retread your post 3 times to make sure I’d seen that.
This is totally unacceptable. Please inform SS ( do they deal with nursery inspections still?) They need to do an unannounced inspection. Please get copies of their accident book too.

2pinkginsplease · 24/05/2022 19:30

I work in early years and we have to write an accident form for every bump or fall regardless of whether it leaves a mark. It’s ridiculous at time.

we are having to tell parents their child fell and bumped their leg/arm/ankle etc but there is no mark and can they sin the form,

we do have some children who are pretty accident prone/clumsy and can have an accident form most days whereas we have other children who I can’t ever remember writing a form for. Accidents do happen.

if you don’t feel the staff are doing their job properly then please complain, first to the room senior and then the manager. Children need to be properly supervised .

Purplehonesty2 · 24/05/2022 19:41

That's not normal tho. I think I had two or three forms for two kids over 4 years!!!

xyzzyx · 24/05/2022 19:43

Report to ofsted stating the amount of accidents and lack of supervision that you observe during pick ups. I work in a nursery and it's unacceptable behaviour

Looneytune253 · 24/05/2022 19:46

2pinkginsplease · 24/05/2022 19:30

I work in early years and we have to write an accident form for every bump or fall regardless of whether it leaves a mark. It’s ridiculous at time.

we are having to tell parents their child fell and bumped their leg/arm/ankle etc but there is no mark and can they sin the form,

we do have some children who are pretty accident prone/clumsy and can have an accident form most days whereas we have other children who I can’t ever remember writing a form for. Accidents do happen.

if you don’t feel the staff are doing their job properly then please complain, first to the room senior and then the manager. Children need to be properly supervised .

I'm a childminder and some kids are accident prone but I would still say that accident forms are still few and far between.

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