Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That nursery wasn't better prepared

89 replies

lucelou82 · 19/07/2022 07:55

We've known about the heatwave for a couple of weeks now, yet I was told that they had just done a risk assessment on the building in the heat yesterday?! This seems bizarre, as someone who's organised events we do risk assessments all the time! BEFORE the event! The nursery is part of a big chain of private nurseries and I'm perplexed why they didn't buy a few air conditioning units last week, surely it is their duty to keep the children they care for safe and make it their priority? They were also saying that heat is coming in through windows, again I would have thought they might have got some black out window film or a blind (surely it would have a blind on it anyway)! I know margins in daycare are very small, but I pay nearly £2k a month and for them to not invest in air con units (I'm talking from Argos not a full air conditioning system) seems really negligent! Surely they have a duty of care to prepare for the really hot weather as well as the cold weather! They are asking us to pick out at 1pm if we can, but I can't as I have meetings at work! I would love to be able to take her out and do something fun with her in the air con this afternoon! Just dropped her off and was told she is going to be the only child here this afternoon and just now feel massive mum guilt! Ahh sorry rant over! Xxxx

OP posts:
Ontomatopea · 19/07/2022 07:59

They probably meant they did an extra risk assessment?

Ontomatopea · 19/07/2022 08:00

My nursery would have just shut if it was too dangerous though so it seems odd to me they are asking you to pick them up at one and not telling you they are closing at 1.

girlmom21 · 19/07/2022 08:01

Maybe they did risk assess but realised in the heat yesterday that they underestimated the heat and the impact it would have on the building

mrsfoof · 19/07/2022 08:02

Sounds like they're after bunking off early and using the heat as an excuse. At the end of the day, yes it's hot but it will be hot everywhere and she probably wouldn't be much cooler at home.

RedWingBoots · 19/07/2022 08:02

The nursery is part of a big chain of private nurseries

There is your problem.

was told she is going to be the only child here this afternoon

They all want to go home early and they can't because your child is there.

just now feel massive mum guilt!

Why? She is going to get lots of one-to-one attention this afternoon from the staff.

Wolfiefan · 19/07/2022 08:05

Who would pick up your child if she was unwell and you had meetings?
These temperatures are unprecedented in the U.K. The nursery are trying to look out for staff and children.

Kanaloa · 19/07/2022 08:05

Risk assessment isn’t the issue here - the problem is they want rid of your kid so they can have an early finish. Unprofessional as it will now make you uncomfortable as nobody wants their child cared for by someone who doesn’t want them there.

I was working in a nursery yesterday - yes it was a bit warm but all blinds down and water tray out and it was fine. If they can safely care for her until 1pm then they can safely care for her the rest of the afternoon too.

vroom321 · 19/07/2022 08:05

Surely most are in nursery because they can't be looked after by their parents? Now all of a sudden they have people to look after them?

Kanaloa · 19/07/2022 08:07

As for why they didn’t buy air con units - it’s the same reason they often serve poor food and pay their staff minimum wage. Private nurseries (especially big chain ones) really aren’t out to shape young minds for the love of children. They’re trying to get as much money as they can while spending as little as possible.

Looneytune253 · 19/07/2022 08:07

Buy an air conditioner? Are you for real!! That's very expensive. Profit margins in nurseries are minimal if any at all. They barely have money for resources let alone expensive machines. To be fair I'm a childminder and the council only sent out an official (urgent) email last night with extra precautions we needed to take from public health.

Original poster
lucelou82 · 19/07/2022 08:16

@Wolfiefan trust me, her nursery is a lot cooler than my tiny two bedroom cottage! I of course would go and pick her up if she was Ill! She isn't ill, she is one of a handful of children in a four storey Victoria building today.

OP posts:
Original poster
lucelou82 · 19/07/2022 08:19

@Kanaloa thanks for your message! I really feel this is the issue. It's not that my daughter can't be there, it's that the staff don't want to look after her.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 19/07/2022 08:19

If your house is too hot then you could be the one to get an air conditioner.
They have to think of staff too.
So you admit you could pick her up but choose not to

Original poster
lucelou82 · 19/07/2022 08:20

@Looneytune253 I don't mean a fully fitted system I mean a couple of units for £200 from Argos! They have a duty of care and surely that means making sure nurseries are heated and cooled as appropriate!

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 19/07/2022 08:20

Portable Air con units need to vent somewhere. We have one, but it's useless. It has a tube out the back like a tumble dryer. If you poke it through a window, you need the window open. If you poke it out of a door, the area it vents into gets hotter and anyway the heat escapes through the open door.

It's not straightforward.

However I agree, they should have assessed the situation earlier and taken whatever steps they could.

Franca123 · 19/07/2022 08:21

Totally agree, OP. It's like it took them by surprise. Top tip. Talk directly to regional or national managers. Contact the CEO directly. Make yourself very difficult. Ensure you don't pay everytime they close.

Original poster
lucelou82 · 19/07/2022 08:21

@picklemewalnuts that's good to know! Just feel more could have been done.. but I'm also a tired, heat exhausted mum haha

OP posts:
Looneytune253 · 19/07/2022 08:22

The duty of care can also include sending home. The 'cheaper' systems are free standing anyway and that would be more dangerous in a room with children sitting on its own plus they'd need one for every room

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 19/07/2022 08:22

What did they provide ?
paddling pool in the shade, curtains shut etc?
young kids get hot very quickly and aggitated, maybe even with all that they can’t cope

Original poster
lucelou82 · 19/07/2022 08:23

@Franca123 I have tried to speak to CEO! The regional manager is awful, so won't be speaking to her! It does feel like just an excuse for staff not to work in the heat..

OP posts:
Original poster
lucelou82 · 19/07/2022 08:25

@OnlyFoolsnMothers a water table! There is no shaded area in the garden and the 'coolest' room in the building is not fitted with blinds or curtains!

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 19/07/2022 08:25

vroom321 · 19/07/2022 08:05

Surely most are in nursery because they can't be looked after by their parents? Now all of a sudden they have people to look after them?

Lots of people don't mind helping out as a one off. Both my parents and in laws would help out if we needed a day or twos childcare but wouldn't want to commit to regular childcare because they have their own lives.

Porcupineintherough · 19/07/2022 08:26

It'd not a matter of surprise, it's a matter of finance. Investing I air con for 2 days a year isn't worth it (obv it is more likely to become worth it as the number of these "exceptionally" hot days increases). I'm amazed they don't already have thermal blinds/ curtains though.

Numbat2022 · 19/07/2022 08:27

I don't understand why do many children are at home - surely their parents are working? I picked my son up at 6 yesterday, same as usual, and there were loads of kids still there. They'd been playing with water all day, two fans in the room, and were absolutely fine.

ShirleyPhallus · 19/07/2022 08:28

Wolfiefan · 19/07/2022 08:05

Who would pick up your child if she was unwell and you had meetings?
These temperatures are unprecedented in the U.K. The nursery are trying to look out for staff and children.

This is a bit of a silly question, most parents would be able to cancel meetings with an ill child but aren’t just available at any time during a working day just in case!