Would you send your child to this nursery?

[NurseryAdvice]

DH and I are unsure whether our standards are too high or not so would appreciate some perspective on our nursery visit today. DS(3) has been at an incredible, award-winning nursery that we absolutely adore. We’re moving two hours away to be closer to family/friends and leaving his nursery is the hardest part of the move. We visited a nursery near our new house today and it rang a lot of alarm bells for us (but, like I said, not sure if our standards are too high).

The major benefits of this nursery is that they’re very flexible. They’re very close to our new house, they allow us to use the full 30 hours (all the other local ones appear to only allow 15 hours) and they allow us to do ad hoc days too which we need (because, although I’ll be on maternity leave with DD, my employer is funding me doing a full-time masters whilst I’m on mat leave so we need ad hoc days for both DS and DD when I have exams). They’re one of very few nurseries who’ll take DD at all by November/December when my first exams are.

However, there were some things that made us uncomfortable but not sure if they’re actually a big deal:

1. The staff:child ratios weren’t met. In the room that should’ve been 1:3 was 1:4, the room that should’ve been 1:4 was 1:8.
2. The room with the 3/4 year olds, the member of staff left them unattended in order to come and ask us a question.
3. In the baby room, when we were in there, a pile of books/paperwork/files fell from a shelf of about 6ft high onto the floor - which could’ve caused real harm if it’d fallen onto a child.
4. None of the staff were interacting with the children in any room. The children were all just playing on their own. None of the children were playing with each other either. The nursery was pretty much completely silent.
5. We asked about maths/reading/writing and they said they don’t do any writing or formal work or worksheets etc. They said they monitor their progress by just getting to know the children.
6. In the baby garden, there were loose strands of wire (like chicken wire) that had clearly been used to attach something to a playhouse but were now just left poking down from the doorway of the Wendy house.
7. All the rooms were very messy and grubby.
8. When the children were eating lunch, they were sat on the floor and all eating with their hands from the same plate. This was the same space that the children had just been napping it, they cleared away their sleeping bags and then sat on the floor.

So, are these deal breakers or are these normal in nurseries? Would you send your child here or would you be concerned?

None of the staff were interacting with the children in any room.

This would be an absolute deal-breaker for me!

Did they confirm the staffing ratios to you?

Point number 1 - the ratios. This is illegal. They are not guidance but law. Report them to OFSTED.

Sounds horrendous!!!

The only thing I agree with them about is worksheets. I don't know any nurseries that do that. They should be doing planned activities not just getting the children though.
The rest though YANBU. No way I would send my child there.

I wouldn't put my dog there. Report them.

Eh? Absolutely not!

Point 5 isn't really a major deal breaker as what they told you is true about worksheets etc. Though they should be working on alphabet and numbers up until at least 10. Reading isn't done till in school

Yes I would absolutely send my child to this nursery it sounds just like the quality safe environment I wish for my child...said no one

This can't be real, surely? You can't actually have seen that and still be considering sending your child there? This must be made up.

If not contact ofsted immediately and report.

No way would I send a child there. Not sure why you need to ask!

Theres a reason why they have availability, let you use 30 hours and do ad hoc

How are you even questioning this? Obviously not and I'd report them to ofsted too?!

Either this is fake/a joke thread or you have no ability to safeguard your children. Why are you asking if grubby rooms, children eating off the floor, and ratios being illegally flouted are ‘normal at nursery.’ You know they aren’t normal so this is a pointless thread. However, I would be interested in the name of a nursery where no staff interacted with the children, there were no dining table facilities, and the ratios aren’t met - all of which is apparent to visiting prospective customers.

Theres a reason why they have availability, let you use 30 hours and do ad hoc

Yep.

I work in a nursery and this is deffinitely not standard in nurseries. What you describe is not a good sign. I would google their inspections report and have a read throufh that. A lot of those things are safwty hazards and signs of poor practice.

The only thing about the worksheets a lot of nurseries will not make chuldren sit and fill wotksheets. Children lesen through play at this age and they would start with various styles of mark making that will help them develop their fine motor and prewritting skills. Worksheets and stuff comes at school. Said that thr staff should be able to plan good play activities that'll engage the children and provide all of this learning.

But I would go with your gut and keep looking at different nurseries.

The more I think about this, the more I do not believe it can be true. The hoops my child’s nursery have to jump through to be rated “good” not even outstanding is madness. There is no way that a nursery would be showing parents what has been described.

Assuming this isn't a fake thread, no.1 is breaking the law for a start and would get them shut down.
No.5 they shouldn't be doing formal work or worksheets, but following the eyfs curriculum would still account for maths, reading and writing of some form so they should have evidence on how they follow this day to day with their activities.
The place sounds like an absolute shit hole so no, you shouldn't use it. 🙄