I posted this on the other thread....
At the time of the nursery incident, I reported it to various people. One of those was Watchdog. I think that is possibly where they get some of their direction from.....
I had some problems with both a nursery and a childminder.
The nursery issue involved staff giving DD macaroni cheese for lunch, despite my explicit instructions about her not having any cows milk products because she was allergic. When I say explicit, I dont just mean stuff written all over the start up paperwork of which there was a lot of, but, something that I mentioned to DD's keyworker I think almost every morning when dropping DD off.
I'd been called to collect her on numerous occasions, because she had inexplicably vomited, and nursery policy was to send home or not have them for 24 hours. There was never any explanation as to why, and staff were adamant they were careful about what she was given to eat. DD was very rarely sick at home.
One day, I was called to collect her because she had been sick again. It took me an hour and a half to get there because I happened to be working on the other side of London that day and had to get 2 tube trains to get there - then a short car drive.
A week later, I was called again. DD had been sick - yet again. I received a terse message on my mobile stating that I needed to come and collected her as soon as possible because she had been sick, and, that I should get there much quicker than last time!!! I dashed off (was in South London again).
When I was about 20 minutes away, I received another call from the nursery manager. She seemed quite upset and concerned. She told me she knew why DD had been sick, and could I come as soon as possible, because it seems that DD was given macaroni cheese for lunch.... I was panic stricken and raced there. When I got there, DD was quite distressed, and, had been completely changed and her hair was wet. I asked why. It seems she had been laying down when she vomited for the second time! Why on earth she'd be laying down having already vomited once I have no idea. She'd had vomit all over her, and then her hair. Subsequently, the cheesy vomit had covered her face and neck, and the welts had started appearing all over the areas the sick had touched. Her keyworker was sat on the floor cuddling her, and all the other keyworkers were standing around, gawping. I went straight into the managers office angry and in tears. They hadnt even sought medical advice. The manager was crying too. (Although I suspect she was in fear of her job). I took DD to A & E myself where she was observed for a few hours after being given appropriate medicine. Subsequently, she was given proper monitoring with a paediatric consultant who specialised in allergies. An epipen was dispensed, and the nursery provided with one too, and training given to ALL staff.
When I complained, I have to say that the nursery responded admirably. The keyworker was sacked immediately on the day of the incident. (How can you NOT know that macaroni cheese, and, cheese itself, was made from milk???) Many new procedures set in place, and I felt somewhat reassured that, although a mistake had been made, it was less likely to happen again in that nursery because of the huge kerfuffle caused by this incident. I think, if I had taken her elsewhere, we would have been back to square one as far as highlighting her health isssues were concerned.
I sincerely hope the keyworker hasnt got further work with children. Her arrogance and lack of care was shocking.
With the childminder, one day we brought DD home and, did the usual milk and then went to take her to bed. She screamed blue murder. When we finally got to the bottom of it - it turns out the minder hadnt given her dinner! (DH had picked her up at 6.30pm!).
Then, a few days later, it transpired that DD and DS were being given ham sandwiches for their dinner and water. The excuse given - the minder was having her kitchen re-done (which she hadnt made us aware of). I was really disappointed with both experiences, to be honest. But, like many other families, we were caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. I had to work. No choice, financially. There is no family close by to help much.
Up until last year. Since that point, I have found a job close to family, which means my IL's had DD and DS (although DD now at school). My day is long, and involves a LOT of chasing back and forth (I think I spend about an hour or so a day driving to and from work, IL's, school and home).
It sucks that families are left with the best of a bad bunch sometimes.
I'm sorry this post is so hugely long, but it's hit a bit of a raw spot.