AIBU to expect regular updates from our nursery

[ElbiTut]

Our DS recently started a nursery. Tbh we really liked the vibe, cleanliness, the fact it is simple not too many bells and whistles, they said they are using this app to give updates during the day about what is going on with the baby - like if he had lunch, nappy changed, went out in the garden, had his nap. This was said is the norm.

It has been a few weeks not a single post was published on the app, I ask every day about his day when I pick him up. They tell me all the updates and are very kind and caring.
However during the day - nothing. Even if I write the message on the app asking for an update explicitly - maybe someone answers towards end of day. But mostly not.
Whatever you ask they keep smiling and saying - oh yes sure we will make sure to do it...
But nothing.
The shocking bit is that the published menu also doesn't match what they eat so you really do have to ask every day.
Is this common? Am I expecting too much?
Is there a way to change this without them hating on my baby then and leaving thim to cry because I was PITA.
For a reference - this is London.

The ratio for babies is 1:3. Try looking after three babies and see how often you update an app on their day!

My child's nursery uses an app and they generally update all the meals. I don't think that can take very long as they clearly have them preprogrammed into the app and can just select the same one for all the children and tell you how much they ate. They're a bit more hit-and-miss with recording toilet visits, though they were pretty good when DS was in nappies, and that was useful to know the timings of. I like being able to check what DS has eaten as he has a second tea when he gets home and I prefer not to give him the exact same thing if it's avoidable. They also post a quick blurb about the day and some photos (same for everyone) most days, and I like that too.

Lots of people are commenting that they'd rather staff spent the time looking after the kids than updating apps, but it's pretty clear at DS's nursery that someone logs all the lunches when it's naptime (which about half the kids have), and someone else does the daily update just before close when most of the kids have already been picked up.

Fair enough (although my nursery have always updated the app. It’s just sleep, what they’ve eaten and how much (as in lunch chicken casserole all, most, some or none) and nappies) but then why have it, if it is completely impossible to update?

I don’t want or need twenty photos of my children but I do need to know what they’ve eaten and how much. DS doesn’t nap but when his sister starts I’ll need to know her nap times too. It really is the least I’d expect.

You’re deffo not unreasonable. My nursery update when she’s eaten/ nappy change or if she goes out of the room(to the garden or on a trip). It’s a simple app that won’t take long -a second!- to click ‘nappy change-wet’. It’s done through the day and the. Sometimes at the end of the day they send a few photos - this is more sporadic and depends if they have time. Also in London.

why have it, if it is completely impossible to update?

Probably because parents seem to expect it.

You have to pass English to do a childcare apprenticeship so most don't find updating an app too challenging.
We would get a warning where I work for not updating meals, nappies, sleeps, photos etc daily.
I wish we didn't have to, it basically takes a member of staff away from the children, even though it doesn't really take long.
Ask again, maybe ask the manager if you'd like the updates but happy children are more important.

Why always blame the parents? I hadn’t had a child in nursery before my eldest started so wouldn’t have had a clue about an app but sure, it’s these awful parents.

Blimey, it was just a theory - no need to take it so personally

That is strange that they would specifically say that and then not do it. Our daycare have an app and update it regularly, we get an update on what he has ate, nappies, naps and pictures, it is great and really puts your mind at ease.

@fieldsofbutterflies it probably did sound like that, apologies. I just honestly can’t really see any parents demanding an app, although I am sure that a minority do. I DO think most parents want some form of communication which seems reasonable enough to me and if an app is the easiest way then I’m happy to receive updates via it.

I'm just going from what I've seen on here, which is a lot of threads from people complaining that they don't think they get enough updates from nursery lol.

I suspect it's a vocal minority who complain rather than the majority, though.

As someone who works in early years it's not lack of literacy skills that prevents me responding adequately to your patronising, insulting and inaccurate stereotyping of myself and my colleagues but sheer amazement that you actually thought it was ok to post.

I'd be worried about a nursery who had a dedicated member of staff watching and replying to every parent's messages throughout the day. Imagine if there are 20 children and every parent expects a message by lunchtime or even 3 on is my lo okay.
If anything is wrong they will tell you.

Updates on systems ....Ofsted reduced the requirement for paperwork because it was taking staff away from interacting with the children I'd be expecting once a week or so if you get verbal updates....what frequency were you told?
Menus....are the online ones samples or actual menu for this week? If the later talk to managers

We used to get a generic "ate X for lunch" which was clearly a generic daily update programmed with a button for all, some, none on an individual basis.
Then a half termly report which was like a coloured wheel based on EYFS objectives. Maybe once a week we'd get a photo dump.

He was happy enough.

But in hindsight, EYFS provision is entirely childcare whilst you work and socialisation for the kids. It adds nothing to a child's development - anything they can do by school age comes from the parents.

I say this as someone whose kids were at nursery in London, suburbs and then rural forest school and school nursery up North i.e. we had a few nurseries.

And if you think you get no updates at nursery, wait until school. Your kid will tell you everything is "fine" and you get 10 minutes from the teacher (timed to include your sitting and exit) twice a year.

Wow. Just, wow.

Yep I agree with PP: I don't want them glued to an app. If the vibes are otherwise good I would not mind this at all. I bet they got the app to try and be modern and then realised it was a total faff.

The food thing is a bit annoying, although - and perhaps I'm lax - I don't think it's the end of the world if you end up with a slightly duplicative meal at tea time because you don't know what was served at lunch.

Wtf....many of us have degrees I have 2 ....how patronising. I bet parents evenings are fun.

-@Curioushorse surely, you, as an English teacher, have failed these “types” of girls then if they find literacy challenging?

Excellent point.

This is an example of what I typically get. I don’t need it to be through an app, that’s just what the nursery use. But I would expect that level of communication.

Grr image didn’t attach!

As much as I think that posters phrasing was unfortunate I think it’s a bit rich to get up in arms about it when I have seen some of the same outraged names get sniffy about unqualified girls in nurseries.

What you can't tell is if the person logging all the meals actually knows how much each child ate or is just doing the same for all. As an assessor I've seen the same comments on every child's entry x ate well list of menu......... Enjoyed......days activity....slept.....
I've even seen the paper ones completed at 10am.

Our nursery uses a notebook for each child. For those who can't talk yet, they tell you what your DC ate for lunch, dinner and for snacks, their toilet times and types, and nap times. They also include rough info like "DC liked playing with the magnetic tiles today". The entry fills about one page of A5 a day.

It works really well, I'd say. Much better than an app - nursery workers get app fatigue, I'm sure.

What judgemental fuckery is this shit. You sound fucking awful. I hope to fuck you’re not actually a teacher