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.

It's probably the case that the policy is to use the app but practically it doesn't work. In terms of reception practice in schools, continual recording of observations has recently been dropped in favour of accepting that staff know the children so don't need to record every detail. They therefore have more time to interact with the children which is the key part of the role.

Same sort of thing in nursery though there the focus will be on the physical as well as the developmental, and likely far more intrusive on staff time.

Practice often outruns policy, and it may be they haven't had time to update it - so staff feel obliged to say they are doing it, when clearly they're not. They should change it though.

Best outcome is your child is happy and thriving at nursery. You won't know everything he does and eats, but it really doesn't matter, though I do remember being a first time mum and thinking it did! (Parenting is actually a gradual process of losing control - it starts when you need someone else to care for them!)

"Best outcome is your child is happy and thriving at nursery. You won't know everything he does and eats, but it really doesn't matter, though I do remember being a first time mum and thinking it did! (Parenting is actually a gradual process of losing control - it starts when you need someone else to care for them!)"

THIS

Jesus, this thread is depressing and demoralising for those of us who work our fucking arses off in Early Years, bend over backwards to accommodate every parent's request, spend our own money on extra resources so your child can do fun activities, take our planning folder home and spend hours, unpaid, planning said activities for your child, come in early to set up the class room, or stay late because a parent is running behind, again unpaid, stress ourselves to the max to make sure the app is updated and daily observations and pictures are uploaded, spend hours of our time doing never-ending safeguarding courses, first aid courss, behaviour-management courses etc.

Nice to know that we are just thickos who have no GCSEs and our efforts dont matter anyway because the children learn nothing from us.

This 100%.

Honestly, I think some people are delusional! Some of the opinions of people yet they trust us to care for their most precious beings. Some children I care for, I spend many more of their waking hours with them than their parents do yet they learn nothing from me 🙄

Of course, I didn’t choose to be a childcare professional, I had no choice as I failed at school and I’m not capable of doing anything else.

Perhaps I should just chuck a load of toys on the floor and let the kids get on with it 🤨

I am really sorry the thread evolved into this and made you feel unappreciated. As I said, my experience is that everyone in this nursery is kind and the general vibe is great. I was happy to read that it is not unusual for the app to be the last priority in other nurseries too so there is nothing unusual going on in the nursery we picked.
Anyway, I genuinely think you guys are doing an amazing job, if not the most important than certainly one of the most important jobs that are out there. I also think you are shockingly underpaid and that in a better world priorities would be different. But it is what it is...not ok.

I'm really sorry. Please know this is not the view of (hopefully) most parents. I hugely value all the lengths our nursery staff go to and credit them with the way my child is excelling in many areas of development. I wish they didn't have the bloody app so you didn't have to waste time updating it, and I wish you could all be paid more for the vital roles you do. Thank you for all your hard work, it is appreciated.

I worked as a supply teacher for a term in a school nursery for two and three year olds where one member of staff spent every moment she could with an ipad taking photos and uploading stuff to the class dojo and messaging parents. Meanwhile Rome was burning.

Nobody else had time to do anything because we were just keeping our heads above water due to having one member of staff doing social media instead of changing nappies or changing the dirty water for the paints. There are so many things that have to be done in a nursery.

We use an app (I'm not in UK) every day to log arrival and departure, nappy changes, the 4 meals and sleeps, at least 1 activity a day. It's not that time consuming aside from the activities and uploading photos, the basics of nappies, food and sleep is v quick. Why do they bother paying for an app they don't use?

You’re an English teacher yet you can’t spell focused?

I think promises are made that can’t be kept - I’m a nursery nurse I hold an NNEB diploma (similar to the training of a Norton nanny), when I worked in a nursery some years ago our priority was, the children!
All the children in my charge, left each day mostly happy with full tummies from dinner and had had a lovely day.
Had I had to update parents on an iPad then my time with them would be hindered, I was on hand as parents came to collect to let them know how our day had gone but most didnt expect that.

My dc’s nursery can be hit or miss with the app, but they always give me a full handover when I collect so it’s never really bothered me and I’ve never had any concerns with my dc’s care. As long as you don’t have any concerns about your dc ( like their coming home with nappy rash, soiled nappies, hungry or wounds from bites or bumps) I wouldn’t be too concerned.

That literally made me laugh out loud. You obviously have no idea how stressful a day is in nursery. If someone is off floor doing paperwork they are short staffed can you imagine how hard that is. We used to get 1 hour per week in theory but holidays sickness put paid to that most weeks. First and foremost before paper work is caring for the children. Keeping them fed / rested/ clean/occupied/ safe and happy is number 1 priority. Give staff a break please.

I think in private nurseries, these kind of things seem like a good idea to the owners (usually with no childcare background) and it helps to draw in parents so that's why they pay for it.

Can I ask when you did your NNEB because mine was nothing like Norton Nanny training . I did mine in 2000 though so don't know if it changed at some point.

You find out about his day when you collect him - perfectly normal.

Would you rather staff be off updating apps? Really?

Any problems and they'll contact you - I'm sure you can wait to find out how many nappy changes or naps he's had.

Would you rather they concentrate on your child or have their head in an app because needy parents can't wait til end if the day? If you need constant updates maybe nursery isn't for you!

In a nursery, depending on age, it's one staff member to 3 babies, 5 toddlers or 8-13 preschoolers (depending on staff qualification)
Try caring for 3 babies at once, changing nappies, comforting, bottles etc and updating an app at the same time... Or try entertaining 8 preschoolers, doing activities, school preparation etc and still updating the app too.
It's hard.
I work in a nursery and a parent too so I see both sides. Do my best to get observations done weekly/fortnightly and still do activities etc but some days it's impossible and so the first thing to get ditched is the app.

I trained under the old style NNEB in the very early 90s - it was 2 years of a week in college and a week on placement and we studied child psychology, intellect,language and emotional and social development.
It was very intense with experience in hospitals,schools,nurseries and many placements and at the end it was a pass or fail exam and regulated observation that had to be above a certain grade and you had to have 60 of them in various settings and coursework for each area of specialism.
I still worked a 36 hour week for £105 in 1992 though although when working for the education sector or social services I earnt a full £6 an hour.