Worried about the nursery that I work in

[KeyLimePie98]

I started work as a practitioner a month ago but I’m starting to have concerns. First of all, staff are often out of ratio, meaning two staff to many children outside and it’s hard to be watching everyone all at once. The manager has apparently complained about the state of one of the rooms, the toddler room (I don’t work in this room) that toys are everywhere and it’s a mess. staff aren’t happy saying that the manager isn’t supportive. I’ve also noticed mould around the window sills. Staff stand chatting and children have accidents. I’ve been into other rooms to get something and children are often left to cry as apparently nothing will soothe them. Would you raise concerns and how?

Also, manager often WFH so not around everyday

I’m so sorry you are in this position. I’m afraid I don’t know the legalities/ins and outs, but are you able to make an anonymous referral to ofsted or the council?

I would be concerned about going to the manager as the staff say they are not supportive. On the other hand, if they are annoyed about the rooms being in a mess they may have high standards and the staff are just upset about being held to account?

Its so horrible little ones are being left to cry 😢

What is the authority that you can report them to?

I know of a creche that just got reported by a staff member for failings, and for being dangerous to children, and I know that it was taken very seriously.

Welcome to the childcare sector 😅

I worked with kids for 10 years (nurseries, schools and as a nanny) and this is all very normal I'm afraid.

I worked in 3 different nurseries (mainly private which are worse imo) and they were all terrible, always over ratio, unqualified miserable staff who clearly didn't even like kids but needed a job. Owners only interested in making a profit. I was a supervisor in a baby room for just over a year and had 4-5 babies by myself on a regular basis. There's so many stories I could tell you. I wouldn't have sent my kids to any of them let's just put it that way.

Basically, you pay peanuts you get monkeys. I'm glad I changed careers a few years ago.

Sorry to put a downer on things but childcare really isn't for the faint hearted. It's a hard job with generally in shit conditions.

Also, just to add. I made a report to CIW (equivalent to ofsted as I'm in Wales) with some concerns after leaving one nursery and nothing ever happened. By all means report any concerns to them but I wouldn't hold your breath that something will be done.

Ofsted.

I would report to local authority and copy OFSTED into your email [email protected]
Detail your concerns, tell them if you would prefer to stay anonymous, you have rights as a whistle-blower.
It is not typical of nursery settings.

Yes report to ofsted

I would report this to Ofsted in England or the Care Inspectorate in Scotland.

Take photographs of the mould - include them in your email.

Phone Ofsted.

Report! I was in a similar setting where really the care was very poor. It was my first job and although I knew it wasn't right I had nothing to compare it with and I was also scared I would lose my job.
I often think of it actually and really regret not reporting.

I don’t see how a nursery manager can effectively work from home. Ours is on the gate every morning, greeting kids and parents. She really sets the tone of the setting.

^This.

I did think WTF when the OP said the manager works from home a lot.

Sounds quite typical for nursery to be honest!

Ratios can be taken over the building, not the room/area. Are you sure they are out of ratio? If you're not sure ask your line manager.

Mould/dirt is fairly normal, nurseries often won't have a cleaner.

Kids crying is normal.

If you feel care is unsafe, email the manager though.

She WFM or is in the office but doesn’t come into the rooms much/greet parents etc

Sorry WFH

Definitely out of ratio at times. There’s two staff and loads of children running around both from toddler and the pre school room. Whilst some staff are inside but it’s way too many children between two staff at times!

I agree children crying is normal but the children seem to be left crying in the corners which isn’t nice to see

For an example, I went into the room to cover and as I entered I’d seen one child had actually thrown up on the floor from crying so much as he’d been left to cry as his key person had gone for lunch and they admitted that he just won’t settle with anyone else

Sadly it doesn't sound wildly uncommon, but I would report if you have concerns, trust your gut.

Including the staff inside though it could still be within ratio. However if you feel staff deployment is unsafe you should raise it.

That breaks my heart. Kids left alone crying...
Money is not everything and a mum's presence in the early years is more than everything, more than a big house, oversized car, expensive clothing, foreign holidays

how is any of what you say, normal????

What a strange response. I don’t live in a big house, or have a car, I don’t have expensive clothing and I haven’t been abroad in over 20 years. I still had to send my kids to nursery and work though 🫤. I would probably still chose to even if I was in a position where it was optional. Mums getting back in the kitchen isn’t really the solution.

This is something that should definitely be reported to a manager and if nothing happened/parents weren’t informed then Ofsted. I would be absolutely heartbroken if my child was left like this. I had the unpleasant experience of working in a private nursery for 10 months and I would never ever send my own children to one. Your experience sounds exactly like mine. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same nursery.