New to working in a nursery and witnessed horrible treatment

[Emrald1]

Today, my colleague was in a bad mood and just wanted to do tasks like clearing drawers and not interact with the children. She was frustrated with a DC crying and said 'right, this is what we're going to do' and she forcefully grabbed her by the hand and marched her over, plonked her hard down on the floor and then chucked her doll that she had brought in from home down on the ground next to her really hard. A bit later on, she aggressively marched over to the same DC with a angry look on her face and forcefully removed her dummy from her mouth. Whilst having dinner, the same DC was trying to take food from another's plate and she again grabbed her hand away in not a nice way and shouted NO. I don't do nappies as I am lunch cover so I let her know that this DC had soiled their nappy, as she was on nappies and there was no other staff present. She gave a look of disgust to the DC and didn't say anything. I made a note of these things. I was looking for advice as I know I need to report this but this member of staff has been there a long time whereas I haven't and I have a feeling I won't be believed as I think she is seen as a very competent member of staff but this was witnessed by just me. How can I approach this please

You know you need to go to your dsl for this asap. And check if they take it to lado and if not take it to lado yourself. Make sure you record everything. Make sure leaders notify Ofsted

Hi Winter

Don’t know if I’m doing this right, but if this comes into the thread, just want to say - please report.

Picking up a child in the manner you describe can be very detrimental (tendon/ligament damage). Leaving a child in urine-soaked clothes is neglect and therefore, abuse.

Ideally you should make a note of when and where (date and time) and, if you can, a description describing what was happening around the event. Your Nursery will have a Policy on reporting to tell you the next steps but I have outlined what to do in 2 posts on this thread. Be brave and do it, not only because it’s right but also because you, as an employee, have a duty of care. It is hard because it can make you feel vulnerable, but it has to be done.

Agree 100%.

Of course she can't do it anonymously, how do you imagine that working?? Slip a note in the child's bag?
She has to talk to the manager and potentially LADO too!

This is the perfect way to report it.
Be strong, OP, calm but determined. This child and others depend on you to keep them safe and happy.

Tell the highest person you trust and get them to go with you to management. It helps to have a witness to your statement as it can't be brushed under the carpet if management do nothing. There should be whistleblowing phone numbers displayed in the nursery. If you feel the management team won't help then call the numbers for safeguarding.

On behalf of every parent ever - please report xx

It's a situation where it's ops word against the other person. Investigate takes time, what if they can't investigate this and the manager says she's a brilliant staff member?

In the mean time this child is still getting bullied?

This is what I am very worried about because same as Winter said about their nursery, this nursery is also clicky. The manager is also new to the role (was assisant manager) but recently took on the role as manager.

I have a friend (DS same age as DD - 3) who was a nursery manager. She gave up her role after maternity when she had her own child as she had seen too much that she considered negative while she was working. She wasn’t happy to leave her child in the care of a nursery, despite having run one. She said she never understood before she had her own child why parents were so worried about what seemed like small things to her at the time.

Cctv both protects the children and also staff in the event of a false report imo

Please report this. It breaks my heart to think of that poor little girl. Be strong. Do the right thing. Trust your instinct. My work is related to whistle blowing in another industry and I promote this day in day out. It is hard, but you could be preventing something terrible happening. There is no way this behaviour is acceptable. If she can be so overt it may suggest a culture of this or acceptance. Think of what she may do if alone with a child and loses her temper.

This makes me weep. Similar age to me at the time.

I remember my own time at a ghastly day nursery {See previous post}- I too used to get into an awful state of panic before being left at the nursery.

A child who is being cared for at a nursery by kindly staff won't behave this way, I'm sure.

Your Grandson thank GOODNESS was able to communicate how unhappy he was.

The 'Boss' at the nursery I went to was all smiles with the adults- but her face would harden. I can still see it, clear as day -thankfully no longer a nursery.

An auntie who took me there said ''you started to scream when you recognised where we were going''

Yet at the nice Day nursery that Dad changed to , Aunt said I went in there happily.

It's a shame kids themselves can't leave reviews.

However...they do try to communicate .

I don't know the procedures here but seeking advice from a third party professional sounds sensible to protect you. Someone mentioned safeguarding.

If you verbally report to manager and nothing more it could be really difficult for you. As other poster has highlighted - they deny it and you're the bad guy, children still getting scragged about. You have to cover all bases.

I only joined 3 months ago and have seen several things.
I am going to bring it up next week, just not sure how but I know it doesnt sit right with me

Please definitely complain to the manager, is this a small nursery or is it a chain of nurseries, because I’d be tempted to report higher too.

Surely there must be cctv? There is in my dc nursery.
Take it as high as possible, as soon as possible. That poor child.

@2chocolateoranges I'm afraid that's not suitable.
There maybe an incredible manager who will take this seriously but in my experience managers in this scenario may work against the person bringing the claim, because that's easier.

Exactly this. I was taking my LO to childcare and heard children being taken to nursery absolutely bawling their eyes out about not wanting to go in- and their parents dragging them telling them "you'll love it".

My DD shouts "YAAYY!!" everytime she gets to her childminders, and even asks if she can go there at weekends, which is a bit embarrassing for me and her Dad!

She used to scowl at her first childcare, but never cried at the door, and I still felt uneasy about her going there - which is why I switched to this woman who, quite frankly, I think spoils her while she's there. But I'd rather she loves it and asks to go there everyday than the alternative.

If your kids are crying going into nursery, or any childcare, listen to what they're trying to tell you!

OP I fully understand how horrible this is for you but please follow this advice.

1- Do NOT tell the staff member or any other staff what you are reporting. They may have opportunities to cover their tracks.
2- Report to manager/DSL ASAP. Ask them what they intend to do/report to.
3- If you are not convinced the manager/DSL is notifying the LADO and Ofsted, you need to do this yourself.
4- Keep a written record of the date and time of these incidents and exactly what you saw/heard. Your contemporaneous record is good evidence.

If you are unsure how to contact LADO, google your LA name followed by LADO and contact details should come up. You may need to fill in a form, just do it the best you can.

You can contact Ofsted anonymously but they will also treat you anonymously- details are on their website.

If you need any support, please PM me. You are doing the right thing advocating for children.

A little initial ''separation anxiety'' is natural for most children initially at a day nursery/minder..but full on distress day in day out should be a warning.

There must be a safeguarding policy. Contact the local authority.

It was a fair question because you really DONT know 🧐

It is a small private nursery, not part of a chain

It turns out her child is verbal and that's how she knows.

But that information wasn't given originally, hence the fair question.

Not sure why she thought it was shitty.