Working in a nursery..

[Balloon99]

I’m unqualified and I work as a nursery assistant. As I’m not qualified I’m not meant to be left alone with the children, I need to always be with a level 3. In the room and I’ve not done my first aid training yet, I’m doing that next week in a group. But I keep getting left alone and also out of ratio, 10 2 year olds in the room and I’m left alone, trying to watch one child with SEN who also has pica, some where wanting me to read to them, then some went into where the coat racks where, but I couldn’t leave the other children. A member of staff came in and gave me a dirty look and it really upset me. It’s a few times she’s looked and spoke to me like dirt. I’m also finding some of the staff also very bitchy and bitching about others the minute they leave the room. Even when there is other staff they are doing things on the phone or chatting and I’m left with the children doing activities and trying to manage any bad behaviour. Children climb on chairs, hit each other, throw things around the room and at each other, I’m left to deal with this other staff are oblivious. Is this common in nurseries?

I don’t know if it’s common, but it’s not right.
Have you raised it? Are you in a union?

Or more to the point- are in a position to look for other jobs?

The ratios issue should be taken very seriously. Is it 1:4 for two year olds? And as you say those should be qualified staff. I’d be finding out who to report that to eg ofsted.

Find another nursery. You shouldn't kept be getting left! Especially if no first aid cause if a accident was to happen..know you probably know how to deal but same time shouldn't be without the training.

I've worked in nurseries and luckily haven't had the so much bitchy experience but have heard from others who have. You don't need to be working in that environment and there are better places out there!

Yes that’s right

Please please report this and take it seriously. Don't stop until your concerns have been heard.

Yes it's common, protect yourself by raising in writing to your manager that you're being left alone.

This is what nurseries are like. I worked in a number and interviewed for several I refused to work in.

Yes it’s common.

This is so scary.
My sons nursery are militant about ratios even during nap times and are so strict about collection times due to this, saying that ofsted could show up at any time. You could anonymously call ofsted and ask them to inspect?

You could also call the LADO at your local council as it's a safeguarding risk

No legally 2 year olds are 1:5. Still totally wrong though & def does not happen in every nursery as very much illegal & the manager is at risk of losing her job.

The manager will argue that ratios are set across the building, not individual rooms, so they don't need to have a 1:5 ratio actually physically in the toddler room at all times.

It may be common, according to posters on here, but it's not acceptable to be put in this position.

Find somewhere else to work.

I've visited several nurseries near me as I was doing a research project and spent weeks with them. I've not witnessed as you've described so there will be lots of nurseries who do run things well.

Get on Facebook and ask (anonymously) the local parents group in your area which nurseries they think are good