to be angry about being left in charge of other people's kids at toddler group/??

[SmugColditz]

I'm not talking about while the mum goes to the loo either!

We hold a toddler group, a very informal toddler group, in the upstrais of a church. On the other side is a preschool with about 30 children.

To arrange their 'numbers', one of the staff brings some children over from the preschool to play in the toddler group - usually the more boisterous ones so she can keep an eye on them - except she doesn't. She laft at 11am today to go to a meeting, leaving a 3 year old little girl on her own with a pack of mums. None of us are CRB checked, or paid or were even asked - she just left! She was gone for 25 minutes. Last week she brought 4 kids with her and was in and out of the room for 5 - 10 minutes at a time.

These aren't her kids - these kids belong to someone who thinks they are being looked after, and I suppose they are being looked after, but not by people who know the mum or the child. We do of course look after the children, but we could just get up and fuck off!

WWYD and AIBU anyway?

I would be very angry if I was the Mum of one of those preschoolers. I would want to know about it.

So i'm getting this straight in my head

the toddlers have the room til 11.30 not affliated to the preschool but the member of staff comes over early to set up the creche which should have the room after but brings preschool children with her and leaves them un-supervised. she presumably stays with the preschool children for the creche period as well which means they are not gettinmg adequate care attention or learning opportunities.

Let us know how it goes I would be very interested.....

That's it, Doris, yes. so is she out of order or should I shut up whining?

Shall I ring Ofsted? I am fairly sure the manager knows all about this.

Yes she is very definitely out of order for al the above reasons, as I said before are you sure the manager does not answer to a comittee and are they aware.... if yes then definitely a case for ofsted I think it is cases like this that would definitely get their attention.

Whatever you do you need to do something to the sake of the children's safety

Well what did you decide??????

i think you should talk to the manager first and tell her you have been asked by the other mothers to contact ofsted but felt you should speak ot her first

In the interim I think I'd be inclined to leave either just before or just as this woman comes in with the pre-schoolers.

If I was paying for my child to be looked after at a preschool and then found out she'd been left unattended with total strangers I would not be pleased.

I haven't done anything yet but will take action tomoroow I think

I run a toddler group in a room that is also used by a nursery (same building) IT is completely unacceptable for the pre school children to be in the room WITHOUT a member of staff and against OFSTED policy. I would approach the manager of the pre school and just point out that after discussions in the group it has been decided that noone is taking responsibility for the children left in the room when the member of staff is not present. Also mention that OFSTED demand a member of staff accompanies the children at all times and that if it doesnt stop you will have no choice but to report it to OFSTED. I would start keeping a log (you should have a register anyway and on that should be ANYONE who uses the room whilst your group is running.)

This really is breaking all rules with regards the play school. If one of the children fell over and hurt themselves whilst noone was in the room from the play school would YOU accept responsibility???

Agre with bomkerz. it is unaccaptble and illegel to leave the pre school children without a member of staff.

Be brave it not easy bringing poor practce to attention ......but very very necessary!

QWell, I bit the bullet, and (small town politics strikes again) rang one of the members of staff, telling her that X has been leaving children without a member of staff in the room and that the toddler group mums were pissed off and could conceivably walk out at any time. I said none of us are prepared to take responsibility if a child becomes injured or wets itself, none of us are going to touch the child, as none of us are CRB cleared, first aid trained, or early years educated!

She was a little taken aback but I hope I goot my point across nicely, and to ensure she didn't think I was being holier than thou, one of my children kindly bit the other while I was on the phone.

Hey, I was BRAVE! Validate me, damn your eyes!"

And well done girl

well done! Its vital they are aware that you are not going to let this continue! FGS their own insurance would be invalid if anything happened and they could lose their OFSTED registration!! Now keep a log to ensure it doesnt happen and IF it does ring OFSTED immediately.

WELL DONE BTW!!!!!

Coming in a bit late; leaving children with unchecked non-staff members (not saying you and other parents are serial killers or anything but they're not to know that) is quite a serious breach of both the National Standards and probably the setting's contracts with parents. If the situation doesn't improve sharpish I really would encourage you to pass your concerns to Ofsted. You can do this over the phone or via email, and can remain anonymous or ask for your details to be kept confidential. There probably wouldn't be a swooping sudden visit by an Inspector unless previous complaints had been made or there are other details you didn't mention, but they would at least get a sternly worded letter asking about the allegations. It's amazing what an unexpected letter from Ofsted can do to stir people into getting their house in order!