To worry about this DC

[Meer77]

I have started a lunch cover job in a nursery in the last few weeks. I’m not qualified in childcare, I’m a parent myself and this is a school hour job that works well for the moment and I’m happy to be working with children, so this is a genuine question.

The child brings pack lunches, but sometimes has nursery milk. I went to pour him some at snack time and they said he can’t have it as mum is behind on paying. He really wanted some milk and I felt bad.

From the days he has been in, he has consistently had very out of best before food, for example 5 months out crisps, he didn’t eat them as they must have tasted stale and he looked disappointed. Another example, a very very black and mushy banana which again wasn’t edible. And other things too which he hasn’t eaten and have been months out from best before . No one else seems to have noticed or said anything. Would you report this to management, I feel worried about him as he’s going hungry. Btw, I’m not judging.

Many parents get funded hours for nursery so don’t pay full fees.

OP have you considered the food might be from a food bank? They often give best before so still edible but past the best please speak to your DSL as it will be part of a bigger picture

Make sure they are out of date and not just over their best before date (most crisps only have a best before date) as they are meaningless. Is he from British heritage? Only because a lot of people I know will only eat their bananas black (they’re from the Caribbean originally)!

Report it?

to the school of course. And then higher up if nothing been done. The kid needs to eat.

Agree.
FFS OP do the right thing and do it quickly.

Yes of course, but they can’t even pay part fees or feed him properly per OP.

Awful nursery. If I was working there I'd pay out of my own pocket for his milk and buy him a decent lunch. I've worked in a couple of nurseries and any staff member would have done the same if it came to it, which it wouldn't because management would have it covered anyway. Given the nurseries appalling treatment, I wouldn't depend on them to be reporting concerns of neglect to social services. If I was you I would speak to management first to check if they have raised a safeguarding, if they haven't say you want them too and you want to know the outcome. If they don't, report it yourself to social services.

100% It could be part of a wider neglect picture which should be investigated.

Anyone who works with children should have their safeguarding needs at rhe heart of what they do

Tbh id be very concerned this wasn't being picked up by trained childcare workers

Has to last him till teatime ? And nobody is noticing?

Yes but not everyone is aware of when to report safeguarding concerns. It's good OP asked and will now be able to go in tomorrow & report concerns. Poor kid

Definitely report poor boy - pretty shocking of the nursery to deny giving him some milk even if his mum is behind with the payments.

Report it and pour the milk. The child doesn’t need to be punished for the parents financial.
also MASH report it anonymously.

please do something, you might save his life.

They

OP, you sound out of your depth with this and as if you haven't had proper training or developed a clear understanding of safeguarding and "norms" in pre-school education yet.

Report your concerns to the manager and explain why you really don't think the milk should be withdrawn, but ultimately you have to detach after that.

I don't think the people telling you to disobey the "higher ups" over the milk are being very helpful, and I doubt they would be prepared to lose their jobs, if they actually were in your shoes, so please do not listen to them.

Whoops. Schools can get free milk at lunch time for all under 5s and for all UFSM children up to and including year 2

There is so much provided we offer it to anyone who wants it at lunch time.

Mention it to some one who understands the rules properly

The nursery can claim free milk

Why didn't you give them the milk

I haven't read all the replies so apologies if this has been mentioned but you should have had some basic safeguarding training. This is a safeguarding concern and needs reporting to the safeguarding lead. Please do this ASAP.

Tbh OP if and when you speak to management I’d also report the staff who didn’t offer a lousy glass of milk

Because she could have lost her job over it! 😤

You don't go into a job like that and do whatever you want, if management have told you otherwise.

OP, please ignore these silly posters!

Are you the manager creme egg.

Did you not have safeguarding training when you started? As part of your induction were you not told who your DSL was and how to report your concerns to them? If new staff aren't being given basic safeguarding training then that's every bit as concerning as the child's inadequate lunches not being picked up on and the refusal to allow him milk.

Please help if you are able - mention it to your manager, pay for his milk, offer toast or whatever the nursery is allowed to as snacks, try and find a way to support his family. Absolutely breaks my heart.

What kind of awful people are running this place?! Also, have you not been provided with any safeguarding training at all? This has red flags all over… poor child

How come you checked the dates on everything? It would never occur to me to do that. If the dates are best before though, you can eat them still. I regularly buy dry goods that are past their best before dates from online discount food outlets.

The milk is an issue though, you need to talk to a manager about that. He should be given milk.