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.

This poor kid

I would want to report the nursery for that! They get access to the free milk scheme for under 5's.

That's utterly disgraceful.

No I'm not, but to address your childish response, but I have significant experience in working in nurseries and pre-schools, so I'm sure I know more about it than you and why you can't just do what you think is right and disobey management.

Are you going to put your own hand in your pocket if she does lose her job, over following yours and other posters' "advice"?
No I didn't think so.

Point proved. That is all I have to say to posters like you.

https://www.itv.com/news/2014-02-05/report-into-failings-around-daniel-pelka-death-released

I’d have poured him a glass of milk and if told not would have said it was from my own tea/coffee milk allowance as I bet the staff have drinks. How could they do that to him poor thing

Yes that's the DC I was thinking of. I remember thinking if he's trying to eat pretend food and scavenging from bins it must be so obvious he is really hungry and seeking food. Yet no staff member raised it as a concern.

You shouldn’t be working with children in any capacity if you think listening to management is more important than feeding a hungry child.

This is exactly why children come to harm, because people in positions with the capability to protect them turn a blind eye. “You have to detach” from your previous post. No you have to think of the poor child that needs looking after. Shameful attitude to have.

OP did the right thing to ask for advice because they haven’t received the correct safeguarding training. The person who said not give them milk might not be aware of the other details that the child is going hungry and if they did they may have themselves said give them the milk regardless. Either way that child shouldn’t be going hungry under the care of that nursery. People who stand by and watch children be neglected are just as culpable.

Creme egg, I hope you're nor working in childcare. You sound mean as fuck.

There's not a person in this world that would have stopped me giving the child that milk. Anyone that wouldn't isn't human. If another adult stood in front of me and threatened to discipline me over giving a child milk I would have laughed at them.

Would you have a word with yourself.

Please do something to help this little boy. This post is so sad 😔

How much does a cup of milk cost ? Heartless bitches to refuse a drink to a little child, please OP update us.

This is a safeguarding issue and its your duty to report it to your safeguarding lead, whoever that is. In the meantime as a human and a mum, I would bring in milk, and whatever else for the child. Poor little mite. Makes me really sad to read this.

If someone I worked with (OP hasn’t specified it’s management) told me not to give milk to a child who was asking for milk, I absolutely would ignore them and still give that child milk, especially if the child was not eating properly!

hey op this is quite serious and absolutely needs flagging. I also would check his food and go to the manager every time something is out of date - don't let him eat it. Someone at the nursery needs to speak to the parents and refer this.

The fact parent is struggling to pay and lack of food is a very big concern tell whoever runs the room you don’t think he is getting enough food to eat and they should call parents in for a chat about late payment and ask if they can supply more food and some milk. Poor kid.

100% a safeguarding concern. Report to DSL (usually the manager, but it should be displayed somewhere who holds that role).
If you think they are not taking it seriously, you can contact the LADO in your area. Those details should also be displayed somewhere, often a staff room.

Oh this is so sad it definitely needs reporting as a safeguard issue. I am not aware of private nursery's policies but I can't believe a child was refused a glass of milk while in their care surely give him the milk and then speak to the parents about late fees. My now adult dc didn't go to private nursery but if they forgot or lost their dinner money they were still fed and watered and then school contacted me to pay

Did you do safeguard training? Follow the school’s policy for reporting to the designated SG Lead. Make sure you’re up to date on the SG training. Do not falter - trust what you see and report it.

I’d of given him the milk and I’d take this higher at the same time complaining about the staff that denied him milk. He’s a young child it’s not his fault if his parents are poor or struggling. Poor thing. Thank you for looking out for him

You are new to the job and have noticed the lack or out of date food, how came other staff have not noticed or done something about it and therefore refusing him milk is beyond cruel. If you can afford it, l would bring him something he can eat, he doesn't speak that poor child needs help, this post has made me so sad. Please please update us.

So if your DD came to you with this problem you’d tell her to not feed him?

well done we need more sheep in this country

I’d rather work for the Taliban, than the settings you’ve worked for…

At settings I worked in this poor child would have had as much milk as he wanted and we would certainly have found him some food as well. The other member of staff should be ashamed to have such a lack of compassion for a small child and probably shouldn’t be working with children at all.

I hope today you manage to get someone to take action to help this little boy.

The milk is free to children 5 and under, 1/3 of a pint each session, the government pay for the milk so makes no notice if the parents are behind on their fees, the children are entitled to milk.
Please report the out of date food, inedible food to the DSL, Designated safeguarding lead, its neglect
If you feel that nothing is being done by the nursery you can report it to the local authority, there are people who deal with “whistleblowing” , they are called LADO’s ( local authority designated officers) if you call the local authority ( council) they will put you through to them
You can also report your concerns to the NSPCC or OFSTED
Trust your gut reaction, please report to someone, safeguarding is everyones business
Think about a possible job in childcare, you have skills.

Yes absolutely talk to your Safeguarding Lead about this! It's your legal and moral duty to do so. And sneak him some milk....

Why are they punishing the child if mum behind. She should have the consequences not him. Interest/ cancelled contract (when that applies)

I'd be escalating internally and then externally if it wasnt resolved as then thats also llsurely a form of them failing. And id giving him milk

Totally agree shameful way to treat a little child, hope that member of staff can sleep at night knowing how they have treated a vulnerable child, shouldn't work in a nursery.