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Original poster

Nursery teachers snarky comment

861 replies

CheekyTealFawn · 09/01/2026 23:17

I’m livid, wondering whether to bring it up or just leave it if I’m overreacting.

DD is 2 yrs 9 month old, and just started nursery today. She’ll go 2 days per week, 7.30am-6.30pm.

I work two jobs (one evening and one Saturday per week), as I am studying 30 hours per week for my BA in English, which I do on my childcare days, in nap times, and every free evening I have. So, I could really use every minute of help I can get.

I dropped DD off at 8.30am no problems. When I go to pick her up, I get there at 6.20pm. I see I have two missed calls from the nursery. I ask why they called, worried, and the manager laughed and said “because we want to go home.” I was confused, and said “oh, I’m so sorry, I thought pick up was before 6.30?” And she pulled a face and said “yes, but it’s Friday and your daughter is the last one here, and she has been waiting and asking for you and wondering why she is the only one”

All of the staff had their hats and coats on waiting by the door when I arrived. DD was also sat by the door with her hat and coat on looking out the window waiting for me. it’s made me feel like the worst mum, and extremely embarrassed as I felt like the staff were all looking at and judging me. My daughter loved her first day, seems very happy there, but I don’t know whether to say something to the manager about it?

I understand it’s Friday and of course the staff want to go home, but I didn’t initially want Fridays, but they made me pick that day since it was quieter and we’re only part time, to make room for more full time children on the other days .

i don’t know what I’d say, and I don’t know if mum guilt at leaving my daughter there last is making me more sensitive, but now I’m anxious to leave her there until 6.20, even though I could really use it since I’m constantly playing catch up with my university work because I’m forever lagging behind due to not being able to afford enough childcare.

am I being sensitive? Should I say something? If so, what?

OP posts:
TwoSaturdays · 09/01/2026 23:23

No, you agreed to Friday, understood it’s till 6.30 and have paid accordingly. They’re out of order. Speak to the manager or owner.

Letsgocamping67 · 09/01/2026 23:25

I’d ask if their hours have changed because they are taking the piss

LayaM · 09/01/2026 23:25

I think it's worth a conversation but the line id take initially would be: just to let you know, I work long hours on a Friday so I will need childcare until 6:30pm every week, warning you in advance - type wording. Then see what they say.

Original poster
CheekyTealFawn · 09/01/2026 23:27

TwoSaturdays · 09/01/2026 23:23

No, you agreed to Friday, understood it’s till 6.30 and have paid accordingly. They’re out of order. Speak to the manager or owner.

How do you think I should address it?

OP posts:
Original poster
CheekyTealFawn · 09/01/2026 23:28

Letsgocamping67 · 09/01/2026 23:25

I’d ask if their hours have changed because they are taking the piss

😂😂 I felt like saying that at the time hahaha

OP posts:
Original poster
CheekyTealFawn · 09/01/2026 23:29

LayaM · 09/01/2026 23:25

I think it's worth a conversation but the line id take initially would be: just to let you know, I work long hours on a Friday so I will need childcare until 6:30pm every week, warning you in advance - type wording. Then see what they say.

Okay good idea, they can’t argue with that. And if they do, maybe I can get them to let me switch from a Friday to a Thursday like I’d initially asked for 😅

OP posts:
TwoSaturdays · 09/01/2026 23:29

If address it as @LayaM suggests. You will make your point but not be confrontational.

PleaseStopEatingMyStuff · 09/01/2026 23:29

So they wanted an early dart & basically gave up on your daughter and had her sat awkwardly waiting at the window, on her first day, because the other kids left early!? Totally unreasonable. I'd be very worried about the attitudes of the staff and level of care this setting is providing.

Sometimeswinning · 09/01/2026 23:30

I think they view you as someone they can manipulate easily. They pushed you to choose a day and they’ve intimidated you. It’s your choice where you go from here.

Next time they call. Pull over and pick up. Have a chat. I’d be seeking revenge whilst looking for a better nursery.

Pliro · 09/01/2026 23:30

I kept reading, waiting for anything approaching a snarky comment.

Northerngirl821 · 09/01/2026 23:32

Eleven hours is a LONG day for her in childcare though, especially if she’s the only one there at the end of the day.

Cocomelon67 · 09/01/2026 23:33

It’s really not on that they made your daughter feel like you were late. I would tell them that you would appreciate them playing with her until normal pick up time because otherwise she will understandably be more likely to get upset.

CinnamonBuns67 · 09/01/2026 23:33

Yes I would say something to the nursery manager or the owner, if you've paid until 6.30 you are entitled to show up to pick DD on time, not turn up early so they can go home early because it's Friday. It's unprofessional and rude of them.

Original poster
CheekyTealFawn · 09/01/2026 23:33

Northerngirl821 · 09/01/2026 23:32

Eleven hours is a LONG day for her in childcare though, especially if she’s the only one there at the end of the day.

I agree, I don’t like it either, but they don’t do half days, minimum 2 full days per week, and I have 30 hours of university I’ve somehow got to fit around being a mum on the other 3 days and 2 jobs. It’s not ideal but it’s the only way I can make anything work

OP posts:
GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 09/01/2026 23:34

They are out of order to hassle you before pick up time.

Mathsdebator · 09/01/2026 23:34

It was a bit shit of them but she did 11 hours on her first day? That's a bit shit on her, I'd not have done that unless I was actually working and couldn't avoid it

Original poster
CheekyTealFawn · 09/01/2026 23:34

Cocomelon67 · 09/01/2026 23:33

It’s really not on that they made your daughter feel like you were late. I would tell them that you would appreciate them playing with her until normal pick up time because otherwise she will understandably be more likely to get upset.

I thought that. She’s so young but I thought god what if she feels abandoned like I’m late or something

OP posts:
daffodilandtulip · 09/01/2026 23:34

Do you get the funded hours? Because they have to be quite accurate. If they're demanding an early pick up regularly, they're on dodgy grounds with their claim...

tedibear · 09/01/2026 23:35

That’s totally unprofessional. I’d let them know at drop off that’s when you’ll be arriving back for her so they don’t need to call u to check. Cheeky bastards to be honest!

I do remember once picking my daughter up and she was the only one left and it made me feel awful. It wasn’t even that late maybe 25 mins to closing. To be fair though she was probably getting more attention than normal and staff member was just holding her chatting to someone when I went in. They wouldn’t have dared said anything so rude.

Original poster
CheekyTealFawn · 09/01/2026 23:36

Mathsdebator · 09/01/2026 23:34

It was a bit shit of them but she did 11 hours on her first day? That's a bit shit on her, I'd not have done that unless I was actually working and couldn't avoid it

I was at university, until 5.30 and unavoidable. I avoided 11 hours by dropping her off an hour later than normal drop off time, and she has had 4 settling in sessions this week. It was her first official day, not first time amongst completely random people she’s never met.

OP posts:
Original poster
CheekyTealFawn · 09/01/2026 23:37

daffodilandtulip · 09/01/2026 23:34

Do you get the funded hours? Because they have to be quite accurate. If they're demanding an early pick up regularly, they're on dodgy grounds with their claim...

Yes we do! Oh really? I didn’t know that

OP posts:
Original poster
CheekyTealFawn · 09/01/2026 23:38

tedibear · 09/01/2026 23:35

That’s totally unprofessional. I’d let them know at drop off that’s when you’ll be arriving back for her so they don’t need to call u to check. Cheeky bastards to be honest!

I do remember once picking my daughter up and she was the only one left and it made me feel awful. It wasn’t even that late maybe 25 mins to closing. To be fair though she was probably getting more attention than normal and staff member was just holding her chatting to someone when I went in. They wouldn’t have dared said anything so rude.

Oh that’s so nice that they were just continuing as normal! I think the snarkiness I wouldn’t have minded as much if they weren’t all lined up by the door in coats waiting for me as though I was late

OP posts:
Mathsdebator · 09/01/2026 23:40

My mistake, 10 hours is still crazy for a first proper day.

30 hours a week for a BA? Surely that's hours you're choosing to study rather than taught time?

Bryonyberries · 09/01/2026 23:40

Do you need her there until 6.30? For work or due to studying at home?

It is a long day and very few children of that age are in care until so late. She may well the only one there until that time. The staff will probably have got her ready as many children picked up at that time are over tired and do play parents up not cooperating to get ready. Staff may have been there since 7am and have families too and want a swift pick up, not the child hunting for socks!

However, if they are paid to be there until that time and you aren’t late they should be polite and still give you a run down of her day.

PurpleFlower1983 · 09/01/2026 23:41

I don’t think the hats and coats were out of line but the phone call was. That said, I hate it when my kids are last to be picked up and that’s a very long day for a 2 year old who’s just started bless her. Is your English degree 30 hours at University?! Times have changed, mine was 6 hours per week actually allocated to lectures/seminars.