WWYD? Parent dropping young child off without a car seat

[Evian22]

This happened a few months ago but just wondering what you would do…

every morning I dropped my child to daycare I see a parent pulling up with their young child (under 1.5 as in same room as mine) sitting in the front seat without a car seat. Sometimes he drives a car and sometimes hit work van but child is never in car seat.

i told the daycare about it after I was sure what I seen and they told me they can’t do anything as they only have my word to go in (??). When I pushed back and said I’m only worried about the child they said if I was so worried to phone the police.

what do you think of this?

Well they were right that as you witnessed it you should have called the police, not sure why you think it is their responsibility to deal with?

Well I thought they could have a word rather than me call the police on the guy, seemed a more proportionate response

Not sure why it’s the nursery’s responsibility. If anything it’s a police matter. If I’m honest I probably wouldn’t do anything but I don’t think your concerns are unreasonable.

and I do wonder if their own staff member had seen it what would they have done? It was on the grounds of the site

Our primary school sends out school wide reminders for safety issues outside of school grounds

I would have assumed they would have a duty of care to the dc. Even if they can’t act on hearsay, someone could happen to be in the carpark the following day to notice it themselves.

I’d be quite disappointed with the creche.

I would have expected the nursery to give the parent a warning, it's a bit shit that they don't seem to care.

Given that they haven't done anything though, I would personally report to police or social services (giving the parent's full name and/or the vehicle details).

You said this happened a few months ago - has it stopped now?

So I did end up reporting to the police in the end. Not sure what happened from it but haven’t actually seen that parent/child anymore.
i was disappointed the daycare did not do anything about it though and put it back on me

I alerted the police when I saw a man and his equally stoned mate put a toddler in the back of a car with no car seat seat or seat belt. he had been behaving as if under the influence of something while waiting at our local train station. I was advised after that the police couldn't pursue him due to the unrestrained child. But he was later arrested, the vehicle was also stolen. I 100% would let the police know as you have all the vehicle details, we all have a duty of care if we see a child at risk

I don't see why the nursery should do anything, they are only responsible for what happens in their building, and they only had your word to go on. But hopefully the police can do something.

My child's nursery often checked the cameras and referred to social services for these issues (in fact were quite referring happy for anything at all)....
So yes I would have expected the nursery to do something- even if it was sending a text reminding parents of car seat rules ...

I agree with other posters that you saw it and the appropriate thing for you to have done was let the police know, not rely on the nursery who have no more authority than you.

But the nursery do sound like they are not as concerned about child wellbeing as they should be and are happy to avoid seeing things so they don't have to have hard conversation with customers.

I think a nursery ought to be concerned about the welfare of children in their care even if the risk is off site (though Op has clarified that this was happening in their parking lot). Stepping outside to see for themselves would be an obvious step for them.

Actually it’s a safeguarding concern. I assume nurseries have a safeguarding lead like schools do? I’d ask to speak to that person. My dd saw and overheard (on a video call) her friend being hit by her dad and verbally abused. I reported it to the school. It happened at home, nothing to do with the school. The school thanked me and my dd and another child also on the call were interviewed. The nursery should absolutely be doing something. But I’d report it via 101 online as well, with reg number, date, times, photo evidence if you have it.

I’d bet it’s more likely that the nursery did report it, but said they couldn’t do anything and suggested the OP call the police as a) it’s another report or poor care and an independent one and b) they can’t say “oh we’ve already spoken with the social worker/called the police twice/told them we’ll kick them out if it happens again”

They were very dismissive of it so I doubt they have contacted anyone. I pushed it with them and they said it’s up to me to pass on. I suggested they have a word with the parent but they said no

If you genuinely believe they were that dismissive of it then have you removed your child? As no even semi decent childcare would ignore that.

However, they simply can’t tell you if they’ve already spoken to the parent, or reported it elsewhere.

if they’re genuinely that shit they don’t care then you need new childcare because what other things do they ignore?