or is the childrens centre?

[allaboutme]

Am not sure here tbh

We go to a surestart childrens centre every week for a stay and play group.
When we started going there used to be a system where you arrive in reception, sign in and then the receptionist buzzed you through to the play area. You cant open the door unless she presses the release button on her side of the desk.
When you leave there is a button on the other side (high up out of childrens reach) that you press to let yourself out.

Quite a while ago, they just stopped using this system and now the door is a normal push open door (release button is switched off).

I asked once if they could put it back on because my DS1 is a runner off'er and I was worried about him escaping. I'd had a near miss once but saw him run out and grabbed him before he got out the main door.
I also made a note in the suggestion box to the same effect.
I am worried because the childrens centre is set up in such a way that there are several small rooms to play in, all with open doors to wander in and out of and with 2 pre-schoolers there is always the chance that they will be in different places and I wont be able to see both of them 100% of the time.

I was told no, because the button was never intended to keep children safe inside, it was more of a security thing to allow only the correct people in to see children during contact sessions.

Last week DS2 toddled into a room, I went to get him, got back to DS1 and he was gone! After much panicking and racing around looking for him a complete stranger brought him inside and said she had found a child wandering around the car park.
I mentioned again about the button and that I wished it could be in use and the surestart worker just side stepped the issue and had a 'word' with DS about how he must never run off etc etc, basically blaming him.

I'm not sure whether IABU to make more of it and formally request the security button be used or if I should just leave it and perhaps not go back again?

YANBU --- why bother taking our taxes and building these centres IF they are not providing proper security for our kids.

The not enough staff thing is a cop out. why can't they instigate a buzzer so that a member of staff can "hear" when someone needs to come in, rather than be at the door at all times? this is what they do at the nursery my DD goes to one day a week.

I would complain to the manager, then to the council and then to your MP.
Sure it is our responsibility to ensure our kids don't run off. HOwever, kids do and in a place where they are meant to be safe, why can't a CC ensure there is enough security to prevent them from getting too far.

GRRRR

YANBU but if it requires a staff memember to buzz people in all day I guess thats a lot of "wasted" staff time. I would suggest the put a catch on, or do what we do and turn the handles upside down so you have to pull handle up to get out. Works for us x

UPDATE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I went to toddler group there this morning. A bit nervous about it, but full of intentions to speak to the staff again and if I didnt get anywhere to write a letter to the centre manager.

Walked in and one of the staff who I know said without any prompting 'oh I'm so pleased you came back, I heard what happened last week and I tried to phone you during the week to talk to you about it but couldnt get through'
She then told me that they had had a meeting about it after last weeks session and have agreed to have the buzzer back on for toddler group (it was on today) plus they had me fill in an incident form to record what happened.

I'm so pleased they took it seriously and have put the buzzer back on without me having to mention it again.

I could not recommend surestart highly enough before this and now I'm pleased that they have lived up to their reputation again!

icedgemsrock - the centre has use of the school next doors swimming pool during holidays, its brilliant! and only £1.50 for a half an hour lesson for TWO children!

YANBU.

you can probably guess what i will say, as a fan of reins and a believer of how they do truly change kids behaviour. put your kids back on reins and even if they hate it use them always for a few months and hold onto them as much as possable they will soon learn that not runing off is a better option.

Allaboutme, that is great news.

The perfect outcome