to think it's really not on that the only number I can contact my DS's nursery on is someone's mobile??

[LadyBiscuit]

My DS's nursery is in a church which means that there's no fixed line which has never bothered me - the phone has always been answered whenever it's open before so I assumed it was a nursery phone. Today though there was an accident on the motorway so I called at 5.45 to say I may be late (in the end I wasn't, I got there bang on 6). The phone rang and rang and then went to voicemail. When I got there I said that I'd called but that the phone had gone to voicemail and the manager said 'well that number is the personal phone of XX (the woman who owns it) and she's gone home'. I said that I didn't have another number and could I have one please. To which she replied that she wasn't giving out parents her personal number.

I am really not happy about this (no that I can't have her number but that the number I have is someone's personal mobile) - what if something had happened and I couldn't get there for a while? Obviously they would ring my alternative contacts if they couldn't get hold of me but I would like to get hold of them during opening hours (which are 8am-6pm even if most parents pick their kids up early on a Friday, I can't always).

So AIBU to be a bit cross about this and think it's really Not On or being a bit precious?

from captainunderpants
"Do most of the staff know the exact address and postcode of the nursery ? I expect not."

Very patronising.

The local contact center is in a church hall (as are most contact centers) and seem to remember the organizer saying that the landline was mandatory where there are groups of children. Could find out if you want?

If you could find out easily that would be great ilovemydog. I will talk to them on Monday but if they aren't very helpful and apologetic (and they certainly weren't last night) then I might take it further.

Looking through the EYFS Statutory Framework, I can't actually find where it says a childcare provider has to have a phone when at their main location.

There are some references to phones, such as on outings:
"Providers should take essential records and equipment on outings, for example, contact telephone numbers for the parents of children on the outing, first aid kit, a mobile phone."
And that changes to a phone number must be notified to Ofsted:
"Registered providers should also notify Ofsted of any change in their telephone number."

Also references to making contact with parents such as:
"protocol for contacting parents or another adult designated by the parent if a child
becomes ill or receives minor injuries whilst in the provider?s care."

So either I'm just not finding the reference, or it isn't actually in the EYFS Statutory Framework.

Back in 2003, the National Standards (Childminding) says "There is access to a telephone on the premises." I haven't got the National Standards (Nursery) though I highly expect it contained the same clause.

I would expect that the regulator would take a dim view on any provider who did not have a method of contacting parents at all practical times whilst caring for children. Exceptions would be if on outings and there was no mobile signal - as signals can not be guaranteed.

However as the nursery is based at a church, there is probably a phone somewhere on the premises that could be used for outgoing calls to emergency services / parents of an injured child.

For accounting purposes, surely it would be much easier for the nursery to have their own mobile phone, rather than using a staff members... as then all calls made on the phone are directly associated with the business.

suitejudyblue wrote: "I'm only assuming that Ofsted don't have a problem with it as they must know that the only number is a mobile and the setting has had an inspection quite recently and it wasn't mentioned in the report."

Alas Ofsted only really know what they are told... I would suspect they were not told that the phone goes home with a member of staff when that member of staff leaves. Thus Ofsted wrongly assumed that the phone stayed on the premises at all times whilst children were present.

I should add, the 2003 National Standards is no longer part of UK childcare regulations. So providers do not need to comply with it... EYFS Statutory Framework is currently the main regulations document. However, if taking things further then you can raise the issue with the regulator as to why that clause was in the 2003 Standards but is not in the EYFS Statutory Framework. Ofsted do not write the regulations it is the responsibility of DCSF - so falls under control of Michael Gove MP (if you want someone to whom you can write).

purepurple -I was not being patronisng in my comment about staff not knowing address or postcode .

I will be honest and say that I dont know the full postcode of my setting and I certainly wouldn't expect a casual / bank member of staff to know it off the top of their head in an emergency situation.

Fact of life not patronising in any way .

Nick - what would be the issue with the phone going home/coming back each day with the leader ?
The church hall that my playgroup use is also used by other groups as well as the church and I think there would be security concerns about leaving a phone or any of the playgroup paperwork etc on the premises.
I know that the leader might be ill but one of the other staff would just stop off at her house and pcik it up - its a very small playgroup.
I am slightly surprised that the OP refers to a nursery rather than a playgroup as I didn't realise that they could be based in communal premises.
captainunderpants - at my playgroup the phone is kept on a desk which has the Ofsted and insurance paperwork etc displayed on it so there shouldn't be a problem with the postcode, I do agree that the staff wouldn't know what it was otherwise.

what would be the issue with the phone going home/coming back each day with the leader ?

No issue with that. The issue is when the phone goes home with someone but the nursery remains open, so there are children and staff on site who don't have an easily accessible means of communication with parents or emergency services.

There aren't any casual staff - it's a really, really small nursery and there are only about 12 kids who attend it. But I do take the point about panicking and not remembering the postcode in an emergency.

The building isn't used by anyone else while the nursery is in session suitejudyblue - they are in sole occupancy and doors are always locked etc. The church only uses it evenings and weekends

If money is an issue about getting another landline installed perhaps they should contact their early years at the local council about funding or a grant ?

I'm sure they could afford a landline - how much does it cost to have one installed? Although there are four members of staff on site most of the time (there were two when I turned up last night and my DS was the only child there) even when there's not many kids there (and they only have children over the age of 2 so they are well within Ofsted regs there

YANBU... bit shocked by this actually.

This is the same at DD's nursery. I have called the number several times to be met with the answering machine, in my case it has been to say we won't be in for some reason, or we'd left something behind, but both times, the assistant said to me that she never listens to the answering machine when I asked if she got the message.

I do have the number of two fellow parents, but you're right, it's not on. I might bring it up at the next meeting actually. Stupid as it seems, it's never occurred to me what would happen in an emergency.

YANBU

Also something else to throwin the pot ..

After the incident at the nusery at Plymouth were the nusery worker took photos of children with her mobile phone, we had guidance from our Eary Years at the council about how usage of mobiles in settings.

Our policy is that staff must not have a mobile phone with them whilst working.

Does the manager walk around with her mobile ?

How did you get on today when you had a word?