Nursery concerns, would you complain?

[maa32]

Hi,

I'm just wondering if I'm being unreasonable in wanting to pull DS out of nursery. I'm a nurse and have had no other childcare options, however now my mum can watch him for a few weeks until I can find a new nursery. However, in speaking to new nurseries I'm starting to think I should of never put him in this one and I need to take him out and complain.

DS (2) is currently in nursery 1 day per week. I've had the following issues:

• No manager, two permenant staff

• charged £49 a day for a year, preliminary manager came briefly and stated charges where actually £42 a day

• they've started charging £10 a day for food. They have no chef, haven't since the beginning of the pandemic and my DS is given cereal, sandwiches, carrot sticks and humus. Seems a lot for £10?

• no outside toys/play area, concreted floor. When we viewed they said they were constructing a garden, this hasn't happened in over a year

• in the last 8 weeks he's been sent home 5 times. 3 of which was "he felt hot" though did not have a temperature and seemed fine in himself, another time he was "clingy" a time after that was because he had green snot.

• they referred my DS to speech and language for speech delay without contacting me. Health visitor contacted me as we had discussed not referring him as his speech was coming on (and subsequently did, he's caught right up)

• There have also been issues with finances, I pay via direct debit and they contact me monthly via email to say I haven't paid. I send them bank confirmation, it's a ridiculous cycle.

• I've never received a picture of DS at nursery, friends say this is a common thing and I should be updated with pictures?

• he never comes home with crafts or looking like he's actually done anything, he doesn't speak positively of it although he doesn't cry or anything when I drop him off.

• I've never been updated of the early years framework

• they also won't call him by his name, for example he is "DJ" but real name is "Daniel" but he goes by DJ, they said "he won't be allowed to sign DJ on official documents, we must call him Daniel" well he's 2, he won't be signing any documents. He does know his name is Daniel, he just doesn't get called it much.

I actually want to pull DS out until I can find a better nursery

I want to make a complaint, aibu?

This sounds awful, yes I would definitely move him (and complain - although not sure who to - ofsted? the manager, at least).

My DC is at nursery and we get daily updates on activities, photos at least a few times a week, and there is a parents evening/regular updates on how they are performing against the early-years framework thing (or whatever it is called).

The food issue alone would put me off (although not so bad only 1 day a week I suppose) the referring him to S&L without you knowing is outrageous.

£42 a day sounds very cheap - not sure if that is standard for your area? We are in London and pay over £60 a day (which I understand is still cheap, compared to some of the posher parts of town!)

I would pull them out.
We get regular updates from our nursery including pictures of crafts etc.
I wouldn't be happy with the referral.
We are in the north and pay £52 per day for reference.

The cost isn't an issue, I'm viewing another nursery that costs more, I was just concerned they're charging £10 for food per day when he gets given cold sandwiches and cereal

I've got an appt to view a new one on Monday, I pulled DS out. The nursery deputy manager actually sent me a rude email, I forwarded it to head office and it's getting dealt with.

Thanks for the replies x

This would blow big red flags as well.
I'm glad you've pulled him out but make sure they don't try and stiff you with charges.

Children can have known by names. £10 for cold meals for 1 day is ridiculous. My son's nursery charges £3 per day and that's only if you child isn't in full time. Full time, the price is included.

Is it actually a nursery or a childminder set up? Is it registered with offstead? Don't you have a tax free childcare account that you pay them through?

There definitely should be an online updating system. Not only with daily pics but assessments and observations.

For a full day my son gets breakfast at 8am, snack, hot meal at 11:30am. Snack, hot meal at 3:30pm. snack.

From those points I would complain about the over charging, the food cost, the lack of outdoor resources (which is terrible as outdoor play is important), the lack of photos and contact as parental links are also important, though they may do this a different way to online where you get a learning journal or similar at the end of term, and refusing to use his name

Sorry just noticed your update, you've done the right thing.

@maa32

The cost isn't an issue, I'm viewing another nursery that costs more, I was just concerned they're charging £10 for food per day when he gets given cold sandwiches and cereal

I've got an appt to view a new one on Monday, I pulled DS out. The nursery deputy manager actually sent me a rude email, I forwarded it to head office and it's getting dealt with.

Thanks for the replies x

Report them to the care inspectorate. These are quite big issues. I would also love your child, hope the visit goes well

*move your child, but you know.... love them too

I had issues with our first nursery and it wasn’t awful but there where defo things I complained about and the manager got a bit annoyed with me. Probably annoyed as they knew they were breaking the rules on ratio numbers.

£10 for no hot food is crazy you could send a pack up for all meals for half the price.

Go with your gut, I’m so glad we moved our little one. I feel a lot happier and they seem to love it