Woah! dd2 wasn't allowed a snack at nursery as she refused to say grace

[Vipenid]

I can't believe I nodded sympathetically when they told me this today when I picked dd2 up. 'oh dear' I said 'sorry she's being such a pain'. It wasn't until I got in the car that I thought 'Hold on a minute...refusing to say grace for a SNACK at 3.5...is this really superbrat behaviour??'

I think that's dreadful and completely inappropriate not to allow a child to eat under any circumstances - surely with plummeting blood sugar level a child's behaviour is only going to get worse!

Totally innappropriate to withhold food from a 3 yr old.
But am PMSL at "sticky willy"!

blu
saying grace

Marina. It was a little while ago....and I did think it entirely appropriate to give thanks to Cod, in a fish and chip shop....

PMSL Blu

Poor love, hope she's ok.

The piece of Cod, which passeth all understanding...
How is she now enid?

Hi Flossam

depends what your definition of 'nice' is

but our two regular soft play centres are \link{http://www.google.co.uk/local?hl=en&lr=&q=jungle+jungle&near=Yeovil&sa=X&oi=locald&radius=0.0&latlng=50943755,-2629748,2656600001208841163\Jungle Jungle} and \link{http://www.rug-ratz.co.uk\Rugratz}, both a bit desperate but fine in times of need. Rugratz probably better for a 16 month old. Just don't let him drink the 'blue' drink

Also Ninesprings (the park next to Goldenstones) is quite nice if its sunny (remember to take your bread for the uninterested ducks )

If I think of anything else will post

will report back on the nursery on Monday

(if people don't mind me going on about it, sniff...)

V V its appalling....

Every school has a legal obligation to provide and act of collective worship, I know this because we failed this bit of our OFSTED.

BUT.... I'm not sure if a school is allowed to impose a specific religion on everyone and I dont know if saying grace counts? hmmmmm. I know parents can opt out of religious teachings as my mate is RE teacher.

I'd bloodywell report them to the LEA and OFSTED.

Thanks Enid. I grew up in Yeovil so I know Nine springs veeerrryyy well, perhaps better than most !

And thanks for those links Enid. Rugrats looks quite good! Will see what step father reckons. At 72 its getting harder for him to chase DS around!

have made appt to talk to nursery staff at 2.30

now bricking it as I am totally hormonal today and cried listening to some stupid song on the radio driving to work. Also had a terrible night as dd2 insisted on getting into my bed and kicking me for two hours at 3am.

Am sure will burst into tears.

It's always worse in the morning, by this afternoon you will be fine.

Oooo no no no Enid, you must not cry. even if you have to take drugs beforehand you must not cry!

You are right to make a stand here. They were wrong, spiteful, and bullying. All of this is behavior you would crack down on in your kids without a second thought - the fact that it is adults makes it even worse.

You need to use phrases like

"Witholding nutrition"
"Inappropriately harsh punishment for child barely out of nappies"
"Public, ritual humiliation of a small child"
"You witheld food from an infant because she wouldn't repeat a phrase that means nothing to her!"

I would be fuming, I totally understand the need to cry, am hormonal myself, but you really mustn't. You must be icily calm and righteously enraged.

Imagine Margeret Thatcher dealing with the Unions.

Oh God isn't this over yet ? Poor you Enid, Colditz is right, make notes and bring them, do not rely on PG brain.

I would do my best to keep it ve low key and non-confrontational, I think - if my hormonal cup runneth over, in particular.

Such as starting be asking what happened: "I'm curious to know what happened at snack time the other day" "Hmmm, yes I see, I do of course understand the importance of routines in nursery, but to be honest I was very concerned to hear that she wasn't allowed anything to eat" "dd2 is feeling under pressure, as I explained before, and I don't want her feeling fractious and tired because of low-blood sugar"

Hope it goes well, anyway. Can you have a rest before you go?

thanks blu

that is what I have planned to say

no rest for me but my assistant and I are going out for a nice lunch today as we both feel miserable

good luck enid. all good advice on here. will be thinking of you at 2.30. you are absolutely in the right to be going in to see them about this you know....

good luck Enid.

I would complain on the basis that noone should be forced to assent to a religion they don't choose, however young they are. even in a church school or nursery. it should still be a personal choice.

actually i'd remove my child from a nursery which did this.

dh wasnts me to say that she must be allowed her snack whether she says grace or not

will play it a bit by ear

am rubbish at these things as I tend to be over officious and then people hate me. I still want to be friendly with them

Good luck Enid x

Ahem, yes, can be incredibly pompous myself at times, so maybe I am not the best one to heed

IMO dh is right. can you send him instead? then you can stay being good cop and on friendly terms with them while he does his bad cop routine?

funnily enough he is terribly busy today