Just wanted to share my experiuences - and have a bit of a rant!
Have had to take my little boy (6mnths old) our of his nursery after a couple of weeks of really bad management.
He's had problem with tummy bugs and reflux over the past 6 weeks - I always kept him off until it cleared up and then I went in and made sure i explained his new feeding needs - ie he had to have soya milk (an intolerence it turned out) and he was losing interest after being so ill before so could they please feed him regularly and keep trying. I also said he needed to have at least 10oz split between 2 feeds during the 5 hrs he was there - preferably more!
This is a copy of the letter I sent to them I'd appreciate any comments on whether i should give them another chance - I've completly lost all trust in them as this wasn't a one off but consistant over at least 2 weeks despite clear instructions by me and his dad.
I would like to raise some concerns I have had recently about Sasha's care
whilst at nursery.
I have attempted to discuss these concerns with nursery staff as has my
husband but this has not resolved the issues.
The staff in general are positive and friendly, they have remembered Sasha's name quickly and I have been happy with the security arrangements and the facilities offered at the nursery.
However there are two very important areas relating to Sasha's individual
care which have been causing me concern for some weeks, in the past four
weeks there has been a marked decline in the levels of care in all of these
areas.
Sleep - despite discussion regarding sleep patterns to be 1 hr between 3 and
4pm this has never been stuck to, neither has sleeping room been used
instead he has been allowed to fall asleep when exhausted or bored in his
seat.
Feeding
Marked decline in amount he takes at nursery - has returned home screaming
with hunger on several occasions. This is an area of great concern, he is
generally a quiet and happy baby and I am concerned that unless he screams
for food whilst at nursery he is not being fed.
Despite discussions regarding need for him to be offered milk frequently due
to reflux, need for him to be fed whilst held not fed whilst strapped into
baby seat etc instructions not followed.
Feeding times not kept to - i.e. milk at 2pm, in diary it says milk at
2.20pm - is this because he was offered it at 2pm and refused it, or because
he was asleep or because no-one was available to give milk?
Burping not carried out effectively resulting in pain and reflux
Diary not kept up to date - there has been conflict between the verbal
report when picked up and what is written down. On several occasions the
last hour has not been recorded so I have no knowledge of whether he has
been fed/changed/slept since 4pm.
Concern about staffing levels, although usually 3 staff in baby room
frequently there are visitors, kitchen jobs etc also being seen to which
reduces staff to one or two people for up to 9 children.
Small babies area is used as storage for prams, despite unsuitability of
many activities for a non crawling baby he is kept in large room with much
older children - several are walking and seem much older than 1yr old. This
is an especially concern towards the end of the day, older children are
often brought down into the baby room and whilst he is trying to feed it
becomes a very noisy and chaotic atmosphere.
In general it seems that the staff are not adequately experienced/trained in
the care of small babies. The needs of a baby at pre-crawling & pre-weaning
stages are very different to those of an older infant or toddler.
I would like to resolve these issues as swiftly as possible however I will
not be bringing him into nursery until I feel more confident that his
requirements are being met.