Ofsted and Risk Assessment - would you be reassured?

[duffybeatmetoit]

Following an incident and lack of action taken by Ofsted, I checked the Statutory Framework for Early Years and discovered that the only requirement for risk assessments of the nursery is an annual review. Nurseries can choose to check playgrounds monthly for hazards and that is quite acceptable. I was under the impression that there would be a requirement to check playgrounds daily but apparently not.

Would you be reassured by that, and have you ever asked a nursery how often they carry out checks? If you have asked, what was the response?

Nurseries that rely on a lot of agency temps tend not to be good ones anyway.

RitaMorgan is correct there!

Redglow, Have you ever thought that Ofsted didnt follow up your complaint because it was unfounded? The fact that you were a temp and that, with all due respect, you do not even know that Nurseries are not inspected yearly might lead one to conclude that possibly you are not the font of all knowledge on the subject of childcare.

While I would not stop parents from 'popping in' to see thier children, we would not be happy if it continued more than a couple of times. The child at the nursery could become unsettled seeing parents at random times of the day and as well as that it smacks of a total lack of trust in the carer-parent relationship. If you felt it necessary to continue doing this at my Nurseries, I would politely request that if you really felt the need to keep checking up on us, you take your children elsewhere or look after them yourself. We operate a system where parents are given the code for the front door, so they can come in at any time to pick up or drop off, we have nothing to hide. This is totally different from what you are suggesting you would do.

I did not say that I was the font of all knowledge on childcare.

I have got many years of experience of working with children and I know what is right and wrong.

I also see a completely change of personality of staff when the parents turn up. Its disgusting that nurseries only get inspected once every four years, once they have been and gone thats it for another few years when all sorts can happen.

If ofsted thought my complaints were unfounded then ofsted rateing means nothing.

I think parents should be able to check on their children as often as it takes to make them feel secure about the care their child is receiving although as a parent I would be inclined to change nurseries if I felt the need to continue this after the first weeks. Redglow - if you felt their was need to complain to Ofsted then they should have taken you seriously and at least let you know if the complaint was not going to be followed up for some reason. I would be inclined to ring again and ask about it.

It was about six months ago menopause yes you are right I should follow it up. Yes I did not mean I would pop in every hour maybe pick up early a few times. I suppose the children at the nursery were not in any danger just the staff had no interest, threw the dinner across the table , did not help with feeding and then used the same dirty flannel to wash their faces.

If you were complaining to Ofsted then the one to stress there would be the dirty facecloth as its a specific thing breaking a particular rule. I'm sure you would agree that staff attitude is much harder to legislate for even though it is so damaging for the children. Sometimes it's difficult to put your finger on exactly what the problem is because it seems like 'everything'. I think you did right to complain, maybe if someone else also complains about the same problems then it will be seen to be worth following up.

Yes I did mention this, they never got back to me. It was the whole attitude at this awful nursery, in fact a lot of the nurseries I have temped in I would not leave my child there.

I have worked in pre schools and they seem so much better even though they might be in scruffy halls at least not all the workers are teenagers talking about their love lifes. Also did not mind mums popping back unlike boomyboy who would ask you to leave if you did it too often.

Funny, you sound like me. I too prefer pre-schools. I know there are many fantastic nursery nurses in nurseries but for many their working conditions can be awful, they work long hours on minimum pay with minimum holidays and often get asked to take work home with them such as record keeping books and planning. Pre-schools seem to attract people who enjoy working with the children and who have lots of common sense. I think the difference is that most nurseries are businesses where they have to make a profit whereas most playgroups are run as charities. Please don't everyone tell me there are good nurseries and poor pre-schools - I am generalising here.

I too find PreSchools (loved it when they were called Playschools) a much better option.

I once worked in one where the staff were wonderful with the children and the mothers/carers were positively encouraged to make sure their child was happy and settled before leaving them. This usually only took a few sessions and not at all for some children.

It was a very happy positive place for both children and staff.

I've seen too many nurseries where the management seem just interested in the money and the staff are demoralised and worst of all the children welfare seems not to matter but I will concede that there are some better than others.

I honestly believe that for children under PreSchool age homecare; whether it be with a nanny, childminder or mum is the right option.

Glad I did not leave my child at your nursery boomyboy. You sound very harsh towards the parents clearly you look as your nursery as a business like a lot of other nurseries. That is why lots of people are using childminders. I am a teacher and I agree ofsted means nothing in schools or nurseries.

I am sure that there are many good nurseries out there but a much closer eye should be kept on them.

Nurseries as businesses- the very idea