Am I right to be concerned?

[questionsabout]

I've namechanged as some of this may make me quite identifiable.

I have had growing concerns about my dc's nursery lately. Firstly I found the quality of the food poor (vegetable fingers and baked beans regularly served, little non-dairy protein). Spoke to manager and didn't receive a satisfactory reply/action.

They recently fed my child a food which clearly caused a reaction, and which I had specifically told them not to give. I spoke to the manager and heard nothing. When I brought it up again, I was told to speak to the room leader, who was rather aggressive/defensive about the issue, and did not address my concerns in the slightest.

Recently I came to pick up dc early and found that there were 7 children (under 2) and only one staff member in the room. I had also never met this staff member before (she was not one of the staff in the room). I was concerned that the ratio of 3:1 was not being adhered to, and that the children did not have a familiar staff member in the room. Frequently at collection I notice that the ratios are quite off, usually at least one staff member down. Also there never seems to be any adult led activity, the children are usually just running around with minimal toys out.

Finally my child has been getting increasingly unhappy lately and distraught at drop off. I want to withdraw her from nursery but the provision where I live is particularly poor (either very expensive, rubbish, or both). Would I be right to withdraw my child from this nursery? I would need to travel quite a lot to find a decent one, but I'm thinking that needs to be done now?

definately take your dc out of nursery, its not worth it if she is unhappy and you dont know what may have been going on there. sounds like a really shitty nursery and the staff attitude sounds appalling to say the least. our children are our most precious possessions, dont put up with 2nd best. really hope you find somewhere better xx

I'm surprised you've still got her there after they ignored your instructions over the food causing a reaction!
Pull her out and give Ofsted a call.

Definitely leave. My son had a v unhappy experience at nursery & the best thing I ever did was pull him out. Was a nightmare logistically but that's my problem not his - & he is worth all the faffing about. Fwiw my son is v v happy in his new nursery & the difference in attitudes, activities & food is incredible. You're paying them, they're not doing you a favour - kick up, leave or both. Good luck.

Sounds v worrying. You are paying for them to look after your dearest so you must have full confidence in them. I would change

I really think that if you have an issue and the nursery does not address it satisfactorily, you are not going to be happy with them. And it sounds like you've had more than one issue with them that they haven't been able to reassure you about!

Take your child out and go elsewhere. I am an expereinced nursery nurse and this nursery dos not sound very good.
Here is hoe we deal with the issues you have raised to give you a comparision.
Food allergy- all staff are made aware of allergies. A large photo of the child witha brief description of the allergy is displayed in the room and the kitchen. The child will also have a care plan detailing what to do if the child has a reaction.
Staffing- the under 2's are always in ratio, with shifts arranged so that there are always extra staff at busy times- i.e drop-off and pick-up time so that staff can talk to parents without the children being unsupervised. We never use unfamiliar staff in the baby room. If we need to use agency staff we would take a member of staff from another room that is familiar with the babies and cover them with the agency. But, just because you didn't know the member of staff doesn't mean your child doesn't know them. They might be in the room alot, but you have just never meet the before. We have a couple of staff members that work 9.30-1.30 to cover lunches and they never get to meet the parents. However, there should be a staff photo board somewhere in the hallway or the room with all the staff and their names on.

Adult led activity- it is quite normal for childen to have free-choice from the toys and activities, with the adult not always directing play but they should not all be cleared awaybefore the children go home.

I had very similar issues with my daughter's nursery and I pulled her out. I spoke at length to both the nursery manager and owner abut their problems as I saw them and they said they instigated changes to policy which would mean I might re-join. I haven't. Daughter is v v happy in new nursery. By chance I started speaking to a mum this week who has her child at my old nursery and when I said that I had left because I was unhappy about certain issues the floodgates opened and she ranted for ages about how awful they were. She thought she was being over-protective but having spoken to me she felt better about removing her child immediately.

Please don't just go elsewhere. Think of the other kids too and call OFSTED. They will be very interested.