How do I complain politely, without ruining good relationship?

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

10mo DS goes to a wonderful nursery. The staff are lovely. He's settled really well. He grins and waves his arms and legs as soon as we get out of the car each morning and he sees the building. He crawls off to 'play with his friends' as soon as I put him down and barely looks back when I leave. In short, we're really impressed and don't want to damage the really good relationship we have with the staff (in particular, the two women who usually work in the baby room)

But... I've noticed that most mornings when I drop him off there are four babies in the room and only one member of staff. The ratio should be 1:3 shouldn't it? The manager is usually nearby and sometimes in the room, but there is usually only the one woman actually with DS and his peers. By the time I pick up, there are usually two members of staff and, ironically, less babies.

I know I have to complain, and I'm usually very assertive, but I just haven't worked out how to bring this up. Any ideas?

You don't have to complain, you could just ask the manager about the ratio in the mornings. It doesn't have to be confrontational.

It may be that the manager covers busy rooms before another staff member comes in.
Day nurseries are generally open from 7.30/7.45-6/6.30. Surely you don't expect all nursery staff to work what could be an 11 hour day? Some work an early shift, and some work later shifts, that way as children arrive, so do the staff to look after them.
Also, are there 4 babies including yours? If so, they were within ratio until you arrived, and clearly the manager is available to step in as you leave.

The manager will be counted in the ratios. I don't see what there is to complain about.

Maybe I wasn't clear. On the days the manager is in there I am happy that the ratios are fine. It's the days when she waves from the top of the stairs or the room next door (or that I don't see her at all) that I have a problem with. I totally understand that staff patterns change & I don't mind which members of staff are with him (he loves them all ), but I do think that for ore-walking children (who couldn't get themselves out in an emergency) the small ratio is necessary. Plus, we (& all the other parents pay for a 7.30-6.00 day. Whether we choose to use all that time or not, we have paid for it so surely the provision should be there if we need it?

What time do you drop off? You might find that waiting even 5 minutes later another staff member will arrive. In the mornings, if taking an extra child means we're out of ratio, the logical solution is to ask the parent to stay with their child until another staff member starts their shift, would you be happy to do that? Just be prepared for those to come up as solutions to your concerns.

Ratios are per buildidng aarent they? Not per room

It might be that the manager asks another member of staff to cover in the baby room when they have more than 3 babies. But she might not do this until after you have left- by waving she is at least aware you have arrived. That's what happens at my nursery. we have enough staff to cover the children that arrive but they are spread out over the whole setting.
Wages bills are the biggest outgoings for a nursery and if they had to pay extra staff then the fees would go up. The start times are usually staggered as it is very unpredictable when children will arrive and leave.

I think if you are otherwise very happy with things you have to trust the nursery manager to use her staff as she sees fit. Under the new EYFS guidelines from september the manager has the ability to deploy staff across the setting as they feel best as long as ratios across the whole building are correct. First thing there might be a few setting up, restocking duties to be done or they might be due to start very shortly after you drop off. The manager or other member of staff probably is checking frequently if a staff member has to be left on their own.
I work in a nursery, but with much older children and we deploy staff to meet the childrens needs rather than to prescribed ratios. This means we often have more staff than strictly necessary in the room but on other occaisons we may have less if they are needed to support a child elsewhere for a short while. Ofcourse across the setting all together we have more than enough to cover ratios. It's about using common sense and meeting childrens needs. With regards to evacuation, ask to see their policy to set your mind at rest

Right, so basically I should stop panicking?