obsessing about overheard comment - i think this is serious

[vitomum]

would really appreciate your thoughts on this. this is what happened. i was picking ds up from the nursery and let myself in through the security door (only entrance in / out and parents type in a 4 digit code to access). there was a man obviously on his way out as i went in and he was with one of the nursery girls. Just behind them was the manager. A few moments later i heard the manager say to the girl "how did that man get in?" !!!! I went and got ds but was distracted by the fact that he had an infected ear and got wrapped up in phoning the doctor etc. Now i am back home i am utterly obsessed. That comment suggests to me that he was not a parent and shouldn't have been there. I think he probably got access because parents often hold the door open for each other, and probably presume anyone at the door is a parent (I have already suggested a sign asking parents not to do this as what then is the point of a security entry system). Anyway, i have decided i am going to speak to the manager tomorrow, tell her what i overheard and ask what course of action they are taking. What do you think i should exepct? i was thinking that if she has no explaination for who he was and why he was there then it should be reported to the police (surely that is predatory behaviour??) i also think they should take immediate steps to enhance security. I kind of hope i am over-reacting but suspect i am not. I can feel my blood running cold at the thought of someone dodgy in the vicinity of ds and don't want to leave him there tomorrow. any comments appreciated

Exactly, brownie. It's got to be worth a wait, even in the rain, to know that your child is safe?

Amen! Safety of the children is paramount - not how long parents have to wait - or ease of access for busy people ffs - I am a working Mum, but would rather be late for work quite frankly. My sons nursery is wonderful, and I for one relish the security measures they have in place.

x

thanks brownie. the nursery probably thinks hi tech is the way to go but i am with you. it's good for me to hear about systems elsewhere. i think even if there is an innocent explaination about the incident today i am going to vigorously pursue a change in security policy.

Just wanted to agree with all the comments. I have run a nursery for the last 7 years and have never heard of such a system for entry. It is totally insecure (sorry to scare you). The only way I could see a code like that work is if it was changed almost daily (not practical). No-one should be able to gain access to the children without a member of staff letting them in.

At my nrusery we are also low tech. One door - one doorbell - and noone gets in if not recognised by a staff memebr. The door has a glass panel and if a staff memeber goes to answer it and doesn't recognise the person on the otherside, she does not open the door and gets the manager who will check to see who they are.

when dd was at nursery you opened the gate and were in the front play area and then you had to ring to get in the door to reception. I remember one day some of the kids and carers were outside playing and i was going to pick dd up, anyway this young bloke was walking ahead of me (there is only the nursery and community centre which was shut up this road) I watched him and he went into the nursery gates and headed to the door (one of the carers stopped him to see what he wanted) I had kept my beady eyes on him turns out he was applying for a job there

well i spoke to the manager today. she confirmed that the man was not a parent but was exepcted. however, he had not been let in by staff as a partent had held the door for him! this proves my point i feel. i had a discussion with her about what i wanted to see, ie. a staff member with responsibility for the door. she initially said there were cost implications in this but i said that i was aware that many other nurseries had such a system and managed it within their resources (so thanks everyone for giving me the info to be able to make that statement). She has agreed to talk to the owner and there is going to be something in the newsletter. i am not going to let this lie however i will continue to push. i don't want to change at this stage as i am happy with it in many other ways. I chose that nursery cos i had a lot of recommendations for it. also the staff turnover is very low. THe manager and depute have been there 12 and 10 years. In ds's room half the staff have been there at least 5 years. No staff have left since he started and i have never seen agnecy staff there. i think that all speaks volumes. I looked up the care commission inspection and they were graded 'good' for security. the building does not really lend itself to lurking as the communal area is quite cramped with rooms straight off it. anyway, i am reassured to an extent but will continue to push for changes. Thanks everyone for your info which gave me the knowledge and confidence to form my position and press for chnage.