(Spin off from other thread I don't want to derail.)
How can we make nurseries better, or keep standards up in already great nurseries?
On another thread somebody mentioned that they felt American mums were more willing to monitor and then share opinions about quality of their daycare settings, and that it's something we don't do here nearly as much. British unwillingness to complain? A parent might see bad staff behaviour X and assume it's a one off or that it's actually reasonable behaviour. If they were to talk to other parents about it more they might agree that actually it was bad behaviour, or discover that everybody else has seen it going on and it wasn't a one off. Parents' committees are great but take time and effort and may seem scary. Also, a poor nursery would never encourage them. There are review sites, but even the one I linked to from the Daycare Trust(important charity) had only one review for the hundred nurseries nearest me. It was a 5 star review for a nursery who failed their ofsted inspection last year. A Facebook page would be good. Everybody uses Facebook, but a nursery run page could delete all perceived criticism like Netmums do on their site. A parent could set one up, but parents leave eventually and they could censor everything as well.
The Tiggy Solution:
Independently run Facebook pages for every nursery in the country. The scheme would be set up by a trusted third part such as the Daycare trust or Mumsnet. Say the scheme is called "Nursery Watch". The pages would be titled "Nursery Watch - Happy Leopards Nursery Hull", or some other way of making them easily searchable but identifiable from any other similar page.
The pages would be used a lot by the nursery themselves. News and information would be posted by them in the same way they would post on their own page. BUT if a parent saw something they thought was wrong, only 2 staff in the toddler room of 10 children for example, they could post asking why without being deleted by the nursery. The nursery would have to explain themselves.
Parents could discuss things that concern or interest them. From the use of battery eggs in the food, to suggesting the nursery supply the nappies (With slight fee increase), or the way the children are kept in a corner of the room from 5:30 while the floor is mopped.
It would also be possible for whistle-blowers to post. I work in lots of nurseries that have "secret policies". Things they do that they would rather the parents not find out about. A nursery I work in has stopped using nice soft baby wipes and instead use 'blue roll', a hard hand drying paper towel type thing. The same nursery has only a few bibs and don't want to spend money on more. The little babies get those and the younger toddlers have to go without so that on custard days that means all the children have to have a full change of clothes. Under my system a member of staff could make and anonymous Facebook account and post that they don't like the "no bib" policy for the younger toddlers.
You could say that the anonymity of Facebook could lead to a lot of malicious comments. Yes it could. But so can just spreading rumours by word of mouth. At least on Facebook there is hard evidence of malicious comment which could lead to prosecution of people making stuff up.
There could be bullying of staff with "She's just not caring" or "I don't want a man changing my child's nappies". Yup. Happens in real life, but once again at least it would be out in the open for other parents to tell them they're being stupid, or for legal action to happen.
Paying for it?
There would have to be some kind of moderation, and the sites would need setting up. A bit of sponsorship from companies could help. A grant or 2. The government might help if he scheme worked well in trials. Is there some way of selling advert space on Facebook? Not my area but I don't think the problems would be insurmountable.
Anyway, would it work? Comments please!