Am I justified in being really annoyed with nursery today?

[Siennasun]

Background: DS is nearly 2 and has been in nursery for just over a year, 2 days per week. He usually cries when he's dropped off but staff say he's fine after 5 minutes and he's happy when I pick him up.

He moved rooms at start of September so has been in new room about 6 weeks. All children have a peg with their photo on. Despite me asking about it for the last couple of weeks, he still doesn't have his own peg.

Usually someone will greet him and cuddle him/distract him while I leave. This morning he was wailing and clinging to my legs as I took off his coat and hung up his stuff on a random peg. It was quite early so several members of staff and only 4-5 kids in the room. No one even greeted him, let alone attempted to comfort him I don't think any of the staff in his room this morning knew his name.

When I picked him up this afternoon I asked to take home his Learning Journey. I've been looking through it this evening. The most recent observation was 1 September and was written by his previous key worker. There hasn't been anything added since he moved rooms.
I'm not sure how regularly observations are supposed to be done, but I'd expect something to be done in 6 weeks?

I'm thinking about asking for a meeting with the manager to talk about these issues. To be fair to them, this morning is not typical and they are usually more caring but I really feel that it's not acceptable to ignore a distressed toddler, even as a one off. I'd appreciate any opinions, especially from anyone who works in a nursery.

You are completely justified. Numerous parts of your comment are inappropriate on the nursery's part. Not comforting your child is a red flag that either the staff are uncaring, negligent, or not trained properly. Not having a peg and photo for him despite your asking for weeks is really inappropriate, he should have a space for his belongings that he becomes familiar with.

You are within your rights to request a meeting with the manager, and if the manager does not respond well to your concerns and make immediate changes, then you should take your child out of that nursery.

Observations are meant to be carried out weekly, children in most settings should get one per week, more if they are in full time.

However... And I'm talking from experience as I am a nursery practitioner... Writing the observations and filing them is a whole different matter! It's never as quick as grabbing their folder and putting it in when you have 15 toddlers running around, your key worker possibly has her observations written up and on a clipboard that she keeps with her and just hasn't had chance to update to the folders. It's still something to mention however, especially since you had asked to take it home, we would have ensured it had its most up to date obs in!

The peg thing is unfair, especially if your LO is clingy, it gives them some familiarity when they get to nursery which they need.

And unwelcoming staff annoys me hugely, but you do say that isn't the norm - still something to mention.

I would have a chat with the manager, better to explain your concerns and get it dealt with than to let it carry on and potentially become worse!

Yes you are justified

Observations should be done weekly and him not being greeted is terrible and must have been upsetting for you both

Sometimes things like the peg photo don't get done as quickly as they should when staff are putting children's needs first but it doesn't sound like your nursery are

Thanks for all your replies.
His key worker was in when I dropped him off yesterday. She came over straight away and he stopped crying when she took him.
I asked (again) about the peg. She said she had done it for his first day but the picture must have come off so she's going to do it again.
I didn't mention the learning journey but she brought it up. She said basically what Chelsbells said, that she's got lots of stuff but it hasn't been put into his folder yet.
DS obviously likes his key worker and I generally feel happier about the nursery so I didn't ask to talk to manager but I definitely will if he ever gets ignored again at drop off. Thanks for letting me know I wasn't being over sensitive!!