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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

Nursery not ready at opening time

23 replies

MintSource · 23/02/2016 14:24

Our nursery is generally pretty good but more and more frequently they are not ready at opening time (7.30am). I don't know if this is because they are just inept, poorly managed or whether the staff literally arrive at 7.30 as they are not paid from an earlier time.

The net result is that we are getting to work later and DS is getting upset and confused because we have to hang around waiting for staff to arrive and/or set up to be able to take him. There are usually at least 3-4 little ones arriving at the same time, so it's not just us.

I complained to the manager about a month ago and they were red hot on it for about a week then OK for another week and now it's slipping again.

I know they would be quick to charge any parent who was late to pick up at the end of the day, so surely they should be set up and ready to go from 7.30am if that's the advertised opening time?

WWYD?

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StringTheory · 23/02/2016 14:27

I would talk to the manager again about your concerns and you don't feel like they are being addressed take it to Ofsted.

NickNacks · 23/02/2016 14:30

It's not a matter for OFSTED.

Agree speak to the manager and if necessary put it in writing. Ask their complaints procedure and details of the owner if it doesn't get resolved.

soapboxqueen · 23/02/2016 14:37

You need to approach it like any other paid for service. Keep making your complaints to the management, if this solves it great, if not then find another nursery.

HSMMaCM · 23/02/2016 17:09

Ofsted won't be interested, but when they next inspect they will look at parent complaints and how they have been handled.

What do they do if you try and leave your DC with them at 7:30?

shutupandshop · 23/02/2016 17:19

If staff are there, why can't tou just leave him?

insancerre · 23/02/2016 17:22

Is it actually the manage who is on the early shift?
If it isn't then they probably have no idea that things are not quite right in the morning, so you will need to keep complaining
But, just make sure your watch\ clock is accurate and you are not arriving before 7.30, even by a couple of minutes
You are probably right in that the staff probably only get paid from 7.30. Who wants to work for free?
How much setting up, getting ready is there to do though?
Can you not just hand your child over and leave?

TiggyD · 23/02/2016 19:39

Sounds like the nursery I'm in right now. (Although I'm not permanent staff).

Could well be that the staff aren't paid until 7:30. That's a really common issue. As is staff being paid until closing time and no later, even if parents insist on coming a minute before closing time and wanting a 5 minute chat, and even if they have to stay on until the room is tidy. This results in the room being left with jobs needing doing at night that have to be done in the morning.

Original poster

MintSource · 24/02/2016 08:32

Thanks for the responses. In answer to the questions....

We are careful not to arrive before or bang on 07.30 - we would not even expect to get into the building if we were early.

A typical scenario when we arrive at say, 745, is that there is one person in the office. There is one overall manager and two deputies, so I would expect whoever opens up and mans the office to have an idea of which staff are in and when and know they have to redirect parents if there is no one there to help but that never happens.

We often get to his room and find no one there. We turn the lights on, take the chairs down and wait. Sometimes, they have done that but only just and then need to disappear straight away to get the breakfast trolley. So it's not possible to just drop and run.

It's not the end of the world if we are running later on the odd morning but it's not great for DS who gets upset if we are there longer and then have to go. It's also now happening on about three days out of five.

It's not just him/us - there are several others who come at the same time. Those parents are fed up, too. Often, we have to leave him with one stressed member of staff who then has three crying toddlers. It just all makes mornings that much more stressful for everyone.

OP posts:

PennyHasNoSurname · 24/02/2016 08:35

Take him into the office and say goodbye in there? Maybe that will.spur them on

Frazzled2207 · 24/02/2016 08:41

You need to complain. Ours open at 7 and I know that lots of staff including one manager are rostered to arrive at 6.45 so by 7 it's all ready.

Original poster

MintSource · 24/02/2016 08:51

Take him into the office and say goodbye in there?

Why didn't I think of this?!

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moanwhingemoan · 26/02/2016 07:36

Are you sure they are not all supposed to be in another room? If not that is awful. Not on at all.

winchester1 · 26/02/2016 07:47

We've arrived to just the cleaner before now, I just leave the kids and go - she is an adult, they and we know her, its never occured to me to check the room is set up, or people are 'ready' for them tbh.

Original poster

MintSource · 26/02/2016 12:53

No chance that we have the wrong room. He's been going there for around eight months but this has only started happening in the last month or so.

It's not really possible to drop and run, winchester. DS is too little and usually when this happens, there just isn't anyone around other than in the office or, if they are there, they are running in and out sorting breakfast, so I'd be leaving him on his own or dumping him on other parents.

Had a mixed week - about two dodgy mornings this week but they are moving rooms around at the moment so will wait for it to settle down and hope next week is better.

Thanks for all the responses. Good to know I am not BU.

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littleducks · 26/02/2016 12:58

I think you shoukd stay arriving at 7.30. If you are arriving at 7.45 and they're still faffing about. You might be less delayed and it should make it clear that you need them ready.

Peppapogstillonaloop · 26/02/2016 12:58

That is really poor service. I would complain an complain until it is sorted and get other parents to do the same. You are paying for him to be in nursery from 7.30 they should be there set up and welcoming with open arms. You are being way too accommodating already, get complaining!

mudandmayhem01 · 26/02/2016 13:04

Next time your bill arrives, deduct the same amount as they would charge you for being late at the end of the day!

littleducks · 26/02/2016 13:07

Bother, start arriving at 7.30. If a staff menber is running in and out call then and physically hand him over.

If you feel awkward doing this say "I'm sorry but I can't keep being late for work or ill lose my job" as you pass him over.

Finola1step · 26/02/2016 13:13

I think in this situation, money talks. Send an email to the manager reiterating the problem. Then state that as from Monday, any early morning lateness will be noted and subsequent, will be deducted from your monthly payment. I suspect this will sort out the problem.

FineAsWeAre · 15/03/2016 11:10

I work in a setting and whilst I won't work without pay either, I ensure I am in the building 10 minutes before my shift starts so I can be in the room on time for when parents and children start to arrive. I agree with previous responses. If the setting is open to your child at 7:30, I would expect them to be able to take children at that time. Yes they may still need to set up activities etc but there should be more than one member of staff so someone else should get breakfast if need be. I would arrive at just after 7:30, collar whichever member of staff is about and say "I'm sorry, I can't wait any longer, I need to go to work." then leave before they can protest. If that doesn't work, Finola's suggestion should put a rocket up them :)

Primaryteach87 · 26/03/2016 16:24

I think it's probably a case of nursery not paying enough staff, early enough.

It's not right though. My lo starts at nursery at 1pm. I get to the nursery bang on 1pm and expect them to be ready for him (they always are). I don't see why it should be any different for you just because it's earlier.

Perhaps ask for a meeting with the manager and ask her to explain how she organises the staffing.

Peasandsweetcorn · 26/03/2016 16:36

Our nursery is open from 8am but you can pay a supplement & drop off from 7.30am. If you take advantage of that, the DC all get dropped off in one room with a couple of members of staff & then get taken through to their proper room just before 8am. That means that only one room needs to be ready for 7.30am & the rest for 8am. I've never had an issue with them not being ready and wouldn't expect to.

SofiaAmes · 26/03/2016 16:49

I would find another nursery. It doesn't seem like this one is all that interested in doing their job correctly and that doesn't bode well for them doing a responsible job of looking after your child during the day.

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