Staff lied about a fall

[Gizzymum]

I have an 18mth old who has attended a nursery for the last 6mths. He was in the "baby" room until a recent incident sped up his transition to the next age group (he was in the process of being transitioned anyway).

He'd had 3 falls in 2 weeks, all of which resulted in bumps to his head. Due to the frequency I spoke to the staff involved to find out the reasons why. Two falls were explained and were understandable. For the third fall, the staff member gave me two different versions of events and told her manager a third version.

The fall itself doesn't hugely bother me - he climbs and runs and trips and I know staff can't watch him 100% of the time as it's a ratio of 1:3. It's the being lied to about the fall itself which is the problem.

As the girl worked in the "baby" room I said I didn't want her looking after him anymore and asked he was moved up to the next age group room sooner - he was moved up the next day. He's doing well in the next room, but I have a problem - I have a 4mth old who is due to start nursery next year and would be in the "baby" room to start with, with the girl I no longer trust.

What do I do? Do I move my eldest to a different nursery despite the fact he's settled in and has friends there? Do I leave my eldest there and put my youngest in a different nursery (which would be a pain)? Or any suggestions on how this girl can regain my trust - the nursery manager has no idea (and has retrained the girl, installed cctv in the area where the fall happened, etc)?

Hard to tell without knowing the versions. Was she neglecting him (chattingbto other staff and not paying attention)? Or was it a genuine mistake?

It could all be a fluke or it could be a red flag. Hard to know without details.

Version 1:
She didn't see him climb up and didn't know he could climb that well.
He climbed to the top
One of the other girls caught him so he only hit his head on the thing he'd climbed on rather than the floor.
She wasn't near enough to intervene so shouted his name to tell him to stop.
She nearly cried when she saw him fall.

Version 2:
She saw him climbing and knew he could climb that well
He only climbed partway up
"We" caught him
She was within arms reach and the manager was about 2m away

Version 3:
She saw him climb
He only climbed part way
No one caught him
She was about 2.5m away

The whole nursery was in the garden where the fall happened and the manager said no one saw what happened other than allegedly the girl in question.

Surely with version 1 'the other girl" who actually caught him could corroborate it?

Yep - but the girl is now sticking to version 3, and says there was no other girl. The manager has asked the rest of the staff and no one saw anything. So I was clearly lied to.

There's no way to find out what actually happened, but that's why I wondering what to do about moving nursery etc...

If he was climbing in the garden I assume it was on equipment that was meant for climbing? The trouble is kids develop so quickly and sometimes take you by surprise with things you didn't think they could do. I am not defending the lying but the girl was probably nervous of getting in trouble.

We all have those moments where we get distracted and perhaps don't watch as closely as we should. Unfortunately it happens in nurseries too and I should think the nursery nurse just didn't see it happen (or only part of it, hence the changing story). How is she otherwise? Is she good with the children generally? I think if you trust the other staff then you should give her another chance as changing nurseries (or using two) will be a lot of upheaval.

I work in a childcare setting. The lying is worse than lack of supervision (which as you say does happen occasionally due you only being able to look in one direction at a time).

How many other members of staff are in that room? If plenty, I'd be happy for my little one to go. If this woman is one of a very few - ie I'm relying on her - then I'd be much less happy.

@SheldonSaysSo It was a mud kitchen so not meant for climbing on. And I know he's a climber etc so as I said earlier, it's not so much about the fall as the fact she lied about what happened.

I've told the manager that if the girl even turned around and said she'd panicked etc I'd find it easier to forgive her as I'd feel she'd learnt something from the whole mess. However as she's sticking to version 3 I find it hard to believe she's learned anything.

In the "baby" room there's only usually 2 members of staff as it's a small nursery, so she would be one of the two (although she only works 3 days a week).

Have a similar dilemma with my DS nursery. My son came home with a scratched/cut eyelid and bruising. He fell and banged his head on a table. Is this acceptable? Or should I be concerned about lack of supervision?

I think it's acceptable as long as staff flagged it up to you, along with the appropriate paperwork for you to sign, and it doesn't happen often.

Accidents do happen at pre-school - lots of children, lots of excitement. But if it's a regular thing, that points to lack of supervision.

Lack of supervision happens sometimes, but not three times in two weeks, twice with a known climber. Any professional will be alert to the fact that children that age will try to climb whatever is available.

However the manager sounds good and has taken your concerns seriously. If this sort of behaviour continues, it's possible that the member of staff will no longer be there by the time your DD starts nursery. I would register her elsewhere as a Plan B and then wait to see what happens. I wouldn't be happy leaving DD with a carer who lies, TBH.

Do they have a nursery cam/cctv?

I had an incident with my DD having a serious fall and injury at nursery, and the manager then reviewed theCCTV to find out exactly what had happened.

The lying would upset me more than anything.

@Battenburg1978 they have cctv but not in the garden (although they have now put a camera there too). The manager has also now changed at nursery and two deputy managers have now stepped up to share the role.