Accident at the nursery

[VaidaZ]

Hi ladies, I need some advice please.
I collected my DD from the nursery on Friday and noticed she had a plaster on her finger. I was told she had a minor scrape. Got home and discovered she was missing half a nail! Half of the bed of the nail was exposed and looked swollen and red so we took her to the minor accidents’department to be looked at.
I phoned the nursery and the key worker couldn’t explain what happened except that it happened somewhere outside. I don’t know how but she thought that was the actual length of my DD’s nail and the blood was only coming from the scraped skin. Mind her other nails are much longer. I gather the accident wasn’t recorded either as we weren’t shown anything or asked to sign. The key worker is also a room leader and very experienced.
We were also told on the day that she ate all her lunch even though her top was pristinely clean(she typically refuses a bib, has two changes a day because her clothes get badly stained) and as soon as she sat in the car she demanded food. We typically have to bribe her into eating so when she says she’s hungry I know for a fact she’s not had food for a long time.
The nursery is rated outstanding and we’ve waited for the whole year to get in so I’m really trying to keep positive but it all sounds very odd. I don’t want to come onto them too strong as I’m weary that it may affect the quality of the care my daughter is receiving, but should I be asking more questions. Or am I overreacting?

A complaint or comment should never ever affect the standard of care. Accidents can and do happen and yes sometimes you don't see exactly what happened. However I would have expected an accident form. I would always write an accident form if I gave any type of 1st aid treatment. Including putting a plaster on a child. Sometimes children don't eat and there is not often facilities to offer something different however they should have been honest and said she didn't want to eat today. Maybe you could explain your concerns to the keyworker. What did minor accidents say regarding her finger. Depending on the age of you child she could be on a 1:8,1:4 or 1:3 ratio. No one adult can physically watch 8 children at the same time.

You definitely should have signed something.
Do they have CCTV that they could look on to see what happened. Definitely express your concerns to manager. Better done now before your concerns escalate.
Sometimes you genuinely don't see the exact point something happened but you should have an idea at least of what activity child was doing.

I don't work in a private nursery but a school one and we write notes for literally everything that requires medical attention. So a wound that required a dressing/plaster would definitely be recorded.
Definitely speak to them, it does sound as though someone hasn't followed the correct procedures, which in fairness can happen when the day is particularly busy or there is a staff shortage etc

We no longer sign accident forms (unless head injury), instead staff are asked to acknowledge on our computer system that they've informed the parent / cater at pick up.