Leaving nursery

[Mrmrita]

Hi everyone, my 2 years son started nursery two weeks ago. He was happy at the induction day and day after (3 hrs) but after that he was upset and getting worse every time I take him. Today he cried a lot didn’t want to go I only left him for two hours and drop in earlier than usual. When I entered he was sitting on chair alone with nothing to play with just looking at his hands. The moment he saw me he gave a small upset cry and show me his finger while I gave him hug. As I left I remembered him showing me his finger and asked him if he’s hurt without pointing to any thing and he showed me the same fingers. He doesn’t speak and so he can’t explain what’s going on. I regret not asking why he was sitting on that chair alone with nothing and didn’t ask him about his fingers inside.

I always come for my son on time and see him playing even if sitting on chair but today I came earlier and he was there alone which makes me wonder if he sits like that every time he’s there and only given toys when it’s time to take him. Maybe I’m overreacting or overthinking. But what do think as this is my first child and first nursery experience for me.

Also,
My son is on the government free 15 hrs childcare and so I would like to know if I decided to leave nursery before giving the four week notice do I need to pay any money. In contract they asked for four week notice but I don’t know how it works with the free 15hrs. If someone know it would be much appreciated to explain how does it work.

Thanks

How old is your child? Is he told enough to get toys himself?

Sorry old

Literally the top line says he is two years old

I'd speak to nursery first. A neurotypical child should be helping himself to toys without prompting.
Ask them what's going on and how he's settling in and if they have concerns.
Give them a chance.

@Geneva1995eneva1985 He is 2 years old

We have an empty table at times when clearing for/after snack time children often sit there while we’re in the process of resetting.
What do you mean by alone? Alone at the table or alone in the room as in no other adults or children?

@negomi90 the first day when I went to take him he was playing with toys but that was in the agreed time (the end of the 3hrs). However when I came earlier today he was there sitting doing nothing and when he saw me he cried and show me his hand while crying. I did not think about it until I left as he wanted to leave quickly. I don’t know if I should make him stay less than 3 hrs or pop in different time to see what’s going on.

You really won’t know anything until you speak to the staff.

@Fookinwot yes alone at the table. Some kids were sleeping with one of the workers sitting next to them, and one child was awake with one of the workers holding him because he was crying but sitting far from my son.

@Fookinwot that’s true I will as soon as possible as I feel really upset about it. Even the fact he was showing me his hand and say “bo bo” make me feel even worse.

If you know about the four weeks notice (second part of my thread) can you please let me know

The notice period question is a little complicated, and varies from place to place. It will, to some degree, vary according to what the contract says.

You should not have to pay them for any hours that would have been covered by funding (ie the "free" hours.) You will be liable for some or all of anything you would normally pay for as 'additional services': that’s if you normally pay for meals, outings, extra classes, or extra hours on top of the "free" 15 hours. You might be entitled to pay only part of that as, under the Consumer Act 2015, they are on legally entitled to bill you for any direct losses after they have made a reasonable effort to mitigate their loss. So they should not charge you if they can fill the place within that time, or if they don’t bother to try. And they can’t claim for four weeks of meals if they only buy in food on a weekly basis.

The funding (15 "free" hours) varies from place to place. Some local authorities would require the nursery to refund the funding money to them. Others take the opposite approach, so the funding would stay with the original nursery for the remainder of the term. In the latter case, that means you won’t be able to claim your hours elsewhere.

But I do think you should consider the situation. You turned up early once and found him seated on a chair, unhappy. Not a nice thing when it happens, but it’s a huge leap of unreason to conclude that he does nothing all day, every day, and the staff just rush to look busy at collection time.

I agree with others that you need to speak with them and give them a chance.

A lot of things may have happened and all of them speculation. Had something happened between your son and the child crying? Had they just been clearing up after snack time and stopped to comfort a child before getting toys out? Were they about to go outside so just tidied up? It’s quite likely you caught a transition phase of the morning and the staff had got caught up for a moment. The best thing to do is chat to them and ask. It’s very unlikely your son has nothing to do all session.

Children take a while to settle and he may be a little withdrawn at the moment as he susses things out. Give it a chance but do keep an eye on things.