Traffic light reward system at nursery for 2 year old!

[Dixierose2]

Hi all... this is my first ever post so here goes!

So my little girl attends a nurerry 4 days a week and it happens to be a nurery which work at also. ( I have recently handed in my notice)
She is only 2 and 3 months old and is in the toddler room. They have a traffic light system for the reward chart and red is when they have to 'reflect' now my girl doesnt even know her colours yet and her picture has been on the red on a few times now not for anything major but I just dont seem how this is fair on such a young age. When she is asked to move her picture on to the red or green she puts it anywhere as she doesnt understand it so it seems pointless. I don't like how her picture is on it so everyone can see it and I feel it is so strict for 2 years old..why csnt they just be little for a little bit longer. Am I being unreasonable to thinking this? I am looking at pulling her out because 1 I am leaving and 2 I dont trust the place when I'm not there as I have had so many problems there. Is this type of reward system normal at other settings? Makes me feel sad to know shes been on the red every day this week... thanks all x

YANBU. It's ridiculous.

Completely daft given she doesn’t understand colours. It would be ok if for over 4 year olds though!

I work with children. That is stupid.

It’s ridiculous.

But, to be fair, you’re going to get ridiculous things like this when we’re already in a situation where it’s considered child abuse to use the word "naughty" and adults are obliged to over-praise children for every little thing they do. "Yay, good job! Good breathing!"

If you work there surely you knew about this before you put in her the nursery?

You have data protection rights over how your child's image is used within the setting. All you need do is write to withdraw your consent for her picture to be used in this way.

It rather sounds like you have multiple reasons to pull her out, but don’t want to rock the boat while you’re still working there.

No, that’s not normal
It’s a very damaging way of behaviour management and completely inappropriate for 2 year olds
You absolutely can ask that her image is not used in that way

"If you work there surely you knew about this before you put her in the nursery?"

It’s much more serious that that. Alongside this particular issue, the OP has enough concerns to pull her out. Whatever they’re doing, she doesn’t trust them with her child when she isn’t there.

But it’s not just her child, is it? What about the other children whose parents don’t get to see behind closed doors?

The OP has a moral, professional and legal duty to raise all these concerns with her manager and report them to Ofsted under the compulsory whistleblowing protocols.

Awful.
Not okay even if they’re 4.
My DS has had real trouble with this in his primary school. Never off the green but terrified to breathe for fear of the Amber Card. Has a better teacher now in year 3 who doesn’t seem to rely on it. Older DD finds it all ridiculous and notices that it’s the ‘same people on the red card and nothing changes’ - lazy behaviour support (or lack of) touted as the gold standard. Sheer incompetence.

Okay so when I first went for the job I honestly thought it was a good nursery but the more I spent time and the other my girl got little things would bug me. I didn't know they used the traffic light system in the toddler room and to be honest being a first time mum I didn't know what was right and what wasn't. I have been to the managers lots of times about issues and have reported staff for being inappropriate and almost upsetting a child on purpose, the managers have told me this has been dealt with and I havent heard anything since I just feel that it is so strict with routine and the children are not allowed to be children and are put on this stupid red because they are not joining in with dancing as they are bored doing the same thing over and over 10 times a week. Because I am leaving they are not treating me very nicely as I am leaving them in the 'shit'very bitchy and very young mangers who neither are parents. The senior managers is a bully so it's easier said then done. It's all school readiness and pre school redieness to tick boxes for ofsted. I cant believe its outstanding because it doesnt seem it. Just really hard and knowing what to do for the best all I know is that its affecting my little girl and we are seeing behaviours at home, the 2 girls she was close to have been taken out the room and knowome has told me and I dont even know who her keyperson is. I just want what best.

Just to add we both started there at the same time I couldn't go back to my old job at a childrens home as I couldn't leave her overnight as was breastfeeding to picked a nursery job. We got 50 % off childcare so that's what was trapping me and she was settled there and it was great till she left baby room.

Talk about public shaming. Luckily she is not old enough to understand this reward system. Stickers as rewards are great sanctions in one so young are wrong. School ready is knowing their name being confident, accessing the room and toys, having a curiosity about the world, feeding themselves, using the toilet etc. The inspection framework was changed as of September this year. I very much doubt this is outstanding practice. I hate traffic light systems it shows a lack of skills from staff and a lack of understanding children's behaviour and development. As for not joining in, no setting should be forcing activities on any child. I am all for working through issues with nurseries but this is beyond working through in my opinion.