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Original poster

Paying for broken window at nurery

153 replies

pauamcg · 25/01/2008 19:03

Hi I would appreciate your views/advice please.

My 4 year old son broke a window at his nursery last week by throwing a train across the room. I believe he was having a bit of a tantrum, but he didn't aim purposely at the window.

When the manager called me to tell me what had happened I questioned whether she expected me to pay for the replacement glass but she said 'No, don't be silly'. When my husband went to pick my son up (before speaking to me) he offered to pay 50% of the cost (mainly because he was embarrassed our son had been naughty) and the manager said 'we'll see'.

Well today we have received an invoice for 50% of the replacement cost.

Do you think I should have to pay this ?
Wouldn't the nursery be able to claim off their insurance ?

Its not really the amount of money & I don't want to fall out with the nursery, its just the principle that I feel that I pay then large enough fees anyway, that I shouldn't really have to pay. my 4 year old was in their care when the accident happened.

My other concern is - shouldn't the window has been fitted with some sort of safety glass so that it shouldn't have broken so easily and put the children at risk ?? Does Ofsted have any guidelines ??

Sorry this has turned out to be a long post, but any views or advice gratefully received.

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ChristmasShinySnowflakes · 27/01/2008 13:19

Glad I'm not the only one to think so Desi and I could be wrong but I think that Bobbysmum owns a nursery

bobbysmum07 · 27/01/2008 13:19

Are you kidding me?

This 4 year old child will be at school in a couple of months. What if he does it there? What if he throws something at another child's head? If he threw a toy train hard enough to break a window, he could certainly throw a toy train hard enough to crack another child's skull.

These parents should pay for that window for one reason and one reason alone.

Because it's the right thing to do.

If you can't see that, that's your problem.

RubySlippers · 27/01/2008 13:19

it isn't appalling behaviour for a 4 year old to throw a toy and he should not be asked to leave

if nurseries routinely did this, then they would all be empty

my more pressing question for the nursery would be why they don't have toughened glass

i don't think you should have offered to pay, and i don't think nursery should have accepted the offer either so "fault" on both sides

their insurance should certainly cover it though

ChristmasShinySnowflakes · 27/01/2008 13:21

I'm sure he didn't AIM it at the window. Children throw things, he could have showed his frustration at whatever was going on by walloping another child. But he didn't, he threw something. No big deal IMO. He is after all a child

NKF · 27/01/2008 13:21

Why offer to pay and then get cross when you're billed? They might be trying to keep their excess bill down. You can probably refuse but you offered.

RubySlippers · 27/01/2008 13:22

it isn't the right thing for the parent Bobbysmum

the nursery has insurance - it was an accident

Desiderata · 27/01/2008 13:22

Jeez, what do your mates call you? The obersturmbahnfuhrer?

bobbysmum07 · 27/01/2008 13:22

Most 4 year olds do not throw toys across the room. Some 2 year olds do, but not many.

Never hard enough to break a window.

NKF · 27/01/2008 13:23

Toughened glass should be there.

RubySlippers · 27/01/2008 13:23

then the glass broke because they didn;t have adequately toughened glass, as nurseries are required to

TheBlonde · 27/01/2008 13:24

I'm with micegg - don't pay

ChristmasShinySnowflakes · 27/01/2008 13:24

If you were found to ask a child to leave on the basis of throwing a toy Ofsted would certainly have strong words with you!

That would NOT be an example of a good nursery IMO

bobbysmum07 · 27/01/2008 13:26

Nurseries aren't required to have toughened glass. Except on patio doors.

Would you take the same stance if the child was in a Reception class at school? Or if the toy train hit YOUR child in the head and killed it?

ChristmasShinySnowflakes · 27/01/2008 13:27

Please tell me that you don't run a nursery?

This was a one off incident.
This child is not ( from what we know) in the habit of doing this every day!

NineUnlikelyTales · 27/01/2008 13:28

You shouldn't offer or insist even once to do what you aren't prepared to do or will bitch about afterwards, let alone twice.

The nursery is probably billing you because you were so insistent about it and they think if they didn't you would feel bad and maybe even complain to other parents that they wouldn't take your money after you more or less made them bill you.

If you now decide you won't pay then I doubt the nursery would press for the money but you will come across as being a bit odd, and the kind of person who says one thing and means another.

bobbysmum07 · 27/01/2008 13:30

I do run a nursery. And let me tell you, the parents go mental if their kids go home with scratches from other kids.

I can't imagine what would happen if a child was hit in the head by a toy thrown with enough force to break a window.

bobbysmum07 · 27/01/2008 13:32

And how do you know it was a one-off incident?

Desiderata · 27/01/2008 13:32

You are hugely missing the point, bobbysmum, and I've no doubt that you've upset pauamcq with your attitude.

The point it that this little four your old boy (who's not an it incidentally) had a temper tantrum and threw a train. He isn't in school. He's in nursery. And when he starts school, no doubt his time and attention will be better engaged. And no doubt he will not be equipped with heavy, flying objects ..

A child was not hurt. A window was broken, that's all.

ChristmasShinySnowflakes · 27/01/2008 13:32

So that entitles you to descriminate against children by asking them to leave when they throw toys and behave like erm ..... children does it?

NKF · 27/01/2008 13:32

Kids do throw things though BM07 and without being unredeemable hooligans. My son broke the glass on a picture by kicking his shoes off too vigorously. He wasn't in a temper, it was an accident but there was glass everywhere.

RubySlippers · 27/01/2008 13:33

my DS has had a couple of bad accidents at nursery

and that is what they are - accidents, unforseen events and i did not go "mental"

if you are running a nursery, this sort of thing must be part and parcel of looking after young children

Karen999 · 27/01/2008 13:36

I would not pay. It was an accident. Accidents happen and this is why people have insurance is it not?

Lulumama · 27/01/2008 13:37

My DS was bitten frequently at the nursery he attended.

I was of course, upset, but i went to nursery to discuss it with the manager and they told me how they intended to deal with the problem

i did not go 'mental' because i understand that children, unless they have constant 1 to 1 care, do have an opportunity to hit, bite, scratch etc..... and that is what young childre n do to vent frustration, anger and all the other powerful feelings going round their little bodies

yes i was angry, but i understood why it happened and would not expect a child to be at nursery for 3 years without any incident.

furthermore , when DS tripped over a cusion and bit through his lip and had to go to A&E, i was upset but i understood it was an accident.

such is life with small children

unless there is negligence or lack of compliance with OFSTED criteria, you accept these things

i wonder what sort of glass was in the window that would break with a toy train being thrown at it??

Desiderata · 27/01/2008 13:39

It could have been a Thomas the Tank engine. Now they're very heavy. My dh'll tell you that

KrippledKerryMum · 27/01/2008 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.