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Original poster

Notice period when you suspect neglect

51 replies

Trs7 · 13/12/2022 14:52

Hello all,

I'm not a parent but I need some advise for a dear friend. She has a child in nursery and she believes that the nursery is not feeding her child! There are various other instances of dubious practises. At first I was a little sceptical, but having looked at the footage she has of her child clearly not being given food with the rest of the children, I am concerned. Our friend is from another country so although her English is pretty good, she lacks the confidence and knowledge of online forums such as this.
She wants to change nurseries but they say she must give two months notice- surely this isn't correct if you suspect neglectful treatment?
I have told her to contact OFSTED and make a complaint, but in the meantime surely it can't be right that she has to endure this?
Any advise would be very welcome indeed!

OP posts:
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SMaCM · 13/12/2022 17:15

I would get her to tell the nursery what she has seen. I can't think of any reason why they would feed all the other children and not hers. Does the child have any dietary restrictions, which might mean their food is prepped and served separately? She should definitely ask the nursery first though.

MajesticWhine · 13/12/2022 17:16

She needs to raise it with manager of the nursery and use that to negotiate an exit without notice period.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 13/12/2022 17:18

Why does she have footage of her child at nursery that she is able to share with other people?

Does her child have any dietary restrictions that may mean her child gets a different meal bought out before or after the others?

Has she asked nursery about this?

SunshineClouds1 · 13/12/2022 20:22

How and why does she have footage of inside the nursery? Along with other children on this footage?

carefulcalculator · 13/12/2022 20:30

Yes, you need to explain the footage.

Do not assume it can't be racism, there are cases of clear racism in care provision.

I think you need to help her raise a formal complaint and withdraw for breach of contract.

PestorPeston · 13/12/2022 20:33

If she goes via the LADO the notice period of the nursery worker abusing her child is ZERO.

How does she have footage of her child being neglected, why is she still sending them in?

DenholmElliot11 · 13/12/2022 20:40

The problem is, by knowingly sending her child to an institution where she knows she isn't being fed, the parent is also guilty of neglect.

Original poster
Trs7 · 14/12/2022 09:53

Because the nursery has webcams that parents can log into for safeguarding. Doesn’t look like it’s working.

OP posts:
SunshineClouds1 · 14/12/2022 09:55

Trs7 · 14/12/2022 09:53

Because the nursery has webcams that parents can log into for safeguarding. Doesn’t look like it’s working.

I have honestly never heard of this?

That's a safeguarding issue in itself letting other parents and whoever else have access to watch other children.

Original poster
Trs7 · 14/12/2022 09:55

Believe me she is not neglectful in anyway. She doesn’t have much money and i believe the nursery isn’t taking her complaints seriously. She can’t afford to pay the nursery two months notice and immediately get her into another nursery.

OP posts:
MoveBitch · 14/12/2022 09:59

How is the child clearly not being given food? Can you expand on the footage?
Has she spoken to nursery about this

BungleandGeorge · 14/12/2022 10:04

At the least she would need to make an official complaint and have it taken seriously and take. To investigation so that she could claim breach of contract. Otherwise anyone who didn’t want to pay the cancellation fee could just claim
neglect.

SmileyClare · 14/12/2022 10:18

Web cams in nurseries are permissible for safe guarding and monitoring staff (parental consent required)

However, allowing parents access is a recipe for problems. Some parents become fixated on watching, unnecessarily concerned over normal toddler interactions and can gossip about other children, label some as bullies etc.

Perhaps help her to screen shot whatever the dubious practices are and have a meeting with the nursery manager before making a decision.

Usually a child will demonstrate at home or on arrival if they’re unhappy or mistreated at nursery (if she’s of the age to do so).

AreOttersJustWetCats · 14/12/2022 10:28

Trs7 · 14/12/2022 09:53

Because the nursery has webcams that parents can log into for safeguarding. Doesn’t look like it’s working.

Wtaf? This sounds like bullshit

Knors · 14/12/2022 12:14

Please be plain and honest and give us all the details because this isn't making any sense at all.

I for one have never heard of where parents can watch their children live throughout the day in any UK nursery.

Rowthe · 14/12/2022 12:20

I'm sure the nursery I sent my kid to had the option of viewing cameras to see what they were up to, I never bothered.

Georgeskitchen · 14/12/2022 12:48

Firstly, how old is the child?
Is your friend watching the webcam at every mealtime?
what are the others dubious practices " you speak of?

SmileyClare · 14/12/2022 12:57

I think if your friend can access a parental web cam viewing system by setting up an online account with password, then she could manage a talk forum?

It's difficult to advise you without further info and you're probably not able to answer questions on your friend's behalf or know the details?

MrsR87 · 14/12/2022 13:09

Knors · 14/12/2022 12:14

Please be plain and honest and give us all the details because this isn't making any sense at all.

I for one have never heard of where parents can watch their children live throughout the day in any UK nursery.

It is definitely something that happens in some nurseries in the Uk. One of the biggest nurseries local to me does it…that’s why my child doesn’t go there! As someone that works in safeguarding, I don’t like that idea at all.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 14/12/2022 13:15

Still lots of questions here and they've been asked above so I would repeat but I do want to confirm, has she videoed or screenshot the footage because that will be against the terms of use. If the nursery are provided live stream feed to be able to check in and see your child then it should only be used within the allocated platform.

Taking recordings or images of that will be a breach of policy because it then becomes unsecured and tumour friend could have footage of other people's children which is unacceptable.

Cassillero · 14/12/2022 13:15

MrsR87 · 14/12/2022 13:09

It is definitely something that happens in some nurseries in the Uk. One of the biggest nurseries local to me does it…that’s why my child doesn’t go there! As someone that works in safeguarding, I don’t like that idea at all.

Show quote history

Yes, one of the nurseries I looked around did this too. This will have been more than 10 years ago though as my daughter is 15 now. I didn't send her there so no idea how secure it was.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 14/12/2022 13:16

'Tumour' should say 'your' in the last comment from me

NuffSaidSam · 14/12/2022 13:26

The simple answer to your question is yes, she does have to pay the notice period if she 'suspects' neglect.

If she has evidence of neglect then she can not pay the notice period and use this evidence to defend herself if the nursery sue her for the outstanding payment. If she does have solid evidence of neglect it would be very unlikely that the nursery would pursue payment.

You don't give enough information about the type of evidence she has or what exactly is happening for anyone to advise you further. It does seem unlikely that a nursery would purposefully starve a child live on a webcam though!

My first step would be to speak to the nursery manager and see if you can clear up what is possibly a misunderstanding.

Fundays12 · 14/12/2022 13:28

MrsR87 · 14/12/2022 13:09

It is definitely something that happens in some nurseries in the Uk. One of the biggest nurseries local to me does it…that’s why my child doesn’t go there! As someone that works in safeguarding, I don’t like that idea at all.

Show quote history

I refused to send me kids to a nursery that allowed parents access to cctv from inside all the nursery and the kids. It just felt like a safeguarding flag to me. I thought I might be the only person who thought this so it’s quite good to read I am not

SleepingStandingUp · 14/12/2022 13:33

Has she spoken to the nursery? Seems odd they're doing this right in line of the cameras? How old is the child?

Ultimately if I thought they were neglecting the child is pull them, stop paying and put it in writing that you're removing them over safeguarding concerns and reporting them to OFSTED