Concern about this nursery

[Upsetworker]

Hi all, I've name changed for this.

I have just started working at a nursery as bank staff so only a few hours daily sometimes.

I do not have qualifications BUT i have children of my own and have worked in 2 other previous nurseries and have done childminding, all these were done about 15 years ago, i am only now my children are all older getting back into it.

So my concern i would like to know other child practitioners ir even parents views on this.
First and for most bar 1 or 2 all staff are rude and not friendly at all.
I work mostly in the baby room and i am continuously being told (shouted at) to put the babies down and let them cry it out as they are 'fine' or 'can not be help or cuddled all the time' now i only do this when they are upset, my girst natural instincts is to sooth a crying baby (5-8 months most ages) they are at the point where they are hyperventilating red faces, snot and nearly being sick, i had enough so i cuddled the little baby and was then again told stop it, if you must atleast turn them away from you so you aren't cuddling them.
BUT if a parent comes to pick another child up i am told to pick baby up so they dont hear it.

Another thing, my 2nd week the head room leader or what ever they call them selves got all the sand out, some messy play i thought was lovely, she put a apron ona child, i went over to ask if she needed help putting aprons on others she says no, this is her key child and needed pictures, so i had to pull the little walkers that would heading over away, she proceeds to plonk baby in front of messy play takes pictures then pulls him away and tidies it up

The manger when we have show arounds, comes down before to make sure 'no crying, no dirty nappies and basically routines out widows if a babycrying we are told to put them to bed or feed early to basically shut them up, and omg the staff go above and beyond are all involved playing interacting cuddling, as soon as parents gone it all stops.

I hate it, financially i can not leave till i found another job as money is sooooo awful right now. 😞

OP if you haven’t reported this to ofsted then you’re just as liable. I don’t know how you sleep at night

I'm a nursery nurse. Please report. This isn't right.

Omg i just wrote a massive reply and deleted it

So again quickly met with thr deputy Friday to raise some concerns, she agrees babies shouldnt be left. Ive notice there are safeguarding folders that we are all advised to read so i shall be reading thoes on my lunch break next week.

Food at the nursery is actually amazing, its brought in from another company, and they are very very hot on allergen etc.
Also the cleaning is 10/10 absolutely can not fault any of that.

I had a run in with the manager also first thing as when i came in and picked up.a screaming baby, i was told the put baby back down and that it had been cuddled and now left to self sooth. I was so so so angry i did snap back that she doesn't look like she is self soothing. Either way i am writting everything down dates times and names. It will all be reported

I also once left will be directing anyone looking for childcare away on fb pages as i see them alot

What did OFSTED say when you reported it to them, do you think there will be an OFSTED inspection next week - I understand they give 24 hours notice then bam they are in !

Unlikely that something like this (babies supervised but not picked up) would trigger an immediate inspection - more likely they would just call the manager.

Reading your post made me feel ill

I don't think inspectors should give notice.

Reading this makes me so sad, and so glad I waited until 3 to put my son in nursery! Realise we were lucky to have that choice. This self-soothing nonsense is such a damaging myth, it's just behavioural modification (they stop crying because they realise there's no point, they are still internally distressed). No one is drawing the links between poor early years care and increase in need for CAMHS, but a baby in that environment for 50 hours a week, even with the best parents in the world, is going to be effected by poor quality care. So sad.

Film it

Sneaking a phone into a nursery to secretly film other people's children would make the OP a safeguarding issue.

Terrible, rare, but not uncommon. Some people have no place in a nursery. They will probably know who reported them so find a new place fast, but you have to report. As a PP said nurseries are desperate for staff so it won't be hard.

"big chain" eh? I could guess...

Very strange, yesterday i had a early shift, very diffrent behaviour was going on. Lots of cuddles going on 🤔 im.hoping it's because i said something but i doubt it. But im glad i brought it up with deputy as it was a very diffrent morning

I very very much doubt that you saying something to the Deputy has brought around any change, I wonder if as it was an early shift that different staff were on as we all know that not everyone works from early AM to late PM 5 days a week, and some will be part time and some like yourself will be bank.

Out of curiosity how many staff are in the baby room and do you know yet whom is qualified and who isn't ?

Probably read this thread.

So there is 3 of them qualified 2 of which are high levels and 1 Which was an apprentice and now passed.
There is always 1 of the 2 higher qualified in there and then the one who had just qualified then depending on how many children there is usually an apprentice and myself.
I did an all day shift today 8.30- 5.30 and definitely there seams to be more of an effort made. Im not sure what to make of it all yet at all.

Foundation degree is 5

OP, I've only read your first couple of replies here but please report it.
I reported my old nursery many years ago, while still working there! Was a baby room again, staff just lazed about on the cosy armchairs on their phones. Wasn't long after the Vanessa George case came out, phones weren't supposed to be in the room at all let alone in hand. (There was more I didn't like about feeding routines and leaving to cry in cots and so on too)

You'll find another job. Look out for teaching assistant jobs as well as nurseries.

Is this concern about Kingswood Nursery in Mitcham ?

Please report this to OFSTED, OP. Have you read about the Genevieve Meehan case. An absolute tragedy. Reporting will ensure that any poor behaviour from nursery staff is stopped before something tragic like the Meehan case happens.
I would urge you to pls report!

This is awful.

If they're shitty to you anyway just report them to Ofsted immediately rather than when you leave.

If they question you about the ofsted complaint point out you went directly to the deputy with your concerns as that's how you prefer to handle things and feign innocence regarding the Ofsted report.

I've a similar work background and have had a similar nursery work experience. I reported and handed notice in. It's heartbreaking and like you I couldn't fathom how anyone with such a cold hearted dislike of babies would choose to work full time with them. 😡