Nursery asked to me to keep daughter home due to OFSTED visiting

[Fidgitigdif123]

So my daughter is 4 and has a diagnosis of autism. She has a speech and language delay, and needs some support throughout the day, particularly when it comes to toileting, but isn't too difficult to handle, and she generally keeps herself to herself. The nursery are always praising her for how good she's been during the day, and they always say she's a happy girl who enjoys being there.
I had a phone call from her key worker the other day (who also happens to be one of the nursery managers), asking me to keep her home the following day because they have an OFSTED inspector visiting. Apparently they don't have enough staff to be able to support my daughter while the OFSTED inspector is visiting (apparently they'll need a member of staff to show the inspector around, which will mean my daughter won't have anyone to support her during the visit).
I'm confused by this, as there's been countless times where they've had several staff off sick at one time (including her key worker), and yet she's still been able to go into nursery.
I'm actually starting to think they just want her out of the way for the day so it'll be easier for them to focus on the inspection, but surely this would be the best time to show off how good they are at dealing with children with SEN and other disabilities?
I genuinely don't know if I'm right in being a little bit upset about this, as it feels like they just want to sweep her under the carpet; like they're embarrassed by her being there or something.

I used to be a teacher so I usually have a hell of a lot of sympathy for the school or childcare setting in OFSTED situations. However, OP, this is absolutely outrageous. I would certainly mention it in the parent questionnaire.

If they are good with your kid, help them beat a STUPID system.

If they are bad with your kid, sure, send her in .

If they are unfit and need a bad inspection, complain about her being kept home for autism reasons.

But then if they are that bad why is your child there to begin with.

A nursery can’t have a random parent hanging about all day on an inspection day - they’d be slated!

This saddens me. Our nursery is incredibly inclusive and we welcomed ofsted seeing how we support with the challenges the children and families in our care have to deal with.

ofsted inspections are stressful and draining. but inspectors do respect a confident leader asking an inspector to pause questioning because a child needs support/time in/intervention.

As a teacher I can see this from both sides.

My first reaction is that this request is outrageous. My second thought is to wonder what the nursery are trying to hide. Are you really sure they care for your child well, OP?

As a society, we certainly need to stand up to OFSTED. I am really not sure that banishing a child with SEN is the way to do it. It is discriminatory, whether one has sympathy for the staff or not. I’m quite surprised the nursery asked actually. They could get into a lot of trouble.

If it was me, I’d send her.

Just to add, would people feel it was ok if the child had a physical disability or a different condition such as Down’s Syndrome? Do you think the nursery would be requesting a child with visual impairment stay away? I don’t.

This really.

That's a joke surely? Do you know anything at all about ofsted?

You don’t win the OFSTED game by shoving the ‘special’ kids out of the door.

Outrageous request. I would be absolutely fuming if I were you. My answer would be a straight out no and then I would be questioning the care they are providing your daughter.

I'd be letting OFSTED know for starters

No one wins.
That's the point.

I agree with you there. Telling a child they are not welcome is not the answer though is it. Is that what we as a society want to buy in to?

Can you imagine how bloody amazing it would be if a headteacher led their staff out of the door and refused to engage!

Assuming you get the money refunded or a day given elsewhere?
If you can take time off work if do this but it feels like a really odd request.

Strictly speaking, this is absolutely not ok. However, the inspection system at the moment is utterly disgraceful. So my advice is:

If you genuinely believe them, they’re normally brilliant with your child, and you think they’re just terrified of Ofsted. Keep her home. Ofsted, frankly, seem to enjoy closing down great nurseries for insufficient reasons (around here two have closed that absolutely should not have).

However, if you think they aren’t doing their best for your child, and that they’re asking you to keep her home in order to prevent Ofsted from finding out that they’re failing, then absolutely complain to Ofsted and they’ll have to face the consequences.

I'm conflicted on this one but I appreciate I have my own bias on this.

I 100% agree that your child should not be discriminated against because of her disability. I would not want that for myself or for my son, nor anyone else.

On the other hand, a strange person lurking around my sons nursery, moving between rooms with a lot of transitions even if the inspectors are courteous and try to do this discreetly would be highly likely to cause distress to my son when he was in a nursery setting and in his particular case it would be in his best interest to keep him off that day when it has the potential for too much unpredictability.

I think it would depend on your child OP and what their struggles are and if you think that she wouldn't have any issues with an inspector being present and causing interruptions and that this is just the nursery pulling a fast one, then only you can make the choice as to whether you think they're being unreasonable.

Now I've had a think about it, I think the nursery should have been honest with you if they think it's in your daughters best interest to allow you to make an informed decision as to whether you felt comfortable taking her in, and they've deprived you of that by making up some excuse about staff ratios and that's the part that is unacceptable.

If they're an otherwise good nursery who are actively taking steps to make sure your daughters needs are met then I would take the advice of the PP who explain how ofsted can often make things worse instead of better in the long run, and decide whether there was a high risk of that impacting provision for my child.

If the nursery are poor at managing your daughters needs and genuinely do need that to be recognised, then submit parent feedback.

Agree

This is such a sad thread.

Both the stupid OFSTED situation and the number of people that think OP should just accept that due to her DDs difficulties she has to be accommodate what the nursery suggest.

Juggling raising a family and work is hard enough w/o the challenges raising a child with SEND brings. If the OP can't get short term childcare, she will need to take emergency family leave or annual leave. As an employer, the reason "the nursery have OFSTED and can't support my child" is a bit poor.

I would have more respect for the nursery if they explained the situation fully to me.

That is absolutely unacceptable. I speak as a teacher who has gone through many Ofsted inspections.

You don’t win by pretending that there are not major issues with Ofsted and that they won’t use children with SEN as a tool to attack the nursery either.

It’s a no win situation all round

If you like the nursery and you like the way they support your daughter then keep your daughter at home as requested. OFSTED is an absolute horrific experience. You’ll be putting them under unimaginable pressure and trusted you by making that request. I hope everything goes well for you and your daughter.

Sadly, obstruction of OFSTED inspections is a criminal offence. Which I believe refusing to engage would be deemed so.

I find it odd that so many posters have assumed the outcome of the inspection before it has happened by saying OFSTED WILL use OPs child and needs negativity and it's OFSTED who discriminates.

I've been involved with three inspections recently or have knowledge relating to them, all three settings have children with very complex needs and minimal staff. Mostly positive comments regarding those who had recognised additional need and how this was managed.

It's mad the nursery are assuming how OFSTED might judge them and advocating excluding a child from their service. It's really sad

"You’ll be putting them under unimaginable pressure" - what an unkind thing to say to the mother of a disabled child.

@FFidgitigdif123 regardless of their own pressures concerning the visitors, this would be a moment of clarity for me. When push comes to shove, they are willing to exclude your daughter. Which regardless of the quality of care your child received before today (even if it's excellent), would really make me feel this was not the right setting for my child. I'm not in your position but I can't find it in me to tell you to swallow your upset and support the nursery in their request. It fundamentally is against what any decent setting should do.

OP, you must report this to Ofsted. Its totally against the rules. I spoke to the new head of ofsted the other day about a college I worked in doing this, he was appalled.