Child ‘hit’ by nursery staff

[Supermathsdoc]

A bit long but I’ll try to summarise:

2 weeks ago I was called by my 20m old child’s nursery to say there had been an incident. My child went to scratch another and a nursery worker hit her on the bum to stop her. There was no mark. My child was fine afterwards. I obviously didn’t see this but another nursery work did and called it out.

There was an investigation, while this took place the person was removed from the room. Nursery staff (who I think were junior) told me she wouldn’t be back and that she didn’t seem aware that she’d done anything wrong. They obviously couldn’t tell me who it was, butdid say it was a permanent (but new) member of staff rather than an unknown agency worker.

The investigation is now complete, the nursery have done all the right things, they’ve told ofsted, there’s been a disciplinary hearing etc and the person is now back in the room with some extra support.

I feel super uncomfortable with this. We have had no other issues with this nursery and my child seems happy there. I guess what im asking is what others would do? Would you disrupt your child and find a new nursery just in case? Is it just one of those things? I’m not sure what the best thing to do is.

Agree with @SqueegieBeckenheimer There really is no excuse for what has happened and anywhere reputable would have got rid of the staff member, quick smart. As a PP said, they are either a risk or not. Those who hit small, vulnerable children in a regulated setting like this will not change. No one should be waiting to see if she does it again. No one appears to be taking the incident seriously enough. Her first reaction was to hit?!?!?

Call Ofsted, call the LEA and check what has been reported. If this was in fact reported to Ofsted, it will be logged as a concern on the nursery’s Ofsted page - search for their latest Ofsted report and this letter/notification should appear. If it doesn’t, you have your answer. I would also involve the police, as the nursery should have done.

Yes.
As a parent would I want to know if this had happened to another child in my sons nursery, also yes.

Have you seen the footage of the hit?

The nursery doesn’t have CCTV, I wasn’t there and I haven’t seen footage. I’ve asked them for a clear and detailed description of what happened though.

I don’t think I’m entitled to see the report from the LADO, and I don’t think the nursery would lie about having reported it.

Agreed. They could have easily withheld this from you and they didn't, which shows they take safeguarding procedures seriously. Can't comment on the details and ultimately it's up for you to decide.