Found Entrance Door not shut at nursery on occasions

[Yfinchik]

Hi all,
I am really frustrated and feel like I am massively overreacting by the reaction of everyone else.
I have found the entrance door at our nursery not shut, left open, no staff around on one of the drop offs, reported it, manager and owner said it got resolved and fixed. Fast forward two months , dropping off my child, coming to hall, no staff around, door not shut after a parent left, I wait for manager and report it again, asking what is happening. This is the only door to the nursery, a road very close to the building, no front garden. Owner calls me, says that they have to replace the door actually, in the meantime staff should let parents out and lock the door with key. Another occasion, I drop off the child, leave, completely unsupervised, report it to the owner: to be told that someone should have locked the door behind me, they are still waiting on the door, will be fixed soon. Today, I leave nursery again, again no staff around, I videoed it, didn't properly whack the door behind me, it didn't shut, I waited around and no one took no notice, I then walked back in, again, no one the wiser, no staff around .. I reported it to owner again who now ignored me. The manager called and said that nothing is wrong with the door, it doesn't stick, they don't have enough staff to key lock the door until 9:30 when the manager is in and that staff check on the door when they are around.... I am furious and I feel I have to move my son to another setting and at the same time my heart is breaking for him.... He only just now , after a year of crying, settled and happy to go, found little friends and likes his key person. Husband says it's not too big of an issue, friends whose kids go there are not bothered either ..

I think the children are probably safe as they are in individual rooms and being watched with good ratios. The bigger issue is that anyone could let themselves into the nursery. I would be worried and push the nursery for a solution. If not, then move. You could also complain to ofsted who would compel them to respond/take action. You won’t be popular, but your child will be safer.

in general it would make me also wonder what other risks are they taking that isn’t as obvious?

@happy2025 you expressed every thought I have. My main worry is indeed an intruder, and the fact that I am being led on and in a way gaslighted: told it's resolved/ non existent issue ...it also makes me worry, what else is happening if safeguarding is not their concern?

Do our children go to the same nursery 👀👀.

We have the same situation, mentioned it numerous times - but the door is faulty. (They said something about cold weather / hot weather impacting it).

At ours there are internal doors which are locked with a keypad - so strangers off the street won't know that code or be able to access any of the internal rooms.

After an issue a few years ago, all the exit buttons are high up and extra measures put in preschool so they can't get out.

So whilst I'm not overly happy - I've just accepted it as my DC are happy there.

I’ve known nurseries fail Ofsted inspections for less. I’d report them. It’s a major safeguarding failure.

No not ok

@Milkshake54 is your nursery in South Manchester?👀👀👀

@Daisydiary I am planning to report them today, yes

To be honest, this would make me wonder what other issues they are prepared to ignore/gloss over/lie about? This is a big safety risk and I would hope that management and staff at any nursery looking after my children would WANT to be all over it.

No... but I'm actually surprised that there is more than one nursery with this issue!!

@Milkshake54 beggars belief! Would have thought they wouldn't be as lax with security

I agree, I reported it ofsted now, but looks like I'm stuck there because of the funding hours now till autumn😭

Jeez that’s shocking. I’m usually one to say that parents can sometimes over react to certain things when it comes to nurseries and how they run but this is absolutely not ok.

All it would take is for a child to be walking past and see the door not shut and they’re gone on to a main road or heaven forbid a stranger came in unannounced and unseen!

Phone ofsted today. Send them the video footage you have and the email exchanged with the manager showing that you’ve questioned this many times.

Don’t be afraid to be seen as the “bad guy” to the staff. You are not trying to make friends you are advocating for the safety of your child (and many others).

Hold your head high and don’t feel that you have to move you son (as long as this issue is fixed!)

Thank you @DaisyChain505 , as long as he is not treated differently

I agree this is a safeguarding risk can they not get a latch on the inside so it can be locked or have to ge key hanging on a hook to use?

Update: owner called me to say it will be locked from inside and no parents allowed to leave without supervision, they also ordered alarm for the door and waiting on the new door to be installed. I did advise them that I did report it to ofsted and will update the case with this info.

Good on you OP, it shouldn’t take for a parent to report something to them once let alone multiple times before they make changes.

Well done for standing your ground.

I'd want to know their fire evacuation procedures if they are key locking the door. Doesn't seem safe. Are their alternative fire exits?

Mine is like this too, makes me so angry. Unfortunately it's usually due to the useless, distracted parents who can't be bothered closing it properly.

Summer term hasn't started yet, you can move your funding.

Exactly the same reason

Now you opened a whole new can of worms...

@TartanMammy good point, I just messaged to ask