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Snowleopard, lets meet here later.....I'll show you mine

18 replies

brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 04/06/2008 11:26

Must go and do something proper with my house instead of pissing around on here!

Mt DTs are in the owl room, currently little owls, will be big owls come end of Summer. My DD1 has also been through the owl room.

My general feeling is that the nursery as a whole isn't quite up to the standard it was when my DD1 was there. Its nothing major, just a "whatever" attitude from some of the girls to name but one point...... It is still a great nursery by comparison to others but I (we) do pay them a lot of money and I feel I want to express my concerns.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 04/06/2008 11:33

It pisses me off that no-one noticed my DT2 having pen drawn all over him by someone else (and I mean all over). It bothers me that it took months and months and months to fix a loo seat. It annoys me that they never sort the plumbing out in the loos but just say "its an old house". The girls in the Kangas are lovely but one of them has had a face like fizz for months and, even if there are personal things going on, I can always muster a smile for children. I don't like the attitude of some of the girls "c'mon, put on your own socks, you can do it" instead of "sweetheart, why don't you try that one and I'll try this one".

There is a general lazy/can't be bothered attitude seeping in that was not there when my DD1 went. I feel I owe it to the owners to let them know how I feel because it has been a very good nursery. Its all down to staff changes I think (one persons attitude can change a team spirit) and they do have a low turnover......but good management means managing the staff and motivating them as well as caring for the children. Its chicken and egg.

There

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snowleopard · 04/06/2008 11:49

Aah found it, thanks! I'm supposed to be working but I will post now so this comes up on my messages later and I'll fill you in on my cheese & wine experience.

My experience is that one of the workers in Kanga has always worn a scowl but I've been able to see that she's actually OK underneath - though have always wished that they could be as lovely upstairs as DS's beloved Tigger keyworker (the super-smiley and positive one - she's great). Luckily though the other kanga worker has given DS the soppiness he craves.

Am feeling good about the keyworker allocated for DS in owl room (older one) because I instinctively like her, but I actually know nowt about anything really, hence my cheese & wine needs.

I do agree with you about that attitude thing from time to time, though I also think they're generally good. They can be defensive if criticised which is NOT the correct response to criticism if you run a nursery. I once pointed out the side gate was being left open and was definitely made to feel I was being a neurotic cow (though that person has left).

brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 04/06/2008 19:45

Oh yeah, the smiley one in the Tiggers is fantastic. They should promote her I think!!

The scowly one in the Kangas is underneath lovely. She used to work in the baby room and had less responsibilty and more support in there as she was part of a bigger team. She was really adorable then, I sometimes wonder if she would/should move back if a position came free....

The older one in the Owls is currently key worker for one of my DTs and has been really great. Caring, kind and interested. I shouldn't imagine you will have any worries with her.

I find the room works really well esp when the loud one with the long brown hair (name begins with L) is running the show. She has an excellent balance of daft, caring, funny and stern when needed (like when someone is drawing all over your child). She was keyworked many moons ago for my DD1 and I have used her once for daytime babysitting as a trial. It worked really well.

The other small thing that is niggling at me is that at pickup a few weeks ago, one of the mums was also picking up......they couldn't find her daughter. They did find her, in the room next to the loo, with a keyworker reading a story but it made me wonder why no-one knew or missed her. Then today, the same thing happened as I was collecting. They were doing a head count outside before returning in, and the numbers didn't work. I knew one little boy was upstairs with a keyworker because I had just been there.....but they had no idea. As I left, they were in the process of finding out that is where he was and the relief on their faces was obvious. This is one of the reasons I said no to the summer trip, 40 miles up the road.

And I will be finding time to list all of my concerns in my own head and express them as simply and eloquently as I can. I don't want to moan, it is a good nursery but all of these little things can start to let a standard slip and thats when accidents happen.

Right. I have two in bed and one finishing homework....one chapter of Enid Blyton to read her and then maybe a glass of wine

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Dynamicnanny · 04/06/2008 19:56

Don't you think this is the wrong place for such a topic - what if a nursery nurse from the nursery read this - I am shocked and angry that you would post such negative things on here - have you raised them in person.

brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 04/06/2008 19:58

PMSL

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brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 04/06/2008 19:59

There is absolutely nothing on here I won't be raising. And there is absolutely nothing on here I am ashamed of. I have no reason to hide

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brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 04/06/2008 20:00

Can you tell from our posts which country we are in?

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snowleopard · 04/06/2008 20:23

Hello FG! All very interesting and I do think that general slackness you talk about is worth keeping an eye on. How bizarre that each time the missing child was with a staff member, but the others didn't know? Better than if they were alone, but that's a terrible lack of communication.

Feel reassured that I'm not the only one with enough summer trip angst to say no. This year they've put it on a day DS isn't in - possibly deliberately after the fuss I made last year () - I breathed a sigh of relief.

Dynamic, I can sort of see your point but if you read carefully you will see we are not naming anyone nor are we slagging anyone off. We've discussed some concerns about the nursery generally and praised a few individuals, naming no names. OK, if someone from the nursery saw it they could work out that it is that nursery. But I can't see what they'd have to complain about. We're talking facts, not rumours or libel.

brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 04/06/2008 20:32

It was last years trip discussion I met you on. I ended up going on that trip (I also brought up seatbelt/booster questions) and really, it was too much for the age group. No-one was happy. Plus, i can't see the point of going out for the day, far away, with all the supplies loaded on the girls. Its hard work for them and therefore, not enjoyable and therefore it knocks on.....

The Summer trip is good for the owls who are leaving for school. DD1 loved her trip and was of an age to truly benefit. Otherwise, please, a picnic at the park maybe?

Right, I think I'm done. Dinner is calling. Hope you enjoy cheese and wine Speak soon.

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snowleopard · 06/06/2008 11:19

Well not a lot to report I fear FG, as I totally failed to address any wider issues . Apart from some horrendously poorly executed (by me) smalltalk and clucking a bit too much over someone's 2-week-old (I'm soooooo broody...) I only really talked to DS's new keyworker-to-be. She was so 100% great about everything that I couldn't bring myself to bring up anything about general standards. The owners were there and I intended to get chatting to them but couldn't manage it as I'm so crap at mingling. But I'm still aware of those things and might be able to bring them up eventually in another context.

Seriously nice cheese though!

brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 06/06/2008 18:17

Oh I hope you didn't feel you had to bring up anything I've been banging on about!!!!! Don't be burdened with that, I just wanted you to enjoy the cheese and the wine

Broody? Me too. I have been getting progressively broody for the last 18 months. I'm at the stage I could almost hijack a pram. Are you planning more? Don't answer if thats too personal.

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snowleopard · 06/06/2008 20:14

Nooo don't worry I didn't feel pressured, just would have liked to raise some of that stuff myself - if I could have got the smalltalky and chitchatty mood right (some hope).

I'm actually kind of TTC in a very informal way (gulp - that's my first MN announcement of that) - that is, not bothering with contraception, rather than waving the ovulation kit in DP's face nightly. He's not been keen really but has finally come round to the idea, but I'm trying not to go on about it too much IYSWIM. If it happens, at least he'll have 9 months to get more used to the prospect. But OTOH I'm 38. We shall see - maybe it's to be (or I'll hijack a pram, whichever comes first...)

brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 08/06/2008 15:37

SL I feel honoured to be told! Shall we stuff cushions up our jumpers this week?

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snowleopard · 08/06/2008 21:42

Yes. It can be our "secret" MN signal at nursery No one else will notice.

snowleopard · 08/06/2008 21:42

(DP out obviously )

brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 08/06/2008 22:34

parade on

LOL, now I'm tempted to prod the tummy of every real pregnant person I meet at nursery to find out if its a cushion!

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snowleopard · 08/06/2008 22:53
brucelovesfrumpygrumpy · 09/06/2008 09:40

and draws on extra varicose veins

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