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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

Guess who was holding my baby when I went to collect him...

180 replies

Washersaurus · 04/09/2008 14:06

The nursery chef ! He has been sat in the room before when I have been to collect DS2 from nursery, but today he was actually holding DS2 when I arrived. I'm not very happy about it tbh (he smokes aswell), how do I go about raising it with the nursery manager without upsetting everyone?

OP posts:

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KT12 · 05/09/2008 18:15

This thread has made me think....a while back the cleaner was holding my child (a few occasions) and was actually the second adult in the baby room of six little ones therefore part of the adult to child ratio. At the time I did not think much of it because I only found out later that she was cleaner. Wondering what you all think? Was the chef included in the ratios? Would that make a difference to those of you who don't have a problem with it?

lauraloola · 05/09/2008 20:57

The ratios are based on qualified members of staff to children - It was 8 years ago when I was a Nursery Nurse. Students werent counted.

Maybe the chef is qualified. Maybe worth asking the manager?

chloemegjess · 06/09/2008 17:00

Staff do not need to be qualified to be counted in ratios. As long as at least one of them is qualified. Trainies doing their NVQ count, which is why so many nurseries emply them as they only pay a "training allowance" rather than a wage, so its cheap way to run the nursery. As long as they have a CRB.

The nursery I used to work in, 90% of the staff were under 20 years old, and probably only 50% had any sort of qualification. Ofsted didn't have any problem with this.

It is a sad fact that you don't know what goes on in nurseries and most often don't stick to the ratios or rules in the middle of the day when no parents are around, ie lunchtimes. Having worked in about 20 or so nurseries, including temp work. I would never put my DD in one.

bloomingfedup · 06/09/2008 17:06

Do you need to be qualified to hold a baby?

lauraloola · 06/09/2008 21:49

I agree with Chloe, after working in a nursery I would never put my dd in one. Im not saying everyone is bad but things do tend to 'slip' at busy times when no one is watching.

I thought you had to be qualified to hold babies for insurance purposes?

juneybean · 06/09/2008 22:13

Only 50% of staff have to be qualified...though I think unqualified aren't allowed to be left alone with the children.

Someone said CACHE DCE was not the equivalent of NNEB...I think CACHE is what has replaced NNEB?

On another note, I don't quite agree with the NVQ in child care anyways. It's only as good as the nursery they are learning in, if the nursery can't be bothered to teach them then they become qualified with poor standards.

bloomingfedup · 07/09/2008 10:15

"I thought you had to be qualified to hold babies for insurance purposes? "

If thats true - it's red tape gone mad. I can understand where OP is coming from in terms of the smoking issue (although qualified staff may do this too). However, as long as all the staff are CRB'd does it really matter if they have a childcare qualification or not? The chef was only holding your baby, thats better than him not getting attention. This situation is no different to a childminder's partner holding a mindee.

clam · 07/09/2008 10:50

Oh for goodness' sake!

Was going to ask the OP if her DS was a pfb.

This guy didn't appear to be supervising the kids at all. He was presumably passing by at a quiet time of day (in the kitchen) and stopped for a mingle. Child was possibly crying, so he picked him up, as I would hope any caring adult might do. I'd have more of an issue if I found my child crying on the floor and adults ignoring him.

If you're worried to this extent about who might interact with your child when you're not around, and you're a SAHM, then I really think you should re-consider putting him in nursey at all. Although it sounds as if you and he might benefit from the distance, frankly.

chloemegjess · 07/09/2008 12:41

You don't need to be qualified to hold a baby!!!

Unqualified staff I think ideally shouldn't be left alone with the children, but in most nurseries, they are.

I will never forget, working (I think unqualified at this time) in a nursery, and being left with 9 (sleeping) babies. The fire alarm went off, and how the hell are you meant to get 9 non walking babies out by yourself? I was so glad that the cook came in to help, and no she was not qualified or meant to be left alone with the children, but I did leave her, as I had to take 2 babies out, come back and get 2 more, while she carried the last 2. Maybe illegal, but if it was a real fire, would you rather somebody unqualified was holding them for 2 min or would you rather they were left in the building? I know this is a completly different situation but I am just saying sometimes it isn't always about qualifications. If they child was safe in the chefs arms, then does anything else really matter?

As regards to the NVQ I do sort of agree but also still think its better than the BETEC and similar that is mainly classroom based. I did my NVQs in carp nurseries but I still think I am a goood childcarer and being in those nurseries gave me a very good idea of what I wanted to be as a childminer, and what not to be like. I think I provide very good care and I feel the children are far happiler and safer with me than they were in most nurseries I worked in.

batters · 07/09/2008 12:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CurrantBM · 07/09/2008 12:55

Just a quick note as this appears to be getting a bit out of hand.

I have met washersaurus at at meetup, and she is not a snob in the slightest, and the DS in question is not her firstborn, she is just a normal caring mum, same as all of us.

That's all I'll go now.

notsoteenagemum · 07/09/2008 13:11

How would you have felt if you had arrived and your baby was crying, the other staff members were busy as can easily happen in baby unit and the chef just looking at your upset baby.

notsoteenagemum · 07/09/2008 13:13

However if it becomes a regular thing question it

juneybean · 07/09/2008 13:58

How is the NVQ better than the BTEC? Both have extensive first hand experience working with children?

chloemegjess · 07/09/2008 15:36

I just mean the BTEC is mostly classroom based. I started it but didnt enjoy it as you only do 1 day a week in a childcare setting, and you move settings every term. So you didnt really get to settle in anywhere long enough to get confident in what youwere doing. Just my opinion, not meanint to upset anybody

juneybean · 07/09/2008 16:03

Hmm I think it depends which college you do it with then hehe, I was doing upto 16 hours in placement every week with the BTEC and I changed placements every 200 hours there abouts.

chloemegjess · 07/09/2008 21:36

Was it the BETC NATIONAL deploma?

juneybean · 07/09/2008 22:55

BTEC National Certificate (only 12 units instead of 18) as I was considered a "mature student" and had "life skills"

Although I did 13 units as I did an extra one in the holidays.

NappiesGalore · 07/09/2008 23:05

the chef at the nursery i went to used to make the most AMAZING apple crumble... id give him my first born son to keep if hed make me another one tomorrow

stroppyshopper · 07/09/2008 23:09

I agree with OP, I think it's strange and I wouldn't be happy about it.

Bubble99 · 07/09/2008 23:10

I'm the cook at our nursery and the (NVQ4 equivalent) owner.

How do I rate as a baby-holder?

chloemegjess · 08/09/2008 17:00

Bubble, I think thats slightly different as you are qualified and the owner!

Dragonbutter · 08/09/2008 17:14

Aw mate! Sorry to see you've had a rough time on this thread OP, wish i'd been here.
I've never thought of you as hysterical or snobby or any of those accusations.

I think i would probably feel the same as you. a bit .
i complained when i found ds1 alone with the work experience girl. i'm fairly sure they don't crb check them and she was holding him up by one hand but he couldn't walk to was crying and i saw it all from the window.

hope you're ok.

chloemegjess · 08/09/2008 17:26

Dragonbutter - that is not on and I would have complained too. Unfortunatly though it happens a lot in Private day nurseries.

Dragonbutter · 08/09/2008 17:29

'complained' sounds very composed doesn't it. but no, i fell to pieces as i entered the managers office and cried telling her i was very unhappy with what i had seen and was finding it very hard to leave him.

(i gave up work not long after)

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