Concerns regarding creche

[Booper13]

Hi. I hope seomeone can provide some advice. My 21month DS goes to the creche at my gym for an hour a few times a week while I exercise. The creche staff are very good, but the manager left a couple of months ago and hasn't yet been replaced. Quite often there is only one qualified member of staff and someone from reception or the pool with them. This is because one of the qualified members doesn't start until 9:15, but the creche opens at 9. This also happens during staff break times. Admittedly, there is someone on hols at the moment and when they're back it prob won't be as frequent, but still is a regular occurence. Today, the receptionist sent to cover shouted at a 2 year old as he dropped or threw a (quite heavy)toy lion on her foot. I felt it was inappropriate. I don't really blame the individual as she is clearly being asked to do a job for which she isn't trained or qualified (although who would shout at a 2 year old?) Anyway, the incident just made me uneasy about the arrangements in general. What are the rules regarding trained/untrained staff and ratios. Is it ok to have no manager? I feel sorry for the staff who are doing their best but having to work with people who shouldn't really be there. What should I do? Thanks.

If children are there for less than 2 hours a day I don't even think they have to be regulated at all though to be honest I would expect that they are.

I used to use a gym creche which was without a manager for some time - it certainly became significantly less good, with higher staff turnover, during this time, but the staff were still lovely. I would speak to the manager of the gym and ask them about the arranagements and what they think is supposed to be happening, and how soon they expect to have a manager in place. If you know any other parents who use it, encourage them to do the same.

If your ds has fun when he's there I wouldn't worry about it too much, it's only for an hour.