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is this nursery ok/ what to expect

5 replies

krisskross · 24/06/2010 09:45

My son is 2 yrs 9 mths and is going through the settling in period at nursery, up til now he has been at home and when I was at work 2 days per week (pre current maternity leave with DD)my mum looked after him.

We viewed the nursery twice for a long time, the Ofsted was good etc.

But, on our first day none of the staff introduced themselves or gave their names, though they all said hello (7 staff, 30 children). They seemed to know his name.

I wasnt given information about his key worker, though they seemed to put him with the same lady most days.

When i go to collect him, which is still quite quickly, after an hour or two, I dont usually speak to the same person- whoever answers the door feeds back- though sometimes they dont really seem to know how he has been- they always say 'hes been ok, a bit sad but fine'.

Am i being unreasonable to expect to be told who his keyworker is? And to get more specific/ formal feeddback every day during this first settling in period? I still dont know the names of all the staff!

I went to collect him yesterday and from a distance watched him playing in the garden for about 30 mins. He was more or less on his own for this time, looking very lost and not playing. To be fair, he didnt seem upset just a bit sad and lost. Given that it was only his third time there without me, I would have expected a member of staff to be with him, even some of the time???

On the positive side, the children do seem happy. I visited a couple of nurseries before we chose this one where the children seemed very sad and fed up.

What should I do? what questions should I ask? Some of my concern stems from anxiety at leaving him, but I dont think its unreasonable to expect some clear information.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Al1son · 24/06/2010 12:36

30 mins is a long time for him to be left playing alone. I'd expect staff to be interacting with him or, if he's choosing not to interact with staff, they should be explaining this to you.

I would expect his key-worker to be introduced to you, to be coming to feed back to you each day and to be asking you for lots of information about him when you pick up and drop off. No matter how good their forms are they should be asking more about him, finding out his likes/dislikes/interests, sharing his good experiences with you, helping him to recount them to you, quietly letting you know how they helped if he was sad, etc.

I think I'd have a look round some other settings before his next settling in day.

You could bring this up with the manager but I think it's a reflection of the ethos of the setting and that ethos isn't going to change because you tell them you'd like the staff to talk to you more.

krisskross · 24/06/2010 21:13

Thanks AL1son, this is very helpful.
I dont really know what to do now- our options are very limited . It was better when I went to collect him today, but still I am unsure.

OP posts:
Meglet · 24/06/2010 21:18

Have you asked who his keyworker is? Maybe they think you aren't that bothered.

I know some parents that just drop off at the door and have no idea what happens at nursery. Whereas I give the nursery staff the Spanish Inqusition when I collect at the end of the day .

I'm sure if the nursery seems nice they will be happy to chat and keep you up to date.

Is it a daycare nursery or a playschool type nursery BTW, my 2 are at full daycare nursery and the staff are quite involved. When I visited a playschool type nursery I was shocked at the difference, and not in a good way.

krisskross · 24/06/2010 21:25

Hi Meglet, yes I asked them today and they said first of all they out him with one lady but thought he was starting to see her in a negative light, as if she was taking him from me each morning, so now two other ladies are spending time with him. They were perfectly happy to talk when I asked, but werent volunteering info til I asked.

I have to be honest, I'm not sure- I guess its a playschool type??? I've been to visit approx 6 and this certainly seemed the best then....but now I just dont know.

OP posts:
cookielove · 29/06/2010 21:09

I work in a nursery, it is very odd that you don't know the staff names, and they didn't introduce themselves, we have a staff notice board which list all the staff, rooms that they are in, and there qualifications, (with a photo) is there anything like this at your nursery.

I would be concerned that they are not giving you more information, it is true that some parents just want to know if they were fine, and others want to know absolutly everything.

How much do you want to know from them?

I would ask more questions, and keep asking till ur satisifed, with the answers.

Hmmm the garden issue, there is def a problem there, staff should be trying to engage him in play, however with the children in my room they mainly just play with each other, and the quieter ones, or new starters hang round the carers, getting cuddles and stuff from the adults.

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