Nursery Help!!

[Louise0310]

Hi everyone... Looking after some advice please. My little one is 17 months old and attending nursery. The other day he was picked up from nursery, got back to the car and we found a plastic coin in his mouth that he was biting on (about the size of a penny). I've spoken with them and they said they think an older child 'could have' gave it to him. Their 'solution' is that if he's downstairs in that room he has to sit on someone's lap from now. Am I being dramatic or do I take this further? I just feel so worried now because he could have choked if we didn't notice it in his mouth!!! Any advice welcome. TIA

They are being insane.

My nursery mix the rooms at the end of the day too, but I’d expect all choking hazards that could possibly be managed to be put away, and I’d still expect close supervision.

Have you reported to Ofsted? Because the nursery’s response is in no way satisfactory here.

It’s normal for nursery to pool rooms towards the end of the day as the kids and staff start to go home but whatever room they choose to use for this has to be safe for all the children and that would mean either not using the preschool room or putting away and out of reach any toys that could be choking hazards for the younger ones.

They think an older child gave it to him isn’t a good enough response. Being forced to stay on someone’s lap is a ridiculous solution because I doubt they’re at a 1:1 ratio and depending how long he’s down there it’s also not fair for him to be restrained and unable to move around and play. Also, any child under 3, not just him, is potentially at risk. Definitely take it further. If you’re still not satisfied with the response then take it to Ofsted.

What a ridiculous solution they’ve offered. So now he has to sit with someone constantly because of their mistake? Not acceptable imo. I’d be going through their formal complaints procedure and asking to speak to the manager to say that you aren’t happy with that ‘solution’.

I work in a nursery and sometimes the older children pass things through the gate to the smaller children when we're outside. However, the children should really be monitored and this should be picked up on.
Their solution is disgraceful tbh. They should be encouraging and promoting independence not restraining a child to a lap due to their mistake. What happens if more children are found putting small things in their mouths? They're just going to restrain them all?

Complain and report them to Ofsted. Completely unacceptable response. I would be furious.

Imagine a child choked to death and that's what they said? They'd be shut down.

Oh no this would give me the absolute fear and my child would be out of there pronto. Unacceptable.

The explanation is plausible. The solution is ridiculous. I'm a nursery nurse and if a parent told me this I would 1) Explain the possible reason and apologise this happened and 2) tell them we will remove choking hazard toys from the preschool room if younger children are joined, and ensure closer supervision of the younger children. Having a child made to sit on a lap is unnecessary restraint, as they will want to get up and explore at some point.