What do you think?

[Pfer]

DS1 went to the local playschool and enjoyed it immensely. The plan has always been to start ds2 when he's 2.6 (thats how old they like them to be). However......ds2 has been going to a fab childminder for about 3 months now (just 2 mornings a week so I can try to earn some money to get us out of the red) and enjoys playing with a little boy the same age, he likes going. Great. Now, the childminder has announced she's pregnant with her 1st child, and I'm really, really pleased for her, honestly I am, just that in the back of my mind,a deep dark corner, I'm thinking 'Damn'. Know what I mean?

I'm not really getting to the point here am I, since childminder has announced pregnancy I started to think about easing ds2 into the aforementioned playschool a little early so he's used to it before she goes on mat leave - just 1 session a week. But over the last few days I've been hearing quite a few unfavourable things about the way the playschool is being run now. Things like supervisors snatching dummies from mouths saying "we don't allow dummies here" and walking off with it, staff not being allowed by the supervisor to comfort new children who are crying for mummy as "they'll have to get used to it eventually", staff being reprimanded in front of parents for cuddling kids that need a little cuddle etc. and generally the supervisor (actually she's the deputy as the actual supervisor has been off for a few months with her daughter being ill and it's not looking like she'll be back for some time if at all) not seeming at all like she can cope with a room full of under 5's for any length of time.....

Would you still send you child if you had even the slightest doubt over the level of care they'd receive? I really don't think I can send him......there are no other playschools I can afford in the area and I dread the thought of trying to find another childminder......any ideas?

No I wouldn't send my child if I had the slightest doubt - I'd start scouring around for another childminder - I know it's hard work but by the sounds of things the pre-school that was good has gone downhill.....

I'd go along and check out the place for myself. If it didn't feel right I wouldn't send my child there. Two sessions a week would probably help your child settle quicker rather than one.

I work in a preschool (I'm not qualified though) and though technically we are not supposed to cuddle children (in case we molest them ) we have spent the last 2 weeks happily and willingly cuddling the newbies who need a cuddle. Yes, they will 'have to get used to it' but there is a real risk they will get too upset to enjoy themselves and then refuse to come and then what?
We don't allow dummies from the outset - there are health and safety risks apparently, but this is made clear before the children start. Can't imagine just snatching one out of a child's mouth though

Maybe if you are desperate, you could visit the preschool a couple of times with your child - that way you'll get a much better feel for the place. In fairness, everyone looks for different things from a preschool or nursery fr that matter - one man's meat etc, so the only real way is to go and see for yourself.

HRH, I think I'm inclined to agree with you, look for another childminder.

Pinotmum, I can't afford 2 sessions at the moment (as they've just up'd their rates) as well as paying for the CM and TBH I'd prefer the CM as I know she's great with DS.

I just can't help thinking if these are the things that I've been told about by just 2 people over the last 2 days when I mentioned it, how many things are happening that I don't know about? Could've been a couple of bad days I suppose, but whe you're paying someone to care for your child you expect them to actually care don't you?

TBH it sounds like the deputy can't handle the responsibility and the kids and staff are getting a bum deal because of it.

fmf - I didn't know about the dummy thing as they used to allow them, and they obviously didn't tell the little girls parents before she started there so it came over as being quite mean. TBH I'd be livid if I'd left ds there and he'd got upset and no-one had given him a cuddle, I'd be heartbroken that I'd left him where he wasn't being cared for.

It's a hard situation, I sympathise. I had a similar dilemma when ds2 was born. The nursery ds1 had been at for years was going downhill imo, but I couldn't get a place anywhere else for ds2...I did opt for 'better the devil you know'' in desperation, as things weren't that bad, just a niggling feeling it was all about the money at the nursery rather than what was best for child and/or parents.
but I withdrew them both very shortly after as I decided to quit work and be a SAHM for a while.
Best of luck.

thanks FMF. Would be a permanent SAHM if I could. I've been bitting and bobbing with work trying to get back into it as our finances are pretty dire, our 6 month mortgage break is half way through, our overdraft is still around the £1300 mark, credit cards are around £ 3700 and our personal loan goes out as well, so looks like work has to be done would rather look after the ds's full time........
I may go in and see them, talk to the deputy to see what changes they've implemented since DS1 left, sit in with ds2 a couple of times to see if he likes it etc......but then the seeds of doubt have already been planted and are slowly growing.