Guest Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I have a friend who has a 2 year old in a local nursery. She is beside herself as the nursery is understaffed, ratio's incorrect, poor hygiene and to cap it all the deputy manager walked out in tears the other day. Rumours are rife that members of staff are unqualified and even that some lied about qualifications. Would ofsted treat her worries seriously? She is trying to find a new setting for her child, but her choices are limited due to location etc. She has tried to speak to management, but she feels that due to her age (she is only 20) they fob her off. I would say yes, go ahead and inform ofsted, but she is scared in case the nursery find out who reported them. As a nursery manager myself I think it is appalling, but I can only support my friend. Any advice please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueJ Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 If she is worried about the care that her child is getting and breaches of statutory regulations then yes she should contact Ofsted - better that than some harm come to her child or anyone else's attending that setting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowlow Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I would say yes report to Ofsted. I am not sure but can you do this anonymously? Although I have to say I know a setting near us was caught by a member of staff not having ordered enough lunches, they then were heard to say take the lunch away from a particular boy who could not speak (and had already started the lunch) as he would not be able to tell his parents, where as the child without a dinner could. She was horrified and walked out. To this day I do not know if it was true or not but Ofsted just phoned the manager and said was this true, she said no and the matter was dropped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narnia Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 (edited) Ofsted will NOT tell the setting who has reported them. She should go ahead and report them without delay. Forget 'rumours', deal in straight facts as she knows them, rumours only muddle the waters....but she could ask that qualifications are verified , perhaps? Edited June 20, 2013 by narnia 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 yes report to Ofsted straight away - they will then assess the complaint and inspect either within 5 days if they are very concerned or 30 days if a little concerned 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredbear Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Yes I would do this as a matter of urgency,we all have a duty of care to our young children to do so. Make sure she has all the facts and not hearsay to aid Ofsted in an inspection. Your friend probably already knows what she should do, hoping she gets support too, as not a nice thing to have to do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Yes, absolutely report to Ofsted. The staff manning the phones will be sympathetic and help her to list her complaints and concerns concisely- or she could of course write, but this seems urgent to me, and I think a phone call soon is the best course of action. Her name will not come up when the nursery is contacted by Ofsted, but as Hali says, it may well trigger an early unannounced inspection. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 She needs to inform Ofsted asap. This nursery seems like a disaster waiting to happen. She shouldn't be fobbed off because she is 'only 20yrs'. Im sure that Ofsted will take her concerns very seriously. Has she spoken to any other parents? Are they concerned also? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SamG Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Definitely give Ofsted a call today! She does not need to give her name, but this needs reporting without delay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Absolutely she should ring Ofsted - but I agree with narnia - no need to get into speculation about staff qualifications...... Please do come back and tell us how this all works out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Again I have to say your friend should please contact OFSTED. Any possibility of the children being endangered or mistreated should be investigated asap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I have passed on all your advice, and she now knows which course of action to take. Thank you all very much. I hope this is sorted out quickly. Thanks again . :1b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondie Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 we had a new member of staff who left her previous setting due to concerns - she wrote to ofsted with these - they then phoned the setting advisng them they would be in on certain day - which meant that they knew to be fully staffed etc., - ofsted came had no concerns then said they would be in within next 28 days to do further check.of course the setting kept staff ratios ets good until they came again - they got an outstanding - then left and ratios are i expect incorrect again . makes my blood boil x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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