The setting I was manager at for 20 years closed at the beginning of the summer holidays, it was owned by a church. The committee was made up of elderly church members and with no one younger to take over they made the decision to close. The closure and redundancies weren’t handled very well, so I guess I’m a little sensitive.
I started my new job yesterday, I accepted a practitioner role in July. Because of my previous experience they decided to make deputy and Safeguarding lead which I found out yesterday, I don’t know if I want to be safeguarding lead again (thought I would take a step down as I’m no spring chicken anymore). I’ve had no induction yet there does yet seem to be any induction paperwork.
At snack the grapes weren’t cut up and was told they don’t normally cut them up, they were then cut up. The staff use the same toilets as the children. They have a disabled toilet with a changing station and ladies with two cubicles, the children are encouraged to use one cubicle and the staff use the other. Does anyone else do this? at my last setting staff used the gents and children used the ladies.
I was then told about my break and when I asked when it would be I was told I could take it when I want. I asked about ratios and was told I could be counted in ratio even if I was not in the building. There is no where to go away from the children and I do understand in a church hall space is hard to come by but I made sure staff had somewhere to go as I feel it’s important.
And just to top it all off there is no car park I will have to pay £2.70 per day to park. I did know this before but after 20 years of parking outside the building it was a bit of a shock. I also know I have been very lucky to have had parking.
I know it will take sometime to get used to the change but right now I feel like walking but I can’t. Apologies for the long rant.