Sian_Williams

Hi all, I am new to this forum and just wondered if anyone has ever experienced what we are currently going through. Basically we are a fairly new setting (been open 16 months), private and based in a very small town where there are currently only 2 other nurseries. Everyone knows everyone and word spreads fast. Our problem is that a disgruntled parent (who we suspect has Munchhausens), has gotten together with another disgruntled parent and made a complaint to Ofsted about our setting relating to an accident. These parents claim that their children bumped heads and that one of them had to be rushed to the emergency room that evening. Ofsted carried out a surprise visit which lasted 4 hours and was satisfied with our response and the evidence that the child had a booked hospital appointment for that evening anyway regarding a UTI (which we proved by showing her the email from the parent). Our problem is now, that because they did not get the results they wanted with regards to their complaint, they are spreading false and malicious lies about our setting around town. We were due to have a new starter today but called yesterday to cancel. When asked why, she admitted that she had spoken to her friend who had recently pulled her child out and wasnt happy with our setting. Other parents who are 'friends' with these other two are now acting funny towards us and are being very rude and awkward so we are expecting them to hand in their notices soon. This is incredibly worrying as we are a small business and have funded our setting ourselves. Word is now going about town and people are not going to use us. We only have around 15 children in a day but they are all friends and know each other so it will only be a matter of time before we end up closing down due to lack of business. We are now constantly treading on eggshells making sure everyone is happy but they are all fine to your face and just do it behind your back and on social media later. Parents have also just left in the past without giving notice or paying their last invoice because we have refused them swapping their days and raised safeguarding concerns. Has anyone else had this in a small town? We really dont know what to do to stop these lies from being spread and to stop people from taking the p by just leaving out of the blue. Any advice is gratefully received. Sian