Is this the UK childcare standard?

Is this the UK childcare standard?

by: sheryl - 07-11-07 15:57

Hello Everyone.

I have recently begun a new career in childcare. I do two days per week as a student at a local day nursery which takes 3mths to 5yrs. I attend college NVQ CCLDL3.

I didn't know much about the industry before I began this in August. Although I love working with children - they are amazing(!)- I am not that impressed with the standards of care and just wondered if this was the standard of childcare in the UK or have I just chosen a bad nursery?

The sub-standard things are:

In the baby room, there are only 3 cots and a 'rocker' so when they have 11 babies in, they have to take it turns to sleep. So some cots are shared between 3 babies on a busy day, and on these busier days, the staff don't really get chance to play with the kids as they too busy running around looking after them all.

They don't ever seem to have enough chairs, or clean face cloths and bibs or plates to eat from !!

They are large organisation - they have about 80 kids but have capacity for 100. I don't think the tumble dryer could cope with the eextra kids though!

The staff are highly stressed and constantly complain about everyting. They do not work as a team, bitch about each other alot, and generally speak to some of thier younger staff members like rubbish.

The kids a re happy enough, but sometimes they don't all get consistent discipline which leads to problems, especiually in the pre-school age where frankly the kids run riot sometimes.

It just seems crazy that in a privately owned for profit business, I am having to run around at lunch times for plates and chairs and cups, for children who's parents have paid sooo much for thier children to be 'cared for'.

Is this just a bad egg or is this the industry I have walked into?

by: Sugar & Spice

Is this a Leapfrog Nursery? Been there,done that, got dragged down by them and got out.

RE: RE: Is this the UK childcare standard? - 08-11-07 08:17

by: Lighter than life

I must agree with you sugar & Spice this does sound like a Froggy nursery. Lets just hope that it is as there cant to two companies running like this!

by: sheryl

Hi

No its not that company, its just a single company they do not have any other nurseries.

I assume then that this is a bad egg? I'm quite releived to hear it if it is!

I am planning on getting a job/placement elsewhere, it's just my transport situation thats holding me back really.

Any other thoughts muchly appreciated.

by: sheryl

Hi

I've just read the first 20 or so posts in the leapfrog thread. WOW! So standards could actually get worse! I am afraid to say that I think that there is something fundamentally wrong in making a profit out of childcare.

When you have the investors at the very top, it's just business, and dividends. Care and standards are only kept as high as they need to be to make sales.

I really think our government needs to step in and make childcare regulations much more controlled and enforced if the industry is ever going to be what it should be. Or make it a public service, government funded and not for profit. That way all £££ goes towards the children's care - now doesn't everyone want that?

At my college, there is a lady there who's daughter runs a nursery. She has no quals, she is actually an accountant. She decided to open a nursery becuase there 'was so much money to be made at it'.

by: sheryl

Does anyone know where to look to find decent employment? I'm not that bothered about being paid more (although that would be lovely) - I would just like to find somewhere pleasurable and friendly to work where the child comes fiurst!

by: joshuajones

Try Child First - company is more about providing the best, than making big bucks !!

by: Millie

I am an NVQ Assessor and tutor, and can verify that the standards within some and I do state SOME nurseries are dire.  Policies and procedures are usually not in place, those that have polices and procedures do not filter these down to their staff and are living from day to day, but will panic and implement prior to an inspection from Ofsted.

I find a good tip when going for an interview, is to ask for these policies and procedures, and find out what your roles and responsibilities will be within them as an individual and a team member.  You will then find out how the nursery is run for the children, staff and in partnership with parents(or should be run).

by: Rose

What a shame you're training at such a place. I can honestly say that not all providers are like this though, some are lovely, relaxed, caring, well resourced and with the childrens needs absolutyl a priority, so hopefully you'll find somewhere better. I work for a supply agency through which I have seen awful practice, so much so that I complained about one to Ofsted who had actually given them a 'good' on their last inspection. I doubt it was possible to find a dirtier, drabber, strict, uncaring place anywhere. Other places I just refuse to go back to. Hope the rest of your training goes well.

by: tigershay

Hello

I can only hope that you have been unlucky in your placement, but sadly I believe that your situation is not a one off.

Childcare settings should be managed and overseen by not only qualified staff, but dedicated and valued staff who are empowered and given rewards and benefits for working to the highest of stadards.

Every childcare setting has days when they are short staffed through sickleave and holidays, however if this is the only period that staff are working in a more stressful state then I have found that this is managed.  It is when like you say that staff are constantly stressed that has the repecusions of:

high turnover of staff, low self seteem and staff morale which all contributes to standards of care slipping on the "floor"

We have a strong team, high morale and staff know they are valued this has allowed us to have a very low staff turn over and this has been much better for the children, their families and our setting.

I can only add that you seem to know that what you have seen is not "good practice" so thefore you need to move on in order that you recieve a training that is of high quality Good Luck

Tighershay

by: Margos

Hi Sheryl,

I am sorry that this is your expereince of the Childcare Sector. Of course some childcare providers are not as good as others. If you go on the Ofsted website you can see some very good reports and get a better feel of UK standard.  

I am currently running the Blow Your Own Trumpet campain for positive practitioners to raise the profile of the Early Years sector.  Why don't you join us? www.proceedc.com.

Regards

Margos