leapfrog employees

leapfrog employees

by: sexy gal - 27-09-06 18:06

106 chick do are we from the same nursery?

by: girlpower

hi scarlett, we r within ratios but more and more children r leaving because their favourite staff members have left, so we will be overstaffed again.

leapfrog employees - 28-09-06 07:34

by: scarlett

its a vicious circle then..
feel sorry for you and children.
turnover of staff is not good for staff morale or the continuity of care for children.

leapfrog employees - 28-09-06 19:07

by: girlpower

hi scarlett, wot u say is true, but everyone who left has bettered themselves with either more money , more holidays, less working hours or even moving from the area all together. they wud be stupid to turn down better opportunities than leapfrog can offer.

leapfrog employees - 29-09-06 09:35

by: scarlett

i agree.

leapfrog employees - 29-09-06 22:49

by: 106Chick

Sexy Gal- are you in Wiltshire? Or are you one of the other 4 nurseries?

leapfrog employees - 29-09-06 22:51

by: 106Chick

Just to let you alls know... last day was today! Thank god im not working for Leapfrog anymore!

What a joke! Now Simon Cashmores (MD) gone.. think that says it all!

Very very tearful day, cried me last tears out..

leapfrog employees - 29-09-06 23:23

by: girlpower

why did simon cashmore leave?
i was led to believe by my area manager he would make a difference, unfortunately she didnt say if the difference would be for the better or worse. i think we all know the answer to that one!!!!!!!!!!!

leapfrog employees - 30-09-06 19:51

by: carrianza

prob left as realised the company was going no where excepted bust

leapfrog employees - 16-10-06 19:52

by: sexy gal

its going bust(the company)

leapfrog employees - 17-10-06 18:32

by: rohan

Dear Wise bird,
You are really lucky you got a letter tanking you for your hard work. I left 8 months ago and still waiting for it! I didn't even know it existed! I have asked several times for a ref. letter but surprise! they will only write a reference if a prospective employer makes a request. Sad, very sad.

leapfrog employees - 17-10-06 20:05

by: girlpower

unfortunately the only ref letter u get from them, is a bog standard letter from someone who has never met u, or knows how hard u work, or how u r with children, parents and other staff.
from the ref letters ive seen they r less than 1/2 page long with their stupid logo taking up most of it.
so if anybody was expecting a good ref, forget it!!
they r already on their pc and they just change ur name and job title, thats all.

leapfrog employees - 30-10-06 22:05

by: 106Chick

Ah well.. lets all come to this one and only conclusion..

Leapfrog is ****e! (IMO):D:D:D:D Ha ha!

(This is the opinion of me only and based on my experiences with the company)

leapfrog employees - 01-11-06 13:39

by: 106Chick

I hated the company the first month i started working for them. The children is the reason i stayed. (And the fact that i was buying a new house at the time and couldnt afford to quit).

I hate the company because of the way theyve treated us over pretty much everything but especially the ending. If you were being closed down you would know what i meant.

leapfrog employees - 10-11-06 18:44

by: topchick123

u bunch of moanin winghers, why donna u get off your big backsides and go getta anover job rather than keep moanin about leapfrog, i like workin here, go geta life

leapfrog employees - 10-11-06 19:31

by: girlpower

i have left and got another job; better pay at £9 per hour, less hours and more holidays!!!!
so topchick123 i have now got a better life and i am much happier working for a company that puts its staff first and values them, rather than a loser company who couldnt give a **** about staff, children and parents only profits.
i think youll find that u r in a minority topchick123.

leapfrog employees - 11-11-06 20:12

by: 106Chick

Agree with above. I now earn 12k MORE a year than at Leapfrog, am only doing 35hr week AND i get 30days holiday!( And the main thing is im not getting treated like crap!)

Sun is shining over here! :D

leapfrog employees - 12-11-06 10:33

by: 106Chick

Yea... and at least its free! :D:D

leapfrog employees - 13-11-06 17:21

by: topchick123

sick and tired of readin all this rubbish, why dont you all just shut up, get another job if you dont like it and go get a life, leave leapfrog alone and let us enjoy workin here, u bunch of losers

leapfrog employees - 13-11-06 17:23

by: topchick123

ps 'i've been here' - talk about my english, there are stacks of apostrophies missing from your comments - and you talk about my english!

leapfrog employees - 13-11-06 19:28

by: girlpower

well said 'ive been here' !!
just wait until they close down more leapfrog nurseries, then we'll see how many happy little froggies there are.

leapfrog employees - 15-11-06 14:37

by: topchick123

ohhh what a great woman u r 'ive been here', how big of u. All i'll say is leave us who are happy to get on with it, and stop slaggin me and my company off, why dont you all get on wif ur lives and put it behind u

leapfrog employees - 15-11-06 22:12

by: space

Well, I haven't been on this website for a long time,but I feel that people really do need to face the truth about the comapny and now matter what people say on here they should not take it to heart. At the end of the day its how people are feeling at that moment of time.

I would say TOPCHICK to look back at some of the original emails on this forum and you will notice that nothing changes!


Good Bless xx

leapfrog employees - 15-11-06 22:14

by: space

All you little frogs I hope you manage to find happiness. Bless you all XXXX

leapfrog employees - 02-01-07 16:42

by: girlpower

happy new year to all u froggies out there!
make ur new new years resolution for 2007 to get another job and leave the company.
that was my resolution for last year and i achieved it so wishes can come true

leapfrog employees - 19-01-07 15:04

by: tanyabbc

I've been reading this thread and it looks like the real problems date back to the summer of 2005 and early 2006. Would you say that things have changed and Leapfrog is much better now or do the same old problems still exist?
Please post or email me direct on tanya.freedman@bbc.co.uk

leapfrog employees - 19-01-07 20:27

by: space

Tanya, I'm hapy to tell you about the experience I had working for LEAPFROG but I would like to see some policies first so I know who you are and you 100% work for the BBC.

leapfrog employees - 22-01-07 10:27

by: tanyabbc

Hi Space,

If you email me on my bbc address I will write back to you with more details.

You can see from my email address that I do work for the BBC and just to let you know that I spoke to Liz Roberts (editor Nursery World) at length before I posted anything here, and also that I asked her permission to post.

It's worth stating 2 things. The first is that our lawyers are scrupulous and we cannot use any information without your written permission and the second is that because this is television any information/experiences that you share with me on email or over the phone can only be used as background information, to put anything on screen we actually need to be filming and we are not even close to that stage yet.

But send me an email and I'll respond with more info.

Tanya

leapfrog employees - 26-02-07 22:16

by: 106Chick

Well guys....iv been out of the company for all 5 months now and i cant describe how happy i am!

Leapfrog treated me like crap for just under 2 years. Like most working women who have family lives to think about aswell, i was stuck in a crap job, in a crap company working for crap money. I hated getting up in the mornings, i hated walking in through the doors, i hated putting my bag in my locker knowing it was another day to go through. I hated putting on a smile to all the parents when they dropped their most precious posession off and pretending i was happy to be there when deep down i was thinking to myself, what excuse can i make up to go home or 'act ill today so i can call in sick tommorow' type feeling!

For everyone still working for Leapfrog... good on you.. you are obviously have a lucky nursery where you are happy... the unhappy ones out there will know what i mean! lol

Keep in touch girlies!

Luv me xxx

leapfrog employees - 06-03-07 21:21

by: redundant

Hi

I have been reading this since my nursery closed down in September last year. Very sad, I would like to point out that there is life outside of Leapfrog however there are also a lot of happy and contented children in other Leapfrog nurseries and at the end of the day we all have life choices and if you are really not happy there, then may I suggest you get out, life is too short.
It is a shame that '106 chick' felt so strongly about her job and had to result in taking so much sick leave to help (did your manager know this was the reason?), I am glad you are so happy in your new job and we must all get together soon for a reunion.

All take care and look outside the box!!!!

leapfrog employees - 09-03-07 13:44

by: space

Ive just read the article about Leapfrog in this weeks magazine. Nice to read that good old Leapfrog are managing to come up trumps again!

leapfrog employees - 13-04-07 14:27

by: JoHill

PLEASE READ THIS!!! - Hello, I do not work at a nursery, but am writing as a very upset and concerned parent as my daughter, Bella, goes to Princess Christian Day Nursery in Rotherham and has done since she was 11 months old (now 4 years). I have come to work today so upset for my daughter and desperate to call the childminder that I have arranged to have Bella when she starts school in September to see if she can have her sooner (ASAP, tomorrow if she can) as that nursery is letting my daughter down so badly that she doesn’t want to go there anymore. I never used to have any problems until maybe a year or 18 months ago when everything has gone downhill. Here are just a few of the problems; 1) Understaffing - there is many occasions that 1 member of staff has been in charge of 15+ children ('the other carer's just in the toilet, they say). So I wait for up to 20 minutes and still ONLY ONE CARER! This is against the law. I don’t blame the girls; they are great and just doing their job. They have spoken to me and told me how bad it is and that they want to leave even though they love the children. I’ve been told that a girl in the 2-3's room was crying because she is so overworked. All the girls agree that management is absolute crap. 2) Secondly, last nov/dec (so 6 MONTHS AGO!!), Bella had an external door slam on her thumb and had her nail fall off and still has problems bending it. 6 MONTHS LATER, the doors are still unsafe. We've complained 25+ times, what if it happens again?, and we've been LIED to and FOBBED OFF that when refurbishment happens, its first on the list. Yet a month ago when the refurb should have taken place, the guy 'went on holiday' and so they have re-scheduled this for apparently next month. I would bet every penny ive got that in 3 months it’s still not safe. 3) Lastly and most importantly (there’s lots more than this wrong, but Im just covering the main stuff), for maybe a year now, one of the girls in Bella's room has turned nasty and bullies the other children, particularly Bella (even though they have been friends since babies). Bella has been SPAT at, bitten, pushed, Shoved and scratched VICIOUSLY. Twice this week she has come home with DEEP SCRATCHES (arm and chest). She cries when I take her to nursery and has just started having sleeping trouble. We complain and complain and nothing happens. We have been told that this girl’s parents have had a meeting and that this child is having behavioural therapy. But nothing changes!! My mother (who is very upset) and I have this morning had serious complaints with the nursery manager again, who informed us that they can’t keep the children apart, she won’t do anything and that unless this child constantly causes bodily damage or seriously hurts somebody, then she will not be considered for exclusion. So basically I need to wait until Bella is scratched or bitten to pieces or she gets her eye poked out or hair cut off (oh yes she’s tried to do those already too!) before anything gets done! She also told us that the doors will eventually be sorted. When I asked why they don’t invest in some temporary door stoppers that would cost around £10, she said that they couldn’t afford it!! I pay £130+ a week for Bella to go there! I am so cross and upset at this stupid way and absolute crap management. So tonight after work I am going to do my best to get my precious daughter out of that UNSAFE hellhole (such a shame I have to say this and let her leave on these terms after she’s been going there so long) and get her with a SAFE, CARING, WELL STAFFED AND LEGAL (!) childcare provider before any lasting damage is done. When she leaves, to make others including other parents who’s children are a risk of damage and abuse AWARE, I will be handing them this message, also to the carers (who are lovely and have done no wrong), to the USELESS management to let them know how bad they have failed my daughter, to Offsted, whoever else will hear my story (Im not sure about newspapers, etc.. yet Im still considering that). NOTHING IS CHANGING and it’s not GOOD ENOUGH

Jo Hill

leapfrog employees - 13-04-07 16:25

by: jacqui29

I have just read this and am sitting here with my mouth wide open,this is not "QUALITY CHILDCARE".I think the only way to go is {1}Try your best to get her out straight away and i hope if you can they do not try to charge you for not giving notice.{2}Report your concerns to OFSTED.{3}Speak to Head Office and try and have a meeting with the Area Manager,as you have not got anywhere with the Manager.{4} Tell as many people as you can about your concerns about the nursery,when their occupancy levels drop maybe someone will sit up and take notice.This company are failing children,parent's and their underpaid staff. {5}The local newspaper would love a story like this.{6}Good luck,take care and STAY STRONG DON'T LET THEM WALK ALL OVER YOU.

leapfrog employees - 13-04-07 19:54

by: baby_girl

I completely agree!!!!
Do whatever you can to let everyone know how bad the situation is. Good luck and let us know how you get on with them!

leapfrog employees - 17-04-07 13:18

by: Jane54

"I never used to have any problems until maybe a year or 18 months ago when everything has gone downhill"

So you've allowed your child to remain at this nursery despite all of these problems, JoHill what sort of parent does that make you?

leapfrog employees - 17-04-07 20:00

by: space

I dont know what sort of parent jacui29 is, but I hope that she has given the company-nursery room for thought. From what she has written I guess that she is a caring,loving, devoted parent. As a parent I can understand that you only want he best for your children. WHY WHY WHY are visits put onto the daily routine room boards ?(if ofsted were to visit it would be up on the board? NO- managers would be down at Tesco buying the cleaning materials and hand soap.I could go on and on............. I really do wish that parents understood how this company is really ran.It is very easy to remove a child from a nursey, I can only guess that altough there are many issues on here involving Leapfrog people (staff, stidents,parents) will all hope that it will get better.Altough I no-longer work for the company I hope that everone eventally openes their eyes and see what a bad company LEAPFROG REALLY IS>

leapfrog employees - 17-04-07 20:02

by: space

sorry excuse the spelling mistakes i do get carried away!

leapfrog employees - 17-04-07 21:44

by: Tara4

I have just read Jo Hills post and yes I am sat here with my mouth wide open too, wondering how on earth someone can be so concerned about their childcare provider YET still send their child there. Surely a child's welfare and happiness should come before a job.
If I had serious concerns about my childs nursery care that wasnt being resolved to my satisfaction, then im sorry but they would be out of their immediately.

leapfrog employees - 18-04-07 16:07

by: JoHill

FYI, I am an excellent parent, it’s the thing I do best in life, something I excel in and put all my effort into. The reason Im taking action now instead of sooner is that I’ve been fobbed off with false promises time after time, maybe Im too trusting, and have now taken the decision to lose my faith in them completely. The problems have gradually built up from minor ones, all of a sudden into major ones, hence why I am now taking action and getting her somewhere I consider safe and happy. I do not understand why somebody would try to bring me down for trying to do the right thing and for venting my upset and frustration on a website. I am the first parent at Nursery to have taken action to move my daughter even though all the other parents have these same problems, because we have all been lied to for so long, I can only hope that the other parents will follow suit. I take on board your point that I should have done something sooner, but please do not question my parenting abilities as I can assure you it is something I put 100% into and I am working on making sure that this move is a happy and un stressful one for her.

On a happier note, I’ve taken Bella for her pre-school boosters this morning (she was very brave) and she’s gone to the childminders this afternoon and pre-warned the other children to expect ‘sharp scratches and a bit of blood’. I’ve never seen so many faces turn white lol, although they sighed relief when she informed them that they get sweets and cuddles for being brave, bless.

leapfrog employees - 18-04-07 18:36

by: baby_girl

Well done Jo!
I completely agree with you!!
Just because you've left your daughter at a nursery (that she obviously knows and loves to prevent disruption to her life) where you and others have been promised that things will be sorted and will get better DOES NOT(!) make you a bad parent. Instead, it shows that you care enough for your daughter's welfare to keep her in a familiar place with all of her friends and things she knows!

leapfrog employees - 18-04-07 18:53

by: janny

I agree.Being a working parent is very hard and a MAJOR balancing act. Jo is right when she says small things build up into bigger things, thats life, and of course she's going to believe managment when they say things will be done. Obviously Bella was happy there and from what I can gather from reading the messages on this site its not the staff at the coal face who cause the problems, in fact I read that they are very caring and Bella has obviously formed a bond with them. However there does come a time when you won't be fobbed off and you have to say enough is enough. I think you've done the right thing Jo, you trusted your instincts and tried to strike a balance, all in Bella's interests. If I were you now though I would complain to OfSTED so that they can check the nursery out too, otherwise nothing will ever get done. Good luck to Bella with her childminder!! Jan

leapfrog employees - 18-04-07 20:45

by: joshuajones

Hi Jo,
I agree well done to you. You have tried to do the right thing by approaching the management to sort out your problems BEFORE taking the very difficult decision to disrupt your daughter. You have met with nothing but stalling tactics and inaction. I hope Bella settles well with her new carer, and I agree, you should complain to Ofsted and let them take up the challenge. Good luck to you both.

leapfrog employees - 18-04-07 20:50

by: space

First I must say sorry as I had name confusion, I'm so sorry. Jo I hope that you didint think I was having a dig at you. From what you have written I can see where you are coming from and I worked for this company.On a regular basis I was sent to cover various nurseries during holidays and sickness and everyone has the same feelings about the company.As a middle aged QUALIFIED member of staff (THIS IS WHAT THE COMPANY LACKS) I have seen so many young girls join the company because they think it is easy money. I know that everyone deserves a chance but when some of the manager/deputies very little experience of life, how can they expect their staff to educate children. How can staff improve their skills when their NVQ Assesors dont come out to visit on a regular basis, but ther again staff just thing that when they are sent on NVQ time they can just sit about texting and chatting whist other staff members are left with unqualified staff and agency staff who are QUALIFIED BUT DONT KNOW THE NURSERY OR THE CHILDREN) things have to change.Glad to read parents are putting comments on here. Its what people need to read. I wished I had done more research into the compnay before I stared to work for them. Good luck Bellla

PS I am not having a dig at all of you young staff who work for Leapforg either.

Room for thought........ I have always looked after children as I would like my own to be cared for. A child is the most precious thing that any Mum/Dad will have together and when they go out to work they want you to love and care for them.

It takes alot to be a good nursery nurse so think before you leap into this career

leapfrog employees - 19-04-07 12:28

by: JoHill

Thank you to those of you who have offered me words of support and encouragement, and to those of you who think that I waited too long before taking action, I take on board your comments but also stress that I am a very good parent, who unfortunately put faith in the business who eventually has come up with false promises and I do not feel like I have let my daughter down in the least. I think that ive made the right decision to do this for my daughter and I will keep you updated on how she gets on in her new surroundings and also I will report on the progress with my complaint. Ive heard that Ofsted will unfortunately give the nursery time to prepare if they take the action to visit. Is this true? Surely this would not give a true picture of what is going on and will give management time to 'spruce things up' for the day and gives them time to prepare? Surely not?? I can only hope that the other parents will take note of my actions and get their children moved too. Its such a shame it finished like this as Bella was happy there, the carers are lovely and adore her and things were fine in the beginning and up until the problems started. I wouldnt trust Leapfrog nursereries to care for any further children I have in the future.

Take care

Thanks =-)

leapfrog employees - 19-04-07 14:26

by: janny

Hi Jo, If you make a complaint to OfSTED they won't inform the nursery that they are coming they will just turn up. If you check the OfSTED website www.ofsted.gov.uk it explains how to make a complaint and who to contact etc. Good luck and do please keep us informed!!

leapfrog employees - 19-04-07 18:48

by: joshuajones

Jo
rest assured Ofsted will give no notice at all of a visit, so the nursery will be caught off guard and operating as they normally do, badly !!

leapfrog employees - 21-04-07 11:07

by: sexy gal

bunch of vile dogs working in the company

leapfrog employees - 22-04-07 17:53

by: rohan

I have never been so happy to know that I made the right decision to leave Leapfrog. I only wish that one day those managers get old and they get the same treatment when they retire to their retirement home. Now seriously, they should be forced to work full time for one month in one of their nurseries and get paid as an unqualified n. assistant. They would learn a lesson!

leapfrog employees - 22-04-07 21:55

by: grooveygirl

I am suprised by all of the negitive comments on here. There are many leapfrog nurseries doing an excellent job looking after children and parents, I have friends who use other leapfrog nurseries and all are very happy. This is always going to be a very subjective issue and can only be dealt with by us parents commenting via the right routes, eg the nursery manager and then the head office. I know that we waited for a while for our refurbishment but when it came, wow -and the children benefitted even more from being in the nursery with caring, kind, loving staff who work hard to meet my children's needs. If staff are so unhappy about their work place they should write to head office too. Nursery work is hard and tiring, people don't realise and I agree with the mature lady's comments about thinking carefully brfore they join. With regard to johill who has commented about her daughter I think she should have been more vocal with the manager and written to head office before letting it get to this point. My nursery has links with early years and they were involved when another child was hurting my daughter. the nursery took their advice and they worked it out. Maybe johill should've checked if this had happened and were nursery doing as much as they could. I know they can't just ban other children without following a process. Please don't be so damning about all leapfrogs as most are doing a good job with the children and all of these comments have a bad effect on those staff who are working well looking after my children doing a fantastic job! Keep up the great work - thank you!!

leapfrog employees - 23-04-07 12:21

by: JoHill

Hi All

Ive submitted my complaint to Ofsed now, so im just waiting to hear a response from them.....

Im really glad that you find the nursery your child goes to excellent grooveygirl I only wish that mine had been the same. I couldn’t keep on waiting for the refurb to happen. Believe me, I was EXTREMELY vocal with the nursery manager on plenty of occasions and have always been fobbed off. I have also tried head office, but it didn’t work so I have resorted to complaining to Ofsted and informing the other parents of the problems (not one parent I have spoken to is happy or satisfied with this particular nursery anyway and most have said they will be following my lead). Im just so glad to have taken my daughter away. However if you are happy with your child's nursery then great, the staff are generally lovely people. I think you would be surprised though at the shocking level of standards within this company if you put your child in the Rotherham branch =-)

leapfrog employees - 30-04-07 17:41

by: Stephy

I am so sad to see this still going on!
Grooveygirl if you look at the very begining of this thread you will see it was me who started. 2years ago i started to complain to my manager, area manager then head office until i reached the top, I was dealing with the MD. Yet still nothing was done I was made to fell like i was a trouble maker and it left me with no choice but to find another job. I cried and cried when i left I loved the children in my care and was worried about what would happen if people who cared for them wouldnt speak out.

I have been banned from entering the premises as i am seen as a trouble maker, apart from bringing it up on here i did everything correctly and to the book but no one was intersted in helping to resolve the problems.

I feel so sad to see that people are still having probelms with the nurseries and i kind of hoped it would all be sorted.

Like I have said before i am pleased if you work or your children go to a good nursery you are very lucky. And i feel very much for those of you who dont.

All i can say though is that the care given to the chicldren on the whole by the girls (and boys) looking after then is fantastic well it was in my nursery.

Jo Hill i hope you daughter is now settled at her childminders and enjoying childcare again.

At the end of the day whatever is going on the children should be coming 1st and its sad to think in some places they are not!

leapfrog employees - 02-05-07 13:08

by: JoHill

Hi Everyone

Ive had a reply from Ofsted saying that they are taking this matter VERY seriously and are informing their Compliance, Investigation and Enforcement(CIE)team to make an official investigation, so some progress at last.
Just to keep you up to date, Bella is settling in brilliantly with her new Childminder and is her happy and bubbly self and looking forward to starting 'big school' in September. Its working out great as she's getting to know the Childminder who will be picking her up from school and having her through the school holidays before she starts, so it should be a smooth proccess for her now. Her happiness is my main job in life =-)

leapfrog employees - 11-05-07 18:05

by: deeya

Hi,
My child attend leapfrog nursery at Kettering. I have a feeling that things are not quite right. I have had a few problems with the teh care of my children and i am not sure if i am making too much of it. Please could you let me know if any of you have worked or are working there and if you are a parent if you ahve any advice. Thanks Deeya

leapfrog employees - 23-05-07 12:04

by: nickster

Hi Deeya,

Its easy to over react to these things sometimes.Its probably nothing but what sort of things are you worried about.

A problem shared and all that..

leapfrog employees - 24-05-07 12:19

by: JoHill

Hi All

Its been a while! Just to let you know that Ofsted are still investigating and have ensured me that it will be a very thorough investigation. Bella is very settled and never been happier with her childminder. I feel childminding is better now as they go out on day trips all the time which was very rare at nursery, I wish I had done this sooner.

Deeya, I cant comment on the other leapfrog nurseries standards in the UK, but for the sake of your child, please read through my posts, particularly my first one (im a parent too), and if you have these concerns, ive found its not worth waiting because Leapfrog will not sort it out and things are just getting worse. I suggest that you look elsewhere for quality childcare if there are problems. I wish you and your child well =-)

leapfrog employees - 25-05-07 10:44

by: scarlett

I know this is going on and on, but there are obviously some concerns.
I said this a while ago, but basically a nursery is good or bad dependant on the way it is managed.
If you have a young inexperienced or old inexperienced Manager with no acutal "proper" managment experience from the real world then this is when problems arise.
People do not know how to "manage" people.
I am confidant that I could go into any Nursery and sort it out. Even if sorting it out meant telling head office that they are running illegally or telling them how I will be running it.
I think it is an easy way out to blame "head office".

Thats just the way I feel and I am entitled to my opinion.

leapfrog employees - 26-05-07 17:15

by: AngelHelp

Hi to everyone,

Wow i carn't believe that this topic is still going on... I just like to say that i was once Jigsaw and now i'm leapfrog and i started as an assistant and worked my way up after 6 years i'm now base room manager of babies in Bute gardens, hammersmith.

What some people on here don't realise is that not all nurseries are bad we all have our problems and parents do complain. I love my job and treat my children as they were my own, with love and care.

I've followed this thread for so long and read everyones moans, groans and complaints but a nursery is what the staff make it. If you have a bad day then so will everyone else and the parents see this!

Childcare is a demanding career and is not for those who think that it is an easy ride, we are under paid and work long hours sometimes more than we should!!

Sorry for going on but i have to say this again...
NOT ALL LEAPFROG NURSERIES ARE BAD.

Love to all Angelhelp XxX

leapfrog employees - 29-05-07 22:57

by: veb

Wow! What a debate! I'm afraid after about an hour of reading I skipped to the more recent posts as I figured I'd be here till midnight. I am an ex Jigsaw, I was senior Nursery Nurse and loved my 21/2yrs there although towards the end I did get somewhat disheartened by the decline. Can I just state that Tom Shea was FANTASTIC. When I joined he knew the name of every staff member and every child and his vision was inspiring. I believe that the company grew too quickly and the accountants started having far more input than is healthy in a day nursery. That man worked so hard and it was so sad it all moved away from its roots.
A few years on I have worked in business management and have a better understanding of budgets than i did then however essentials are essentials and that includes staffing levels. (I'm now back in childcare!)
Nursery Nurses are replacable (even if not by particularly high quality - sorry but its true!) and people will move on and everything will remain the same...or will it? The individual manager will make a huge difference but they need support too and they should make use of the support available, i know our local authority has a great team of professionals that are available to offer all sorts of support on all sorts of levels that is there free of charge to be used to thier full advantage, unfortunatly i'm not sure many do.
Frustrations will always exist no matter what industry you are in, the trick is to find a workplace in which those frustrations are outweighed by the general job satisfaction. Easier said than done i hear you cry!
The children's welfare is paramount! Not the bottom line.

leapfrog employees - 07-06-07 09:44

by: pjpinchin

Does anyone know the real reason for the closure of the Millbrook Day Nursery operated by Leapfrog in Kettering? I am looking for a placement in that area and I am having difficulty finding a suitable place.