Gumboots complaint

[philosophie]

I've seen a complaint registered to Ofsted re: Gumboots nursery - https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50165906

It looks like action was taken but it mentions 'a breach regarding child protection and managing behaviour.'

I just wondered if any parents of children who attend the nursery have any insider info on this and if it's anything that parents with a potential placement at Gumboots should worry about? I'm not sure how frequently these sort of complaints get lodged with Ofsted...

[CrunchB]

Did anyone come back to you with any information on this? I?d be very interested to know what the issues were as we?re on the waiting list for a place.

[midivydale]

Sounds like a parent complained, the nursery then retrospectively reported the same Incident to ensure they didn?t get caught out for failure to report. I?d speak to them about the incident and see how forthcoming they are in giving you the information. Also ask about their behaviour management policy. It doesn?t sound great to be honest.

I really really regret not reporting several incidents with my eldest nursery place. They were in clear breach on a number of occasions and I still think about it now years later as I have to walk past the damn place every day. His sight is a great thing but I wish I?d spoken up at the time.

[JakeC]

.

[Jellybeanz]

I worked here for a couple of months on a voluntary basis (around 7/8 years ago now) and was not impressed with the level of care.

The staff are nice enough but have basic training and are not always supervising the children very well (sometimes standing chatting, oblivious to the kids' needs, even when outside on play equipment).

Since then I have known a few people who send their children there. Most have been happy enough but I know about a couple of incidents (child coming home with terrible bruises from when another child apparently stepped on him while he was sleeping - I don't know the details and the parents weren't even told very much but honestly it shocked me as they were visible and very bad - face and body). The child was around 2 or 3 at the time, so very little.

I get the impression they take on a lot of kids for the space they have and also staff as I say have very basic training, so not the best.

Personally I would go for a different nursery. Little Fingers, First Steps and Mother Goose are all very good and have a more homely environment and nice outside space (latter two not near a main road but still convenient location).

I had a terrible experience with a local childminder and wish to this day I had reported her to Ofsted. She had something clearly mentally wrong and is still looking after young children. Perhaps I should do that now thinking about it.

CrunchB - Good luck with whatever you decide!

[philosophie]

Yes, it was apparently a minor breach of their outings policy and the manager subsequently contacted parents to let them know. As a counter view, I've had a couple of parents contact me privately on here with nothing but praise for Gumboots so I'm far less worried. It is definitely a busy nursery and whether you/your child like that or prefer a more homely one, is down to the individual. (On the plus side, it sounds like they do loads of fun activities and are very stimulating!) I do think that everyone should report where they have concerns, it's easy to sweep these things under the carpet and worry you're making a fuss. But we should be fussy when it comes to young kids! Saying that, nursery workers are only human and kids do fall over, accidents do happen, etc.