Is this normal or should I be complaining?

[melbel]

I think good riddance to bad rubbish. yes you have every right to be upset about the way the first nursery handled things and yur son was obviously picking up on some not so friendly vibes there. By all means voice your issues but I would not expect to get any result from it especially since you are no longer there. they sound like an all important arrogant lot of twots and they will more than likely just brush you off as a pi$$ed off "ex" and leave it at that. But yes you are totally justified in your feelings...vent them and move on is my advice, try not to get hung up on them and instead focus on the wonderful rapport you are developing with his new nursery and the fact your son is now getting the attention and care that he deserves!

[Gigi]

well said MELBEL, i 2nd what you said.

but it's a great shame the first place mucked you about so much.

[MrsFabuloso]

I think I would still do something even though you're not using the service, just to save any other families the trouble. Maybe they need a kick up the butt? I'd write a letter to the director (or whomever is in charge) and tell them your concerns and the differences between the two places and how they made you feel. Maybe then that will help the first place improve? Although as the others said I wouldn't really expect any kind of response from them.

[Chocaholic]

I would write a letter of complaint to the nursery. I probably wouldn't take it any further but at least they will know exactly how bad their behaviour is, how it adversely affected your son (who they have a duty of care towards) and hopefully there will be someone who cares enough to try and correct it.

I would also put down that i would be unable to give a positive recommendation towards the centre if anyone asked and hope their management systems/behaviour improves dramatically in the near future.

They may not do anything but it will help you get past the situation a little faster (I hope) and you can rest easy knowing you have at least tried to help any other mothers considering placing their child there.

[Lulu]

That is absolutely appalling RH and I would be telling everyone how crap it is, including them.

[nickel]

I was at a daycare that was a bit like that.
It sounds like a crap place! I'm so glad your little one is now ok.
The staff are probably not supported and have crap systems. You could write to the director...but even better if you could, make an appointment to see her, and tell her. Cause they'll just ignore a letter ... won't they? They should know how it made you feel, and see your side of it. anyway, not having pegs and pix on the wall IS a big deal, cause you start to wonder - hey do you guys even know my kid is here?? And It sound like they weren't experienced enough to look after an upset child.

[Pandora]

Is there any sort of independant or governing body that audits nursery/daycare?
Over here there are a huge number of factors that day care centres are audited against, and the developmental stuff (not filling out the book, not doing any of the crafty stuff thats age appropriate etcs) would all be considered when they get their accreditiation, and they have to make their audit results available to you to look at.
DS' creche didt do muich in the way of drawings or paintings until he was 18mths old, as he was one of the oldest in the room and none of the other kids were up to that stage, though once he got to the point where he wanted to do it (drawing) a lot they arranged it so that he could and got in some activities from the older kids room.
It sounds like he is in a much better environment now!
Is the nursery he was at, at your workplace? If so would that make you apprehensive about complaining about them?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I want to complain, it's just getting it right. Yes, it is at my workplace, but I'm leaving there in September. But I do work literally next door to the nursery!

Also, the bills I've had (money taken directly from my pay-packet) are for a child called XXX-al, not XXX-el (eg instead of the correct spelling you'd have Danial, Samual, Joal, Cal-Al etc). There are a few occurances of this and it really annoys me. Typos I can cope with as I have a bit of an A/E blind spot but it's hand-written there and no excuse for typos on bills!

I just want to get everything down and polished before I complain, but good idea to complain to OFSTEAD - they only really look at the National Curriculum practices though, not if children are happy or not. (Can't believe there is a national curriculum for a four-month-old now, how stupid.)