Q for Childcare workers

[Bathsheba]

Appalling situation, Excellent letter. I have also worked at an Early Learning Centre where this kind of arrangement would have been seen as highly detrimental toward the children. The staff must be miserable and/or outraged. I am almost at a loss for words...

Let us know how it goes RayRay.

[Pandora]

Thanks everyone.
Its run by an independant organisation. There are no council daycares in Wyndham, the council decided there were enough already, but many are still run in ex-coucil buildings.

Well, I was planning to take it in Friday night, but DH finished work early and had already picked Milo up from creche. I have also been told there's an Article in June 'Melbourne's Child' with a similar topic, so I'm going to try to get a copy of that before wednesday and either reference it or attach it with the letter.

I'm a bit concerned about how it (sending the letter) will effect Milo's being at the centre, but I guess since the parents and majority of carers are coming for the same side, it should be OK....

[Astrid]

I'm a bit concerned about how it (sending the letter) will effect Milo's being at the centre, but I guess since the parents and majority of carers are coming for the same side, it should be OK....

I feel the same way whenever I need to say something at my childcare, but when the wellbeing of you family is going to be majorly affected then often something has to be said.

I was waiting for the fallout from my complaint (just a gut feeling about the carer), but it ended up working in my favour (wont go into full details) and the other carers seem to be ok and have not said anything. I understand though that it is a scary thing to do.

[maddysmummy]

hi.. this is not good!! i have worked in child care for ten years and have never seen this happen before.. has the girl ever been in lead role before?? because this silly stunt does not make any sense!! it could be damaging to the poor children that depend on having the same carer each day!! good luck with your letter but are you the only parent making this complaint?? because it could go unlooked if it is!!

me 28 dad 25
DD november 06 mummy big crawling girl

[Visitor7]

wow, I wouldn't be too happy about this situation either rayray. Nina is in daycare 2 days per week, with the same people, and she knows those ladies. One of them went on 6 weeks leave after Nina had only been there for 2 weeks, and when she returned Nina did not know her, and would not go to her. It's only in the past 2 weeks that she's started warming to her. I would definitely be voicing my concern, but also what maddymummy said, make sure you're not the only parent doing this.
Good luck and keep us updated.

[mrsmac]

Do you see any of the other parents Ray Ray? Could you organise a letter and get a lot of signatures on it?

[Pandora]

Not really but DH does (he does the dropping off each day, we are both there at pickup) I know that the staff are unimpressed, and the other parents who'r reactions we have seen as the same as ours.

I think that he'd be too shy to talk to them though, so I might have to be late for work and go in myself.

The staff in his room are encouraging us to "comment" as much as possible.

[mrsmac]

With the staff behind you, you should be able to get signatures easily- they can direct other parents to you so DH doesn't have to actually approach people himself.

[Tobily]

I think you're letter is great and you're definitely right to be concerned about it.
What's he thinking!?
I'd be livid if they were exposing my 2 year old to that sort of uncertainty on a weekly basis. It just seems totally unnecessary.

[Ursula]

Rayray

Just dropping in to see how everything is going? Have you had a response from the Director in regards to your letter?

[Pandora]

Thanks, I am taking it tonight. DS only goes wed,Thu,Fri and I didn't have it ready until yesterday (GRRR...Printers...)

I will keep this thread updated

[maddysmummy]

hey ray ray just wondering how you letter went??? good i hope!!

[Pandora]

I submitted the letter last Wednesday, and called an spoke to the Director that afternoon. Not much progress, although I know for sure that I am definitely not the only parent who is unhappy. Its been made clear that there is no point escalating it to the next management level, it would need to go higher if we want anything done before August.

There is a parents meeting in eary August to "review" the arrangement. I enquired about the parents committee, apparently there is none, so I think I will have a new project on my hands soon.

[Ursula]

Are you saying that the next level up in management agree with the Director's actions?

Hopefully by starting a committee for the parents to voice their opinions and concerns it will display to the mgmt etc that you are a group of knowledgeable parents who have their children's best interests in mind. A force to be reckoned with, people who should be consulted before snap and possibly rash decisions are made.

How have things been with separation in regards to dropping your DS at the centre, have you noticed any differences???

[charlie23]

Hi rayray
just found this thread and i am apalled at what the director has done. I am also a qualified CW (group leader) and am wondering where she got her teaching degree. I don't know any ideology that supports changing carers on a daily basis.

This arrangement is so not in the best interests of any of the children or staff, you may find that the staff will start resigning.....

I feel so sorry for your son and all the other children that are being put through this needless change. I hope that you can get a resolution before August as 4 weeks of this will probably unsettle your son, the other children and staff to the point of breaking.

Kelly

[Pandora]

Some parents telephoned the next level up, and all they got were tales of how fabulous the new director is, they felt that their concerns were basically ignored.

DS has been a lot more clingy in the mornings, not sure how much of this is just developmental, but at pick up and in the evening he has seemed a lot more unsettled/hyped up.

[MrsFabuloso]

HI Rayray,

I have just stumbled across this thread and I can see why you'd be so concerned.
I am an early childhood teacher and have been a director (have been a ccw for 11yrs).

I can't see how the director could think this would improve anything in the centre. There would be no carer/carer relationships or satisfaction, no child/carer relationships, no parent/carer relationships no stability and no continuity for anyone.

I agree with the other childcare workers who have commented, in that there are no ideologies/theories that support this thinking, in fact all of the ones I know and have studied support the continuity and stability that having the same carers brings, particularly for children under 3yrs. Besides the fact that you as the parent will be more confident in the quality of care that having familiar carers with your baby would bring.

I suggest that you go to the meeting and voice your concerns to the director and anyone else who will listen. Perhaps document how Milo has changed when going to childcare, and any inconsistencies that occur, like carers forgetting to do things for him, having to tell carers info about Milo multiple times etc...if you have specific examples it will be better for you to show how the changes are affecting you, your DH and Milo. And if that doesn't work, I would try to find other arrangements for childcare.

In NSW, it is a part of our quality assurance system (accreditation) that there is continuity of care for the children (amongst other things) that changes like this would affect. Perhaps it is also a part of the quality systems in place in Vic too? It might be a good idea to ask about this?

I hope that you can sort this out, I know how difficult it can be to find good childcare, especially since Milo was happy there before the changes. Good luck!

Kellie.

[Pandora]

Well, last week they set a date for the parents meeting, and its not til the end of august.
In the meantime, there have been a couple more changes
all the cots which were in a seperate room (with viewing windows in the wall and doors, and video monitoring) have been moved into the main room cos they were deemed to be "unsupervisable".

and more concerning to me, the director has decided the door to the ouside playground should remain open at all times so the children "can have a choice". Its 0-18months, I don't think they need the choice! I imagine its enough supervising the kids all in the one area, but what if ones having a nappy change, and a couple run outside, take off their shoes etc?

will see what happens next!