The knight nursery

My first time covering at the sister nursery

I arrived at the nursery and was called to the office by Marjorie "hiya char my love I need to ask you a big favor" I could tell by the look on Marjorie's face that I wasn't going to like this "a member of staff has called in sick at the sister nursery and they need cover, you are the only available member of staff,  please, please, please, could you cover there today". A small part of me wanted to go and see what everyone was talking about, so I agreed. Marjorie gave me the address and I started my journey over there, thinking to myself luckily, I decided to drive to work today.  I arrived at the sister nursery a short while later, taking a few deep breaths I waled up to the building and headed to the office "hi Siobhan I'm charlotte I've come from the sister nursery to cover here today.  Siobhan looked at me with a disgusted look on her face "you're not dressed very appropriately are you" looking down at my attire I was wearing leggings and a Harry Potter jumper "erm Marjorie never has a problem with what I wear, I've always been told to wear what I feel comfortable in".  Siobhan wasn't impressed with my reply and sent me to the toddler room.

I made my way down to the toddler room and introduced myself to the staff member that was in there "hi I'm charlotte I'm here to cover today from the sister nursery" "hi I'm Ellis please to meet you that's your group over there, they are already sat down in the book corner for story time" Ellis was a petite young woman who didn't look much older than me.  I went over and sat with my group in the book corner and read "the tiger who came to tea" with them then I took my group out into the soft playroom, after half an hour I went back into the toddler room. 

After lunch I sat my group down to do a match making activity when Ellis approached me and asked me to take one of her children in exchange for one of mine, she was taking her group out into the garden, "may I ask why?" "Well Bethany didn't do her match making properly so she doesn't deserve to go outside and play" "um ok and how old is Bethany may I ask?" "Bethany is nearly 3 so she is supposed to be a lot more advanced than the others my group she was just being lazy" "so let me make sure I'm getting this right you are punishing her for trying her best?" "no I'm punishing her for being lazy when she can do better".  I agreed to the swap "right my group lets tidy this activity away and head out into the garden for some fresh air" I took my group of toddlers out into the garden.   Ellis stormed over to me "what are you doing out here I said she was to stay inside" "well my group need some fresh air too so I decided to bring them out "ugh well I may as well swap Bethany back into my group then, and you can have Oscar back" I looked at her and smiled and replied "no thank you I will keep Bethany in my group and you can keep Oscar" "ugh fine" Ellis replied "oh you do realize that means I will be doing hand over with Bethany's parents". Ellis looked at me and said "hmm good luck with them they are very protective" a smile appeared on my face "it's not me that is going to need the luck when they find out what form of punishment you have been using on their daughter for trying her best" the look on Ellis's face was a picture I wish I could've got to keep forever.  I walked away casually and engaged my group in a water play activity.

A few hours passed and it came time to do the handovers with the parents as Bethany's arrived, I asked to have a word with them in the family room.  They looked at me confused but followed me "come in and take a seat" "thank you but may we ask what this is about" I introduced myself as they hadn't seen me before "my name is Charlotte I've been covering here today from our sister nursery I just wanted to make you aware of something" Bethany's parents looked concerned at me "was you aware that one of the staff members here has been denying Bethany fresh air or engaging in other activities as a form of punishment for not being able to match make properly".  Bethany's parents gasped at me and replied "we weren't aware at all" both parents looked at each other and then Bethany's mum spoke "come to think of it now there has been a few days when Bethany has come home incredibly upset saying she wasn't allowed to play with her friends we just assumed that they were in the opposite group to Bethany" I could see how hurt Bethany's parents were by the news.  Then Bethany's dad spoke "we would usually complain to Siobhan, but it always falls on deaf ears" I looked at them and felt heartbroken for them and Bethany that they had concerns and raised them, but nothing was ever followed up.

Sitting with Bethany's parents we came up with a plan.  "Leave this with me I will speak to my manager tonight and see what I can do because if this is happening to Bethany how many other children is this staff member using this form of punishment on?" I then helped them to fill out a complaints form but kept hold of the form to pass over to Marjorie and also gave them transfer papers so they could transfer her over to Marjorie's nursery as they felt they couldn't trust anyone at Siobhan's nursery anymore.

Bethany's parents went back to the toddler room to collect Bethany.  I noticed they gave her a big cuddle as she was feeling rather upset.  As they left Ellis approached me "what did you say to them?" I looked at her calmly and responded "that isn't any concern of yours anymore" I turned to leave as I heard her huff.  It was the end of my shift I was on the early finish, so I went to the staff room to collect my coat and bag.  Pulling out my phone I noticed a message from "Gareth hey honey hope you have had a good day I didn't see you when I was dropping the girls off, Marjorie said you had to cover over at the sister nursery xx" I quickly typed out a response "hey sweetheart it's been a strange kind of day.  I will be home soon I just need to go and see Marjorie about an incident that happened today love you see you soon kiss the girls for me xx".   I then called Marjorie "Hey char my love everything ok?" Marjorie asked as she answered my call "erm no Marjorie I need to see you about an incident that happened today, please don't leave thee office I'm on my over to you now" I could hear in Marjorie's response that she was concerned "that's perfectly fine char my love I hope it isn't something too serious". I walked over to my car and got in; I made sure I had all of the paperwork before I set off.