Nursery World - An insider's dim view

* Having worked for 25 years in various early years establishments, the past ten in management positions, what finally pushed me out was my local authority's insistence on introducing a policy on 'positive handling'. This meant that if a child didn't want to sit at circle time with everyone else we couldn't take them by the hand and bring them back to the group. Or, when everyone was sitting down to lunch, if a child decided they wanted to dance on the table, we had to 'talk them down'. If we did need to hold or restrain a child then a form had to be completed, signed by the parent and sent to the SENCO. More paperwork! This was the final straw for me as a manager, so I resigned and took a term's work in a nursery school. The nursery school was wonderful and well resourced, the staff were professional and enthusiastic and the children were a joy. Then I joined an agency supplying staff to local short-staffed day nurseries. It's been an eye opener.

The nursery school was wonderful and well resourced, the staff were professional and enthusiastic and the children were a joy. Then I joined an agency supplying staff to local short-staffed day nurseries. It's been an eye opener.

After seeing the poor standards I would not recommend day nurseries to anyone, especially if they are looking for care for under-twos. This is a change of heart for me, as I have been an advocate of nurseries.

In the past year I have come across about three nurseries that I would be happy to send a child to. Some of the worst I have seen are national chains. In one of these, it was cluttered and untidy, the children were watching a DVD and the deputy and another staff member went to see a new sofa!

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