A FORMER nursery worker has spilled the beans on what really was going on behind closed doors during her time working with tots.
Childcare expert Chloe, believed to be from Australia, took to TikTok after having ”contemplated” to make the video for some time.
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According to the young woman, who deemed it ”important” for her to ”bring it up”, it was crucial for parents to know ”the truth about the childcare industry” – from how some staff members would wake up their kids to the adults even allegedly eating their snacks.
Before she listed the ten horrifying truths parents may not be aware of, Chloe added that all of this happened when she ”was very new to the industry” and she’s seen the situation ”become a little bit better”.
However, Chloe said she knew ”there are still children who are experiencing this by the hands of people who are supposed to be caring for them”.
”Not all centres are like this, but there shouldn’t even be one that is.
”For reference, I have over six years experience in this industry, and I’ve worked at many different centres,” she wrote in the caption of the video.
Although Chloe insisted she did report this to the management, she was mostly ignored, as the nurseries were struggling with a staff shortage.
Waking up kids in cruel ways
Chloe claimed that in her first-ever nursery she worked at, the staff would be taking drastic measures to get the tot to wake up from their nap.
”If a child slept past 2pm, they were woken up in the most vile and aggressive manner, and it breaks my heart.
”They would pick up these children, who were about two to three years old, pick them up from their bed and place them on their feet.
”A lot of the times, these poor babies were still sleeping, so they would fall right over onto the ground.”
Laying for hours
The former nursery worked also claimed that in some cases, the staff members would make a child lay for up to three hours even if they didn’t want to sleep.
Although typically nurseries will give the non-sleepers a toy to play with, Chloe said she witnessed a number of instances where the child was simply staring at the ceiling, whilst their peers were sleeping.
Babies crying in the cot room
Sharing the horrifying truths she’d seen over the years, the Aussie childcare whizz also claimed that the fellow workers would leave the babies in the cot room to ”cry it out”.
”In my personal opinion, this is a horrible thing to do. I do not believe in the ”cry out” method.”
Threatening tots with police
We all know that children sometimes don’t listen – however, it’s essential to keep your calm.
”As a parent, do what you want. But I personally don’t agree with threatening children with police.
”Even if they are being naughty, it just creates an unnecessary fear, it creates panic – and it can even subconsciously create a bad relationship with the police.”
Telling their parents won’t come to pick them up if they misbehave
Another psychological tactic Chloe had allegedly witnessed fellow workers use is telling kids that their mum or dad ”won’t be coming back to them when they are being naughty”.
”Imagine being three, four, five and someone you trust telling you that your parents won’t be back to get you that day.
”I just think that’s so mean and vile to do that to children.”
Staying in chair until they’ve eaten every last bit
Food is an essential part of a child’s development – but forcing them to finish everything on the plate is not the right approach.
”Imagine that you as an adult didn’t want to eat your food but somebody was actually making you sit there until you finish it.
”It’s just so overlooked and not taken seriously.”
Tots falling asleep at the table
”Most children have they daytime nap after lunch.
”So if you’re forcing them to stay at the table until they finish their lunch, they’re going to fall asleep at the table.”
Withholding food because of naughty behaviour
Although Chloe never witnessed anyone not giving child a lunch because of poor behaviour earlier, she did see staff not handing out food to kids ”whilst all the other children are eating”.
Making a child eat alone instead of with their friends
”This is just straight-up mean. And a lot of the times I saw this not as a punishment for being naughty but simply because this particular educator didn’t like this particular child.
”It’s just so isolating for the child.”
Stealing snacks from kids’ bags
”Yes, you heard that right. The same girls who would pick these children up and put them on their feet when they’re fast asleep – they would literally go into children’s backpacks and eat the snacks that their parents had packed for them.
”It’s just sick.
”Please, be so mindful when picking a childcare centre for them to attend.”
UK regulations
In the UK, the childcare institutions and nurseries are regulated and inspected by Ofsted (The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills).
Its role is to ensure that organisations ”providing education, training and childcare services in England do so to a high standard for children and students”.
The office is responsible for inspecting a range of educational institutions, such as state schools and some independent schools, as well as nurseries, children’s social care services and fostering agencies.
Ofsted publish reports on the quality of education and management at a particular school and organisation on a regular basis.
Parents can also share their feedback of their kid’s education provider via Ofsted Parent View.
