Poppits Day nursery Putney

[ILOVEUPEANUT]

I am posting on this old thread since I have not seen anything recent and Poppits Day Nursery and surely it deserves it. I removed my child since I felt that it was inadequate to mind children at all levels and ages. A few things in particular I have noted below, but mainly it was the not great vibe I had each time I went in there. They are the cheapest in Putney and I feel they using this fact to not make an effort….at all. Which is wrong.  I chose this nursery because it was “affordable” and Putney prices are out of control. My daughter is able to speak this made me feel more comfortable too. I would never have sent my child any younger as I had doubts from day 1.
 
The staff is unprofessional and “unpresentable” (not sure what I can post because I haven’t read the T&C’s). I would mention qualities you would expect from staff at a nursery: to be clean, polite, gentle, patient, dressed appropriately, speak enough English to be able to communicate or speak to children, must like children, and would hold a crying child. I feel that the staff lacked these qualities with the exception of one, maybe 2. There is a strange man there always hanging about, who turns out to be the husband of one of employees/owner, I heard. I’m not sure if he is “staff” or perhaps there to meet ratio requirements, but he opens the door and has never greeted me in a year. In fact, I have never heard him speak at all! 
 
In the last month I began “observing” after I saw higher turnover of children in my child’s group.  The staff cleans the toilet and does all the “little jobs” while children are still there. I find this disturbing, especially if you are cleaning toilets in same clothes you will serve my child tea in a few minutes. I never found Poppits Day Nursery place clean at all, and I can understand why.  At my observations I noticed that the staff didn’t all wash their hands! Some used the antibacterial pump and some did not clean them at all, even after having just come back from the garden.
 
On one occasion I saw a little boy crying. Poor thing must have been one year old. He cried the whole 30 minutes I was there. I wanted to see if someone would acknowledge him. He went up to 4 workers and each one of them was “annoyed” by him. He was given his blanket, which he chewed on vigorously, so was obviously teething and not feeling well that day. He was bright red in the face and would hold up his hands at each of these workers and no one acknowledged him. Obvious, to anyone with common sense or a child, he wanted to be held/comforted. One person took his hand and dragged him around while my child handed out lunch. He was still crying when I left.
 
Poppits Day Nursery is very disorganized and poorly structured, in my opinion. On the first day no one knew my child’s key worker or that my child was starting. No one greeted us or even introduced my child. I asked what my child ate/slept/ and each time they had to ask someone else, because the key worker “cleans at that time.” If I asked specific questions about my child NO ONE could answer them. Its like they rotate staff duties every 30 minutes. I was only given artwork/project when I asked for it and I only received on average 1 piece of work per week for a 15 hour week. I always found this odd too. In the entire time there never received feedback on my child and the parents evening, which I found out from someone in the toilet, was changed last minute so we didn’t know. I have such a lack of trust and I hope others will post their experience so that they can shape up or allow for a proper nursery in Putney. I have so many mums now telling me their bad experiences, but I guess they didn’t want to hurt my feelings. It is not good value for money if the children are not well looked after. I would suggest parents to drop-in at Poppits Day Nursery if your child attends. The only thing I’ve seen this bad in Putney was Asquith….which I have seen is being remodeled, but hopefully by new owners!!

[hastybear]

I don't recognise the nursery that you are talking about. Dirty? No. Worn? Yes. Depending on what time of the day you turn up I can promise you that they can often be caught cleaning. Of course a lot of their equipment is worn. they are cheap and find it difficult to replace their equipment, so instead of carping why don't you do what a lot of parents do and donate?

Not presentable? I'm not sure what you mean. They all wear nursery tops, don't wear inappropriate clothes, jewellery etc and have always been clean and neat when I have turned up. As for the rest, they have always been polite, patient, gentle etc with all my family.

All right, I'll give you the 'strange man'. An introduction, a smile, a word would help here. He is the husband of the owner and helps out, often at the end of the day. You will be pleased to know he doesn't make up the numbers to make the legal ratio, but does wear a nursery top to differentiate him from a random person just hanging around. And I grant you that doesn't help a huge amount.

You make very specific allegations regarding cleanliness while cleaning toilets and returning from the garden. They don't have a toilet and use the Leisure Centre toilet not 10 metres from the Nursery door. They do do nappy changing however and I have never seen them not wash their hands in the very few occasions I have had to be near the restricted area (I have an eCRB and as stated earlier make sure that I put something back into the nursery that takes care of my precious ones) that you don't have access to, so how you'd know they don't do something when you can't see what they are doing is a mystery.

They don't wash their hands when returning from the garden. But then they don't hose the children down either who have been playing out their putting their grubby hands etc in their mouths all outside play time. By the time the little ones get back in the cross contamination has already occurred and is more healthy for them than not letting them get on with it in the first place. There is a huge mound of research on how outside dirty play at a young age helps build the immune system for later in life. I can't be bothered to list all the research papers but maybe this will suffice: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66838.php www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article1596735.ece They do wipe down surfaces and wash their hands prior to serving food on every occasion I have been there.

Disorganised and poorly organised. OFSTED would disagree as would the queue of parents lining up to talk to the OFSTED inspectors this time round. Shame that all these parents with negative experiences that you mentioned couldn't find the time to talk to them isn't it?

I am sorry to hear of your experiences regarding contact with your key worker. That really isn't good enough. It's not the same experience I have had, but their have been occasions when my key worker has been unavailable but someone has always been able to give me all the information that I need.

I am confused about the starting day of your child as they have a strict transition policy that would have required you to attend with your child and be introduced to your key worker. The "key worker cleans at that time" comment. I don't understand it. It's a small nursery, walk in the door and walk up to your key worker, look on the key worker notice that lists all the key workers and the children they look after if you don't know who it is, because if you had asked that's what they would have done.

Never received feedback on my child. Really!? Ok, now your pushing the limits of my credulity. The daily A4 feedback form that is handed to every parent who walks in the door when they come into the nursery and the fact that they talk through it with the parent who picks them up? Did you just never notice them? I can only assume you aren't the one who picks up your child and therefore you cannot have been there to spot all these negative points you raise!

Your weren't told about the parents evening, which changed.
You don't say how it was changed, but the last two parents evenings have been on fixed nights and locations. Even if they missed telling you in person about the parents evenings the giant great big notices around the nursery on both occasions were a bit of a give away. Considering you obviously don't seem to pay attention to what's going on in the nursery you certainly seem to have noticed a lot of negative? Are you sure you don't work for an opposition nursery?

The lack of art work unless you ask. The nursery sticks very closely to the EFYS as laid out by the Dfes and inspected on by OFSTED. I clearly expect to see progress and results based on that, and reported on in the A4 daily briefing sheet provided to me by the staff. Not fancy bits of art work produced as a panacea to my ego as some other, more expensive nurseries do.

Some things you report, I cannot answer, the little boy crying for example, their inability to be able to answer your question for example and I agree with you about the 'strange man'. But you paint a picture of a nursery that I don't recognise and I have highlighted what I can only call inaccuracies in your observations and also inaccuracies in your comments. Does someone else sometimes/usually pick up your child and never bother giving you the information? Its the only thing I can think of to explain them.

[lewisoz]

So.My child has been here for 3 years and I can just tell,he lovit.Poppits is happy place to be and Im sure he will miss them when he will leave.He always been clean and staff knows what they do very well.

[Leogia]

My son started at poppits when he was only 10 months old.
Now 2 and half years later we can safely say that this nursery has been the best choice.
The whole team are always smiley, friendly, helpful and show a general interest in our son development.
The nursery is well managed and my son is always happy, I would highly recommend this nursery.

[BellaIsabella]

In response to ILOVEUPEANUT's post. My 3 year old daughter has been at Poppits since she was 10 months old in fact, many of her current classmates were also in the 'baby room' with her. We looked at a few nurseries before we decided on Poppits and I'm certain for various reasons which I will outline here, we made the right choice.

One of Poppits's plus points is its size; a friendly, happy place which is small enough so that everyone knows everyone. I am debriefed thoroughly at the end of every day, usually by my daughter's key person but if she is otherwise engaged, someone else can easily do it and I've been quite happy with that. The children's day is well-structured; activities aplenty with some formal teaching for the pre-schoolers. They also offer extra-curricular activities of which my daughter particularly enjoys ballet. The garden is at the back of the leisure centre (not every London nursery has a garden so to have one at all is a plus) but the children are well-supervised when walking there and they hold on to a specially designed rope. The children therefore learn very early on the importance of staying on the pavement and the danger that a road may pose. There is also access to other rooms within the leisure centre where the children can play with 'big' toys (cars, bike etc.), run around and use the bouncy castle. This is particularly useful on rainy days as the children do not have to remain in one place all day (you may remember ennui of the rainy-play days at school ...). Members of staff are friendly and helpful and my daughter has formed good relationships with them all. They give cuddles, support and instruction whenever needed resulting in a very happy little girl. My daughter is able to speak well and we often chat about how much she has enjoyed her day at nursery, on occasions she is disappointed come Saturday when she realises she can't go. If she wasn't happy there, I don't doubt that she could tell me quite eloquently.

Over the past two years both my daughter an I have enjoyed Poppits's parties, dressing up days and Christmas productions. I like the nursery's atmosphere, the management's flexibility (some nurseries charge if you're late picking up), the activities on offer and principally the way my daughter is treated. I find the nursery clean (so what if they clean during the day- it's probably necessary) and health and safety practices properly adhered to. As a teacher, I feel quite well-qualified to accurately comment on these points.

My husband and I remain happy with our choice, we're glad we found Poppits and will be putting our youngest daughter's name on the list to join in five month's time.

[BellaIsabella]

ILOVEUPEANUT I also meant to say that I hope you mentioned all these things to the manager. Talking openly and honestly is, in my opinion the only way to bring about change (should it be needed) not by posting a complaint on a far-removed web forum and hoping it'll be seen.

There's nothing worse than complaining behind someone's back or from behind a computer screen and not saying it face to face. If you feel uncomfortable doing this then perhaps a letter might be an option?

[Dapherdoo]

I completely agree with BellaIsabella and feel actually offended on behalf of the nursery by your comments ILOVEPEANUT.
The rooms are a little dated but they are not dirty! I have witnessed the meal times and when kids come back from the garden they are all asked to go and wash their hands before they sit at the table.
The staff have gloves to serve food and they also use the disinfectant gels regularly.
My son has been going there since he was 7 months old and is now about to head off to school. I am dreading the transition as he has LOVED his time at Poppits so much.
What makes the nursery such a joy for him is the staff and their energy, dedication and love they give out to my son and his friends.
The last 3 years have been really happy ones for him and not once have I had any concerns around the care he was receiving.
As an anxious mother, I was re-assured by Brenda and her team in the early days of settling my son in his new environment. Although the nursery is not the largest in the area, it is well set-up and the team always make sure the activities are best suited to the different age groups, whilst also allowing them all to mingle and learn from each other, respecting babies when they are older - and learning from the big toddlers/pre-schoolers when they are little. I have visited all the local nurseries before choosing Poppits and the main reason was how happy all the kids are. You rarely hear any cries there and it is always a mission to try and get him to come home as he has such a good time he doesn't want his days to end.
The team are all really good with the kids and the pre-school teachers have been developing maths and writing skills to a really good level (when the kids are ready - taking into consideration their learning abilities/willingness) - always in a fun way, but with a nice structure as well, so prepare them for school.
The garden, although not within direct access, is well laid out and there are lots of toys and activities for the kids to play with.
The added bonus is the access to bouncy castle twice a week which my son LOVES and which really is a great perk - as well as the French lessons on a Wednesday.
I have a baby daughter whom I will actually travel 12 miles into Putney to drop off as I love the nursery and want her to have the same wonderful experience as my son.
I would really recommend Poppits and the team there. Everyone is lovely and I can't thank them enough for all the dedication they have shown my son in the past 4 years. He will truly miss everyone there hugely!