Dulwich Asquith Nursery???? (contains dubious post)

[Saila]

Does anyone have any experiences of Dulwich Asquith Nursery?

Any comments or feedback you've heard or experienced first/secondhand - would be greatly appreciated

*a little anxious sending a 6 month old to a nursery*

[Pickle]

I looked round it when I was looking for a part time place for my 3 year old - my daughter spent some time in the baby/toddler area while we looked round with our son. To be completely honest I left feeling that the whole place seemed a bit tired - very old toys, the whole building inside looked like it could do with freshening up etc. There were a few small babies there all just sitting in bouncy chairs with nothing to look at/touch and to be completely honest I felt really sorry for them.

My experience of nurseries is very limited, so it may be that this is the norm, but we decided before we even left the building that it wasn't the right place for our children. I also found the staff very pushy and rude when they did a follow up call and we said we wouldn't be going ahead.

This was last summer, so things may have changed by now!

[Saila]

Thanks Pickle

Anyone else have any comments or know of any old threads on EDF?

There's nothing on EFD about this nursery that i can find

[candj]

I was trying to look for a few threads as there were some a while back but I think Admin cleaned house.

We had our eldest at Asquith W Dulwich when she was 7 months old twice a week only. It was fine at first but I became increasingly unhappy with the place. A quick change of manager when we started followed by catching occasional glimpses of staff attitude I didn't like and a gradual overall impression that the place wasn't nurturing for our little one led us to take our daughter out after 6 months. On one occasion I went to collect my daughter and as I walked in unnoticed one of the staff members sat down abruptly next to my daughter giving her a fright and making her burst into tears. She said nothing and didn't console her which I was unhappy about. The final straw was the fact that they didn't even know our daughter had been walking and never encouraged her. Our friend went to collect his child and saw my daughter holding onto the gate terrified to move and called her name and she walked to him.

We finally got a nanny and it just worked out better for us overall. We have friends who have had no problems and whose children were/are very happy there. To be honest, I found the place a bit filthy and didn't like the staff attitude. The Asquith in Peckham is supposed to be much better and we also have friends who have children there and very happy with them.

I think for younger babies a nanny or nanny-share is much better than nursery as they are in their own environment and sleep in their own beds (my daughter NEVER napped at nursery although she was a very good napper).

Hope this helps.

[Victoria sponge]

Posted by someone at Asquith Nurseries - The Administrator

Hi, my daughter was at this nursery and we were very pleased with the care she received. The staff were all lovely and we were made to feel welcome.

All I can suggest is you visit the nursery and speak with the manager about your worries - she may be able to ease them for you. I hope it goes well.

[Administrator]

The above post was made by someone at Asquith Nurseries.

Please read my post http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?30,427112 about fake recommendations.

[craigy]

I phoned for there info when i was looking for a place for my son but was then completely put off by the fact that they phoned me about 4 times on 2 weeks to see if i had made a decision despite the fact that they had a huge waiting list and could not assure me a place for when i wanted it, i stopped answering the phone in the end.. the hard sell really put me off and made me realise that they are a business selling a product and i didn't want my son to be part of that..... i know most nurseries are but you don't want it rammed down your throat...

[vhurleyp]

My Son is 17 months old and has been at the West Dulwich Nursery since he was just 3 months old.

I have nothing but admiration for the staff at this nursery as they have a tough job and on a daily basis have to deal with some very difficult & rude parents.

My son has thrived in the nursery and is loved very much by the staff. I have a good relationships with all his key workers and the manager is very responsive to any concerns that you might have as a parent.

I think sometimes people are too quick to judge. Running a nursery and looking after a vast array of different little personalities is a super tough job and places are hard to find in nurseries in Dulwich.

You must remember that for every one phone you get from them chasing you if you want the place they have 10+ parents desperately trying to find a place for their child, so a little thought about what they get challenged with on a daily basis should be taken when your not being quick to make a decision about whether you want a place or not, It's not about ramming it down your throat at all there are plenty of others that do want places and you are holding them back.

[[email protected]]

My experience of Asquith West Dulwich is also very positive. My daughter has been there for 18 months and she has thrived too. We have always felt that she has been well cared for by excellent staff who care about her. We've built up good relationships with my daughter's key worker, other staff in her room and the managers. It's very well organised, there's a great range of toys (some of them are well used, but they are all in working order and they are replaced and renewed) and there is a good mix of structured activity, fun, cuddles and physical stuff. The food is also worth a mention - it's home made and manages to be healthy and tasty. I just wish I could provide as good a service on all these fronts on the days when I'm in charge!

As the previous poster has said, they do a great job in what must be a very demanding working environment.

Choosing childcare is a very personal thing and it needs to be right for your child and you, but Asquith West Dulwich definitely works for us.

[candj]

Two positive posts by two first time posters. Interesting.

[The Nappy Lady]

I noticed that too candj.

I guess it may be as simple as them having signed up to support their nursery, off the back of the negative posts. Then again, maybe not.

[Saila]

3 posts if you include the post sent from the nursery itself on the 9th

....and 2x 100% faultless reports like the last time as well

... it doesn't smell right

Edit to say that i took baby-Saila off their list last week and we're going for alternative childcare arrangements

The dubious message(s?) (and the fellow forumite's experiences) posted from the nursery put us right off...

[katgod]

My son went there 4 years ago. had someone posted really negative stuff on here then I would have been on here too, defending it to the hilt. the childcare choices people make are, as someone above said, extremely personal. Criticism cuts to the bone. It feels like you are saying "you are a bad mother making terrible choices for your children". It may not be meant like that but that is how it seems.

I'm not a first time poster. None of my children attend there now. I do tend to reply by PM to those seeking advice on nurseries as i would hate anyone to be upset by my opinion on their childcare choice. everyone is trying to do their best. admittedly Asquith were pretty stupid to try a fake post.

[Administrator]

Please remember that an organisation may ask customers/clients to write a positive review about them, especially if they are being given a hard time.

[Rhubarb&Custard]

Administrator Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Please remember that an organisation may ask

> customers/clients to write a positive review about

> them, especially if they are being given a hard

> time.

Of course. Yet by stating this you are suggesting that any threads in favour are likely to be a 'set-up' or fake - which is hardly fair on anyone who genuinely has something positive to say. Administrator - aren't you supposed to be impartial?

And as for first time posters - there is a first time for everyone. Such bad vibes are hardly going to encourage new posters, or a wide and varied forum where people feel free to air their views without fear of being jumped-on.

[Saila]

I don't think people would normally jump on a first time poster - I would never even look to see if they were a first time poster had i not been made suspicioius by that fake post...

'Crying wolf' comes to mind

I think what katgod said was very poignant though. Childcare is already highly emotional and difficult for parents

Unfortunately this will only add to already existing worries/concerns. That was not the intention of my original post at all - sorry. However I personally don't think the feedback was overly 'getting at' the nursery they were honest and balanced.

[Smiler]

Sympathise to a degree with the point about childcare choices being difficult and emotional, but we have found that it is very difficult to get much information about the various options, making things like this forum useful. Both positive and negative views are helpful.

Not impressed with the nursery's approach to this - other managers of services in ED have come on as themselves to respond to comments, which is fair enough, it shouldn't be done in an underhanded way.

[candj]

My point about first time posters was related to the fact that the nursery themselves had to post a fake post and it made me suspect they too were a bit dodgy, nothing wrong with first time posters. Pathetic response from the nursery really. It is a shame that the previous threads on Asquith were cleared as there were more posters contributing to it from what I remember.

Best,

-C

[princeps]

Just adding my point of view: Asquith nursery (sorry, Dulwich Day Nursery, maybe other Asquith places are better) is the most annoying childcare place I have ever been to (I have seen a lot of them).

I almost sent there my 2 year old son. After my settling-in session I was very disappointed: I didn't see enough toys for children, lots of them were broken, some of them were too heavy for toddlers (I witnessed the situation when a boy nearly hit other child because the wooden block made him loose his balance), I saw a CD player with cable hanging down across the wall and a little boy pulling it while nobody was there to watch out for him. There were empty cardboard boxes all over the place (why?), very dodgy smell in the hall, and the place looked so average so you didn't feel you get value for excessive money you pay! Another thing that comes in my mind: the walls are scruffy, there is no decoration on them, nothing there to encourage learning. All that I saw in just 2 hours

After we decided that we didn't want to send our son to Asquith, the staff turned out to be rude, calling me a liar (not directly but by the comments they made). I understand that it's difficult to run a nursery, but there is no explanation to lack of basic safety and politeness.

[Administrator]

Rhubarb&Custard Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Of course. Yet by stating this you are suggesting

> that any threads in favour are likely to be a

> 'set-up' or fake - which is hardly fair on anyone

> who genuinely has something positive to say.

> Administrator - aren't you supposed to be

> impartial?

I am not suggesting that "any threads in favour are likely to be a 'set-up' or fake". I am stating that a company may ask its customers/clients to write a positive review about them eg "there have been some negative reviews about us on that there forum, you're a happy customer, please could you post about your experience?". There is no mention of fake posts, that is your incorrect assumption which then leads you to question my impartiality. And yes I do try to be impartial.

[[email protected]]

I really am a parent with a child at Dulwich Asquith Nursery. I don't work for them and I haven't been bribed. Please don't assume that first time posters with something positive to say are fake. Everyone has to start somewhere.

[vhurleyp]

Firstly i am not a first time poster although i have not posted in quite some time and the history has possibly been cleared.

If i see a post that is relevant to me or my family and we have genuine feedback or advice to give we will.

Actually i'm not sure why i'm justify my self! Do Candj, Nappy Lady & Salia really think that this is some great big conspiracy and that people have nothing better else to do in life than post fake posts about something that is so important in life? Thankfully there are a lot more people in this world that are not so cynical and are prepared to give good feedback and praise where it is deserved rather than make snipey comments about something they actually know nothing about!

Has anyone actually considered the option that maybe the parent just wasn't suited to the nursery? I have witnessed quite a few incidents where parents are darn right rude, obnoxious & threatening to staff at the nursery. They do a grand job of looking after the children and make them feel secure in their environment and grow as individuals. And again i will say i have nothing but praise for them any issues/concerns that i have had have been sorted straight away it's about communicating and talking about your needs and expectations rather than a slanging match on the internet.

[candj]

Dear vhurleyp -

Firstly, it's not a slanging match - someone asked for an opinion and I responded as I have personal experience with the nursery and it was not a snipey comment about something I know nothing about (to use your own words). My experience was, unfortunately, a negative one. I did point out that we have friends who have children at Asquith WD and were very happy there if you bothered reading.

Secondly, I don't think there is a great conspiracy, but will note that it was Admin who discovered that the nursery themselves posted a fake post which made me suspicious. Don't you think that was a rather pathetic and deceitful way for Asquith to respond? These are the same people who look after your child.

I'm glad that the nursery suits you and you are happy with them because childcare can be, as someone previously mentioned, a stressful process. I personally had the experience where the nursery staff did things I didn't like and didn't feel they nurtured my child and no amount of communicating with the manager solved the problem nor did it give me any more confidence with them. End of story - my experience and that is what the OP was asking for.

Best,

-C

[vhurleyp]

The point i was making candj is that myself and another parent were giving the nursery positive feedback and you simply dismissed it as "interesting" as if to say our posts were not quite right or perhaps we were lying?? which is not helpful to any one looking for a nursery and wanting current opinion on the nursery.

As you mentioned in your mail, which i have read, the manager changed and clearly since your child attended the nursery many things & staff have changed. Therefore you know nothing about how the nursery is currently run, so your post is mis-leading and then you dismiss 2 current parents feedback. You mentioned that the Peckham Rye Nursery was better and that your friends had children there and were happy.

Parents shouldn't really worry or be put off about their babies not napping for the first couple of months or so, my son didn't as there's many more noises and other babies to distract them than when they are in their home environment. He now sleeps 2 hours everyday without fail every lunch like clock work.

I don't think it was pathetic or deceitful way to respond you are making it all to sound so much more dark and sinister that it actually is. Could you not consider that possibly a member of staff wanted to defend the nursery but just went about it the wrong way? or even that the member of staff did actually have a child that attended the nursery and it was a valid comment as a parent at the nursery? You are attacking staff and parents you know nothing about. I have every confidence in the staff that look after my son.

[gillh]

Continuing the thread in previous posts, childcare is a very personal decision.

My son started at Dulwich Asquith Nursery when he was 14 months old - it seemed to be the perfect time for him to be there, he walked in his first week and loved being with children his own age. The management had just changed and the nursery was refurbished while he was there. He left there at 4+ a very sociable and polite little boy.

My baby daughter also started there when she was nine months old. Her childcare was a harder decision because I thought she was too young to be looked after by anybody, but I had to go back to work. I looked at a couple of childminders alongside Asquith. But I just couldn't see my nine month old in a childminder setting, particularly because most of them seemed to be set up for much older children.

So for her, now 2 years old, I have a combination of nanny (one day/week) and Asquith (three days/week). She gets the perfect combination of out-and-about trips with the nanny and the stimulation and socialisation that nursery offers.

My advice when looking for childcare is to go with what 'feels' right to you. And find a setting where the staff have the same values as you.