Wonderland Educare, Sunningdale - Unfortunately NOT for us!

Item: Wonderland Educare
Rating: 1
Author: Pearl P

I had to return to work on Wednesday 1st November, after being on maternity leave. I had called and viewed a few day-cares’ in the area. I called Wonderland Educare and knowing the owner/principal from my previous place of employment, I thought I'd give it a go. My husband and I met with principal. She was extremely nice, and exactly the same person I knew many years ago. She told me if I ever had a concern about anything, or with any of the ladies I can always talk to her. During the tour she answered all our questions. We were impressed with the overall experience during our tour. It was a little out of my way each morning, but my husband and I decided to enrol our baby at Wonderland Educare. Just the thought of having to leave my baby everyday was heart-breaking, and both me and baby having to transition into the new routine. It was important for me to know that baby is taken well care of, and that I can go to work each day being at ease. My baby was 5 months when she started. I had already started solids at 4.5 months due to my baby having acid reflux. The school does provide lunch, however I decided to pack her own lunch everyday due to her experiencing constipation since starting solids. I was advised by the doctor to stay away from any orange foods which included (butternut and carrots) just until she no longer struggled with constipation. Everyday the caregivers in the baby class would write an update to the parents, and on one occasion they had given her Butternut for lunch. The next day I questioned this with the caregivers and to my surprise, they sounded very surprised and said (Oh ok, so you will pack her own lunch, that's fine…) I was surprised with the response, because I had already mentioned this to them verbally, and I packed one of the purity sachets for lunch. Baby also started getting sick, when she started day care – which is pretty normal.  One afternoon I collected baby, my husband and I saw she was sucking on one of the school plastic toys. I didn't say anything, but was wondering if the toy had been sterilized. Hygiene being my number one priority, the thought came naturally. We noticed most kids in class had runny noses. Friday 17th November, we had collected baby, she was laying down for a nap and when I picked her up, she had lots of nasal mucus all over her nose and pus coming from her eyes. It was evident she had developed some sort of infection. We immediately took her to the doctor. We received script for antibiotics & eye ointment. The Doctor advised that we shouldn’t give her the antibiotics yet, and see if she gets better over the next few days. On Monday 20th November baby still had fever and I decided to stay home with her. Because I knew the principal, I had sent her a whats app, asking If she could give me another email, because I knew her Secretary could see her emails. I said I have a concern and suggestion. She gave me her husband’s email.  My email to the Principal Hallo Mrs ****** I don't want to worry you, but I have a small concern, and suggestion.  Baba's not been well, we took her to doc twice last week. We got a script for antibiotics, but don't want to give her that yet, as it's not good for their little bodies.  I didn't want to ask the ladies myself, and hoping you can maybe assist? I know germs are everywhere, especially at daycare's however I was wondering if the ladies sanitize their hands when they handle one baby to the next? I know we can't completely prevent the germs from spreading. ***XX has had a runny and blocked nose, with fever since school :(. When i picked her up on Friday (she was sleeping) but she had lots of snot blocked at her nose, and stuff coming from her eyes) It made my heart really sore seeing her like that. If the ladies aren't doing it already, it would be a good idea to sanitize the toys daily as well. Hubby and I picked baba up one afternoon, and she was sucking on one of the school toys. Honestly, my husband and I wasn't happy to see that, and the first thing I really wanted to ask was (is the toy my baby has in her mouth sanitized?) but i didn't. I didn't want to offend the ladies. ***XX and I already had some sort of misunderstanding not to long ago. I started packing her own toys to suck on, which I've already sanitized. I've decided to keep her at home with me today because she's still not well. Mrs ***X, I don't want to worry you, but it would be appreciated if the sanitation can be implemented, if the ladies aren't doing it already.  We'll hopefully have less snotty babies :)  The Principal’s response Dear ***X  Thank you for your email.  To be honest with you I am really on top of things in the Baby class with regards to cleanliness , and we have done a good clean up today again.  We have taken all of the soft toys to the laundry where I normally take it too to be washed. This is done on a weekly basis.  My staff do know that our procedure requires their hands to be washed after each and every change of nappy, and this has been implemented by them and checked by myself rigorously.  Regarding runny noses , we have had a few children off school with runny noses . We do  communicate with parents if their children are ill to keep them at home until better.  ***XX I can assure you that I am on top of all items mentioned in your mail.  Kind Regards   The incident mentioned with one of the care givers is as follow ... One morning when I dropped baby (with baby already crying) I put baby down on the floor in her c****at the caregiver kneeled to sit next to her trying to get her to stop crying. At the same time the care giver was waving and talking to one of the other kids in the class next door, but with that – the care givers hair went into my baby’s face (mouth and eyes) which I saw with my own eyes… I have asked the care giver to please be a bit more careful). She was extremely offended. She thought I had insinuated that my baby was crying because of her hair going into her face – which was definitely not the case.  Going back to the principal’s response to my email. In my opinion the plastic toys or toys the kids have in their mouths should be sterilized on a daily basis. Baby went back to day-care during that week. On Wednesday 22nd November when reading the updates for the day, I noticed it was written that they had given baby butternut for lunch (when she already had her own lunch packed). The following morning, I had questioned this with one of the care givers (let me mention the same caregiver I had the incident with), and her response was … (oh sorry that was a mistake)  An hour later, just as I got to work, I got a call from the Principal – (she had apparently already called my husband at work trying to get hold of me).  When I sat down at my desk, I called her immediately, thinking something may have happened with baby. She was yelling at me saying I’m one of the parents that complain the most. This call took me by surprise. I had to take the call in another office. She said, I make the ladies nervous, that’s why they make mistakes etc.  The Principal was carrying on, yelling at me over the phone. At one point during the phone call she asked me “are you still there” and I said “yes, I’m listening – I’m just shocked”) I was told there is no longer space for your baby at Wonderland Educare, and I can keep her there till the end of November, but from 1st December there is no longer space for her. During this telephone conversation she mentioned most parents ask her for a discount on school fees, and she is very upset that I asked her for another email in order for her Secretary not to see my mail to her. I was told, your hair goes in your childs face all the time and everyone sees it. Gosh, I was so shocked. To many things were said during this call by the Principal which I do not feel its worth repeating. I have to put one thing straight. NOT once, did I ask for a discount on school fees. During our school tour, I had asked if the school does offer sibling discounts (should my husband and I have another baby), as most of the daycare do. She said NO but we can talk. She also (without me asking) said we don’t have to pay the enrolment fee, and should at any point we can’t afford the increase on the fees, we can talk. She made it sound during our telephone conversation that I begged her for a discount.  After many years of thinking you know someone, this experience was an eye opener. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be treated like this, but someone I thought I knew. I was led to believe, she had an open door policy telling me I can call and talk to her anytime if I have a concern. All the respect I’ve always had for the Principal; I’ve lost in that moment.  After that call I had so many mixed emotions. I wanted my baby out of there ASAP, and we took our baby out the same day.  No parent, should at any point feel uncomfortable to raise their concerns, or question general things especially when it comes to an infant child. My baby is my number 1 priority. All my enquiries were done in the best interest of my child and in the right manner. The way the principal handled the whole situation was wrong, and unprofessional in my opinion.  If at any point the care givers had an issue with the fact that I check everything, or ask to many questions, my husband and I should have been called in for a meeting, and discussed the issue/s. I have however noticed change in the care givers behaviour (all 3 of them). Some mornings they wont even greet me. The atmosphere just wasn’t welcoming. I had never experience this when my first child was at day-care (a different daycare)  Not in any way, do I feel that I had shamed the name of the school or Principal. All I did was question general things. I’m also wondering why the care givers felt I was making them nervous. Referring to one of the other Hello Peter reviews, one has to wonder why that specific clause had to be put into their conduct rules, that the school has the right to cancel a child’s enrolment under 7 conditions, one of which is being bringing the school or principal’s name in disrepute”  Wonderland Educare, was unfortunately not for us. We are very happy with where baby is at the moment, and what I’ve learnt from this experience is to trust my intuition.

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