Fairchildes Childrens Centre Croydon, New Addington

Reviews

1. Bee BOOY ★☆☆☆☆

   On Wednesday the 26th of June 2019, I took my son to the children’s centre which had a music and movement session from 9.30 -11. After the first half of the session whiles most of us waited at the door ready to get into the garden, I pulled out my son’s two slices of sugar-free plain sponge cake which was in a small plastic bag. I got it out ready to give it to him for when we got into the garden because he moaned for a snack. Therefore I was just holding it when the session leader came to me as soon as I got it out of my handbag. She asked in a stern and unfriendly tone : ‘Are there any nuts’ which I responded ‘ Absolutely not’ Then she said, well, you can’t eat it in here! Take it into the hallway or garden. So I said, Oh I am waiting to take it out into the garden, that’s why I have not started to give it to him. I added that Mothers always feed their babies in here. Once we got into the garden, I broke pieces and gave them to my son as he played. Then all of a sudden, I saw the session leader with the centre manager standing by the door talking whiles gazing at me with very unwelcoming expressions. I knew straight away they were talking about me. I have never felt so uncomfortable! So as the manager came up to me, I said, you are coming to me, ain’t you? She then said, ‘you cant feed him that out here. Go to the hallway ‘ So I said ‘it’s just a piece of cake ‘ However she replied that ‘ some of the children might be allergic to the eggs . She waited as I got my son and made sure I was driven out. All the mothers now had their eyes on me as if I had committed a crime. I felt so ashamed ,upset, humiliated for being chased around in a demeaning way. I felt very upset so I decided that even though the session was not finished, I would leave anyway, overwhelmed with disgrace. At this point I broke down and couldn’t hold back the tears I later called the manager, who apologised and said they probably went about it the wrong way. In her defence which was a total lie, she said one of the mothers had complained. It’s a lie because that session leader came up to me as soon as my bag of cake was barely out of my main bag. She added that there could have been children allergic to dairy. I was shocked and asked if that meant mother’s cannot now give their babies milk? That is ridiculous. She did not really know what to say. I told her I, as well as most mothers have fed our babies at these sessions. It’s not a new thing and the little ones require snacking every now and then. I keep thinking about the treatment my son and I received. It was not nice or polite. It was hostile to the highest level. Neither was it professional. For me as a mother who takes her baby there to socialise , develop mentally and learn to play, I felt that we had been let down, intentionally humiliated in a bid to chase us out, treated like criminals and spoken to in an unfriendly and unwelcoming manner. I have never felt so looked down upon, disrespected , embarrassed and treated with such hostility. The shame I felt and continue to feel is intense and painful and I will never step foot on the grounds of Fairchildes children’s centre again (I guess they got what they wanted). The questions that go through my mind though are: will they have treated me differently if I was white?, why don’t they have posters on their walls saying that all dairy and egg products are not allowed? Or have a list of forbidden products and snacks clearly put up. (I asked the manager) . If this was not permitted, then Why have mothers always felt free to feed their babies with all sorts of snacks and milk until now? Why could she not announce to the whole group that cakes and other foods were not permitted? Why single me out and pick on me continuously? Why was I chased about, made to feel highly uncomfortable and spoken to the way I was spoken to. A deep sense of shame that I felt when everyone looked at me will always remain with me and it’s horrible to feel that way. I know when I have been treated unfairly.

   1 year ago

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