Tops Day Nurseries Reviews 33

How this company is still operational is beyond me. A total lack of empathy or safeguarding for children. It's also a terrible company to work for, very clicky and if your face don't fit expect to find the door very quickly.

They are a business and higher management only care about the money. Staff turnover is ridiculously high too, in the past few years alone many managers have been fired. Tells you everything you need to know!!!

We had used Tops at the Queen Alexandra Hospital sure for almost 5 years, however this abruptly came to an end when they demanded I cancel our 'High 5s club's booking (despite accepting it) or paying an eyewatering amount which is more than I earn in a single day as a senior healthcare professional. I was phoned on my lunch break only two weeks prior to our half term booking
Supposedly this was due to my son needing 1:1 support for his additional needs - however the site has never seen the contents of my son's EHCP and no concerns were ever expressed up until this very abrupt phone call, made by a polite and apologetic woman who clearly didn't agree with it herself.

This contact was conducted by another Tops site, indicating the complete lack of management and administrative team at the QA site.

I have received zero explanation or apology for the random and sudden demand for us to pay 4 TIMES the daily cost (as I asked for a formal letter and this hasn't been done) when my son doesn't require 1:1 support in a play setting. He is toilet trained, he has good receptive language, he just struggles with verbal communication. He does not need 1:1 outside of an education setting. That was also not on them to decide.

Absolutely disgusting, and people at the hospital were shocked and appalled to hear about this - because I ensured other staff were made aware of this sudden policy that is 100% a cash grab for a struggling site with clear staffing issues. Pure discrimination dressed up as a safety insurance for working ratios. Despicable behaviour and inexcusable.

We only continued to use Tops despite concerns with how hungry every child seemed to be once they left for the day, and how poorly our son's development issues were highlighted or addressed.
I really do not recommend this, certainly not for healthcare professionals - we can and should do better than this. It shouldn't be listed as a perk of being staff at all.
Avoid avoid avoid if your child has even an inkling of SEN because they'll randomly charge you an extortionate amount too.

Unfortunately this organisation has no consideration to the legal obligations after being requested to protect a child after her father was told to seek emergency accommodation and they stayed quiet as two officers took the child from him then refused to egknowledge their mistake and allowed the child to later be enrolled and took no action when the fathers details was withheld by the mother on enrollment and also screened calls from the father when he asked for support to protect thr child from domestic abuse highlighted throughout court proceeding

My daughter has been attending Tops Bearwood for just over a year and my husband and I are so delighted we chose to send her there. In the last year we have seen her confidence sky rocket as well as her speech and interaction. The staff are so welcoming and supportive, not just of our daughter but our family as a whole. We get daily updates on how she is doing and love the photos we get. Meal are well thought out and I love the fact we are sent the menu in advance so that other family meals can be planned accordingly. We love the bond our daughter has created with all the staff and her friends and she is always so happy to go to nursery, which always puts me at ease.

My son attended Tops Newport on the Isle of Wight from 2019 - 2023 and had a wonderful time there. He thrived and we were really happy with the nursery. Unfortunately, our daughter has not had the same experience. During the year she spent at Tops Newport, she was regularly placed in a bouncy chair until we addressed it with staff. She also suffered serious chafing and discomfort after being placed in a nappy many times too small for her. This happened again a month later despite us complaining to the nursery and an investigation taking place.

Staff turnover is worryingly high and there is a distinct lack of experienced staff. There is a compulsory meal charge and you are charged for 'sundries' that includes nappies and wipes, despite parents being expected to provide these for their children.

My daughter cried whenever she had to go. She even started saying "no nursery" when we drove past the road. She is now in a new setting and the difference in her is incredible; our happy, confident, chatty little girl is back and we're so sorry we couldn't remove her from Tops sooner.

Worked here and saw many failings as an employee.
Gate was once left unlocked and a child wandered out onto the road...parents never told.
Ratios not adhered to.
The shortest lunch hour I've ever experiences..25 mins for a full shift
Was asked to come in and work in the baby room when I had gastroenteritis because they were short staffed.
Avoid! Much better nurseries out there. Staff were also bullies.

We can’t ask for anymore from Topsie’s Yeovil. Our children love it here, not only do they play inside and outside, but the skills they are taught really help when they leave for primary school.
The staff are so friendly and approachable, they really do focus on each child and make their time enjoyable. Communication is always a priority and it’s so lovely having daily updates about what the kids are up to throughout the day.
Don’t know what I’ll do when my youngest leaves. I recommend this nursery to everyone I talk to.

This nursery has been a great experience and opportunity to see my little one strive. She loves to go and staff ate very caring

My daughter attends your Havant nursery and unfortunately we have social services involved over a multiple amount of things. We now have another internal company investigation starting about incident reports and to why both parents that are separated don’t get a call. My daughter once had a head injury what took a few days to tell us about what isn’t good enough. We have now had bruises come up and marked down as a scratch when my daughter’s side was heavily bruised. And to top it of they have tried to cover up yet another injury to my daughter saying it may of happened at pre school to protect the mum against legal action from myself. I will be contacting the local news paper and cafcass and ofsted

Originally my son was at Topsie but due to Tops being closer to my work I relocated my son to Tops & the process was so so smooth & all the staff are great at both nurseries! So friendly & reliable, everything's been brilliant. My son is very well looked after, very happy & it makes it so much easier that they are open during the holidays.

We had a very poor experience that it will take our whole family some time to recover from. This experience has taught me that the qualifications and ratios of the staff are much more important that online reviews. We feel that our children are much much happier and safer now they are at a different setting. If there's ever any doubt, there's never any doubt.

My son started going to Tops Gillingham when he was just over 2 years old and stayed there until he graduated to go to school.

In the 2 years he was there he grew so much as a person. The nursery have helped him so much. They advised and helped me through the process of getting my son assessed, including filling out numerous forms with updates on my sons progress. One of the biggest areas he struggled with was emotions and socialising with other children. By the time he had left the nursery he had been invited to numerous parties and has made some friends that he still sees now, despite going to different schools.

They regularly did fun activities based on all sorts of holidays, seasons etc, the food was healthy and nutrious, and the staff genuinely seemed to know my child. The staff are approachable, helpful and quickly rectified any issues brought up such as an incorrect invoice.

I cannot recommend this nursery enough. It's a wonderful, nurturing environment and I will definitely be sending my newborn there when I go back to work.

My oldest son just finished there, after a year and 6 months, as he started at 3yrs old, he settled in well, always kept busy that he loved.
His language and learning came on so amazing. The staff were always so lovely and helpful.
The only thing I would say was the food menu my son didn't really enjoy some of it, but all kids are different, and invoices if there was a little problem it was handled asap. But very happy with the time my son was there Jan 2022-july 2023

My son attended the Gillingham, Dorset branch of tops day nursey for a little over 3 years, and I have to say I would not recommend them to anyone. I have had nothing but problems with them the whole time my son was there and now even though my son has left the nursery and started school I am still having to chase my £200 deposit that is not being returned promptly. I have had issues with the level of child care and the administration / accounts are appalling. At one point things were particulary bad, my child would be covered with dirt and food on collection and many times I had to clean him up in the car park before putting him in the car. I witnessed staff (including the manager) propping the front door open to put the rubbbish out down the road whilst the children were stood unattended behind the door. Twice I was able to take my child, put him in the car and drive home with nobody seeing me. Nobody contacted me on either occassion to ask wehere my child had gone, I could have been anybody. When I rasied my concerns with the head office I was initally fobbed off with somebody telling me I had to follow their procedures and complain direct to Tops Gillingham and not head office. I knew that if I did that nothing would happen so I told them I was going to report what was going on to the local authorities. At this point they did take me seriously and subsequently made changes to their safe guarding policies. The accounts / administration are terrible, the invoicies were consistantly incorrect and when trying to contact the nursery to rectify the bill's the phone would rarely be answered. They were a total nightmare to deal with. The people looking after the children do their best but it is obvious the company is poorley run with a high turnover of staff. I am now having to chase getting my deposit back, which so far I am having no luck obtaining. I cannot wait to have no further dealings with this company.

Avoid at all costs!!we have had several issues with the Gillingham branch, poor hygiene practice, lack of safety measures and children left unattended with no one being able to explain how are child was injured. To top it all the admin side of it has been diabolical, incorrect invoices on numerois occasions and now that my child has moved to school they do not issue a refund of the deposit automatically. You have to chase them for then be told it takes 2-3 weeks to be processed. Utterly shameful. This company is holding on to working family's money at a time of hardship and high cost of living. Shame on you Tops Day!!

Having worked here, all I’m saying is I would not send my children here.
Policies were ignored, a child escaped whilst I worked there and they hushed it under the rug and never told the (foster) parents.
Was told I should have come in when I had diarrhoea. I worked with vulnerable babies.
Hated my time there.

My son has attended this nursery since he was ten months old. I like the staff and I like the nursery setting itself but the way it runs is ridiculous. My child doesn’t eat the food provided he doesn’t like it, I have asked to provide his meals and I’m told no. This is silly considering my child os vegan and the vegan meals they provide just aren’t that great or appetising if I’m honest. The nursery is mostly under staffed and so if you’re slightly early (by say 8 mins) they will make you wait outside with little one in all weathers ! Different story when you’re picking them up an hour or 20 mins early though!! I feel I’ve been discriminated against because I’m not quite the upper class citizen the nursery usually attracts.. I’m working class and it shows in how I’m treat and the way in which the admin and nursery staff have always spoken to and addressed me. Oppsite the nursery live a horrendous family who if you park outside their homes make it known you’re not welcome and that you’re an inconvenience for parking. This family are so rude they approached me with my
Child one morning and verbally attacked me, after dealing with these verbal attacks for so long I eventually said something and then myself and my mother were assaulted by said family. I wanted to swap my little boy to another nursery but he really loves it at tops. So I can’t deny that my child loves it here they must be doing something right when it comes to the children but unfortunately for me personally I haven’t felt welcome at the nursery and it’s a discomfort dropping him
And picking him up weekly.

Honestly at my last straw with tops! Wish it never changed hands! Noah's ark was way better!!! Cost of lunches is a ridiculous price while cost of living is in crisis. No choice in packed lunch. Says it's because of COVID and allergens! Nonsense!! COVID is long over with and as for allergens, as a mother I know what to feed my child and I wouldn't be sending him in with something he's allergic to! I can not afford to pay for lunches, it's the choice of heating my house or lunch at nursery and I am having no choice but to pay for his lunch!!! Just another way if money grabbing, when it's my right to send my child to nursery with packed lunch, seeing at the 15hours is meant to be free when this company decide to charge for lunches that people can not afford!!!!! And the today when I pick my son up, he had a number 2 accident in his pants. Instead of putting the poo in the toilet and quickly washing the pants out, they have kept the poo in the pants and bagged it up, leaving the poo to sit there all day!!! By the time we get home the pants are ruined and I've had to throw them out instead of washing them!!!! I'm fuming!!! I can not afford to keep replacing pants because this nursery are lazy and absolutely disgusting!!!

Child attended for a few months as a young baby. We spoke about feeding and how were following the NHS/Who/every other organisation that we will start weaning when they're 6months old and not a day before. Thought we were on the same page until one day where they decided to feed them food, going against ours and professionals wishes and ultimately neglecting my child. Should never have happened and then when leaving which was pretty swift considering the situation it took ages to receive my money back. Wished I had reported to Ofsted but turns out I didn't need to as they attended recently and rated them as they deserved, unsatisfactory

I am shocked to find out that Tops Stonehouse, Plymouth have such a lack of hygeine standard. Soiled clothing was wrapped in tissue and left in a rucksack for more than a week on a peg in the hallway where children are present. I pray this doesn’t happen to all the parents.