Social services wouldn’t leave us alone with our baby when he returned from nursery covered in bruises – it wasn’t us
WHEN Adrianna Czachor, 28, took her baby to the doctors for his one year vaccines she never imagined the hell that she would be put through.
The admin worker and husband Matt Kolacinski, 29, a software engineer from Warrington, Cheshire, picked up their then 12-month-old son Jonatan from Cheshire Day Nursery, in Warrington, Cheshire.
While they were hoping to hear about his happy day, what happened next was an ordeal that left Adrianna “traumatised” and wanting to “die of sadness”.
She even booked herself an appointment at the doctors as she thought she’d had a stroke when she lost all memories of the incident, only to be told it was likely to be a form of “trauma response”.
When Adrianna and Matt arrived at the nursery at 4.30pm on that fateful day, they say Jonatan was standing in the middle of the room crying, while wearing a dirty nappy.
With an appointment to get to at the GP surgery across the road in five minutes, they scooped him up, and headed over to change him there.
Using the baby changing area in the waiting room, they were shocked when they spotted two bruises – one each side – on his abdomen above his hips.
It was so traumatic that when I woke up the next day I had blanked all memories of it
Adrianna
Worried, they pointed them out to the nurse during the vaccinations. She called in a doctor who told the family to stay put, while a social worker was called to meet them, they claim.
But when the GP couldn’t get one to come, the parents say, they were told by the GP, shortly before 7pm, to go straight to hospital, where they were met by a social worker, because the bruises were “unexplained”, they say.
When the parents spoke to the doctor they realised “this is serious”.
The family say “interrogations began” on their arrival at the hospital at 7pm, on August 15.
Reports say a paediatric consultant advised the bruises “appear to be non accidental” and an out of hours social worker supervised the family until they were discharged.
Doctor after doctor was called in to look at his injuries, and Adrianna and Matt were asked to repeat what had happened multiple times – and they say they felt like “suspects”.
At 11pm they say they were told they would not be able to stay with their son alone, they claim – so had to call Matt’s mum to come and supervise the family.
Police conducted checks – which were all clear – on other family members, who might be called to supervise.
Half an hour later a meeting was held between social workers, medics and the parents, and they were told a section 47 was being opened.
A Section 47 enquiry is initiated to “decide whether, and what type of, action is required to safeguard and promote the welfare of a child who is suspected of, or likely to be, suffering significant harm”.
WATCHING ON FROM BEHIND GLASS
Determined to get to the bottom of it, the parents consented to a full body x-ray – and were terrified they would lose their son, they say.
Throughout the night they watched – while under supervision – their son have more physical assessments and bloods taken.
The family – and social services reports – say nothing untoward was found.
The next day the family remained in hospital while they say police and social workers contacted the nursery, as part of the section 47 investigation.
A social worker called Adrianna to ask about the bruising, she said, and suggested they were “old” – which she felt was an accusation.
At around lunchtime on August 16, the tot had his full body scan – made up of 25 x-rays, mum claims.
Distraught Adrianna said because of the section 47, she wasn’t able to comfort her son – who was crying for his mum – instead having to watch from behind glass.
The family said that they were allowed home unsupervised at around 11pm on August 16 – 28 hours after they were first told to head straight to hospital where they would be met by a social worker.
Reports seen by Fabulous say police went to the nursery and watched CCTV which showed he was strapped in a high chair at Cheshire Day Nursery, in Warrington for between “74 minutes” and “approximately two hours” – which likely caused his injuries.
A report says they were allowed home when “injuries were confirmed to have been caused by the nursery chair not the parents”.
On August 30 the council’s children’s services department wrote to the family to let them know they had “closed the case” into Jonatan.
A report says “Cheshire Day Nursery did not see the bruises as they had not changed your nappy for some time”.
It is recommended nursery staff change a child’s nappy ‘as soon as it’s needed, but at least three times a day: morning, lunch, and afternoon’, according to online advice.
An email which the family says is from the nursery area manager says he was changed at 10.30am and 2.30pm – and staff did not see any bruises.
The note says they have used the chairs for “over 20 years” without incident.
The nursery said in a statement that his time in the highchair was spread over “four separate occasions for short periods across the day”.
They said they were “sorry” he had been bruised and while they admit the council’s report “concluded that the straps on the chair could possibly have caused a bruise” they say it was “not conclusive”.
‘I THOUGHT I WOULD DIE OF MY SADNESS’
Adrianna was so traumatised she suffered from a trauma response called psychogenic amnesia – where she forgot what happened – and is still off work, she says.
Adrianna, an admin worker from Warrington, Cheshire, said: “This was truly awful for us, and it was absolutely terrifying.
“It was so traumatic that when I woke up the next day I had blanked all memories of it.
“They came flooding back when I talked to Matt but I went to the doctor because I thought I had had a stroke, but I was told this was a trauma response.”
Adrianna wasn’t ever separated from her son – because they managed to have Matt’s mum there for supervision – but feared it would happen.
“When we weren’t allowed to be alone with him I was begging and pleading with them not to separate us,” she said
“I thought I would die of my sadness.
“It was like someone reached into my chest and pulled at my heart.
“I just can’t believe something like this has happened to us.
“One moment I’m thinking about him needing a snack and having his vaccinations, then I see the bruises and I ask for help and I’m treated like a criminal.”
“And they’ve found the nursery to be at fault but no action has been taken.”
I get such bad anxiety now if I think about sending him to another nursery
Adrianna Czachor
“I just can’t get my head around that.
“I just don’t think the nursery was treated as severely as we were.
“I’m worried this could happen to someone else.”
A ‘closure record’ report shared with the family – which is written as if it is directing the tot himself – from Warrington Borough Council says: “During this investigation it was determined that the bruising to your upper hip area was sustained through being in a chair for a prolonged period whilst in nursery. It was not a safeguarding concern in relation to your mum and dad.”
HOW TO CHOOSE A NURSERY
Selecting the right nursery for your child is a crucial decision that can impact their early development and future learning.
Here’s how to pick the right childcare for you…
1. Understand Your Needs
Location: Determine whether you need a nursery close to home, work, or a relative’s house.
Hours: Consider the nursery’s opening hours and whether they align with your schedule.
Budget: Establish your budget and find out the cost of nurseries in your area. Remember to check if you’re eligible for any government funding or tax-free childcare schemes.
2. Research and Recommendations
Word of Mouth: Ask friends, family, and other parents for recommendations.
Online Reviews: Check websites like Daynurseries.co.uk for reviews and ratings.
Ofsted Reports: Read the latest Ofsted inspection reports to gauge the quality of the nursery. Look for nurseries rated ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’.
3. Visit the Nurseries
First Impressions: Note the cleanliness and safety of the environment. Is it welcoming and child-friendly?
Facilities: Check the indoor and outdoor play areas, sleep areas, and toilet facilities. Are they well-maintained and appropriate for the age group?
Security: Ensure the nursery has robust security measures in place to keep children safe.
4. Staff and Ratios
Qualifications: Enquire about the qualifications and experience of the staff. Ideally, there should be a mix of qualified teachers and experienced carers.
Staff-to-Child Ratio: Ensure the nursery adheres to the recommended ratios:
1:3 for children under 2 years
1:4 for children aged 2 to 3 years
1:8 (or 1:13 with a qualified teacher) for children aged 3 to 5 years
5. Trust Your Instincts
Gut Feeling: Finally, trust your instincts. If a nursery feels right and ticks all the boxes, it’s likely a good choice for your child.
Choosing a nursery is a significant step in your child’s early years. Take your time, do thorough research, and visit multiple nurseries before making a decision.
The right nursery will provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment that supports your child’s growth and development.
Jonatan had only been at Cheshire Day Nursery for four days after his parents were unhappy with his care in two previous settings.
They say they were called on Monday, 19, to ask where Jonatan was and sent an invoice for the following month which Adrianna says was a “slap in the face”.
The couple asked for a refund and were eventually told their £1,600 deposit will be returned, and all fees were eventually refunded on October 8th.
Adrianna said she’s so traumatised by the experience that she’s still off work looking after Jonatan.
She said: “I get such bad anxiety now if I think about sending him to another nursery.
“You have to be able to put your trust in childcare providers and this has really damaged our ability to do that.
“I didn’t have any doubts about them – they have a good reputation and he settled quickly.
“I can’t believe they thought we might bring him back or that they invoiced me.
“This has had a massive impact on our family, and the nursery just seem to be carrying on regardless.”
A spokesperson for The Cheshire Day Nursery said: “We were very sorry to hear that the child suffered bruising and appreciate this has been a distressing time for his family.
“The Local Authority report concluded that the straps on the chair could possibly have caused a bruise but was not conclusive.
“As is common practice, the child was put into the highchair on four separate occasions for short periods across the day, including when he was eating his breakfast, morning snack and lunch.
“On the day, he showed no signs of distress, and our team did not notice any bruising. Police have reviewed CCTV and have confirmed they will not be investigating any further, while the Local Authority said there was no evidence of malicious intent to harm the child.
“We have been using these highchairs for many years without incident. We have been advised by the Local Authority to be completely sure that the straps on the chairs are keeping children safe, but do not restrict them.
“The safety of the children in our care is always our number one priority.