When Sophie Streeter withdrew her nonverbal son, Harrison, from a nursery in Guernsey, she didn't walk away quietly—she spoke out. What followed was a wave of concern for her child, and reflects on the systems in place to protect all children in early years care.

According to a recent BBC report (https://bit.ly/4jvhPD6), Sophie's complaint uncovered "poor practice with poor interactions and lack of empathy" at the nursery and serious data handling issues. It's a painful story, but sadly, maybe not an uncommon one. It highlights why tools like On the Button are vital to ensure issues are highlighted so they are not overlooked and can be sorted before situations feaster and relationships break down.

What Went Wrong?

The investigation revealed failings on multiple levels:

• Lack of communication: Sophie repeatedly requested feedback about her son's progress but was ignored for weeks.

• Inappropriate data handling: Videos of Harrison were sent to his mother without her consent, which MASH (Multi-Agency Support Hub) ruled was a data breach.

• Poor staff-child interaction: Harrison, who is non-verbal, was reportedly left distressed without comfort or empathy from staff.

• Gaps in staff training: Particularly around supporting children with additional needs.

• Delayed and disjointed response: Sophie was left without proper answers for too long, adding unnecessary stress to her family's situation.

This wasn't just a case of poor service—it was a failure in safeguarding, communication, and support.

Where On the Button Comes In

At On the Button, we provide software designed to support well-being for staff, children, and families, alongside safeguarding and complaints management. The platform turns policy and ethos into everyday practice, giving everyone a clear, simple way to report concerns and share what bothers them and parents’ worries. On the Button helps build a culture of care, transparency and accountability across nursery life.

Here's how On the Button may help prevent issues like those Sophie experienced:

✅ Real-Time, Transparent Communication

Built-in complaints management feature allows teams to log concerns, worries, or feedback from parents right away. Senior staff can track, respond, and support in real-time, improving quality and restoring trust before issues escalate.

✅ Safe and Secure Data Management

Records made by practitioners and the senior team are stored securely in one place and within data protection standards. Senior staff (set by the provider) can see what is going on to maintain optimum communication on a need-to-know basis. Information is kept separate for each child and family and chronologically organised, and the provider can download the information for parents when appropriate.

✅ Staff Accountability & Training Insights

Nursery teams can flag concerns early, and information and staff practice can be tracked. Whistleblowing (in person or anonymously) is facilitated. Leadership teams can identify trends, support staff development, and take swift action when necessary.

✅ Simplified Incident Reporting

Whether a minor concern or something more serious, our platform ensures every incident is logged correctly and followed up. Senior staff must respond and document outcomes, so nothing falls through the cracks, and no parent is left hanging, worrying and frustrated.

✅ Empathy at the Core

At its heart, On the Button is fundamentally about the well-being of everyone concerned, built on empathy. We believe every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. Our tools are designed to make that possible, not just in theory but in practice, every day, for each child, each practitioner, and each parent.

The Bigger Picture

Technology can't replace compassion or best practice, but it can empower it. It can reinforce systems of care, protect vulnerable children, and help early years teams provide the environment every child deserves.

It's a shame to hear these unfavourable reports in the media when there are so many fantastic providers, but working in early years is challenging and sometimes unpredictable!

Designed by those working in the sector, for the sector, On the Button supports better systems and promotes a shared commitment to doing better.

Check out what we do www.weareonthebutton.com and raise your confidence that Sophie’s situation would not happen in your setting.