I have never phoned a parent during the working day unless their child is sick. Any behaviour related issues I will discuss at pick up time and depending on the seriousness, might arrange a meeting or an after-hours telephone call so we can both take the same approach to correct.

In terms of calling a parent who is having a hard time transitioning, crying endlessly, generally miserable - its part of the job as far as I am concerned. I don't think it's reasonable to expect a parent to leave work and collect their child for any reason other than the child is sick and a health risk to other children/my household.

Do I think the parents should have kept their child home? Of course. The child at best is going to be grumpy and over tired and that's disrupting to everyone else. However, my contracts don't state that a child will be excluded just because they are being very difficult, I am being paid to provide care so the parents can work, and I don't feel of a whim, I can add a condition that wasn't previously part of our agreement.

I certainly might have been tempted to put the child down to sleep since I imagine that the lack of sleep is the crux of the issues and at least contributing to the rough day. If that child really hasn't slept for as long as the parents claim, then exhausted will hit sooner or later, and I'd be fine with the child CIO until they at least get some sleep.

But no, I wouldn't call a parent in to collect their child because of it.