in thinking children in a nursery...

[TiggyD]

...should have a chance to play outside if they want to? I just read a post on a childcare forum about a manager who doesn't ask her staff to go outside in the cold weather because 1- she doesn't like the cold herself, and 2- the staff were employed before "free flow was introduced".

AIBU or would you be happy if your child spent a whole week inside due to the staff not liking the cold?

[OTTMummA]

They have to take children outside for a reasonable amount of time, in reasonable weather, ie, not pissing down, or heavy snowing etc, at least once a day.

That is the law as far as i know.
I wouldn't be happy with this nursery, but i would of asked questions like this before i put my child into it.

[EdgarAllenSnow]

YANBU though i have sent DD in with super-warm coat, gloves etc.

[OTTMummA]

My Nursery is great, i chose it because it had a fabulous garden with shelter for rainy days, it keeps a large tortoise as a pet and they grow veg in a part of the garden.

They go outside everyday aside from very bad weather, and also on day trips out.

Why a parent would not enquire about these issues before hand are i do not know!

[Simbacatlives]

It isn't the law in England.

They have to deliver the statutory eyfs which includes both indoor and outdoor. There is no definition of how much of each etc. There is no stipulation about the weather being reasonable or about once or more a day but the premise is that there is no such thing as unsuitable weather only unsuitable clothing.

Free flow is best practice but not a requirement.

[SandStorm]

I live opposite our local playgroup and they play outside every day barring really rotten weather. I can hear them from my living room and they always sound so happy.

Both my dds went through that playgroup and I really valued the outdoor play they got.

[TiggyD]

I wouldn't really count cold as bad weather. You can just wear more and spend less time outside.
I would have thought it an essential part of a Nursery Nurse's role and my ghast is flabbered that a professional childcare worker would think otherwise.

[earwicga]

My 8 year olds haven't been allowed outside to play this week. Absolutely pathetic!

[OTTMummA]

I stand corrected, however i am sure i read something eluding to that on a ofsted/gov, website a while ago, it may of been a list of expectations more than legality.
But again, why wouldn't you ask this before placing your child?

[curlymama]

At the nursery I work at we always give children the choice of going outside. Even it's just for a few minutes to find puddles and listen to the rain under an umbrella.

This does not sound like a good nursery. children, not staff, should come first. If they don't spend time outside for those reasons, I'd wonder what other parts of the EYFS they're not bothering with.

[TinselinaBumSquash]

My DS1's class have been having 'ice games' this week, it's been grand.
I always see the teacher filling up nooks and crannys around the playground/garden with water and putting coins and shapes and laminated words/letters in. The children have been having 'treasure hunts' digging the things out of the ice.
DS is loving it, he is genuinley so excited about school becuase of this.
They have also done 'ice painting' where they freeze paint so they can make pictures without needing extra water.


DS2's nursery are always out playing what ever the weather. Thats what hats, gloves, scarfs and coats are for.
I remember fondly the whole school building a ginat snowman when i was at primary school.

[booyhoo]

ds1's old nursery was fab. they got outside pretty much everyday unless it had rained solid the whole day. even on really rainy or snowy days tehre is usually a gap in which tehy can get out for 10/15 minutes. children(people in general actually)need fresh air and excercise, and benefit greatly from a daily step out. i wouldn't send my dcs to a nursery where daily outside play wasn't seen as important. obviously i know hail and midday sunshine isn't appropriate but most otehr weather is permitting if you provide teh right clothing and sun protection.

[ShanahansRevenge]

Good grief that's bad! The nursery near us has them out all day almost...the other day they were all pedalling like fury around the yard on their little trikes while the staff played "Born to Be Wild" at full volume and watched them clapping and singing the whole time!

Raised many a smile...and th staff always look like they're having fun too.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

TiggyD, I previously worked in a nursery. Parents were asked to provide raincoat and wellies for kids and staff were provided with weather gear. Only if it was absolutely pissing down would outside time be cancelled. Definitely not for cold.

DS's nursery doesn't have much outside space, but again, unless it is raining they have outside time (have to give it to the staff there, it is close to a bog, they take the kids there weekly). When the weather is really inclement, there is an indoor active play area with those cars with no pedals, soft mats and climbing frames/slides so that there is physical play space (somewhere to put the, ahem, more active children, yes, my DS) earlier in the day.

[classydiva]

My youngest hated the childminder, he then went to a local nursery for three years, his brother two years later also went to the nursery.

They grew up into well balanced, marvelous young adults.

[HarrietSchulenberg]

I don't think you're being unreasonable, and TBH I wouldn't have thought of asking my nursery if they allowed children to play outside in cold weather before I joined. I was too busy asking about other stuff.

It wouldn't particularly have bothered me, but I agree that it makes you wonder what other things they're not doing because the manager/staff don't feel like it.

[booyhoo]

yes classy, many do. your point?

[scottishmummy]

im happy for someone else watch em whilst i work.maybe they chain em to radiators,ignore em or poke em

who knows?too young to tell me

they can spend a whole week in drawer like brittas empire lady fwiw,so long as fees dont increase,and i get to work

and it has been baltic so staff need a break,after all.to get a fag and irn bru

[booyhoo]

oh i do love you SM. i know you aren't really as hard as you make out

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

YANBU. Ds's nursery take them outside just about every day, which I think is great. Having said that, it wasn't something I'd thought of asking about beforehand- mainly because DS isn't there all day, and we do lots of outside dog-walking at home, so YANBU not to have asked!

[Rannaldini]

well i don't like the cold either so it's stay on with them or stay on with me
also they are better with them than i am
i just stick the telly on
they do stuff with them

so all in all I don't care

i was surprised to find that dd1 can count to ten in spanish
who knew?

[scottishmummy]

oh all right then,a well fired roll and fag for baby room staff.as a treat

and some piccies of mummmy above cots in baby room remind them oh who hell she is

yes the burd who pays the fees,thats the mummy

[booyhoo]

[scottishmummy]

wee laminated picture of mammie above the cot.classy touch.ma weans love it