Is the nursery allowed to do this?

[kashka81]

My 13-month old son has been going to a nursery since the beginning of October this year. Last week when I called to ask how he was doing I got informed that one of the activities they did with him that day was a trip to a local Tesco to do some grocery shopping.

Initially this hadn't raised any alarm bells but after talking to my partner about it we have started to wonder whether such trips should at all be allowed as to go to Tesco they obviously had to leave the nursery premises. The educational value of such activity is also rather questionable.

Does anyone know whether this is ok? Do other nurseries do anything similar?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

[QueryQuery]

A trip to the supermarket was dc's absolute favourite when at nursery. (Although they hated going with me.) Tesco for milk was even more exciting than a trip to the library or museum.

Not everything they do has to have educational value, although I suppose they could look at fruit from around the world or consider how milk gets from field to store.

[FlightofFancy]

My son's nursery often did this - eg went to Sainsburys to get veg to do paint printing etc or to buy fruit they then had as snack. They'll have a way of doing it that's safe for the children - at 13mo probably in a few double or triple buggies depending on size of class etc. It'll all be risk assessed as well.
I always thought it was good that they got out for fresh air and change of scene - in the summer they did trips to park also.

[LIZS]

Have you signed a waiver to give permission for individual trips? It would have to have been risk assessed.

[QueryQuery]

Oh, we had to sign a blanket authority for off premises trips (or decline). A few children never went on any trips.

[Cindy34]

Cannot see a problem with it if it was in a small group. Seeing the world around them is important and there may be few places they can go near nursery. They would have looked at colours, shapes, types of fruit/veg. If you were at home with your child you would take them shopping, so I do not see it being any different. You don't want them confined to one room all day long... getting out and about is good.

[meditrina]

I thought you had to sign a consent form for all trips off-site.

But yes, such trips are wholly normal (indeed OFSTED will mark a setting down if not provided).

[christinarossetti]

You should have been asked for your consent re: trips off the premises. I assume that you signed agreement when he started?

It's not the most riveting trip in the world to an adult but everything is pretty absorbing for a 13 month old, and children do enjoy doing mundane tasks with other children/people not their parents.

I would think it more worthwhile somehow if he was able to walk at least part of the way, and not just carted round in a buggy somehow.

[kashka81]

Thanks for all your replies!

Our main worry was that he might have been exposed to a potentially dangerous situation when taken out of the premises - we might have been overreacting though (we're first time parents!).

I don't really recall signing a consent form too so going to double check that!

[starry0ne]

Honestly you need to relax... I can tell you as a c.minder.. the pre school children do school run every day...Sometimes the little ones nap in the pushchairs but we sing nursery rhymes... look for house numbers, watch builders, spot cats, dogs, Chat, jump in puddles. collect leaves..

Actually my DS 's school reception all went to the shop for a trip...

[MrsBalustradeLanyard]

They'll have to stick to ratios so there will be a suitable number of staff on hand. Small things are exciting for little kids!

[Iguessyourestuckwithme]

potentially dangerous situation

Like what???

[starry0ne]

what sort of dangerous situation?

Learning how to behave in a shop is actually a way to keep them safe..

[Allyoucaneat]

'might be exposed to a potentially dangerous situation'.....do you never take your kid Tesco?

DP is at home with Ds 15months, today, their going to go to the supermarket later, should I not allow this because of potential danger?

[MrsBalustradeLanyard]

OP was asking a simple question, why bother with a sarky response? WTF is wrong with people on here these days?

[Millionprammiles]

Most good nurseries organise trips out (though dds only did these from age 2). The kids generally love it, the staff in my experience do a risk assessment and plan it carefully.

Of course if you take your child to Tesco they will scream, play up and generally make you miserable :)

[wonkylegs]

When my son was at nursery his absolute favourite trip out was a ride on the bus - they didn't always go anywhere, the bus did a loop that they could get on and off at the nursery easily and the kids loved it.
We had signed a consent form for visits out though. They always risk assessed every trip and they were very well planned even for a ride on the bus. I think DS liked it as we never went in the bus as our house was next to the metro.

[kashka81]

By 'dangerous situation' I meant my child walking around with a stranger who has to look after a couple of other kids at the same time as looking after mine, and in a place full of other strangers. Yes, I do take my son shopping but that's a one-to-one ratio (often two-to-one when we go together with my DP) and my whole attention is concentrated on him. Why would have we been required to sign a consent form otherwise?

MrsBalustradeLanyard - thanks ;)

[Iguessyourestuckwithme]

I wasn't being sarky I was asking a question. I am a nanny(was a nursery nurse) to 2 children and we often go to the shops I was wondering what "potentially dangerous situations" we may end up in?

[wetsnow]

My dd has been to the park loads, pet shop, soft play and a garden centre on the bus and she's nearly 2. Absolutely fine and better than being stuck in onerror room all day.

[Isaiaheva]

Why would a 13 month old child be walking, surely he would be in a pushchair? What on earth do you think parents do with multiple young children, it is unrealistic to think that a child can get one to one supervision at all times. I think you are being very pfb and you need to relax, nursery will obviously be insured.

[53rdAndBird]

Yes, my daughter's nursery does this with all ages, usually several trips out a week to library/shops/park or just a walk about the area.

It was one of the things we specifically asked about when choosing nurseries - we vetoed the ones that never/rarely did trips out. It would get very boring for them to be in the same space all day every day!

[Isaiaheva]

Oh and if you sign a permission form it doesn't mean it is necessarily a potentially dangerous situation at all .

[DeltaZeta]

Did you sign a blanket permission for ten to take him off site?

My DD attends an Outstanding nursery. They are always taking children to town on the bus, to the shopping centre, park or library. My DD loves these outings. Everything will be properly risk assessed.