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To ask my children's pre-school not to let them play outside

189 replies

AitchDee · 01/12/2012 12:44

My twins attend a local preschool for three mornings a week. Since they started I have had issues with them arriving home at lunch time with soaking wet sleeves and trousers where they have done outside water play, and hands that are red raw from being cold and wet.

On Thursday upon dropping them off, we were told not to take coats/hats/gloves off as they were going o play in the school field next door. I raised my eyebrows at the time as it really was a very cold, frosty morning.

A hour later I got a phone call to say my twins needed collecting as one was very poorly and falling asleep/eyes rolling in his head, and the other 'had come out in sympathy' and was crying hysterically.

I collected them and brought them home, but I think they we're just utterly freezing. They were absolutely fine the rest of the day. All the other children were playing happily back in the warm so it was only mine.

I'm not sure if I am just being precious. They do love playing outside, even in freezing cold water and wet sand, no matter the weather, but I think their bodies use find it a bit much. They were born very early, and only weighed 1lb 3oz at birth but to look at them now they have caught up.

Would I look a twat asking preschool to keep them indoors until spring? Maybe my twins just need a bit of toughening up? They will be three in January if that makes a difference.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 02/12/2012 18:54

If you really think your DD will need to be inside over winter then you need to talk to her consultant and see what he thinks, if he agrees then get them to write to the nursery.

However, it is well worth bearing in mind that germs are going to be spread a lot more couped up in a centrally heated building than they will outside.

piglettsmummy · 02/12/2012 18:54

fairyegg we have been in and discussed everything! It's good job I'm organised and we have everything planned/ set out Grin

baublesandbaileys · 02/12/2012 18:53

I think you should go in and have a chat with them, and get an accurate idea of what you can expect, if you're right, great! if you're wrong you have time to think about things like gathering medical evidence etc, but at least you'll be properly prepared

piglettsmummy · 02/12/2012 18:52

I think the school were going to must me amazing compare to others, that have no additional staff etc! But then again this school has experience with SN.

Fairyegg · 02/12/2012 18:52

Go in and chat to the nursery now piglettsmummy so you can prepare yourself. these extra helpers are not just floating around waiting for something to do, there role is well allocated for and it will not include staying inside with your dd unless you secure the 1:1 funding for her.

piglettsmummy · 02/12/2012 18:51

There not busy all the time either!!!

baublesandbaileys · 02/12/2012 18:50

the extra helpers are actually there for reasons, they're not just spare!

piglettsmummy · 02/12/2012 18:50

Dear me! Put it this way! Dd is perfectly fine to go out at the
Current temperatures/ weather! We go by how dd is heathwise! As the weather begins to turn more she will become more unwell! You see? So it's not just a little bit of cold! Jeez I'm not a mad woman

Fairyegg · 02/12/2012 18:48

I don't know piglettsmummy as like you said you don't want to go into details. Seriously though, i think you may be having unrealistic expectations how a nursery / school can accomadate a child (any child). It's just not viable to keep one child inside, or even 3/4. The staffing ratio is there for a reason.

piglettsmummy · 02/12/2012 18:47

Well il be lucky then as Dd is going to a school nursery so there will be 'x' amount of extra helpers around the school! I'm no saying I've done it yet but I'd expect them to accommodate for her needs! If they want to ignore it and put her health at risk then thats up to them!

baublesandbaileys · 02/12/2012 18:46

but cold and wet weather can go on for days!

Sirzy · 02/12/2012 18:46

Well if your planning on not going out when its cold that could easily be days on end.

To want children to stay in because its cold is daft and is doing the child no good at all.

baublesandbaileys · 02/12/2012 18:45

no, its not one teacher, its one teacher per x amt of kids, so if all are outside they NEED all teachers to be outside as the supervising ratio needs that many adults with that group!

piglettsmummy · 02/12/2012 18:44

baublesandbaileys I didnt state I stayed inside for days on end? Hmm

piglettsmummy · 02/12/2012 18:43

We haven't been assessed yet! So we don't no but ie heard change in the criteria might mean we don't even et 1:1 for her! I would never assume that any child shud
Suffer because of another hut I have never heard Of only one teacher in a nursery! if OP wast happy like she stated then they should accommodate! My daughters condition is serious yes but I don't want to go into details. She suffered very badly this summer and had countless admissions to hospital! Does that account for serious enough?

baublesandbaileys · 02/12/2012 18:41

piglet in nursery they need more than one teacher for a crowd of kids, they can't let one go in with one child because then the ratio for the outside group will be off. They will have enough to take kids into the loo etc but they don't tend to have lots of spares

do people really stay housebounds for days on end during a run of bad weather? bonkers!

Fairyegg · 02/12/2012 18:39

Your child will not be allowed to stay inside when others are outside unless allocated a 1:1 support, which she isn't. It's hardy fair on the other kids to be kept inside just or the sake of one child (mum) is it? If the medicial problems are that severe then you should be getting 1:1 support?

piglettsmummy · 02/12/2012 18:36

The school dd is going to has more than one teacher in the nursery! What f a child threw up while playing outside? They couldn't just stay outside?

Sirzy · 02/12/2012 18:36

Asking for her to stay in when she is ill is one thing, but why would you ask her to stay in if she is in what is her normal condition? What will be gained?

Fairyegg · 02/12/2012 18:36

And yes, of course we go out everyday Confused in the right clothing. I don't think either of mine have complained of the wet / cold ever.

baublesandbaileys · 02/12/2012 18:34

or if I ever rang work saying "sorry can't take DC on the 20 min walk up to nursery so won't be in today, gotta huddle indoors with them! it looks like rain and he might melt on the way!"

piglettsmummy · 02/12/2012 18:33

I dont no who would stay in with her, I haven't been put in that situation yet but lets say I request her to be kept in due to rr medical problems? If she doesn't qualify for one to one care does that mean they shud ignore my request? Nope? I'm
Just saying If a parent sees fit to request their child to be kept in then they shud be allowed to have that choice

Fairyegg · 02/12/2012 18:33

pigglettsmummy unless your dd has 1:1 you have no chance, i just can't understand why you think it would be a good idea? I brought the snow boots and gloves from Aldi today, there great. Just wrap them up and proved a spare change of clothes incase needed - simples!

forevergreek · 02/12/2012 18:33

Yes we do, we go out every day ( unless someone has vomiting bug or something).

baublesandbaileys · 02/12/2012 18:32

I also go to work even in winter! I cannot imagine what would happen if I rang in with "too cold to walk to bus stop, sorry!"

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