To think nurseries should appear neutral when it comes to politics

Well exactly , I find it exasperating that parents wish to co-opt their kids into their own politics. It’s like brainwashing. I also don’t trust anyone to talk neutrally to my child about politics, everyone seems to be constantly in either convince/denounce mode.

Nursery is supposed to be a lovely warm safe place for kids to get ready for reception, learn some stuff and have fun and make friends. That’s it’s purpose.

Of course as private establishments they have a right to do whatever they want within the law. I as a parent would avoid any nursery that made any kind of political statement, whether it aligned with mine of not.

A private business can do what it likes but I wouldn't like to be giving business to someone canvassing for say Reform - so not a wise move on the nursery's part.

Legally it’s a private business and they probably can and whilst it’s your party you probably wont care much but I do think it’s inappropriate to bring a nursery into political campaigning.

Private nursery can do what they want but they are daft to do this

They will piss off some of their customers.

Now that they are 'political' they will find it hard to justify a neutral stance on other things.

Inappropriate on what basis? How does it impact their ability to look after your child? Unless they’re indoctrinating the kids I’m utterly baffled as to how it’s even relevant. What about if they have a charity collection when there’s more than one charity, should they be neutral in all respects?

There's a massive worry of kids experiencing extremism and being radicalized nowadays . I know a Labour poster is nothing like that, but kids need to be kept out of politics and be influenced. It all starts small

You are not wrong OP. But then this is MN. Had you said nurseries should remain neutral, I saw a nursery window with posters for the Tories today, you would have got very different answers.

You know what a school's religious ethos is before you apply for a place for your child, and you've accepted it. And assuming it's state, it's free.

If I chose a private nursery, was paying the owners large amounts of money, and then two years later I discovered via a poster, that the owner is supporting and encouraging me to support Reform, I'd be really pissed off. And only very slightly less pissed off if they were canvassing me to vote Tory. That's not what I signed up for.

I'm obviously in the minority.

I think it's absolutely fair for a nursery to tell parents about the problems they have and what they need from the next government. So a more subtle approach to getting support via parents' votes. But I don't think they should be displaying posters that canvas for a particular candidate or party.

If I was a parent who was opposed to that candidate or party, I'd feel that the nursery was anti-me, and I'd no longer feel welcome there.

I don't like any workplace that takes a particular party political stance, even if I agree with it. Presumably not all those nursery workers have the same political views, yet the nursery is giving the impression that it's the whole nursery's stance.

You have no skin in this game. It’s not your child’s nursery.

It’s considered fairly normal to send a child to school with a very strong religious affiliation, where for example children say prayers, read the relevant text daily and attend acts of worship. Why is a simple poster in a window, for a mainstream U.K. political party, that the children are too young to even read, such a big deal?

The business owner has every right to display support for a candidate.

I have every right to think the business owner is an idiot.

It's a candidate for Portsmouth from the Conservative party that they're supporting.

Well then. I’m wondering if most of this thread still thinks that’s fair democracy now or should the Tory voting bastards be shut down by morning 🍿

Everything, everywhere is saturated with politics. The news, social media, walking down the street, what comes through the post. Your child’s place of education and play shouldn’t be used as another base for a singular opinion on more political bollocks. Because that’s ultimately what it is, no party has shown itself to be willing to save or overhaul early years or general educational provisions beyond a few meaningless sound bites.

And yes we can all take a gander at the political party in question, but quite honestly at this point that same party could be offering open access to Hogwarts with a free unicorn per child and people would probably believe it at this point…

But why? Genuinely, you've not given a single reason for curtailing the right to engage in democracy. And any restrictions on that right need to be backed by a particularly strong argument, not just a "it doesn't feel right".

Well, it's not rocket science to guess which political party is most likely to invest in childcare for working families....

But anyone else you'd like to deny the basic right to engage in an active democracy? Perhaps I should report my nan's care worker for wearing a CND badge? Or maybe OFSTED would like to know that one of the local teachers stood in the local elections? What about university staff, should they be banned from engaging in democracy?

You feel free to vote with your feet if a nursery does something you don't like but don't try to put restrictions on private businesses/individuals exercising their right to openly engage in democracy.

How would their knowledge correlate with the political posters they’re putting up? Unless they know for certain that person/their party will absolutely change education and early years funding/structures, they’re simply putting forward an opinion on a candidate. I’d be highly unimpressed with my children’s nursery for doing such a thing. A nursery is for my child’s development, not to be canvassed.

If a nursery supported Reform, I'd want to know so I could remove my child.

But surely conversation is good? Especially as funding for nursery places is a political topic ATM and nurseries would be able to discuss from a position of knowledge.

How would a nursery child know anything about Gaza etc.?

If it is a private nursery then the owner is entitled to set the rules if candidates posters can be displayed. If a council or school based nursery then no posters should be shown.

Politically neutral no, nursery funding is a political issue. Campaigning for a particular candidate I don't think is something they should do though.

I doubt your toddler is going to be radicalised into any political movement at Miss Plumpkins Day Nursery.

Or… maybe these are the real Tory shills. Those we least expect it from… they did have some spots of blue paint on their trousers today.

Gaza badges!

Ha ha. Which gentrified part of East London was this in?