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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think nursery staff should not cordon off a public playground?

166 replies

mumofboysinlondon · 01/04/2026 13:04

I took my almost 3-year-old and baby to a small playground this morning, and while we were there a nursery group came along. So far so normal.

The staff with the group then added chains to the two gates to stop their kids from escaping, and roped off some of the climbing frame.

I was a bit annoyed by this - the roped off areas included the fireman’s pole and a rope ladder which my kid loves. Obviously this is a space designed for small children so it is inherently pretty safe… The locks on the gates also confused a number of other parents trying to get in, although they could be opened relatively easily by an adult.

I did speak to the member of staff and asked if they really needed to do it and she said it was the health and safety policy of the nursery. I didn’t want to kick up a fuss and we left after a bit.

AIBU in thinking this was a bit out of order - it’s a public playground.

OP posts:
canuckup · 01/04/2026 20:56

It's a public place. Liability is void of they do this.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 01/04/2026 18:43

helpfulperson · 01/04/2026 17:40

Its annoying and unacceptable but I'm not sure how it's a hazard.

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It sounds like they roped off an entrance/exit at the top of the tower.

So if the tower top (with the fireman's pole etc) is at a safe height for a child to jump/climb down from, and they barricade it off, then a child climbing over that barrier could fall from the height of the top of the makeshift barrier rather than the designed playframe height and could be injured.

Laserwho · 01/04/2026 18:25

helpfulperson · 01/04/2026 17:40

Its annoying and unacceptable but I'm not sure how it's a hazard.

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Roping off courses hazards for young children trying to climb over them. As someone who supposedly works for a council you really should know this

Original poster
mumofboysinlondon · 01/04/2026 18:13

To those saying “I’d just have removed the ropes”, I was holding a baby and would have had to climb up to do it. They had also fixed them at various points so lots to undo - I have not explained it well but it was like a square rope net, tied at each corner. Also (as this thread suggests!!), I wasn’t sure whether I was being unreasonable.

OP posts:
BerryTwister · 01/04/2026 18:11

takealettermsjones · 01/04/2026 13:07

I don't think the locks on the gates would have bothered me, as long as adults could open them as you say, but I'd have removed any ropes that were stopping my child using the equipment for what it's designed for.

I agree.
I'd have just removed the ropes.

BlueOrangeDreams · 01/04/2026 18:03

I agree it's not acceptable. If they don't think the playpark or any public space is safe after a risk assessment the answer is not to go there or perhaps more staff to man the gates. Not prevent other people from using it.

pruningmybush · 01/04/2026 18:01

helpfulperson · 01/04/2026 17:40

Its annoying and unacceptable but I'm not sure how it's a hazard.

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Because they are fixing things to play structures

Original poster
mumofboysinlondon · 01/04/2026 17:59

sittingonabeach · 01/04/2026 17:26

Could nursery have obtained permission?

Our local park sometimes has children’s football matches on the public green space (not football pitches). Assume the club has got permission to cordon off these areas at this time. Same as park run type activities where certain areas are cordoned off

I did ask whether they had exclusive use of the playground (you never know) but they said no.

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 01/04/2026 17:40

Laserwho · 01/04/2026 17:10

No your not, but you do your job and look into the local nurserys when you get a report like this that causes a genuine hazard in a local playground.

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Its annoying and unacceptable but I'm not sure how it's a hazard.

MrsCarson · 01/04/2026 17:28

If you aren't sure what nursery it is, rock and speak to one of the adults, smile and say the kids look like they are having so much fun! What nursery are they from? Do they have a summer program or are they year round etc etc. They'll tell you seeing they don't want to turn away potential clients.

JohnTheRevelator · 01/04/2026 17:26

What a cheek!

sittingonabeach · 01/04/2026 17:26

Could nursery have obtained permission?

Our local park sometimes has children’s football matches on the public green space (not football pitches). Assume the club has got permission to cordon off these areas at this time. Same as park run type activities where certain areas are cordoned off

ThunderCatsHooo · 01/04/2026 17:26

I'd have just moved the ropes to allow my children to use the equipment, if they said anything I'd have pointed out it's a public park for everyone. If you know which nursery it is contact the council about it.

Original poster
mumofboysinlondon · 01/04/2026 17:20

abouttogetlynched · 01/04/2026 17:17

Do you have a local Facebook page?
Shame you didn’t catch the name of the nursery, but being the petty twat that I am, I’d probably post on my local FB and ask which nursery it was who did this just to highlight what they did.

Ha - I might do this!

OP posts:
abouttogetlynched · 01/04/2026 17:17

Do you have a local Facebook page?
Shame you didn’t catch the name of the nursery, but being the petty twat that I am, I’d probably post on my local FB and ask which nursery it was who did this just to highlight what they did.

Laserwho · 01/04/2026 17:10

helpfulperson · 01/04/2026 16:53

How? We aren't psychic!

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No your not, but you do your job and look into the local nurserys when you get a report like this that causes a genuine hazard in a local playground.

pruningmybush · 01/04/2026 17:06

helpfulperson · 01/04/2026 16:53

How? We aren't psychic!

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The council could drop a line to all the nurseries within preschooler walking distance of the site. There's unlikely to be more than a handful

helpfulperson · 01/04/2026 16:53

Laserwho · 01/04/2026 15:57

Still report it now. The council will have ways to find out which nursery it is.

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How? We aren't psychic!

alexdgr8 · 01/04/2026 16:40

Yet they have omitted the basic safety measure of printing the nursery's name postcode and phone number on the children's
hi vis vests

MyDeftDuck · 01/04/2026 16:33

I can sort of understand the vigilance in keeping the nursery kids safe but in a public play space surely they have no right to restrict certain equipment for their own use. I’d be considering speaking to the local council about this……a public space is exactly that…..a PUBLIC space.

NoisyMonster678 · 01/04/2026 16:20

Speak to the council about this OP, it seems really mean of them to do that especially as toddlers with their mums were unable to use the facilities.

The nursery probably locked the gates to stop the kids running off but they should have allowed other children to use the equipment too.

Peonies12 · 01/04/2026 16:05

That's definitely not OK. Our nursery go out every day, mostly to local playgrounds, and they never do this. if you know the name of the nursery, I'd email them.

CaptainMyCaptain · 01/04/2026 15:58

GinaandGin · 01/04/2026 13:17

I'd be reporting to the council

This.

Laserwho · 01/04/2026 15:57

helpfulperson · 01/04/2026 15:31

The problem is it's hard for the council to do anything unless they know which nursery. But if it happens again find out and report.

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Still report it now. The council will have ways to find out which nursery it is.

Livelovelaughfuckoff · 01/04/2026 15:55

Yeah roping off pieces of equipment in a public playground is not OK and I would report to the council. If I knew which nursery it was I would ask to see the risk assessment and to know if accounts for potential risk towards non nursery children who may try to climb on or remove these ropes.

They have added a potential hazard to the playground and not accounted for any unsupervised public children using the equipment so they are putting themselves at risk surely if a non nursery child hurts themselves on a rope.

I don't even like the sound of roping off the exit gates as it implies there is not enough staff to monitor the children.