I thought it would be easier to find a nursery with a no outdoor shoes policy !!

[Noshoesnursery]

Every one so far that I’ve looked at they all wear outdoor shoes inside meaning the carpets and rugs are not clean ? I thought they would be outdoor shoes off at the door for children and staff and just clean indoor shoes inside ?

is it really that unusual ? It’s a deal breaker for me but I need to find one !!

First baby, huh?

Gdcs had a very well-used forest school close to their nursery/pre school. Wellies were usually requested for that, but otherwise, unless it was very wet they wore the same shoes indoors and out. IIRC some parent helpers were asked for on ‘forest’ days, maybe to help with all the changing of footwear!

Oh dear.

With all due respect, you want them to be exposed to dirt. Their immune systems need it. Really.

I’d be more concerned about making sure there was free flow access to outdoor space, that kids didn’t spend all day inside.

Try Montessori nursery/pre school. Ours did no shoes. Perfectly doable so it's definitely not impractical or impossible. They just train the kids

Op, I’m 100% with you on this. Shoes indoors is grim. I think it’s a UK thing that parents are happy for the kids to roll around in dirt, walk around with shinty noses and just being generally gross (because kids will be kids). Most civilised countries don’t do shoes indoors be it nursery, home or any other indoor area. It’s not just germs and viruses on the bottom of the shoes, it’s also cancerous toxins etc. There’s many many studies about that

We live in Europe and the kids wear slippers exclusively used at pre school. The parents help them put them on in the morning at drop off and if they go outside to play they change into their trainers.

Most UK preschools are open access to the outside at all times with no restrictions on the kids to go in and out as they please do it would be a lot less practical. Although I'm no fan of shoes indoors, I can assure you that it will be fine and that no harm will come to your child as a result of this.

We had this rule at a brownies camp in volunteered at. It was a huge pain even for 7 to 10 year olds. Yabvu

Years ago outdoor play was controlled with children only getting short breaks in good weather now the doors are supposed to be open all weathers with free flow....often the doors magically open when inspectors come

I prefer old school thanks. Who in their right mind would leave doors free flow? Does anyone do that at home? What a ridiculous idea.

Interestingly, the pp who mentioned their Montessori was no shoes, DD's nursery was Montessori, so that is probably why it's normal for some, and not others.

Wonder why we haven’t all died of dirty floors? By your reckoning we should have.
Feel quite sorry for your kid, with your level of anxiety.
Yoo are going to HATE school.

Yuk, can’t believe people walk around their houses with outdoor shoes spreading dog feaces etc. Only in the UK..

You need to move to Germany or Austria where shoes off at the front door is the norm.

My oldest went to a shoes off preschool. They had a huge outdoor play space, doors open all the time whatever the weather and they all learned very quickly to put shoes and waterproofs on and off. Should be the norm imo, so much cleaner.

Our nursery had no shoes, they took them off outside the room and put them on a rack. Parents took off theirs or wore shoe covers. I think all the nurseries I looked at did this,or at least did for the baby room. I don't see why they wouldn't?

Absolutely not impractical. It's the norm for all kids in france till age 6. Mine were 2.5 when they started kindergarten and managed fine. Yes there were 28 kids too.

There is no need for free flow access, is this a UK thing? We are out 6-7 hours a day, no shoes indoors. Do teachers not take the kuds out unless all the doors are open!? Are the doors open when it is -10?

The exterior germs are the least of your worries. These children are walking biological experiments. Honestly if they caged them all for testing I guarantee they would find the next Covid within a fortnight. 🤣

As per responses in this thread, it’s pretty standard in most European countries (as well as Japan, Canada etc.) I’m currently abroad on a holiday and you can spot the UK kids straight away, walking around with green snot dripping from their nostrils spreading if everywhere - the parents can’t even be bothered to wipe it. Don’t know why people in the UK insist on their kids being as gross as possible, there is normal exposure to germs and there is just not giving a f**k. And anyone seen taking any precautions like cleaning hands etc is ridiculoued.

You seem very uptight.

Have a no outdoor shoes or any other policy you like in your own home, but don't expect it in nurseries or schools. It would in most cases be totally impractical.

The two nurseries I used for my three children were generally no shoes in areas of the baby room for the safety of wriggling and crawling babies (who generally don't wear shoes yet anyway. From toddlers and upwards, no. Shoes were worn inside and out. The place was certainly clean enough and floors were swept and mopped daily by the usual cleaners.

Unclench. There are going to be times when your child will be required to wear shoes indoors (school being an obvious example). You will have to as well when you go to parents' evening etc.

A peck of dirt does no harm at all.

Still, only in the UK.. Funny how it works in most other countries without a problem, even in schools. And it’s not just to do with germs as many of us already have explained. But if you want dog poo indoors, you certainly can.

”a peck of dirt” 🤣and the rest. Instead of telling others to unclench, you should educate yourself a little bit about what sort of things are brought inside on the bottom of your shoes. Its people like you that is the problem, if everyone was a little cleaner then other people wouldn’t have to “clench” so much

Our London nursery has wellies for outside and shoes inside. The shoes are whatever they arrive at nursery wearing, so not strictly indoor shoes.'

Our nursery is no shoes throughout. We remove shoes at drop off and they don't have issues putting them on for walks or garden time. I didn't realise this was unusual or have it on my list for my first child at nursery (my priorities were garden time and ample cuddles/physical contact, and a relaxed sleep/food situation as ds was only 5 months). The staff have slippers or sliders, the kids wear socks or go barefoot.

100%👏🏻

How does this work with a fire alarm? I work in reception, and children have to keep their shoes on for fire purposes. Also, risk assessments wouldnt allow them tk be in just socks bevahse ita slippery. Perhaps higher staff ratios help?