To have a word with the nursery?

[lauraloveskitsch]

DD1 is 3.6 and in nursery five afternoons a week. We got the newsletter yesterday and this term they're learning about animals. They will have a selection of animals coming in provided by parents which the children will learn about and be able to handle.

DH was up there earlier to find the children had already met a big chocolate labrador and tomorrow will meet a ferret.

AIBU to have a word with the nursery? There have been no consent forms given, the newsletter was handed out late and the only people who knew about this are the parents who are bringing animals and are friends outside the school with the teachers.

What if there was an incident? AIBU about this? FWIW I would sign the consent form but I wish I'd been informed and had a choice.

I have a slightly balding, almost certainly sociopathic elderly hamster. If anyone wants to borrow him for show and tell - you are very welcome!

He is quite grumpy, nocturnal (obviously) and bites indiscriminately. Just don't erm... pick him up. Let him out to race around, and then channel him back to his abode.. talking soothingly, and waving a nut in his face..

Despite this - We all love hammie dearly, but when ds2 came home from school with a photo of himself with a snake draped round his neck, and also one with an owl perched on his shoulder, it was actually quite light relief! Ha ha ha ! A python round his neck - under supervision - and neck intact - but at least he still has all his fingers and thumbs..... :o

God, can you imagine the risk assessment needed just to get the post delivered there each day??

That owl and snake would love to eat hammie.

It's a bit odd to 'have a word' about something that doesn't bother you OP, but you worry might bother other people.

I'd leave it and let the parents who are bothered 'have words' with nursery. Save your words for things you are bothered about.

The Nursery where my little girl goes has chicks in the spring, they watch them grow from eggs right through to little chicks, all the kids love it

DS's nursery has had animals in a few times mainly snakes, spiders and lizards but bunnies a few times too and they often go a feed some horses nearby.
We don't have consent forms but we did put a note on DS's file so that they ensure that I know if they have been or are going to see the horses or a dog as my DH is deadly allergic to those 2 things in particular and even a tiny bit of hair on clothes can set off a severe asthma attack. This just means I have to pick up DS on those days and make sure he has a wash & clean clothes before he hugs/sees his dad. But this is our issue not the nursery's so we are proactive about dealing with it.

Can you imagine the Daily Fail article

Children at Nursery Terrorised by Giant Beast

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=tiny+dog&hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=FO6Wmy5hGxa2AM:&imgrefurl=www.bestweekever.tv/2008-01-24/7-easy-ways-to-make-a-6-inch-dog-feel-really-small/&docid=cyq41b-7fxMKVM&imgurl=www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2008/01/TINY%252520DOG%2525202.jpg&w=477&h=280&ei=3G0aT57gJ4fT8QP9_uCvCw&zoom=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Picture

Followed by picture of sad and traumatised looking family with big eyes.

You think that's bad at dd's nursery they are training them <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=giant+dog&hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsu&tbnid=UFSMUaw1EuZj1M:&imgrefurl=www.freakingnews.com/Giant-Dog-Pics-35996.asp&docid=eUP-M4LO8Bf0qM&imgurl=www.freakingnews.com/pictures/29500/Giant-Dog-29543.jpg&w=500&h=418&ei=im0aT-y1B4nZ8QOAhsXOCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=777&vpy=191&dur=552&hovh=205&hovw=246&tx=167&ty=95&sig=100905824709398581918&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=177&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">to do this

Wow OP, I am surprised your child wasn't traumatised for life by these abominable activities!!

FGS, A lab and a ferret........you trust the nursery to look after your child for the hours that they are there; taking care of their health, welfare and wellbeing! Do you honestly think they won't have considered potential risks/hazards etc?

Actually, I'd be at this.

I teach DD not to go to dogs she doesn't know and stroke them- is this wrong?

Also, very different when an organisation with professional handlers brings animals into school to asking parents to bring in the family pet.

Many parents do not want their children to handle certain animals, for whatever reason; allergies, phobias, general dislike, fear. That's their prerogative and they should have been informed.

I teach DD not to go to dogs she doesn't know and stroke them- is this wrong?

Of course that is not wrong, and that is probably part of what the children were being taught at the nursery!

Right, ok... but 'probably'? If it were staff from a dogs' home, I'd know that that sensible handling was being taught, but just another parent bringing in the family pet?

I'm not sure that was the focus, TBH.

Besides, I still have the right to withdraw my child from such a session- even if I was just being irrational.

Tether do you think the nursery let's all the kids run up and maul the animals? Or force children who are scared to stroke them?

With regards the allergies that is up to the parents to ensure the nursery are aware of any allergies. If the parents don't tell them how are nursery supposed to know?

Anyone got any cotton wool ?

That's not my point, Sirzy; fair enough on the allergies, but since animals are not normally part of the nursery day, parents may not have thought to mention an allergy relating to animals.

My point is, it's not really the nursery's decision to decide that it's ok for the children to handle animals. It's the parents'. Even if every parent thinks it's fine.

Sorry parents should tell nursery/school about any allergy - they are leaving the child in their care so as such they need to know a full medical history.

If you want to control what your child comes in contact with 24/7 you never let them out of your sight and you home educate. Being shown different pets and a chance to handle them correctly and supervised is not going to do a child any harm

Tethers is right, have just discovered my DD is allergic to cats and dogs but have not thought to mention it to school yet

Penicillin is not part of the nursery day but I still told the nursery when my DS was there that he was allergic to it .

I'm organising a trip back to the 70's where life was infinitely more fun & a lot less bloody hassle. squeaky do you want to be my co-pilot?

It is absolutely no wonder that nurseries/schools don't organise fun stuff for the kids - parents are turning into Very Weird People.

having said that, I wouldn't be annoyed at school if they brought a dog in (which DD would love), I'd be annoyed at me for not telling them re dog allergy!

Ok, I stand corrected on the allergies front- but I maintain that something which children would not normally come into contact with at school should be run past the parents first.

There will be an increased risk, no matter how small, that a dog could bite a child; particularly if the dog is just being brought in by another parent from home, and may not be used to groups of children in the same way that dogs brought by a professional outfit would be. Parents are entitled to decide whether they are fine with that increased risk or not. Even if they are being unreasonable.

Alot of nursery / playgroups are now doing training to become Forest Schools - where they train practioners to use the outdoors to learn

here

can't wait to see some reactions from Mn's when their precious child's nursery / playgroup takes this on !

There is a risk with anything - the practioners at a setting realise risks and plan accordingly - we have a risk assessment for changing nappies FFS !

Some real cotton wool parenting going on now a days !

But if it's part of the curriculum, then parents are informed of such activities in advance, and grant their consent by allowing their children to attend.

Not the same as letting parents bring in family pets unannounced.

I'm a teacher