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

[AitchDee]

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.

[piglettsmummy]

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

[baublesandbaileys]

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!

[Sirzy]

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]

but cold and wet weather can go on for days!

[piglettsmummy]

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!

[Fairyegg]

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]

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

[baublesandbaileys]

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

[piglettsmummy]

There not busy all the time either!!!

[Fairyegg]

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]

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.

[baublesandbaileys]

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]

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

[Sirzy]

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]

I'm not some freak blabbering on! I am aware wat I'm saying!!

[Sirzy]

Well what you are saying and what you are writing are two very different things obviously!

[piglettsmummy]

It isn't anything to do with germs!! Yes they are a big problem for her but I'm not putting her in a plastic bubble!!

[piglettsmummy]

Whys that sirzy?

[Fairyegg]

My ds school is linked to the local special needs school, there is a unit within the school as well so there are kids there with all sorts of disabilities, many very severe (cp, cf, downs syndrome etc) The point stands that unless you manage to secure the 1:1 funding additional staff will not be given to your dd. the staff may not look busy to you, but I bet they are. I really hope you get the 1:1 if you feel your dd needs it. Otherwise I don't think you would have any choice but to keep her at home, or let her play outside, if the weather is 'bad'.

[dikkertjedap]

Clearly a lot of posters have problems reading.

At many UK schools kids stay our virtually all morning whatever the weather. That is quite a different proposition to going to work/school and going home again. Being out all morning can imply being out from about 9.00h (eg after register) until 13.00h (lunch time). If you are out for four hours you get plenty of chance to chill to the bone.

[Sirzy]

Because every one of your posts has basically implied that you don't want your daughter playing out in the cold, and you have even said that even if she didn't have health problems you would feel the same.

As the parent of a child who has a lot of health problems (over 20 admissions in less than 3 years) I know its hard but you also have to be realistic about things which is why I suggested talking to her consultant sensibly about it. Don't make such a decision without it being on medical advice as all it will do is make her feel she is missing out even more because mummy says she can't play in the snow with her friends or whatever else they are doing when she has to sit inside alone.

[forevergreek]

You might have to homemschool.. Nice and warm

[piglettsmummy]

Ok so let's put into perspective from your point of view . Yes I can understand that a healthy child by playing out because of the cold Is a bit daft........ But with heath problems here we go..... This summer the heat ( which wasn't even t hat hot) forced dd to be
On oxygen everyday for nearly 2 months!! Now at he age of 3 there is no way she will be able to
Carry an oxygen cylinder around on her and if there is no available staff outside what is she supposed to do?winter causes
Much more problems for her. Her condition is so rare doctors learn from her! Thy tell us to follow her lead what she cannt cope with we shudnt force! Wen dd starts nursery he won't be attending for the amount of time that is the minimum elidgabilty for 1:1 so what can she do??? I will be hiring a nurse for her if need be!

[Sirzy]

This takes drip feeding to the extremes.

Most peoples comments initally where about your comment of wanting even a healthy child to stay in.

If you feel that your child needs to be in like I said you need to talk it through with the consultants and take it from there.

[piglettsmummy]

I'm no drip feeding! But when people have a go saying I'm stopping my dd doing things for no reason, I obviously hero give reasons why?????