Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel worried about this? Re DD being taken out of preschool daily.

96 replies

polythenespam · 03/02/2014 13:32

DD is 2.10 and attends preschool 2 mornings a week. After Easter that will up to 5 mornings.

The preschool is based in the middle of a busy city centre. The nature of the building is that they don't have any outdoor space, but that hasn't bothered me as she gets time outdoors with me.

Anyway. DD has come home with a letter today and apparently, new Ofsted regulations mean that children have to get at least 20 mins outdoors a day, so the preschool will be taking them out every day for short walks and visits in the area.

AIBU to feel worried about this? I have no idea where they are planning on taking them within those 20 mins, given the location. All that surrounds the preschool are busy roads and shops, there isn't any green space in the vicinity. At only 2 she is one of the youngest and I worry about her wandering off / falling into the road etc etc.

I will be phoning the manager tomorrow to find out more - where will they be taking them, how will they be supervised etc. What questions should I ask?

DH isn't happy with the prospect either. I feel really upset about this - the preschool is fab and DD loves it, but I really don't know whether I am ready for her to be taken out EVERY DAY without me there.

OP posts:
FrenchJunebug · 03/02/2014 13:41

YABU at 12 months and at a nursery without outdoor space my son was taken to the shop (which he loved) and the library. At that age anything is wonderful and if you trust the preschool with her indoor why not outdoor? She will be in a buggy anyway, won't she?

TheNightIsDark · 03/02/2014 13:42

YABVU. They will have to go through loads of paperwork, risk assessments, safeguarding etc. there will be strict ratios in place and constant head counting to ensure everyone is kept safe.

It sounds like they're doing a good thing. Children should spend an equal amount of time outside as they do inside.

GlitzAndGiggles · 03/02/2014 13:43

From what I know the children don't roam around on their own. They hold the workers hands or go in buggies

FloweryFeatureWall · 03/02/2014 13:45

Yanbu. Everyone has different worries and concerns and different levels of childcare they are comfortable with. Maybe it's something you can build up to in someway? It would be a shame to lose all the positives for the sake of 20 minutes a day.

TheNightIsDark · 03/02/2014 13:46

Tbh I'd be more worried about a nursery without outside space. Ours go crazy without space to run about etc and it's crucial to me when I'm planning!

formerbabe · 03/02/2014 13:47

Yabu...I am pretty sure they will have to do risk assessments. They will also have an adult to child ratio to stick to.

TheMultiTasker · 03/02/2014 13:48

yanbu.

I wouldn't be happy either.

BUT truthfully idt have never chosen a childcare setting with no immediate access to safe outdoor or greenery.

I quit a job and took my daughter out of a nursery because they had outdoor space but apparently dd slept through her ''allocated time" so she never saw a sniff off fresh air between 7:39-6 Hmm

LingDiLong · 03/02/2014 13:49

Yabu. Either you trust them to care for her or you don't. There are plenty of accidents that can happen indoors if they're negligent. They will have to risk assess every outing, either ask to see a copy or simply ask for more info about where they will go and how they will ensure her safety. My only concern with this would be outdoors play is hardly a new thing, they're pretty slow off the mark.

TheNightIsDark · 03/02/2014 13:50

An allotted time outside? Shock

It's not hard to have free flow if you have an outdoors area. Reading about other nurseries sometimes gives me the rage.

hoppinghare · 03/02/2014 13:51

I don't like the idea either. She gets outside all the time with you. If there is no safe space outside the preschool and it is surrounded by busy roads I would want her indoors for the couple of hours she spends there. It is safer no matter what people may say. Could you change her to a preschool that does have an outdoor area?

bigbaddomswife · 03/02/2014 13:53

YANBU - I would be worried about this too. The whole point of childcare is so that the child is in an enclosed safe, purpose built space the WHOLE time they are there?? Why would you not worry?? Your DC is at an age where he needs to be carefully supervised every second. I would consider another pre-school.

Back2Basics · 03/02/2014 13:53

Maybe I'm just a negligent mother but to me that sounds lovely, I think that's why I preferred dc at childminders when they were that age. Being able to go out and feed the ducks, go the the library ect felt so much nicer then the same play space and same outdoor space every day.

I work in a nursery and it feels like a zoo for children

wishicouldstopworrying · 03/02/2014 13:53

I've not heard of this 'ruling' and I work in a pre-school!
Is it a recommendation rather than a rule?

FloweryFeatureWall · 03/02/2014 13:54

I'm Shock at the allocated time too! At the one dd will go to, they can go in and out whenever they like.

Back2Basics · 03/02/2014 13:55

It's more then a recommendation wish.

Most nurserys have to have access outside all times and all weathers to get outstanding.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 03/02/2014 14:00

Yabu and precious.

Im actually more surprised that its news to you thy will be going outside of the nursery! Didnt you ask any questions about trips before you signed up? I mean you viewed the place right? And could see no outdoor space- what did you think they would be doing with all those dcs to get outdoor time? Confused

AMumInScotland · 03/02/2014 14:01

Do check with them how they are going to arrange this, but they will almost certainly have thought it through. I pass a preschool quite often, and they take the small ones out - they all have reins or wrist straps and little hi-vis vests over their clothes, so they couldn't just wander off or get into traffic.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 03/02/2014 14:02

Also very [shocked] and Confused at bigbadddoms idea of what childcare is supposed to be!

AwfulMaureen · 03/02/2014 14:03

Yabu it's not good for such small children to have no fresh air and no walk...they need this daily. If you really don't like the idea, I would find a nursery with a decent outdoor play area. It was one of the main things I looked for when choosing a nursery for my children.

wishicouldstopworrying · 03/02/2014 14:04

Ok I see, if the nursery wants to be graded 'outstanding' they need to take the children out. I've caught up now! Blush

BertieBottsJustGotMarried · 03/02/2014 14:04

I live in Germany and they do this all the time, they don't ask permission either Confused DS will come home and say they've been to the zoo or the park or the woods etc. They have "naturtag" on Fridays and spend the whole day outside. This is children aged almost-3 to almost-7.

I think it's a good thing. They obviously watch the children and they don't let them wander off or into roads etc. The DC have a great time and it's good for them to learn skills like road safety.

AwfulMaureen · 03/02/2014 14:04

I am also Confused at bigbaddoms idea that children need to be "enclosed" when they're not with their parents! My children were taken on regular walks around the village and to the park in their preschool and they had a good sized private play area for the use of the preschool too!

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 03/02/2014 14:04

And hoppinghare! Do you really expect them to keep 10-15 other dcs indoors because one other child gets plenty of outdoor time already and mummy would prefer her to stay in? Or do you expect 2 staff members to stay behind with her on her own while the others get to go out and have fun?

mrsjay · 03/02/2014 14:05

yabvu and a little panicky please dont these people are trained professionals to look after your child she will be safe, they will go for a walk to collect leaves or look for birds or go to the library or just play outside i am assuming the pre school has a garden, the private nursery near me takes their little ones out they have reins on some of them and flourescent jackets you little girl will be safe

AwfulMaureen · 03/02/2014 14:05

Another one to say that the kids wear hi vis sashes and hold hands in short crocodiles...one adult at the front and one at the back...none can escape.