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

[polythenespam]

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.

Walking is also an activity! What do you mean detract! Its just another activity rather than stopping activities. Children get bored sitting down for long periods. Brief walk outside blows the cobwebs away, gets a bit of built up energy released, encourages interest in community and wildlife, creates a focus for craft activity when they get back to school.

I think you are being very closed minded about this OP and at risk of restricting your dd's experiences due to your own wants.

Some parents would rather reduce the risk of it completely and have the child stay in the nursery or preschool. It's not about trust, just about the extra risk of things outside the staffs control.

but they could poke themselves in the eye with a colouring pencil in school same risks

Can you really not see the learning opportunities available just "walking around a city centre"? There is so much for children to take in, to provide topics for conversation etc as well as helping chilren develop an early understanding of things such as road safety.

It was a mix of both poly. We live in a town, they have a small yard and often went crocodile style (i saw tem gi past my house) to local parks, gardens, church, library, museum.

poly walking is an activity more than likely they will do an indoor activity when they get back to nursery about their walk the nursery is not going to aimlessly teach them to loiter about town,

Yes but a lot of children don't. So the solutions are: find another pre-school or insist that your dd doesn't go which will likely mean the rest don't go either because two members of staff would have to stay with her.
Yabvvvvu I'm afraid. And totally underestimating the staff. You need to get over it and let her go or take her out of pre-school. It is a hard thing when your dc start growing up a bit and trusting the care to others I get that but you need to give a little.

I think you need to decide what it is about it that bothers you most - is it the safety aspect, or the fact that you'd rather she wasn't going to be spending time going outside over other activities?

If it's safety, then you talk to the manager and decide if you are comfortable with the provisions they are making.

If you just don't think that going out in a city has value (I'm pretty sure they won't just be walking the streets, but then I don't know what is within a toddler-walk distance) then I guess you're going to have to look for another preschool which has an attached garden, or a park nearby for them to use.

Most places are going to be trying to meet Ofsted recommendations, one way or another, because they like/need to be able to make that claim.

Why don't you volunteer to go too so you can see how it works?

I do think it is to do with trust. If I didn't trust people to take my children for a walk I wouldn't leave my child in their care. There are just as many unlikely hazards indoors as they are outdoors. Fire, 'bad people' could enter the setting or the building could collapse for example, they are all outside of staffs control too.

DS's nursery has outside space but they still take them out to the park and he's been to the shops to see the Christmas lights.

The nursery dd is at has a garden but they are also taken out twice a day for a walk, weather permitting.
When she was little she was in the buggy and now, aged 2 she has a strap that attaches to the buggy, walking alongside it.
I've never ever had any concerns about her as I trust the staff. In fact, I hate the idea of her being stuck inside all day.
During the summer, if nice weather, the children are out most of the day. Sun cream, hats and shade etc but lots of fresh air.
They take them to various places. Dd is always more forthcoming with info on her trips out than what she has been playing with inside. She loves it.
Just make sure your dc has trainers or wellies that are waterproof, incase they go jumping in puddles! I have an extra cardi, pair of gloves, winter hat and sun hat that I leave at nursery all the time. This way I know she will be adequately dressed for going out.
Going out with nursery has made dd much more sensible about being out and about.

AMum - it's the safety aspect that bothers me the most. I will admit that I am PFB and over-anxious and will be ringing the manager tomorrow. This thread has given me some good ideas about what to ask re ratios etc.

I am just disappointed about the activity side of it really.

You dont seem to understand that it isn't the preschools choice, OFSTED have a bee in their bonnet aboy freeflow play, including to an outside area.

I do understand that Gossamer. My AIBU was about being worried.

1. taking a walk out/to park/library/whatever is an activity and has just a much benefit as sitting in doing water play!

2. taking a walk out can actually add value to the indoor activities

3. taking a walk out is often necessary to prevent boredom and naughty behaviour creeping in. Pre schoolers dont like to sit down for long at all.

Im really shocked by how you cant see any value to being outside with her class.

poly what is your main worries about it can you break it down

I know you said the plans and busy roads but if the nursery said to you that today we are going out to say look for birds or spring flowers etc would you feel happier because I am sure your pre school will let all parents know the weekly plans and if not you can ask the head teacher/manager

These are some of the activities we did at the nursery I used to work at none of them required a park or garden,
Treasure hunts, we hid clues on route for the children to find often linked with inside activities,
Rubbings of stones, bricks etc we saw,
Walking as if we were on a bear hunt under, over, across etc,
Visit to the shop with a list,
Looking for nature, birds, leaves etc,
Visit to the library,
Looking for people who help us, police, bin man etc.
They won't just be traipsing round in silence!

It is an activity. A walk up the road and back is just as worthwhile as half an hour playing with paint or glitter.

There is a higher ratio's out on walks or trips than indoors. Our setting has a 1 adult : 2 children.

You have every right to seek further assurance from the preschool but you seem to be over reacting to her running away etc.

I'm not sure that they have enough staff for a 1:2 ratio - does anybody know what the ratio should be for taking children out? They are all aged between 2 and 4 years.

I think it might be 1 ;3 but it will be all hands on deck to take them out but they wont take children out if they dont have enough staff and they usualy take small groups out I think you are scared that something is going to happen to her deep down that is,