To think they should have people at the gates

[SoftAsACactus]

Been in the local playground today and there was a group of 30-odd children there - ages maybe 5-11. They were wearing vests as they were part of some holiday play scheme. Roughly 6 helpers present and manning various slides, climbing frame, sandpit. However, no helpers standing by either of the two playground gates.

I think if I was a parent I would not be happy with this. Is all very well making sure no broken bones etc but there was nothing to stop an adventurous child from leaving the park or - and I know it’s rare - someone coming in and taking one of the children.

So my question is: is this the norm for these sort of things and AIBU to have reservations about sending my children on similar when they are of age?

I think past a certain age (and with the exception of SNs) you can assume kids of primary age aren’t just going to bolt out of a park on a whim, and under the wheels of a car.

How old are yours now? Kids do grow up and mature- regardless of how unlikely it seems when you’re fishing them out of the toilet bowl every 5 mins during toddlerhood.

A ratio of 1:5 for that age group sounds reasonable. Each person would have been tracking and counting the children. Hence the vests.

When you're caring for large groups of children, you supervise them by being closely involved, not by standing guard at the perimeter.

You're being ridiculous.

Mine are slightly younger than the average age there, so maybe I just can’t imagine them being mature enough yet! Good point about each person probably having a specific group to track, that would make sense

YABU.

@AnoukSpirit - why so mean? She's asking a genuine question as someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of such supervision.

That kind of ratio is really good for a holiday play scheme I think. Most of them here get around ratios and Ofsted requirements by being 'sports clubs'. And yes, once they are at school they are expected not to randomly run away.

I would guess that they have weighed up the risks and decided it is better to supervise the children closely, On the equipment, rather than having two members of staff at the gates, leaving fewer of them to look after the children’s on the playground.

I would also assume that they don’t have enough staff at the nursery/scheme to send two extra with the trip to the playground - either because they are all already at the playground, or because there are other children left behind, and they cannot go under the ratios for them.

Between these two things, they are probably doing what they consider safest - and they have probably done this trip before, and know what works best.

Depending on the playscheme they may not be acting in loco parentis and therefore have no right to stop children from leaving if they want. However the identiable vests makes me think they probably are acting similar to a school and they have a good ratio anyway.

It depends on the children. I had a year 6 SEN child that was liable to bolt so we'd keep an eye. Other than that, never had a problem with a child of any age trying to leave.

I run a Brownie unit - ages 7-10. The out and about ratio is 1:6. Indoors 1:8.

We certainly don't man exit points wherever we are. We need our adults to pitch in and work/play with the kids.

Not sure that AIBU is best place for it, but I agree with other responses.
That ratio is high. They've all got easily identifiable 'vests' on. NT Children at a playscheme don't generally 'bolt' or escape, but they will have their eye on all the children anyway with such a fab ratio. In my local park, if a child wanted to escape the play area they could pretty easily go over the railing anyway, so they might have decided being near the dc was the most sensible option even if they had a runner.

I used to be a TA. Believe me when I say they will have a group to look after each and will CONSTANTLY be counting heads!

not really any different from a parent not standing manning the exits, the staff will be aware where the children are.