To be fuming with nursery

[Beenalongday]

My little girl has just started nursery and she absolutely loves it. It’s classed as a forest school and they can choose to be outside for lots of the day, very unstructured and kids choose what they want to do which is what I loved about it, however I’ve just picked up my little girl and she has been outside in 1 degree weather with no gloves and her jeans were sodden, she had gloves on when she arrived and had spare gloves and a waterproof all in one in her bag as well as spare clothes, I’m so fuming, her hands were red and sore and her legs are also red and irritated where her jeans were wet

What did the nursery say when you mentioned it to them?

I asked them how long she had been outside and she just said not long and I asked where her gloves were and she didn’t know. I hadn’t noticed how soaked her pants were at that point until I was getting her in the car

I think you need to find out more. There's a huge difference in whether she's been in wet clothing without suitable gloves for hours on end or whether it was just a short time. Also totally depends on how your child seems. Is she actually upset or is she happy?

Why was the waterproof in her bag rather than on her? Surely that would be more practical and would avoid the wet legs at least.

She was upset that her hands were sore but otherwise ok. But I’m sure she hadn’t been there hours on end but If he hands are red and sore then surely it was too long

It doesn't sound totally unreasonable to be honest. Kids get wet in the middle of activities etc, it's not th3 end of the world. Maybe just reiterate that you have all the suitable clothing etc and you would appreciate it if they made sure she was wearing it but it's not worth getting worked up over.

Dojo that’s exactly how I feel, I sent her with clothing to play outside but it hasn’t been put on her

Could you drop her off already dressed in the waterproof?

Why are people so against structure.

It was dry this morning but she has been inside since for lunch etc so they would have needed to put on her outside clothes again anyway, and they put her coat on instead and didn’t bother with her gloves

Maybe she went out briefly and fell over so jeans wet and hands cold? I would just monitor to see if it happens again. If it’s a good nursery or frankly even an average one then unlikely they just chuck kids outside with no waterproofs or warm clothes on in this weather for any length of time.

Sorry you've had a bad experience of settling in OP. I would have a word with the nursery staff. It may be they have a reasonable explanation but I'd say in general soaking wet jeans are not ok and say that you want her to wear the gloves etc when she goes outside.

See what they say - hopefully it will be an apology and they will reassure you it won't happen again.

I had a terrible settling in experience once and ended up not sending my child as I didn't feel they were safe. Since then she's been in 3 different settings (just due to personal circumstances) and we have been thrilled with each of them and are very happy with the level of care and attention from staff.

Sorry but how old is this child? Presuming she has feeling in her body and is nursery age (3ish?) then I’m pretty sure she’s capable of deciding she’s too cold and go inside? Imagine faffing about putting waterproofs and gloves on and off every two seconds as they wander in and out. Are you sure you’ve picked the right nursery? Wanted an outdoor nursery but worried about wet knees?
If she’s left out all day and not offered help if she asks for her gloves or a coat then there’s a problem but a bit of cold does no harm and if she didn’t like it she wouldn’t be out there!

It takes time for kids to work out what to wear-and sometimes they just don’t notice being wet! My DS went to German kindergarten at age 3, and I was very grateful that a couple of motherly 6 year olds kept an eye on him-that is part of the system I think.
IMO jeans are a bad choice-in this weather I would send her in a cosy base layer and padded waterproof trousers/dungarees rather than all in one waterproof -if she is in and out she can keep the trousers on, or she could wear just base layer inside (the kids at KG, including boys mostly just ran round in their tights inside in winter!) A jacket with built in thumb holes help keep hands warm. I imagine the building is fairly chilly if it has free flow access to outside? This is the kind of thing I mean, and at a good price in the sales.
www.muddypuddles.com/catalog/product/view/id/5584/s/blizzard-winter-salopettes-black/category/23185/
www.muddypuddles.com/ski-wear/drift-baselayer-top-red-cloud/
www.muddypuddles.com/ski-wear/blizzard-winter-jacket-red-birch/
Good luck, I’m sure she will adapt 😊

If it is one of these new Forest school nurseries, then they are outdoors nearly all day, so I would be worried about her being wet and having no gloves. I have to say I would be a bit concerned about a Forest school in mid winter. When they are outside, they have to stay out.

Why are you sending her to forest school in jeans?
In this weather she needs thermal leggings and a proper snowsuit, not a waterproof suit. Or padded salopettes (the sort you wear for winter skiing). Make sure her gloves are clipped onto her snowsuit sleeves or threaded through with a string.

My DD (4) had forest school today. She wore: thermal leggings and vest, cotton/merino joggers, long sleeved tshirt, wool jumper, padded snowsuit, balaclava, padded ski gloves (waterproof and on mitten clips), thick socks and fleece lined thermal boots.

You need to provide suitable clothes for winter forest school.

Kids don't keep gloves on and jeans are not suitable for forest school

@Awwlookatmybabyspider
No early years settings have structure in that sense. They have routine in the sense of set times for fruit, lunch or story but other than that, it’s all free flow. It’s proven to be best for children in their early years.

Staff should be ensuring kids are appropriately dressed, if children are wandering in and out and it’s hassle for staff to keep putting wetsuits on, tough. They have to. Children’s well-being tops their annoyance. They should be encouraging children to learn to do it independently though.

Sorry to sound so picky but my first thought was why was she wearing jeans, jeans just aren't suitable clothing for playing outside in the cold and wet.

There’s lots of different ways of doing forrest school so it really depends how they operate. At mine they get them kitted out properly in waterproofs, warm clothes etc and then they spend a good 3 hour session in the woods and it is special activity. That’s quite a different approach to free flow in and out where it would be harder to fully police appropriate clothing all the time. There is free flow out into the garden/playground at ours so I imagine mine shoves her coat on but isn’t kitted out as she would be for forest school.

How old is your child? I’ve worked in a lot of nurseries on a supply basis and some favour autonomy for the older children and don’t force them to wear coats if they don’t want to. This tends to work well as children will help themselves to coats/ask for assistance when they need them rather than staff having power struggles with children refusing and tantrumming and taking coats off when they are clearly cold but are asserting their right to choose! I’ve never known a child choose to be cold for long when they have warm stuff available.
Obviously if your child is younger than 2 they will need more guidance.
In nurseries that are entirely outdoor children tend to arrive fully layered up but in a free flow set up staff aren’t going to insist on waterproofs going on and off for children who are going to spend maybe 30 seconds outside before coming back in. There aren’t enough staff and it would be very frustrating for the children. I would maybe ask a child if they wanted their coat/gloves and if they said no I’d ask again after a while in case they were just absorbed in playing.
Also agree with others that jeans are not a good base layer. Children tend to have access to water inside and out and denim takes forever to dry.

Why is she in jeans for forest school?

Is she three, in which case, why didn’t she say I’m cold and wet I need my gloves and waterproof on?

Some good advice above about appropriate clothing.

I walked from my front door to the bus stop this morning and this afternoon - both walks only about 5-10 mins. My hands were pink and sore and my face and ears hurt! It was freezing! She probably wasn't outside that long at all.

How have you prepared your child for this?

Do you know that she can, and will, ask for gloves, say that she is cold, etc etc?

Have you taught her/reminded her to do so?

It doesn't sound like you provided sensible clothing in the first place - did the nursery not explain what sorts of clothing would be appropriate?

I get the impression these sorts of schools/nurserys do expect children to be able to advocate for themselves and ask for help, so you need to sit and chat with your daughter about doing that.

Jeans are really not appropriate for cold/wet weather - they stay wet for hours.

I would buy her some suitable clothes - leggings dry quickly and shouldn't rub - you can get cheap thermal ones.