To think this can't be true about play centres?

[JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows]

Seen this this morning on Facebook from a trampoline park/soft play centre - surely it can't be true? Too many safeguarding issues - My kids are 5 and 8 and I wouldn't leave them alone inside a play centre. I'd sit in the cafe/seating area and look out for them but parents can't possibly be expected to leave their 4+ year olds (they clarify in the comments that it only applies to kids 4 and over) alone?

It’s not quite the same though wyfe (cool name!) although I do know what you mean. Trampolining is a pretty normal enjoyable kid-activity. Residentials are - well, I don’t think particularly essential for a six year old. So you have that dilemma. I probably didn’t explain that very well but hopefully you sort of know what I mean!

@daffodilsandprimroses

To be honest just I tend to think aNyOnE who does that is a bit of a nob.

And?

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

God it's SO boring when people say dOnT gO tHEn.

I'm not concerned about going - I'm asking if this sounds right. Because to me, letting a load of 4 year olds run around soft play and on trampolines while their parents sit in the car outside doesn't seem like a particularly good idea but apparently I'm in a minority

If they are selling this as an organised activity they will need suitable adult/child ratios. There is no way they would risk their insurance premiums and just let 4 year olds go wild on their own.

I don't know why you think they won't be DBS checked, most places that have kids coming though the door will DBS all staff, it's not very expensive or difficult to do. NI would imagine part of their insurance requirement is a first aider on site at all times

@daffodilsandprimroses

Well with all the ‘what aboutery’ - my child wouldn’t be going on a residential before year 6 for one thing and for another, the teachers don’t just leave them to it and go and have a cup of tea and cake!

Yeh we do. From experience on MN, James and I both abandon them in the car park and run off for five days in Ibiza.

@Same4Walls

Yes, this was what I was trying to get across.

Knowing my sixth formers who work in these kinds of centres, they're great pupils to teach but not mentally equipped to suddenly be responsible for dozens of random (feral) children.

But another poster has clarified its nothing like that even pre covid.

How can another poster clarify how it is at a trampoline place they don't actually know...?

How can another poster clarify how it is at a trampoline place they don't actually know...?

I assume they recognise the information in the OP.

I teach teenagers and half my sixth form have jobs in local soft play centres as 'play supervisors'. Which means watching the kids go one at a time on the death slides, straightening mats, putting balls back that were flung out the ball out etc. I love my pupils but I wouldn't trust some of them with a goldfish let alone a 4yo.

This made my laugh, I had a baby and a mortgage by the time I left sixth form!

You assume they have identified enough from OP to know where it is?

Right o.

@Kottbullar

I teach teenagers and half my sixth form have jobs in local soft play centres as 'play supervisors'. Which means watching the kids go one at a time on the death slides, straightening mats, putting balls back that were flung out the ball out etc. I love my pupils but I wouldn't trust some of them with a goldfish let alone a 4yo.

This made my laugh, I had a baby and a mortgage by the time I left sixth form!

Teenagers now as opposed to a few years ago are now somewhat...different.

I referreed an argument /fight between two teenagers recently. 17 year olds. If I shut my eyes it sounded like toddlers.

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

You are expecting parents to congregate inside to watch their kids, usually this is in the cafe area

@Plumbear2 no I'm not and I've never said this. I said that was the rules last time and I assumed it would be this time. Please stop misquoting me

But why assume. Cafes cannot trade inside. We are not permitted to congregate inside. Of course tne rules are going to be different this time like I said if you don't like the only way they are permitted to open at this time then don't go.

@Butwasitherdriveway

You assume they have identified enough from OP to know where it is?

Right o.

Why is it so unbelievable? It's a pretty idenitfying message.

@MagicSummer

What on earth is a 'bounce' session?

It's a trampoline park (and soft play, but that part will be shut for now) so they are able to open as indoor exercise for children over 4.

Some of the people who are horrified by the suggestion are possibly parents who would say they were supervising but were sitting in the cafe, drinking coffee and switching off from looking after their child because there were at a play centre.

How can another poster clarify how it is at a trampoline place they don't actually know...?

@Butwasitherdriveway I assume the PP was referring to me. I've been there with my kids plenty of times and actually did some consultancy work for the previous owner. I know the place pretty well. I'd already read the facebook post this morning so knew exactly where the OP was referring to.

I should add I have just seen this on Facebook as I follow the establishment in question so identified the place as soon as I read the screengrab in the OP.

Yabu.

Dbs checks really mean nothing. The person could still be a paedophile. It's happened before, it will happen again. Could easily have one on your school, you've no idea what they get up to at home and haven't been caught.

Parents are currently happy to leave their kids aged 4+ at riding schools across the country for pony camps all day/week. You've got way more chance of something going wrong with ponies.

You need to calm down and relax. Your kids will get hurt at some point, probably just from falling over on the street.

So those of you who know the establishment, are there more details on how the sessions are being run?

@Butwasitherdriveway if you'd read that message on Facebook 20 minutes prior to reading it on MN surely you would know exactly what the OP was referring to! I like them on Facebook and the post's had a lot of comments and shares so will be doing well on Fbk's algorithm.

So dumb!!

No. Just give it a miss

@ineedaholidaynow

So those of you who know the establishment, are there more details on how the sessions are being run?

@ineedaholidaynow they have added a new post that clarifies some of the details - fully qualified TA3s and TA2s (??), DBS and paediatric first aid trained staff etc.

I have no problem with what they are offering but I do think they should have envisaged some of their customers would have issues with the announcement and added that detail from the start.

they have added a new post that clarifies some of the details - fully qualified TA3s and TA2s (??), DBS and paediatric first aid trained staff etc.

Sounds like they're trying to make things as safe as possible, whilst also providing some much needed fun for the children. Any mention of group sizes?

@ClarkeGriffin

Yabu.

Dbs checks really mean nothing. The person could still be a paedophile. It's happened before, it will happen again. Could easily have one on your school, you've no idea what they get up to at home and haven't been caught.

Parents are currently happy to leave their kids aged 4+ at riding schools across the country for pony camps all day/week. You've got way more chance of something going wrong with ponies.

You need to calm down and relax. Your kids will get hurt at some point, probably just from falling over on the street.

🙄

Ah right OK. Apologies.

I feel really sorry for the owners. They're getting a really hard time on Facebook and it must have been such a tough year for them

I'm a massive fan of soft plays particularly the place in question. It would be such a shame if more of them have to close because of these strict restrictions.