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?

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

I can guarantee that schools and soft play centres will not have the same safeguarding training. School and nursery setting are trained to look out for red flags within family settings etc.

I don't think they will need to know that for one play session.

I doubt it - but I was answering the poster who said safeguarding training was the same

OP you’re obviously local to me as I’d already read this in their Facebook page (and the pasting they’re getting). My understanding is that whilst MT is both a soft play and trampoline park, it is only the trampoline section that is open for supervised bounce sessions. It’s much easier for staff to supervise a limited number of children on trampolines than it is in a soft play. I’ve been to plenty of parties there and under normal circumstances it is hell on earth, but the numbers will be significantly reduced and much easier for staff to manage. They ran similar bounce sessions late last year (all be it parents could watch) and it worked well. I would imagine that all children will have a wrist band with parent contact details so a parent can be contacted in an emergency.

Personally, I think they should amend their age category as I think 4 is very young to be unsupervised (eg if they need help at the toilet) but for older children, I don’t see a problem.

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

These are supervised sessions, yes children hurt other children, but you being in there or a staff member being in there is the same thing.

You sat in a cafe wouldn't be able to stop someone harming your child.

Get a bloody grip

Then they'd be taken to the toilet...

Call me old fashioned but it doesn't sit well with me personally random people taking children they don't know to the toilet. That's if a 4yo would even ask (my 5yo probably wouldn't 🙄)

depending on circumstances I may be willing to send ( my completely fictional) 4 year old with an older sibling or cousin but would want small groups

It’s not against the law for 4 year-olds to be supervised in this way without staff present. However it is also unsurprising that many 4 year olds will not want to go in alone, or that many parents will not feel comfortable sending their kids in alone. That’s fine, but it doesn’t mean that the sentry is doing anything wrong by offering this as an option.

I would ask them the staff to child ratio too.

"Most don't allow parents in the play area regardless"

I've never been in a soft play were parents aren't close enough to stop issues happening and on to the equipment if needed. Even then kids get thumped, so Staff watching isn't adequate.

[quote Scepticalch3rry]@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

These are supervised sessions, yes children hurt other children, but you being in there or a staff member being in there is the same thing.

You sat in a cafe wouldn't be able to stop someone harming your child.

Get a bloody grip[/quote]
Probably not the same thing to the hurt child 😂

Would you allow them to go to Rainbows or whatever the scouting equivalent is (age 5)? Would you allow them to go to school nursery (age 3)? Or any sort of childcare for younger children? You wouldn't be present at any of these, even outside the building. It's exactly the same, often for a longer period of time. The staff are appropriately trained so I don't see your issue.

Without parents present I should have said! And “centre” not “sentry”, aargh!

All people working anywhere that caters for children have to have a full DBS

THIS IS NOT TRUE.

There is no legal compulsion to undertake dbs checks, only for employers to ensure that those working unsupervised with children or vulnerable people have not been barred from doing so.

Softplay centres historically have had NO requirement to ensure dbs checks are done on staff. This is because they are classed as "supervised" activities - that is a parent is present in the building. If play centers are now obliged to exclude parents, they will have to dbs their staff, but please don't assume that they have already done this.

I would personally have a discussion about which staff are supervising and whether they have been checked and whether they have first aid training.

However, it's also worth remembering that DBS checks are only really valid on the day they are done, so regular checks are really required to ensure proper child safeguarding.

..... And yes... I am fun at parties😁🤣🤣

I also didn't know IKEA had a children's area! probably because I avoid IKEA like the plague

I thought the guidelines were for childcare rather than general reopening for many indoor activities. Scouts can restart but have to be outdoors. Not allowed indoors yet.

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

It's easy from the outside to say "well, just don't open" but many businesses are totally on their knees - opening a month early could make all the difference.

I also didn't say this. Please don't misquote me

I haven't misquoted you, but I don't understand what you think the alternative is?

They can only open under a strict set of guidelines, which is supervised "exercise" classes/sessions, with no parents in attendance.

So I don't really get your point - you're uncomfortable with it, so just don't send your child. The centre themselves are doing what they need to do in order to survive.

I can guarantee that schools and soft play centres will not have the same safeguarding training.
I used to work in a leisure type facility that had a soft play in it, staff would rotate around the different areas which included the soft play and I can tell you zero safeguarding training was given. Half the staff were barely out of doing GCSEs.

6 year old with and older sibling yes. 8 year old with a friend yes.

exactly

not alone....

[quote Scepticalch3rry]@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

These are supervised sessions, yes children hurt other children, but you being in there or a staff member being in there is the same thing.

You sat in a cafe wouldn't be able to stop someone harming your child.

Get a bloody grip[/quote]
Are you always this bloody rude?

Sat in a cafe - your child knows where you are and can go and get you if needed. It really doesn’t take Einstein to work it out.

@ineedaholidaynow

I thought the guidelines were for childcare rather than general reopening for many indoor activities. Scouts can restart but have to be outdoors. Not allowed indoors yet.

You can do supervised exercises classes/sessions indoors from April 12th - gyms etc. can re-open next week too.

@Plumbear2

Why are you expecting to use one then? 😂

Um, I wasn't. Again, can you point out where I've said I expect to use a cafe? Remember - the thread isn't about me trying to change the rules, it's about understanding of this Facebook post was correct or not

@Hallyup5

Would you allow them to go to Rainbows or whatever the scouting equivalent is (age 5)? Would you allow them to go to school nursery (age 3)? Or any sort of childcare for younger children? You wouldn't be present at any of these, even outside the building. It's exactly the same, often for a longer period of time. The staff are appropriately trained so I don't see your issue.

It’s absolutely not the same and is ridiculous to be yet another poster who thinks softplay floor workers are anywhere near as well trained as nursery staff.

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

Then they'd be taken to the toilet...

Call me old fashioned but it doesn't sit well with me personally random people taking children they don't know to the toilet. That's if a 4yo would even ask (my 5yo probably wouldn't 🙄)

So you'd never let them go to rainbows, school, nursery, a child minder?

That's sad.

Is this an actually play center. To me It sounds like a trampoline park. The kid will be in one place on one trampoline the whole time? Or is it one where you run about and go on whatever you want too?

@Daydrambeliever

All people working anywhere that caters for children have to have a full DBS

THIS IS NOT TRUE.

There is no legal compulsion to undertake dbs checks, only for employers to ensure that those working unsupervised with children or vulnerable people have not been barred from doing so.

Softplay centres historically have had NO requirement to ensure dbs checks are done on staff. This is because they are classed as "supervised" activities - that is a parent is present in the building. If play centers are now obliged to exclude parents, they will have to dbs their staff, but please don't assume that they have already done this.

I would personally have a discussion about which staff are supervising and whether they have been checked and whether they have first aid training.

However, it's also worth remembering that DBS checks are only really valid on the day they are done, so regular checks are really required to ensure proper child safeguarding.

..... And yes... I am fun at parties😁🤣🤣

Yes, this is what I thought. I was surprised to hear all staff in soft plays are DBS checked.

Not a chance would I do that.