Would these things bother you about a preschool?

[Lozzak21]

We went to visit a preschool yesterday for my ds to start when he turns 2 in May.

He loved it and everyone seemed nice.
Only things that concerned me were that the scissors are kept out and they are not children ones but actually sharp adult ones and glass jars. They also advised us the children drink from glasses and have China plates.

It's a montessori preschool and ofsted rated excellent. I know they like to treat the children with respect and autonomy but I didn't realise how much and it has made me nervous. Everything in our home is baby safe and proof. I know they must learn sometime I just know how young and haphazard my son is.

They also had huge heavy boxes on a mezzanine level right above where the children play with no guard which made me worry about things falling off accidently.

I'm probably just being a first time anxious mum just wondered if this would worry other mums and/or whether Im being overly cautious?

No, I’d be looking for somewhere else.

I wouldn't feel comfortable about that either. Some of it wouldn't bother me like the glasses and plates as they will be supervised whilst using them but the scissors would make me very uncomfortable.

Everyone knows that even with the best will in the world you can't watch young children every second of the day. Using them in a supervised activity would be OK but having them accessable would make me nervous.

Wouldn't bother me about glasses and China, we use those from the start, they soon learn to be careful.
It is odd if adult scissors are not kept out of reach, sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

Sounds like a Montessori school where children are taught to use scissors etc. why do you think it’s particularly dangerous?

I would be fine with it all, my daughter used a glass as soon as she could hold one and scissors before two to practice her motor skills. I tried to follow a Montessori-ish approach at home. He’s 2 they will have the appropriate staff levels to supervise him.

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest, but as it bothers you it sounds as though it's probably not the right setting for you and your child.

Personally no. But if it bothers you then it’s not the right one for you.

It's to teach children about safety and taking risks in a way that is safe.and supervised. They need to learn that if they drop or throw a plate of breaks, as long as there are adults supervising who can prevent harm then it's fine and beneficial.

Look up Risky Play in the EYFS context.

Wouldn't bother me. Learning about how to appraise and manage risk is an important skill.

Montessorian of many years here. We have always had china crockery out for the children. You will be amazed at how careful children actually are once you explain they need to be careful/gentle with it and role model it yourself. On the handful of occasions over the years when I've witnessed something breaking, the children naturally stand back and an adult is alerted to clean it up. I feel young children are more than able to understand the idea of gently handling something.

As far as the scissors, do you mean full size pointy adult scissors? I wouldn't be happy with that either. But normal child size scissors, I have no problem with.

Children need to experience handling glass/scissors and other 'dangerous' items in order to know how to handle them safely.

Where exactly are the adult scissors kept? Are they on the tables where the children play or on a windowsill? Are they kept amongst the rest of the children's craft materials or in an enclosed "adult only" area? All of these would make a difference to how I felt.

Did you ask them about their ethos to know why the scissors were where they are?

The rest wouldn't bother me. I can't imagine boxes falling off the mezzanine unless they were pushed right up close to the edge which is unlikely. And I think it's really healthy for children to have a range of play materials available.
A fragile, hand-blown glass jar is very different to a thick and sturdy jam jar which is much less likely to break when dropped.

What flooring did the nursery have? Again, crockery and glass on carpet is safer than the same thing dropped on, say, stone.

I'd like a nursery like that for a child.

You don't like it, find somewhere else.
You don't need our permission.

Don’t send your child to a Montessori nursery as it doesn’t sound like you’re comfortable with their ethos. Mine went to a Montessori forest school so not only did they use glass glasses and sharp scissors and knives they also did woodwork and lit fires.

Alllowing them to learn how to deal with “dangerous” things means that they learn it from an early age so have an active ability to risk assess which keeps them out of trouble.

It should all be done safely but if you’re not comfortable with that level of autonomy then maybe consider a different environment. The Ofsted rating I wouldn’t put too much weight on. Somewhere with a lower rating might be a better fit for your DC.

Full size adult pointy scissors would bother me.

Children do cut their hair and clothes with metal children's scissors even with appropriate supervision, so pointy adult scissors seems like an uneccessary risk.

huge heavy boxes on a mezzanine level right above where the children play with no guard

No one has commented on this yet . That sounds very dangerous and I would ask the staff about it as I would want my child to go to a Montessori if possible.

Regarding the scissors, if they are adult ones, how could a two year old use them effectively? Let alone safely!

Why not go back and have a chat about your concerns.

@Chamomileteaplease

huge heavy boxes on a mezzanine level right above where the children play with no guard

No one has commented on this yet . That sounds very dangerous and I would ask the staff about it as I would want my child to go to a Montessori if possible.

Regarding the scissors, if they are adult ones, how could a two year old use them effectively? Let alone safely!

Why not go back and have a chat about your concerns.

I assumed this was a shelf with boxes on, so seems unlikely a heavy box would spontaneously fall down?

YABU. These are deliberate choices in a Montessori nursery to tie in with their philosophy. Maybe if you read about it, you might understand it more.

The scissors would be enough to say no for me. If you decide not to send your DS there, hope you find somewhere that he enjoys and is a good preschool.

I wouldn’t be comfortable with this but then I am risk averse and fairly anxious. Would you be able to relax sending him there? If not, you need to find somewhere else.

Glasses and china ok. They’d make a noise if broken and children should be fully supervised at snack and meal times.
Adult scissors accessible to kids —- no.
Items stored on mezzanine with no guard — definite no and probably contravenes health and safety. I’d be calling Ofsted/SS whoever inspects nurseries these days. Or local h&s executive.

The scissors would be the issue for me. (And I would want to know more about the safety of the boxes)

The mezzanine level with no guards sounds like a safety issue in any workplace, regardless of one with small children around, do you mean a level where people would walk?

Glass and china plates - totally ok, we used them from start unless we did a picnic or where outside. DD also had decent knife and fork from early on.

Scissors - were they large adult ones? I doubt most 2-4 year olds could handle them. Were they out during a supervised activity or just lying around?
We have a small sharp pair of scissors which was great to teach DD as the normal children ones are fairly useless in my opinion, they aren't sharp enough for most things. Absolutly no injuiries ever as they weren't out unless DD was supervised.

The boxes - it depends. In general I would say dangerous in any setting but it depends of the exact set up.

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo

It's to teach children about safety and taking risks in a way that is safe.and supervised. They need to learn that if they drop or throw a plate of breaks, as long as there are adults supervising who can prevent harm then it's fine and beneficial.

Look up Risky Play in the EYFS context.

Yes this.

If you are anxious I’d chat to some parents.

Are you sure they are all just left around?

I viewed a nursery for my almost 2 year old as well recently.
They had scissors, but child non pointy type and they were in craft section supervised. They couldn’t just run outside with them.
They used China and glass, but at the table for snack time, again, monitored.