Nursery taking kids to soft play?

[DoctorZog]

I was at our local, small soft play earlier with my 3 year old and baby. I was pretty surprised when two nursery nurses arrived (in branded nursery clothing) with 8-10 kids, aged 3-4 years I'd guess. Is this a thing? I kind of feel like soft play is something you'd do when you're a parent / carer / babysitter, perhaps a childminder, but I kind of feel like if you're paying professionals with actual qualifications to look after your kids, they should be doing slightly more interesting / challenging stuff with them? Obviously they're still little and it's all about play at this age, but they could be doing messy play, playing outside etc. And to be honest, I find it challenging to just supervise one kid at soft play, so not sure how they manage with a whole group! I dunno, maybe I'm just being a grump! Not my kids so none of my business really, but would be interested to hear other people's views.

DS nursery take them on a weekly trip to Waitrose, mainly to play in the lift as far as I can tell. It's all good from my perspective!

Soft play is great for helping develop gross motor skills and problem solving skills. Going with known peers can also help with team working skills.

I don’t know why you’re getting hammered on the comments, when I read your post I thought the same, and my son does go to nursery. Soft plays are huge so it must be hard for them to keep track of all the kids but then I suppose it depends on ages and size of the soft play. I wouldn’t mind if my sons nursery did this outing though, as long as he stayed in the little ones area (he’s 20 months)

My DD's nursery took them at 11am each (dry) day to watch the train go past the level crossing, kids love going out. The only thing that concerns me is how one member of staff can supervise 6 kids, a normal ratio for over 2's

DS would love this. He’s obsessed with trains. Or anything with wheels.

My childrens pre-school did a few soft-play trips during their time there, sometimes a trip to soft play was arranged for days when the pre-school venue was being used as a voting station or an event and they couldn't use it that day.

Sounds awesome, no frigging idea why you'd have a problem with it

Sounds great, I'd be more than happy if they had an outing to soft play- getting out and about is actually a good learning opportunity as well. Yes you are being a judgemental grump

Round here one of the soft plays is attached to an on-site nursery. The nursery kids are in there pretty much every day once out the baby room. The staff just sit at a table and chat. The kids wear hi viz but they are all over the place (it’s massive and takes kids up to 12), including lots of places they can’t be seen like a ball pit behind a pillar, and they’re just interacting with random members of the public - usually wanted to join in with me when I was playing with my child. Yes, they can’t escape so in that sense they’re “safe” but they could be talking to anybody, get stuck under the balls - I once had to rescue one who’d climbed some netting and nearly hung himself - took him to staff and all they said was “oh dear”. Completely shit nursery I used to warn people about. With hindsight I should have reported them to ofsted, but this was a few years back now.

Soft play trips are great done well (trips anywhere can be good really), but they require a fair amount of energy and input from staff to be safe and I’m not convinced you can keep toddlers safe at normal ratios in some more challenging frames.

The soft play near us runs its own nursery so could have been part of that?

Either way, could not get annoyed at this. Would rather nursery take them than me!!

A nursery I worked at used to do this, but not on the bus, just walking as we were close by. It was really embarrassing and awkward because you could see the staff rolling their eyes thinking ‘great, 10 toddlers screaming and the two adults with them not buying anything.’ I genuinely hated it and would have much preferred to take them to the local park etc. It was so embarrassing.

With regards to soft play, we used to do it at another nursery I worked at for our end of term treat. As a one off I think it’s lovely and fun! I wouldn’t be happy with it regularly though, especially not if I had to pay for it. If I want to pay for soft play then I won’t be paying for someone else to sit and chill out while they enjoy it, I’d take them myself! But then if it is regular and a parent isn’t happy they always have the choice to move their child somewhere they’re happier with.

Are you worried the children will struggle to get their A levels and secure a time job if they're not constantly being challenged with finger painting every day?

*Full time job

Are you near Nuneaton? There's a nursery next door to a soft play centre. Pretty sure they use the facilities.

I think a lot of parents would pay for someone to take their child to soft play, its pretty hellish!

I think its great. I'd have loved more outings at my childs nursery. I used nursery for childcare rather than education, and at that age they should be playing more than doing specific learning activities. Lots of nurseries round me are cramped with limited outside space and I doubt (despite the staffs best efforts) the children are getting enough exercise. I'd have been really happy if my children had been taken to soft play

I’d love this and it would save me having to go at the weekends tbh

The local primary school uses the local park with the community centre toilets right next to it. Imagine all that wasted learning 😜

God I'd be actually really happy about that. Nice little trip out for them that's different to a walk or the park etc. Plus it tires them out 😂

Most kids love soft play. I hate it so would be thrilled if my son's nursery did this. They are still learning through play and soft play is just an extension of that.
Some children do 10 +hours a day 5 days a week at nursery so it's great they get a change of scenery and have fun.
What was the issue with the staff wearing branded uniform?

I imagine there are quite a few kids who wouldn't get to go to soft play at all if it wasn't for outings like this.

The ratio is actually 1 to 4 for 2 year olds and 1 to 8 for 3 years +

Yep, it keeps me up at night!

"You don't need any formal qualifications at all to set yourself up as a childminder, and most of them don't have any specific training at all."

You're talking about the initial starting up as a childminder.
Nor do nursery staff need qualifications to start working in a nursery, by the way.
Childminders are expected to undertake formal training and keep up with regular training. Ofsted checks the training they have done at every inspection. Most have level 2 or 3 (same as a nursery room leader), many have degrees and teaching qualifications, particularly those who are ex-teachers. They are legally required to have paediatric first aid training and safeguarding. Those who prepare food are expected to have food hygiene.

No issue with the uniform, i mentioned it to explain how I knew they were from a nursery.