To think nurseries should appear neutral when it comes to politics

[VeterinaryCareAssistant]

I get the bus to and from work most days and the bus stop is in front of a nursery. The nursery is currently displaying two large posters of a candidate running in the general election. One is directly on their front door and the other is in their front window.

I think nurseries should appear impartial, don't you?

Why? In my opinion they're the same as any other privately owned business and the owners and/or staff can make their political position clear if they want to.

They are private businesses, and as such, can display any poster they like. If parents don’t like thier politics, they can take their kids elsewhere

One party wants properly funded nursery places, and the other current one just announced that a few hundred thousand "extra" places would be available to 2 and 3 year olds with NO further funding except for a £1000 bonus for new childminders that doesn't even cover a quarter of what it costs to become a childminder. So yeah, they have a vested interest in the government.

This. Why do you feel they need to hide their political preference ?

Yeah DD’s nursery is strictly neutral about EVERYTHING. Some parents complained about kids not being able to wear Gaza badges etc. but tbh most of them are too young to understand whats going on and you have no idea if anyone is Jewish.

I don’t want politics or anything at my child’s nursery. I just don’t think it’s appropriate.

Assuming it's a private nursery, then absolutely no reason why they shouldn't show their support for their preferred candidates.

It's not as if they are going to be influencing children that young and perhaps it will spark conversation with parents, who may like to hear from an expert on an area that would be of importance to parents.

An informed electorate is essential to democracy. Given the biased media we have that means the opinions of other citizens and businesses are just as useful in helping people make an informed choice as any other source of information.

Really? We live in a high immigration (current and historical) area, I’d think it would be a bit more than a ‘conversation’ sparked if my youngest’s nursery put up posters for the local Reform candidate (for example). No the children have no idea, but many parents could feel alienated by the nursery’s personal political campaigning.

State schools are provided by the state.

They don't express a view on elections (although teachers might personally)

A nursery is a private business, just like a childminder.

A childminder can put up signs supporting a political party; so can a nursery.

They might get parents commenting but they are entitled to do it.

This particular election will affect the early years settings hugely! The whole sector is voting very very carefully.

why do you think that?

If it’s a nursery controlled by a Local Authority (there are still some left), then they should not be endorsing any candidates/party.

So far today we've had threads complaining about doctors, teachers and now nurseries endorsing candidates. Anyone want to place bets on which occupation is next? Or is this a bizarre bot campaign to stop anyone being political?

Oh give over 😂😂😂

Yep-we are covering all bases so far!

How about police next? Or Social worker?!

Gaza badges!

Ha ha. Which gentrified part of East London was this in?

I doubt your toddler is going to be radicalised into any political movement at Miss Plumpkins Day Nursery.

Or… maybe these are the real Tory shills. Those we least expect it from… they did have some spots of blue paint on their trousers today.

Politically neutral no, nursery funding is a political issue. Campaigning for a particular candidate I don't think is something they should do though.

If it is a private nursery then the owner is entitled to set the rules if candidates posters can be displayed. If a council or school based nursery then no posters should be shown.

How would a nursery child know anything about Gaza etc.?

If a nursery supported Reform, I'd want to know so I could remove my child.

But surely conversation is good? Especially as funding for nursery places is a political topic ATM and nurseries would be able to discuss from a position of knowledge.

How would their knowledge correlate with the political posters they’re putting up? Unless they know for certain that person/their party will absolutely change education and early years funding/structures, they’re simply putting forward an opinion on a candidate. I’d be highly unimpressed with my children’s nursery for doing such a thing. A nursery is for my child’s development, not to be canvassed.

I think it's a private nursery, but I just feel it's inappropriate.

Well, it's not rocket science to guess which political party is most likely to invest in childcare for working families....

But anyone else you'd like to deny the basic right to engage in an active democracy? Perhaps I should report my nan's care worker for wearing a CND badge? Or maybe OFSTED would like to know that one of the local teachers stood in the local elections? What about university staff, should they be banned from engaging in democracy?

You feel free to vote with your feet if a nursery does something you don't like but don't try to put restrictions on private businesses/individuals exercising their right to openly engage in democracy.

But why? Genuinely, you've not given a single reason for curtailing the right to engage in democracy. And any restrictions on that right need to be backed by a particularly strong argument, not just a "it doesn't feel right".