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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect nursery to chuck the kids outside once in a while?

27 replies

NewBirdOnTheBlock · 12/05/2010 17:28

dd is 2 and has been at nursery full time for nearly a year and I have no complaints except this one. Everything else is fantastic with it.

In the last 2 weeks, the weather has been glorious, only rained one day. Aside from that in itself being a miracle in Manchester, the kids at the nursery have only been out one day in that whole time. And I would bet my life that it was for no longer than an hour as I saw her inside on the cameras several times that day.

Now, I finish work on ML in a month and was reducing her down to one day as she loves it there but it is really bugging me that i will be paying £40 a day for them to sit in and draw/bake with her when I can do that at home. We live in a flat which is why I doubly want her to be outside there as there is no option at home in the evenings

Should I just pull her out and take her places myself with the money I save or say something and hope they take it on board and start taking them out (also how would you approach it? I'm a bit of a whimp)

OP posts:
SloanyPony · 12/05/2010 17:38

I think the outside thing effects their Ofsted rating. What is their rating like? Ours makes them go out in the rain to maintain their Oustanding status. Which is fine, hell, they wont melt.

YANBU

cyb · 12/05/2010 17:40

I would ask the manager why they aren't accessing the outside space. it is a fundamental part of Early years provision

Kewcumber · 12/05/2010 17:43

DS's nursery gets them out whenever the weather is fine

Firawla · 12/05/2010 17:43

Yes I would say something if I was you. If they have an outside space, why on earth aren't they using it?

Original poster
NewBirdOnTheBlock · 12/05/2010 17:47

They were inspected for the first time last week and got 'good' due to the paper reports not having been filed yet as the manager went on ML early. The owner told us this btw and gave us a paper with the ofsted website on etc. I will go and check if it is online yet. She said that this was the only area they were disappointed with. I'm wondering if they were outside the day ofsted went!

The surestart nursery which is nearer and cheaper have them out all day, every day I was thinking of seeing if they have one day free there but I'm really reluctant to change her as she loves it there.

It's just really bugging me as we have no outside space for her. Like now, it's glorious, shes been inside all day and is in now inside while I cook tea (following a receipe online! )i'll have no time for the park by the time we've eaten and it will be bath time.

OP posts:
leeloo1 · 12/05/2010 17:48

Its statutory law that children have to go outside to play whatever the weather (unless its dangerous i.e. gale force winds). You could make an anonymous tip off to Ofsted and the kids will be spending a lot more time outside in pretty short order

...or if you get on well with them you could mention that she always seems to be inside when you look on cameras and ask that she is sent/taken out more.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 12/05/2010 18:00

Definitely ask and yes I would be unhappy with what your DD is doing or not. The nursery/preschool DC's go to chuck em out at every opportunity and also take them for walks.

Clayhead · 12/05/2010 18:02

They can't be following the EYFS properly if they don't have free flow play between inside and outside.

littlerach · 12/05/2010 18:03

Our doors are open all day, excpet over lunchtime, and most fo the children stay outside all day

Missus84 · 12/05/2010 18:06

Sounds very strange that they have an outside space but don't use it.

I work in a nursery and certainly all the toddlers and older ones go outside every day, even in light rain (we have lots of spare raincoats and wellies at nursery if necessary). Even the babies are outside whenever possible.

Seona1973 · 12/05/2010 18:06

ds has been out every day this week to play at nursery (he is only there for his 2.5 free hours per day). They have waterproofs and wellies for the wet days (we have a few of them here in Scotland!)

hocuspontas · 12/05/2010 18:08

But isn't it her choice? Maybe she is choosing to stay indoors at the moment. I'd ask when you go in next.

Clayhead · 12/05/2010 18:09

Mention in the EYFS Framework

'Ensure that children have opportunities to be outside on a daily basis all year round.'

Original poster
NewBirdOnTheBlock · 12/05/2010 18:15

I am going to mention something tomorrow. Then, if nothing has changed in 2 weeks when I'm due to give notice on reducing her days, ill pull her out.

I have sent in waterproofs and wellies, sunhats and cream. She is equipt for all weathers!

They cannot have free flowing inside and out as her room is upstairs. The other room seem to be outside quite often, even so, not everyday. Three of the staff have kids in that room so I even wondered if they were getting some sort of preferencial treatment.

I just cannot understand why they wouldn't take them out. Surely it's easier for them, they have less to do and it costs them less to have them playing with the big toys that are already there rather than baking/making crap beautiful pictures

OP posts:
Original poster
NewBirdOnTheBlock · 12/05/2010 18:17

hocuspontas- she would never choose to stay inside! I have trouble getting her in the car whenevr we are at the park. As I said, there are stairs and doors to go through so they cannot 'choose' to go out. The whole room (or i supppose half) have to go

OP posts:
Missus84 · 12/05/2010 18:22

It's easier for the staff to keep them inside all contained, rather than go through the palaver of getting 15 coats/hats/lots of suncream on, getting them all downstairs and outside, then in again.

hocuspontas · 12/05/2010 19:37

But they haven't got that excuse at the moment! They can go out as they are! As they are upstairs I suppose it is a bit of a faff in bad weather but now - no excuse! What a shame they just can't run in and out. Our YRs are loving the free-flow at the moment.

Dancergirl · 12/05/2010 19:50

Missus84 - that's a rubbish excuse. Any anyway I know the poster's dd is younger but by 3 or so they can put their own hats and coats on!

At dd's nursery the door is open for much of the morning and the children wander in and out as they like. They go out every single day, whatever the weather. They even put things like painting easels outside, it's fantastic.

I would find out if there is OPPORTUNITY for outdoor play and she's just not choosing to go outside, or if it's a case of they really don't bother.

EnolaAlone · 12/05/2010 19:53

They go outside every day at the nursery my DS goes to. Usually when I pick him up he is outside playing. They have staff inside and outside and go out even in the rain. My DH teaches Reception and has to do the same with his class. Think it is a requirement of the EYFS.

pigletmania · 12/05/2010 20:03

Our pre school is fab, they go out every day, and have a Forrest school on a Tuesday which is a conservation type thing, linking to the Primary school next to its Forrest day. And no Dancergirl not all children by 3 can put on their own coats (can put hat on though), my dd 3.2 has difficulty in the dressing area, but is developmentally young for her age and will take longer to learn than others.

Missus84 · 12/05/2010 20:10

I'm not saying it's a good reason, but that's probably why they keep them in - easier for the staff.

Greensleeves · 12/05/2010 20:12

the children's centre nursery O work in has a massive outside area with lots to do and lots of play equipment, we are VERY lucky - but it's the children's free choice whether they stay in or go out, we don't chuck them out

If you are worried that she is spending too much time indoors, I would say sod bathtime and take her to the park!

fullofbeanstoday · 12/05/2010 20:31

I take my nursery children outside for at least 15mins everyday. During nice weather can be outside all day if they choose except for lunch time.

Why don't you go at it from a different angle and ask if your dd CHOOSES not to go outside as she's told you she's not been outside for a long time. Say you'd prefer it if she was encouraged to go out as you live in a flat.

If you make out you presume they'd be given the chance to go out daily they'll possibly be embarrassed at not doing so as they must know they are meant to be out at some point everyday.

I'd move her if not as being inside all day must be so claustrophobic for kids also how germs are spread from no fresh air!!

Fennel · 13/05/2010 09:32

I'd expect them to be outside twice a day, including in a bit of drizzle, every nursery and preschool we used did that, including several in Manchester.

it would be a priority for me so I would investigate further, it seems odd that they don't go out most days.

CMOTdibbler · 13/05/2010 09:42

DS has always been outside, everyday unless actively raining, and usually twice a day. This has been the same when they were in an upstairs room. Now his room are on total free flow, and today I expect they will be out for the vast majority of the day

I'd be really unhappy if he was kept in all the time, and it was a deal breaker for us when looking at nurseries if they couldn't have the children out loads

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