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Original poster

Staff ratio on nursery trips.

13 replies

Angeliz · 18/06/2004 09:29

Hi everyone

My dd is starting nursery in September aged 3 and a half.
They do lots of trips out and gave me a form to sign saying that they may go out on the spur of the moment and may not always inform us beforehand. I spoke to the head of nursery about it and told her i wasn't happy signing it and she explained that it is VERY rare and wrote on the form for me to be informed of any trips out.
Anyway, i just got my head around that and then i asked the ratio and it's 1 to 4!!
Personally i don't think thats enough,(and i've signed the bloody form now), but i think i may change in September to her not going out on trips.

SO, what is the staff ratio in your nursery? My worry is, how do you keep 4 toddlers safe and what if 1 ran off, then there's 7 with one adult..........

I could go on forever!!!!

OP posts:

littlerach · 18/06/2004 09:44

IME, that is the correct ratio for trips. Usually the children pair up and hold hands, all in a line, then there are staff at every other pair.
If there is a child who finds it hard to do this, a member of staff may chose to hold their hand as well, or a parent may be asked to come along. It really depends on the situation. For example, we often take the children on walks around the local fields, so it is not as important that they hold hands. But for the summer trip it is to the beach,so we have requested that a nominal number of parents come. If there are not enough, we review it.
If you are concerned you can ask that the keyyworker take responsibility for your child. We rae usually willing to do this.
HTH

Original poster

Angeliz · 18/06/2004 09:47

It does , thanks .
The trips to the park i would be a bit easier about but they were talking about the airport and on a local ferry!!!

OP posts:

LIZS · 18/06/2004 09:56

tbh I'd be surprised if they go out spontaneously very often - simply for logistical reasons, if nothing else. I'm sure for most trips you'd be informed beforehand (requirement for wellies, waterproofs, snack etc) and perhaps parent volunteers requested. If they have made a note of it and you take her in each day I doubt they would not tell you their plans. I think you will be surprised at the level of discipline in the class and at 3.5 they are not really toddlers any more.

Am I right in thinking that the Nursery is attached to a school as I think that different rules may apply than to birth - school age nurseries. fwiw when ds was at nursery in UK he used to go out occasionally on field walks with 2 adults to around 10 kids. However for a farm trip extra volunteers were requested but all parents/siblings welcome.

Twinkie · 18/06/2004 09:58

Legal requirements are 1 Adult to 5 Children.

coppertop · 18/06/2004 09:59

At ds1's pre-school their policy for trips out is to have 1 adult to every 2 children. Usually parents are asked to go along too but tbh they probably only go out once a year.

sponge · 18/06/2004 10:03

At dds nursery they take them to the park most days and that is just normal staff ratio, but for instance at Christmas they took them to the ballet and requested parent volunteers to make a 2:1 ratio as it was going to be very busy and crowded.
I foolishly volunteered and ended up buying the whole school ice creams in the interval as the stupid teachers hadn't thought to bring any drinks, snacks or money!

Slinky · 18/06/2004 10:10

At our day nursery, if they go out for a walk over the field to see the horses or park (both of which are next door) then it is normal "staff ratio".

On the occasions where they go completely "off-site", then the ratio is 1:2 - relying on extra staff to help out and parents.

At our school, I helped out a couple of weeks ago at a trip to the Zoo with DS1 - and they insisted on a ratio of 1:3 (and this is Year 1). DD1 (in Year 3) has gone on a trip today and her trip has been organised so that they have 1:4.

Ghosty · 18/06/2004 10:19

In NZ public kindies they have 42 children and 3 teachers ... and one or two parent helpers.
For trips out they ask parents to come as by law the ratio has to be 1:3 ...
If they go near water (a walk on the beach or something) then by law they have to have a ratio of 1:2
I know it is not relevant to you but thought it might be of interest.

lou33 · 18/06/2004 11:55

This may help wrt staff/child ratios. It's for Surrey but I would think it's a national thing also. Hth.

SenoraPostrophe · 18/06/2004 12:05

Ratios at dd's nursery are about the same, Ghosty.

In fact I've been there a few times when there was only 1 adult for about 20 kids (ages 1-3) as the other one had popped out. It's why I'm not sending ds there yet...

(mind you, it's cheap! )

mumeeee · 22/06/2004 17:51

I work at a private nursery , when we take the children out we try to have a one to two ratio whenenever possible. We occansionly have a one to three ratio with but definetly no less than this.

Original poster

Angeliz · 22/06/2004 18:18

Thanks everyone

I'm really not happy with 1-4 and still wondering what to do in September!

OP posts:

mrsflowerpot · 22/06/2004 18:43

I know how you feel as I have a real absconder in my ds (who'll also be 3.5 when he starts nursery in Sept). He will just bolt sometimes and it scares me stiff that other people just don't expect it. I've made a point of telling the pre-school he's at at the moment exactly what he's like, and I volunteer to go along on little trips. When he starts the nursery I'll do the same, although he is getting more sensible and I live in hope he'll reform... I know also that he's much more in awe of the staff than he is of me!

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