Children not allowed at University - why?

[oxen1]

I work in a London University and was told that I'm not allowed to have my 6 year old visit me, not could I bring my second baby 3 years ago, due to them not being covered by insurance. For them to come in I would need a special letter from the Head and my line manager said that in general "it's frowned upon".

Does anybody have an idea of what this means and why it's so hard to show my child where I work? Or is it a uk-wide thing that's the norm in any educational institution?

I'm guessing its probably something to do with everyone wanting to sue everyone insurance reasons, for example is your uni child friendly? Is there a perception that you could sue if your child was hurt on something not seen to be child friendly.

My work don't allow children on site until they have a valid tetanus and BCG vaccination certificate because the insurance wont cover them should your child contract either TB or tetanus whilst onsite and you wish to sue, Mind you I am not supposed to ferry them about in the tractor bucket either but its fun and I am not going to sue myself.

A valid point earlier about those days when secondary children go in for the whole learning about Uni experience thing

If their rule is no children, then what age has been defined? Someone else said they didn't think if 17 as a child, but technically they are. Does the Uni ban anyone under 18? Under 16? Not there for official purposes?

It just seems a bit unclear and perhaps you could ask for clarification along with that letter.

I've been at a few different universities over the years but never encountered a blanket no children policy. What about graduation? Are students not allowed to let their children see them graduate? And what if a researcher was carrying out research on children (that's what I do)? We have a theatre and nursery on campus so there are lots of kids about for multiple reasons. My son loves campus (always some crazy student activity going on).

My two DCs have been in a student theatre society since they were babies (DS' first outing was a freshers week wine evening when he was 3 days old!)
I also brought breastfed DD to lectures for my OU course (it was "Inclusive Education" - they couldn't very well exclude us ).
I've never had an issue taking DCs on campus, it's one of the reasons they are so confident around new people.

I'm sure I know where this is too. I had to have my then 2 year old stand outside the barriers with the security guards, while I returned a book once.

Not a university, but we are no longer allowed to bring children to work since a child fell under the bannisters and died. That's the insurance issue.

I am amazed that some Univerities allow children.

I have worked for a University- albeit in the research departments and I would be very nervous about seeing children buzz around there.

How strange. I worked at a London university pre-kids and people were always bringing their kids in. One couple (parents who worked in the same department) used to bring their daughter in all day every day during half term so they didn't have to get childcare.

THe environments I worked in were totally unsuitable for children.

I'm sure I know where this is too. I had to have my then 2 year old stand outside the barriers with the security guards, while I returned a book once.

I have this old fashioned notion that education is about widening horizons, freedom to explore, expansiveness and liberty...
I was thinking about taking an evening course at the local FE college and went in to see the tutor. It was all swipecards, turnstyles and denying entry. That, and the brutalist architecture, made it feel like a borstal. It was horrible: uninviting and excluding. I know that it's because of Columbine and all that but it's really offputting. The course never ran in the end, due to lack of take-up.

eh? Security on UK campuses isn't about Columbine, it's just, you know, security!

Universities and colleges are not public spaces. They are primarily facilities for fee paying customers and the workforce.

We had that a few years ago. Something was circulated about not having children and animals on site. People got offended because of the wording 'children and pets/animals'.

Anyway, there was abit of a hoo ha about it, lots of people (perhaps more animal owners than parents) got upset, and I imagine the rule is still about but very much disregarded.

I think this is taking the mic to be honest (the rule, not the disregad). Because surely we can use common sense? (clearly that's gone out the window too). If I work in a dangerous lab with dangerous chemicals, machinery, where grownups have to wear protective gear etc then of course I wouldnt' bring my kid near it. If however, I work in an office environment, on a day where I don't see any students/external people etc then why ever not? Of course, one would need to be responsible for the child, so if the child is crying, noisy, running about the corridor with disregard, then said child needs to be removed.

Post email circulation, I've brought my children in on occasion for a couple of hours (e.g. afterschool pick up, for an hour or 2). It's a rarity, but no one has ever complained.

Mine were barred from a London art college on health and safety grunds, but have not had trouble with various units, to date

My last non-London institution had a no children in the University buildings policy. They made an exception for mothers on maternity leave bringing their babies in for a one-off visit, but otherwise stern emails were sent around regularly reminding staff of the policy.

What about open days? To me it's just saying no for the sake of it, unless there are genuine risks to health. FGS what about work experience age 14/15? My strict DA did no more than nod through my friend's daughters application to spend the day bored to tears with me!

Dh works in a university and I've taken the dds in to see him, they've both attended nursery on campus and I've taken them to one of the cafés and the theatre based there. I've also seen children in the university canteen where I'm studying at the moment so it sounds odd to me

It's definitely a case of what each Uni decides. I also take groups of kids to days at Uni for things like debate tournaments etc.

In the US it's more normal for people who are doing MAs PhDs to be married, possibly living on campus with young kids etc so although it's predominantly late teens early 20s, there's nothing unusual about seeing kid around campus. Dd gets to spend (not so) thrilling time with me in the library while I do research.

I think that some employers just don't want staff distracted or potential law suits from employees bringing kids in - specially if kids are sick from school and just hanging out in an office. I can understand that, but hiding behind 'insurance' is just crappy. they should just say no, we don't want it.

Most workplaces I've been in have officially had a no-under-16s policy. In practice it's generally been OK for parents to bring a child in that they stay with and at their own risk.

At a university it could be that they really don't want kids getting into labs etc - when I worked at a research institute that's part of Univ London, one mad scientist did regularly bring in a pair of incredibly badly-behaved children (age about 8 and 10) and the havoc they caused led to clamping down on all children.

I have worked in very dangerous University laboratories for much of my working life. It would be total madness to bring a child into these working environments.

Nus had a campaign on this a while back. Google NUS child friendly campus.
No one is saying kids should be gallopping around research labs. But equally a student parent should be able to pop in to their department to pick something up with kid in tow. People live complicated lives, a blanket no child on campus policy is incredibly unhelpful. The fact that some universities are held up by the NUS as good practice case studies shows it can be done in a safe and proportionate way.

There is a difference between no children in the university buildings and no children on campus too. My two went to nursery on campus and could obviously move around campus, but were not allowed in teaching or research buildings without express permission. Restaurants, cafes, theatre, art galleries on campus, but not part of the teaching and research buildings were obviously a different matter! Some staff and their families even lived on campus.

Just read the OP and skimmed this thread, but my first response is that why is a university any different to any other work place? Would you regularly want your children at any work place?

At my uni there are a lot of mature students, our campus is where all the nursing, physio, OT, midwifery etc is taught. There are signs all over saying children must be accompanied by an adult. People don't take children into classes willy nilly but on the ground floor of the library there is a "learning cafe". Basically a big room of desks, computers, a laptop bank, tables for group work etc. You can study, talk, eat and drink in there and it is very, very common to have children in there as parents try to get something done. During school holidays especially when childcare might be a problem there are often groups putting together a presentation or something with a child or 2 at the table. I love that we have a space like that. There are private study rooms that can be booked out for group work if you need somewhere quiet and the rest of the library is quiet with some floors being dedicated "be quiet and keep your phone off or you will get shot" spaces so having children around need not be disruptive for others.

Absolutely, UptheChimney.

Children on campus at nursery and in "social" areas, fine. However, in research buildings, teaching areas, libraries etc, no. Staff are being paid to work and other workplaces would frown on people bringing children in just because it was school holidays or whatever (contrary to popular misconception, university staff do not work to student term-times and are contracted to be working apart from their 30 days statuary holiday a year).

If under-18's are invited onto campus for e.g. school visits etc that is also a different thing because necessary risk assessments will have been carried out and there will be staff responsible for the safety of those young people.

I sent huge chunks of my childhood running around my dad's university chemistry laboratory. Did me the world of good and I really enjoyed being on campus.

This was from about 9-17, I knew my way round the uni better than the lecturers by the time I was there as a student ;)