Is it standard practice for nursery outdoor time to be in the afternoons?

[PoppyWearer]

DD starts school this September and has been going to nursery since 6mo, so I should know this!

But a few months ago we changed her hours so she does half days (mornings) rather than full days.

I've now noticed that she hardly ever gets to play outside. Yet when I used to do the 5pm pick up, her class would always be outside, rain or shine.

It's a real shame because they had some special activities laid out in the playground today, the weather was perfect, and she's missed out, cooped up inside.

I'm really happy with the nursery otherwise, this is pretty much the only negative thing I've ever found. Baby DS has started attending the same place and my concern is really driven by him, because I sense he's going to be quite physical and will need outdoor time. So if he'll only get that in the afternoons, I need to structure my "work" and his sessions accordingly, IYSWIM.

But I don't want to say anything to the nursery if this is some nursery/childcare best practice to not let kids play outside until after lunch for some reason.

(Please excuse me, am going to take DCs out to play in the garden now.)

At ours they have outdoor time in both the morning and the afternoon. Many children only do half-days.

No. At the dc's nursery they go out several times a day and on nice days they can come and go as they please.

Best practise is that they have free flow indoors outdoors at all times in all weathers

why not do outdoors stuff with them yourself? I am sure when they are all 'cooped up' they will be doing interesting stuff together indoors too. The outside fun doesn't have to stop just because they are in nursery at the wrong time.

Yep ds's nursery is like katy says, but its purpose built so all rooms have a door to outside, so they do as they please.

Most nurseries have constant outdoor access these days - mine only closes the doors during circle and meal times.

Have you asked the nursery why they aren't allowed out in the morning?

I do plenty of outdoors stuff with them (health and weather permitting - at the moment I'm recovering from a few bugs and don't have the oomph for lots of that stuff). I just felt it was a real shame today that DD missed out on the activities that had been laid out outside, which then led me to think about all the times she's said she hasn't been outside recently.

They do have access to a decked area from their classroom, but there isn't room there to have a good run around.

I only thought of it today after picking DD up, so will try to ask tomorrow if not too busy at drop off time.

Ok, the nursery pulled it out of the bag today, a surprise (free) outdoor activity that was totally phenomenal, DD loved it.

It turns out she missed something else yesterday afternoon, but I will let them off because she was so excited today, bless her, and it was something above-and-beyond they did for the kids.

They really should be rated as excellent rather than good by Ofsted!

What was the activity?