Would you send your child?

[Tobermorie]

To a nursery with lovely indoor facilities, but no outdoor play area because they’re close to the beach where they regularly take the kids to play? I’ve been assured that when they take the kids on the beach there’s a 1:4 staff ratio and they’re well supervised. And they obviously have been checked by Ofsted and have appropriate risk assessments in place. And they’ve done it for years and never had an incident. DH thinks I’m being paranoid, but to me it just seems dangerous taking 2-4 year olds on the beach.

I think I would be put off because as lovely as the beach is it isn’t great for playing

I think they would know what children are very good at following the rules and which ones are more likely to run off.

Also I expect they stay well away from the water.

If there were two good nurseries I would chose the other one. But if this one is significantly better than the alternatives I would trust them to manage the beach safely.

I would hesitate because I would want to see one extra adult for that kind of activity.

I would be absolutely fine with them going to the beach. That sounds lovely.

But I'd be concerned about the lack of outdoor place space. Do they actually take them every day? I can see that would be easy in the summer, but what about on a cold windy day in December? I'd still want as much outside play time as possible and I'd be worried that this wouldn't happen except when weather is nice. Really they should be outside everyday, even in rain or snow, with appropriate clothes on, unless weather is truly unsafe.

I’d prefer a nursery with outdoor space. Too many variables.

@mindutopia

I would be absolutely fine with them going to the beach. That sounds lovely.

But I'd be concerned about the lack of outdoor place space. Do they actually take them every day? I can see that would be easy in the summer, but what about on a cold windy day in December? I'd still want as much outside play time as possible and I'd be worried that this wouldn't happen except when weather is nice. Really they should be outside everyday, even in rain or snow, with appropriate clothes on, unless weather is truly unsafe.

I think this is a great point. I know a few nurseries without outside space, and all of them make a big deal about getting out into the community. Visiting parks, local nature reserves, woodland etc.

One definitely does this. Every day, rain or shine the children are out and about in their high vis jackets. The others do it in the summer months, but then as the weather changes they go months without getting out and about, or just going for a quick play on the swings and back again.

It's very easy to say to potential parents that XYZ happens, but in reality when the weather is a bit shit it's easy for some nurseries to think it's all a bit too much effort to bother traisping to the beach.

What do they do I bad weather?
They take them out all year round unless it’s absolutely dreadful. But I don’t know what they do when the tide is in?

As idyllic as it sounds a beach is no substitute for a proper outdoor space set up with the children as its focus.
Yes I did question this. Sand and more sand... no insects, sticks, leaves... and sand gets quite hot in the summer.

I can see that would be easy in the summer, but what about on a cold windy day in December?
They said they take groups of kids everyday but I expect the weather is more extreme on the coast. A day that’s cold and windy inland could be blasting freezing cold winds and 20ft waves at the beach.

They take them out all year round unless it’s absolutely dreadful. But I don’t know what they do when the tide is in?

As other have pointed out its very easy to say one thing and the reality be very different. Are you absolutely 100% confident this happens daily or is it just what they are telling you.

Yes I did question this. Sand and more sand... no insects, sticks, leaves

I would worry its a very boring environment for them and the fact its a public beach where they will be expected to stay in one set area and not stray would also be a negative as its limiting the amount they can independently explore and really restricting their play opportunities.

They take them out all year round unless it’s absolutely dreadful. But I don’t know what they do when the tide is in?

As others have said would it be possible to observe them from a distance to see if this really is the case? They should be able to answer questions regarding the tide if they really do go out every day. Unfortunately as I said earlier many nurseries are good at saying the right things to get children through the door, but the reality is very different.

I’m a childminder and take 4 children out every day, so them having 3:12 Out certainly doesn’t worry me. I take my group for walks along the canal, round a lake, by the river, but We are no where near the beach, so I don’t know if Setting up camp for the day is something we would do or not. Depends on the beach I guess and how big it is, if it gets busy, how open it is, how far away from the sea they are able to sit. I assume they are taking activities with them? My childminder friends and I often take things to do for when we meet up. We aren’t able to have our groups at the moment, so we meet in the park and do painting/sticking/singing/story time/Counting games etc While we are out. I assume nursery are doing this too? I imagine free play would be quite limited with just sand, but it depends how much extra stuff they are able to take with them.
How many children are left in the nursery each day? If they are only taking 12 children are there another 12 left in the building? If they are not chosen, does that mean they don’t go out that day? I wouldn’t be happy with that tbh. Or do they ensure that every child goes out each day? The weather has to be absolutely horrific all day for us not to go out at all. On days where the weather is not great, but not horrific, we have an under cover area we use - the change of scenery does us all good.

To me a pre school should have a little outdoor areas with tricycles, mudkitchen, greenhouse/den, fun things etc. My little boy absolutely loves those things about his nursery. It seems restrictive to not have safe outdoor space on the premises.

I work in a nursery and would hate this
We spend most of the day outside but the area is secure and just a few steps to back inside when children need the toilet or changing or first aid, I don’t think I could cope with doing all that outside on a public beach
What happens if the staff need the loo?

@insancerre

I work in a nursery and would hate this We spend most of the day outside but the area is secure and just a few steps to back inside when children need the toilet or changing or first aid, I don’t think I could cope with doing all that outside on a public beach What happens if the staff need the loo?

Some good points / questions here. It really does sound lovely but when you dig deeper it's not very practical. I hope the thread has given you some more to think about OP.

I think clambering all over the rocks would worry me more than the water to be honest! They're slippy for adults let alone an already clumsy pre-schooler potentially even wearing wellies.

As much fun as a play on the beach is, it doesn't live up to the variety a furnished garden does - mud kitchen, vegetable patches, bikes, chalking, water tray, climbing opportunities, slide, etc. And there's limited activities the staff will be able to carry down whilst also trying to guide the children there, more so if they're already having to carry all the tents. Think it also depends on how many days your child is going, 2 days fair enough but full time I wouldn't

Also, can't help but think of the logistics of trying to set up tents, and toilets in them, whilst keeping an eye on 12 excited pre-schoolers! I'm a nursery nurse and I wouldn't envy that lol