DD not getting outside time at nursery WWYD

[Deathonacrumpet29]

I'm concerned about my daughter and I think nursery are fobbing me off.

They have a large garden but every time I pick my daughter up she hasn't been outside. DD is 14 months. She's only been there a short time and they are busy there (there was a long waiting list).

Her keyworker does send a photo every day but always inside and similar eg food around her mouth at lunch time or her playing in the same area of the room with same toys - but since she has been there she has never taken any photos outside -even on sunny days.

We choose this nursery as it has a reputation for being eco-friendly, outdoorsy and the large garden it has! It's ideal for getting the children in the fresh air and out in nature. For context, the building used to be an old pub so has a massive pub garden and it is right next to a heath! I'm including this so you can see that it isn't in a built up area with no access to outdoor space - quite the opposite!

I complained to the manager and since then I have been informed that she has had outside time but I'm concerned this is only happening to her in isolation and she is being taken out specifically and probably very hastily as I've complained. When asked if she went out with her friends she shakes her head and is very sure she is just taken out on her own? No photos of outside time either.

Do nurseries do this? Only take children out if their parents complain? I'm glad she is getting outside time but I can imagine she is confused why she would go out there by herself. When I queried about this a member of staff said that she didn't know if they all went out as she was on her break!? I asked her to find out and let me know and I've heard nothing.

I'm not friends with any other mums as we drop off at the door due to COVID at different times still so I can't just ask another parent if they know if they go outside.

I think nursery staff are misleading me about this and/or being lazy and I'm not sure what I can do about it?

Has anyone been through similar?

I just want my daughter to get some fresh air - that's why we chose that nursery. Why aren't they taking the children outside?

What would you do?

I'm going to start researching this evening - I don't want her to stay somewhere she isn't getting fresh air every day. This nursery does market itself as a very eco-friendly natural nursery - with no plastic toys, reusable nappies, a massive outdoor garden and the staff are - or do seem very caring. But no outdoors is killing me.

It would be extremely extremely unusual for them to be kept indoors all day at nurseries or childminders!

I think you’re putting too much faith in what your toddler is saying.

You could say you’d like more varied photos of when they’re out.

I have said this. I get fobbed off. I do get daily updates but none of them have garden time in them. I have no evidence of her going out into the garden and when asked I get fobbed off. None of her outdoor clothes are used. They have a large garden which would be muddy if it rained as it's not AstroTurf or similar. I know it's hard to believe - I myself don't understand it but they really aren't getting taken outside. They've made lots of excuses as to why but they have not taken her out daily like they promised.

In the baby room here they take them out and do messy play/nature activities or crafting (baby style!) outside most days. They are dirty and you can tell they have been out! I'm not going to be using it much as will be a SAHM soon but I definitely wouldn't like the set up for your baby.

I wonder what outdoor clothes are. Do you mean coat etc? If they’re setting themselves up to have to actually change outfits every time they use the garden no wonder they don’t use the garden. Maybe try and find somewhere that’s a bit more relaxed about dirt if that’s the case

The room DD is warm and they don't have shoes on. So outdoor clothes is cardigan, jumper, coat, jacket, sun hat, all in one suit, spare socks/tights mittens so they can take her outdoors whatever the weather. A couple of each. And suncream. This is how I know they don't go outside.

That’s very strange! I was thinking maybe the garden is shaded?

Sometimes our childminder didn’t go out in very hot/cold weather, if another child was poorly, if she was having any works or delivery that day. But overall the children were taken out most days always.

For a nursery with its own garden, more staff etc this sounds very weird, it would be really good if you could speak to other parents.

Bloody hell id be scared to take her outside through fear of being scolded for using the wrong variation of 'outdoor' clothing...

It's a bit overkill.

It sounds as if they need a separate room for the 1 - 2yrs. The nursery my DDs went to had a small fenced decking area for the non-walking or newly toddling babies. Fresh air but less risk of eating something they shouldn’t or getting flattened by the pre-schoolers.

Can you enlist support from other parents at drop-off?

@Deathonacrumpet29 no not the south!

When DS was in the baby room at nursery they went outside daily. There was a large, relatively weather-proof, thatched gazebo which they used for outdoor story time and was great for crawling or toddling little ones.

I wouldn’t be happy and would be looking for another nursery.

@girlmom21 the nursery specifically requested these items in a bag- I haven't added anything or put anything in that hasn't been requested. It's definitely overkill as they aren't getting used.

@Cocopogo ahhh I see! Thanks for clarifying.

at my nieces nursery they get lots of outside time even in baby room sometimes at nearly four now she asks to come in. I appreciate that it's a palarva especially getting all their puddle suits on or sun cream and a hat but it's important for children to get lots if fresh air i think

Thanks @BangingOn I like the sound of a thatched gazebo.

I would not be happy with that either, would be a deal breaker for me. I hope you can find a nursery that does take them outside every day. I love that my son's nursery has them outside for at least two blocks of time in the day and a forest school group for the older ones.

I believe it is too @orangetriangle

Yeah, this doesn’t sound normal to me - mine is. Is in the preschool room and has free access to outside but even when she was upstairs in babies, then toddlers, she had at least an hour most days. They don’t have much outside space but plenty of toys and the children make the most of it.

glad you are looking at other options OP, hope you find somewhere.

Babies don't tend to go out that often. They will once in toddler room.

I've had experience of a few nurseries where they are slack about taking under 2s out and it just comes down to laziness.
When you're inside staff can sit and chat while the babies play, get on with other jobs and so on.
To go outside you have to get them dressed in outdoor clothes, get shoes on, put suncream on. It might be cold or rainy and some staff just don't like being out.
You have to watch children more carefully, make sure they don't fall or put things in their mouths. Some babies won't like it and will want to be held or interacted with more than inside. If a baby poos then it's a pain to go back inside and strip everything off etc etc.

I’m a baby room leader and all of the children get outside everyday, usually morning and afternoon although this may depend on the individual routine with sleeps etc. Definitely offered outside time daily though.

That's good to read. Was beginning to think I'd just got lucky with a decent nursery.

At my sons nursery the 2-4 years olds had free flow access to outside. Under 2's was more scheduled time like half hour slot in day. I sent ds to a childminder until he was 2 as all the nurseries our way had tiny baby rooms.

@Ilovesandwiches do you take photos when you take them outside? Do they get muddy or dirty or do they need changing? If I was a parent of a child in your nursery then would I know that they'd had outside time? Is there any way that they are taking her out despite no evidence/proof. Thanks for replying by the way.

Yes, we take pictures. Sometimes not every single time as obviously care and supervision come first but I’d say it was half and half as to observations outside and in. Often our children will need changing yes, as we have lots of messy and sensory things outside too and we go out in all weathers, although when it’s wet we use our all in one puddle suits so wouldn’t be able to tell then.
its possible pictures aren’t taken outside if staff are busy but that does seem a little strange that it’s never and it’s very common that children will need changing after garden play, at least sometimes. I can completely understand that it can be tricky to get babies outside but it’s still a great benefit for them to at least get some fresh air.