Only 15 minutes of outdoor play at preschool?!

[Happymummydays]

My 3 year old has just moved up to the preschool room where he has been thriving (been at this nursery for 2 years now).

Just found out today they only get x2 15 minutes per day... 10 hours (though he's never there that long).

I am absolutely shocked!

He is very settled and happy at preschool, he is thriving, the staff are wonderful... am I overreacting?

I'm considering moving 1 day per week to a forest school (he goes 3 days per week to preschool).

Its legal, but is it right? Preparing him for school maybe? But then is that right? He's only just turned 3 x

At school he is likely to get more than that - morning and afternoon play and dinner time, even if not in a freeflow, but most Reception classes have much more access to the outside than Nat Curr year children.

That does seem poor - unless it was an exceptional day with really poor weather or something.

How did it come about that you found this out ?
Have you asked them why they aren't getting more time outside ?

I don’t think it is prepping him for school. The school my dd is hopefully going to in September do each day time on the play equipment in the playground, running a mile a day outside, free outdoor play time, and then a couple of days a week of gardening and forest school session. Way more than 2 x 15 mins a day. I’d move nursery, outdoor time is important.

My DC had way more time than this at every stage of nursery, preschool and primary.

My 8 yo ds has forest school, eco/wildlife club, litter picks, allotment time as well as brain breaks between lessons (they run round the field), pe and outdoor play 2-3 times a day.

Oh gosh okay I will have a chat with them and speak to local preschools thank you all! Xx

Anything to do with seasons? Our grandchild is outdoors more in spring/summer.

@NewName24 I asked how much time per day he gets now he is in preschool and she said 2x 15 minute sessions, one before snack, one after lunch.

I asked if that's every day and she said yes.

I asked if they do any of their curriculum outdoors in nice weather and she said no. Absolutely devastated as they're beyond perfect in every other way!

It shouldn't matter. Children can be wrapped up warm and go outside regardless of the weather.

Are they in an upstairs room and the free flow doesn't work? I've seen it before and it sucks

I've worked in probably five hundred reception and nursery classrooms as a supply teacher and I've never ever come across one with only half and hour a day outside.

Most have a sheltered area and if they don't they have waterproofs.

Jk987 · Today 10:58

MrsSkylerWhite · Today 10:56

Anything to do with seasons? Our grandchild is outdoors more in spring/summer.

It shouldn't matter. Children can be wrapped up warm and go outside regardless of the weather”

Indeed. They have to take account of conditions like asthma, though . Cold air is a common trigger. It’s far more common now than it was when ours were small.

That's awful. My 3yo goes to a school nursery, they have outside area open pretty much all day - free flow, so up to them how much time they spend outside. But they're also taken outside for specific activities.... last week they went into the school forest area for walks each day, which was lovely!

what is the pre school room like? Is it in close access to the outdoor area? Ideally there should be a free flow indoor/outdoor area. Also most pre schools should be offering some kind of Forest school/ nature walk each week.

Children should have free flow, is there a reason why this is not possible?

@foforrestgreen no they're on the ground floor and the room has double doors that opens onto their own playground which is separate to the younger children's outdoor space xx

@Catsfrontbum @MissyB1 They have 2 lovely large rooms on the ground floor and the bigger of the 2 rooms has double doors that opens onto their own playground which is separate to the younger children's outdoor space. But it's not left open to be free flow, only accessible for those 2 short breaks.

I'm so shocked as I assumed (which is my mistake) that all children of this age HAD to have more time outside than that xx

@MissyB1 He's only left the site once since he started and that was to the cinema.

I'm just so conflicted as he's so happy there, the staff are amazing, they've bent over backwards to support our family and little one has come on leaps and bounds.

But that outdoor time is crucial x

In that case it sounds like they just can't be arsed. Being outside can be the tougher job in a nursery. There's the weather of course and you can't really sit down and you have to be more on top of behaviour.

The cinema!

@WhyIOughtTo that would surprise me as management as super on top of giving the best of the best. Perhaps they're prioritising academics as they view it.

The manager also has her son in the same room as mine so she's definitely prioritising the best in her view xx

When children are outside they can learn just as much academically as they can inside. But they are also using their bodies more. Building up their muscles and their coordination.

They should be out if they want for most of the day. I wonder if some of the staff don’t want to go outside. I know from experience how cold it can be for several hours outside but you buy thermals and a thick coat hats gloves and boots and accept it.

@ssavoycabbage I totally agree! I just meant that I wonder if the nursery have a different view of "academics" rightly or wrongly 🤔

Argghhh what to do 😢

@purser25 yes that was my initial thought but then I'd have expected management to sort that out, but maybe not 🤷‍♀️

I just can't think of any other reason. If they have the outdoor space and it's right there.

My DS's preschool they were outdoors 80% of the time if weather allowed. 15 mins a day is shocking....