Stay and play session open to the public

11 replies

BellesDuo · 10/09/2025 11:09

So I noticed my daughters nursery advertising a stay and play session every Friday, I thought how fun to get to meet other parents etc. but after looking at the post some of the people who are talking about booking on or have already booked on appear to not have kids that attend the nursery, so it is open to anyone by the looks of it.
Is this normal? Surely this is a safeguarding issue?
The staff will have children in ration and parents there that are not known to them, am I right to be a bit uncomfortable with this or am I just being a bit overprotective?

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Overthebow · 10/09/2025 11:12

Do they have a separate room that the stay and play will be in or will it be in the nursery room your DC is in? If it’s a separate room it wouldn’t bother me as long as their room safety procedure is good. I wouldn’t like it if it’s all in the same room though.

BrucesTooth · 10/09/2025 11:13

One nursery near us used to do this, it was because they were quiet on a Friday so had a spare room. You are nowhere near the kids or staff, its a way to generate about of revenue as a venue and awareness for potential customers.

Luxio · 10/09/2025 11:14

Presumably the stay and play happens in a separate space not within the nursery rooms. It's quite common here a few nurseries and at least two local schools do something similar.

SJM1988 · 10/09/2025 11:15

Our nursery did this pre 2020. They haven't restarted it though. The intention was to draw people in to use the nursery. Worked in alot of cases as the people I crossed over at stay and play then started attending the nursery - as did I

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BellesDuo · 10/09/2025 11:19

This all makes sense, there are two rooms but they are joined together by a small walk space and the toilets. I didn’t even think about them separating it so that definitely has made me feel a bit more relaxed about it 😊

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TickyandTacky · 10/09/2025 12:47

It's also no different to inviting just the parents of other children in. Just because you've met little Johnny's parents before and know he's in your child's class, it doesnt mean you know they are safe around children. The same precautions should be in place for both scenarios.

FluentTealGuide · 10/09/2025 13:53

If you’re worried about safeguarding, you could always ask the nursery how it’s set up.

LIZS · 10/09/2025 17:06

Why is it a safeguarding issue? Presumable each parent/carer is accompanied by a child and supervised while on the premises. Are nursery children included?

Movisitr · 10/09/2025 17:23

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justanotherdrama · 10/09/2025 17:23

When my kids were little the nursery did this and I think it’s a marketing tool aswell to tract extra people like bring a friend to rainbows/beavers/ brownies etc…
I wouldn’t be alarmed by this it’s quite normal.

friskery · 10/09/2025 17:56

No different from having prospective parents visiting or even having current parents visiting really - staff will be there supervising.

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