Outdoor nurseries

[Lindaholt]

For anyone interested in outdoor education, especially nurseries. We run an award winning outdoor nursery in Fife.

We're currently engaged in a dispute with the quango/ regulator over the issue of hand hygiene. Our nursery is fully nomadic, and focusses on child-led play. Because of this we have no regular access to running water. Health Protection Scotland has issued a guideline insisting that soap and running water must be used to wash the children's hands at numerous points during the day - before arrival, before going home, at mealtimes, after (and before) toileting, after sneezing, etc.

We use gel-impregnated wipes which have the support of leading scientists and are standardly used e.g. in NHS hospitals in Scotland and at other public sites such as those run by Historic Scotland. None of which, it seems, is good enough for the regulators. Our rating has suffered as a result even though the nursery is acknowledged as a UK-leading initiative (first fully outdoor nursery in the UK).

2 of them

I'm early years & forest schools level 1

I really like it but I'm not really allowed do it

But parents are wary

Why are parents wary katy? I love that the boys do forest school. Am thinking of having a forest school party for ds3 for his birthday (he's asked for one).

Getting wet (no waterproofs provided & no I can't afford them)
Using sharp stuff - under 2s & scissors is a bad enough argument, never mind other stuff - got away with potato peeler
Inappropriate clothes/not warm & dry/too expensive

"Not what we signed up for"

really good programme on teachers tv about outdoor schools (norway i think) getting under 5s climbing up mountains and lighting fires. very progressive.

I asked ds3 what he used to make his forest friend and he said 'a chainsaw'.

I must admit at that stage my eyebrows raised a little, but some gentle questioning of his teacher revealed it wasn't a chainsaw at all, just a little one. :o

This is what they do at the outdoor nursery I am going to send DS4 to . Looks fabby and he loved his visit.

I cannot believe that grubby kid's hands need to be regulated. I do believe a healthy layer of grime on a child at the end of the day is a sign of time well spent .

saintlydame, I do not use chainsaws! God no, am scared of them myself. Saws yes, power saws no, no no.
I have to ask, why do you think I am your son's teacher? [smile

Only because I checked your profile and we're in the same county :) , but there might be quite a few forest schools down here.....

No ds3's was just a little saw as well. Although when I asked what noise it made he did a good chainsaw impression.

They were making forest friends at the school fair and I did check out the saw situation :o

looks lovely pacific.

That's good, thought I'd previously posted something about precious parents not liking saws or similar and offended you!
I will not be his teacher no, cos I am not doing it full time as I'm in the last year of a degree as well. I may have taught him before though as I've hawked myself all around the county to wherever'll have me

:o

No, no I'm not very precious. I laughed out loud when he said he'd been using a chainsaw.

He still loves his forest friend. DS2 has one too and they were playing with them this weekend.

They do it at school - one afternoon a week. Esp the infants. Juniors get a little turn.

I am rapidly turning my degree into an academic bore on Forest Schools and have tried to research why requirements for hygiene that are so rigid in nurseries and playgroups are so relaxed in Outdoor Nurseries or fulltime Forest Schools. Which is why I am interested in talking to the OP but she has gone

I'm sure you could have some kind of water barrel with a tap for children to wash their hands? I work for the NHS and the rule is 'visible dirt: soap and water, hands look clean: alcohol gel/wipe'.
I love the outdoor nursery idea, wish there had been one available to me, my friend's DS has just spent 8 months in one (started just before all the snow!) and loved it.

HalfCaff, I guess it depends on the set-up - some are more hard-core Outdoorsy than others. I think the OP said hers was a nomad so it might prove tricksy.
Donkeys - it's the only answer. Donkeys carrying WI hot water urns.

@HalfCaff & Tippchoocks: Yes, that is right, it's a nomadic nursery, so is not tied to any one place - hence the problem with having a barrel or waterbutt in situ.

Some interesting stuff about nurseries in Sweden here, including outdoors: bit.ly/b8mkWF