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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

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Original poster

Parent Rotas

17 replies

sherby · 12/01/2008 19:29

DD just started at her new preschool. We are really happy with everything except their policy re the parent rota.

The leader mentioned that they used to leave working parents or mothers with babies ie under 6 mths off the rota, but that ofsted have told them they have to be 'inclusive' so all parents have to do their turn regardless of circumstances. But she then said that I wouldn't be able to bring DS with me as she was not insured for DC under 2yrs. Well DS is only 4 mths old and breastfed so I can't leave him even if I wanted to, which I don't.

Can anybody tell me if this is standard practice at most preschools? I can't believe that working parents take a day off every month or so to do their part for the rota.

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perpetualworrier · 12/01/2008 19:47

I've never heard of this. Do they get every parent police checked etc. I was never asked to help with anything at my children's pre-school.

The primary school doesn't even ask for parental help on school trips anymore, as it takes too long and is too costly to get everyone checked out.

There must be loads of parents who would find it difficult to go if they can't take a younger sibling & I can't belive working parents can do it either. This just can't be right, but I will watch with interest to see if anyone else has experienced it.

Chipstick · 12/01/2008 19:51

Same here - never heard of this anywhere. Being a working mum i certainly couldn't be on a rota - and i damned sure hubby wouldn't wouldn't go to preschool even for an hour!!

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sherby · 12/01/2008 19:51

No no police check, I think you are just supposed to help out with the snack time, read a story and just generally play with the children.

You are not allowed in the childrens toilet for any reason not even to take your own DC, you have to get one of the preschool staff to take them.

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LIZS · 12/01/2008 19:53

I think it depends on the set up. It can help keep costs down if one of the adult ratio is a parent so some run on a cooperative basis. Seems odd to exclude a nursing baby though, perhaps you could sign a waiver for insurance purposes ? In practice many ft working parents would n't use a preschool as the sessions would n't work out. A friend of mine worked flexibly anyway so could do the odd time but swapped dates to fit it in. If they aren't being left alone with children then CRB probably not necessary.

RosaLuxOnTheBrightSideOfLife · 12/01/2008 19:56

Both the preschools that DD1 and attended had this system, but I was certainly allowed to bring younger DC along, would have been unworkable otherwise. The preschoolers enjoyed having a baby in to play with anyway.

evenhope · 12/01/2008 19:58

Many years ago when my DCs were at playgroup we had to do the dreaded rota. I hated it, so I used to send DH! We had a woman who could never take her turn because she "had a baby". It was years before I realised that her baby, the younger of her 2 kids, was actually 2 months older than my baby, the youngest of 4....

I certainly wouldn't do it now, as work would make it impossible. But surely you only use a "pre-school" rather than a nursery if you aren't working FT?

rachounette · 12/01/2008 19:58

We also had a parent rota at my daughter but on a voluntary basis ...no police check ... I would say this is definitely not standard practice ... nerver heard of that before.

Original poster

sherby · 12/01/2008 20:00

Well I think I will have to have a word with her then and get excused from now on, I'm not going to leave DS for 2.5hrs.

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Lulushmulu · 12/01/2008 20:40

Sherby
Sorry this is a bit long, but if you are able and willing to help, why not get some clarification from the staff? I think you might have misinterpreted the policy as nothing like this has happened at my daughter's preschool.

I think "insured for children under 2" means that they can't be responsible for them, ie you can't leave your baby there and go home, but you are allowed to bring them as long as you take full responsibility. That's how it works at my daughter's preschool. After all how could they get any helpers if that was the case? Most mums are either working or have younger children, don't they?

Being "inclusive" I think means that they don't exclude mums with new babies and working parents but I don't think Ofsted can make it compulsory. However if they are a bit short of help they might have used this change in policy to be a bit more assertive in asking people to help. But I don't think they could seriously force you to help but not allow you to bring your baby. Not everyone has friends and relatives that they can call on to babysit or can afford to pay for childcare out of your own pocket!

I have a 7 month old as well as a 3.75 year old and the baby is always welcome and the children always enjoy meeting her. Now she is older she enjoys it too!

I found that it was actually easier to help when the baby was younger as she would sleep most of the time and I could just park the pushchair in the kitchen. When she woke up I would feed her on a comfy chair and the children would come and look. I didn't really have to do anything because the baby was such a novelty for them! Now she is more alert and won't sleep, but she enjoys watching and smiling at the children, and goes home a bit overtired. But when she starts crawling it will be even more difficult to keep her out of danger!

Although I felt some trepidation at helping, I actually enjoyed it enormously. Helping gave me an opprotunity to meet my older daugher's friends (who she talks about endlessly) and see how different she was away from home!

All the best, it won't be that bad! It actually is quite fun and you won't have to do it very often.

Original poster

sherby · 12/01/2008 20:58

Lulushmulu, thanks for the reply. No I really would like to help out (I would love to see DD in action ). But she specifically said, it's ok that you have brought DS today as it was DD's settling in day but we are not insured for under 2s so you wouldn't be able to bring him on your parent rota day.

Another mum was starting her DC on the same day and said that she worked part time so may not be able to make it and the leader said 'oh could you get a grandparent or friend to cover it for you'.

I shall just have to say I am sorry but I am feeding DS myself and cannot leave him at home. I am happy to bring him in the sling or start doing my days when he is older. I can't see how she can make me do it lol.

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nosnikrap · 12/01/2008 23:35

ABSOLUTELY NO WAY can they enforce a parent rota. OFSTED certainly wouldn't enforce it. I would say that they are being a bit pushy and that the last thing you are feeling is included!!

As for insurance, they should have comprehensive public liability insurance and as long as you are there with your child there is no legal problem. As Lulush says it is prob just an OFSTED thing, they are not registered with OFSTED for under 2's so you can't leave babies, not that you would being that you were helping out!!

Ubergeekian · 13/01/2008 16:34

Sounds as if they are trying to get out of employing the right number of staff by drafting parents as "volunteers". On that basis alone, tell 'em to get stuffed.

Lulushmulu · 14/01/2008 10:32

Sherby
I'm sure they can't force you to help if you've got a young baby, especially if you're breastfeeding.
If you want to help there are other ways, eg by donating prizes for raffles (have got any unwanted Christmas presents?) or accompanying your child when they go on a trip (they always need a few extra adults for this). You could even take stuff home to do in the evening and bring back the next day(assuming you've got the time and energy!)eg cutting out shapes for art. Or maybe the dressing up clothes need mending?
But having a new baby, don't tire yourself out, only do it if you can really cope and enjoy it.
Once your older child is well settled in she might actually want you to NOT to stay, as mine does!

clayre · 14/01/2008 10:37

i help out at dd's preschool and have to get someone to take ds for the morning, theres no way i could go in and help with ds (2) running about, how much help would i be chasing after a 2 year old, we were also told they are not insured for kids who are not pupils

Ubergeekian · 14/01/2008 18:25

clayre: "we were also told they are not insured for kids who are not pupils"

They don't have third-party liability insurance?

JHKE · 24/01/2008 19:50

Not sure about the insuring bit.. there is parent rota at my ds playgroup and have been taking my dd with me, she was 11 mths when we first started going. However it is on the basis of dd being my responsibility so I have to keep an eye on her all the time.

FunkyGlassSlipper · 29/01/2008 17:31

We have a parent rota at my DDs pre-school. I have been taking DD2 with me since she was 10 weeks old (now 13 months) and there has never been a problem. Even when I spent 40 mins feeding baby.

The baby is your responsibilty and not theirs so you couldnt leave there however it sounds like they have misinterpreted the guidelines.

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