Nursery Summer trip....transport

[Tissy]

Dd is 2 y 5 months. In a fortnight's time the nursery will be having their summer trip to a farm park about 20 miles away. As dh and I can't make it, I asked today how they would be arranging transport, and the NN said they had hired a bus. The bus has seatbelts, but dd is only 2- is this safe? Even a booster seat would probably not fit her yet (still in a 9m-4y car seat with plenty of room).Also, I didn't ask how many staff were going with the children- how are they going to make sure they don't wriggle off their seats and run around the bus? Dd is very good in her car seat, but has never been on a bus- I'm sure the space would tempt her to try for freedom, especially if other kids are doing it too.

I'm otherwise pretty happy with the nursery, but I don't know whether to trust them on this, or say she can't go (don't want to spoil her fun, really). Dh and I can't take the day off work, or one of us could have taken her along in the car...help, what do I do?

Are there regulations about transport for trips of this sort (In Scotland, but if there are any, they're probably much the same as in England??)

[tamum]

I'm not sure about regulations for transport Tissy, but I'm quite certain that the regulations for trips are no more than 3 children per adult, and I think it may even be as low as two (I'm in Scotland too), so the staff cover shouldn't be an issue. The bus my childrens' nursery used to use had belts but the seats were different too- kind of high and padded, so the little ones looked much safer than you'd imagine. It's quite a long way though, isn't it? I would certainly ask for more details if you're at all worried.

[Hulababy]

If there are seat belts provided can you not take your own car seat to be fitted into the bus?

DD (2y 2m) was supposed to go on a trip this week and the coach only had lap belts. I was planning to borrow a car seat (from a lovely MNetter too ) that could be fitted using just a lap belt.

The other thing was that on DD's trip every child had to be accompanied by a responsible adult. In the past if I haven't been able to make it, DD's nana has gone in my place.

[WideWebWitch]

In England I think the ratio is supposed to be 1 adult to 2 children when out on trips Tissy but I'm not sure.

[littlerach]

I work in a nursery,and it is 1:2 at age 2, IIRC, and 1:4 age 3+. You should quiery the car seat issue, but really it is up to you if there are no seats. Also, we have a policy that nursery is "shut" on trip days, so if you don't want her to go, then she cannot attend nursery. Not sure how other settings work, though.