Hello,

Would like to get some opinions from others on this subject. I am a new parent to schools, my daughter just started this term Nursery School, she is 3 years old. I have also recently had a baby who is 9 weeks old. Anyway, they said to me due to Health and Safety no prams are allowed in the classroom but they expect me to take my daughter into the classroom.

They actually said for me to leave my baby in the pram outside saying "dont worry there are other mums and dads there" obviously i did not leave my baby outside.

You may think, why dont i just pick my baby up and bring the baby in the classroom but can you imagin carrying your baby in one hand, whilst trying to sort out your daughters coat, bag and any drawing that she has done that day, what about the risk in this, i find it a struggle, at least when they are in the pram you have your hands free and they are protected by the pram.

I have seen on several occassions parents leaving their babies un-attended so that they can take their child into school, what about the safety of their babies, surly anyone can come along and snatch them.

I am currnelty in a battle with the school as they dont see my point of view, they have completed spoiled the moment of me taking my child to school.

I have suggested to them only 1 or 2 prams at a time but they weren't having this. I have also suggested that i say goodbye to my child by the door of the classroom, but they are un-happy with this solution too.

Your feedback and opinions would be appreciated.

Katie

As a parent of 2 differently aged children I know how you feel. It all boils down to the schools risk assessment, if a control on the risk assessment says prams aren't allowed then they have to follow that.

I doubt very much that they can risk assess how you deliver your child to school.

They ban pushchairs as well, i just think that the situation could be managed better - thanks for your feedback.

Friend: There are no H&Safety laws that forbid prams etc being in a class room

What the school should have done is evaluate the overall situation and then make a decision which includes communicating that decision to parents especially new parents but schools are not as proactive as they could be in this area [However this is a general statement which may not apply here] and unfortunately the design of schools, even brand new schools, does not allow for drop off nor pick up of children either in the corridors nor anywhere else

The advice already given re befriending is probably the only way forward and the biggest problem we have is the lack of information given out to new parents about taking their child to school for the first time. Again I doubt that this system will change!

Turn this problem around and you may make new friends that will be friends for life
Best of luck

Katie as an IOSH member why don't you offer your services?
Maybe via the route Exdeeps suggests.

I have to say I have sympathy with what the school is saying.
Mind you if I had my way there would be a gaols in every playground for the mummys who think its OK to park on the zig zags on the road outside - "just for a few minutes".

For me...
I would never, ever let any infant of mine in the care of strangers, mums, dads or not. Sounds like madness to me. Whoever said that to you needs... Well, if I said what I think the post would only get taken down!

Better to trip over a pram than mourn the loss of a child. H&S?

Daily mail headline:

Mum leaves baby with pedophile as school bans prams... Good move!

Who knows who at any school...just people in passing. I take exeption to anyone who says to place a child with people they know 'in passing'

I would suggest you ask for information on how the pram is a health and safety issue, aslo ask if its feasable to have a dropping of area in the cooridor or a classtroom for the pram owners as some schools do but school size is obviously critical in this. The befriending another pram owner is common sense as would be to purchase a baby carrier.

Personally I thought Brians suggestion was a good compromise and in fact have seen that happen at my childrens school and at the nursery my ex ran.

and the question in the first post ended with...

'Your feedback and opinions would be appreciated'

Brian
Very sorry for kicking out like that but it was a little too close to home. Upon reflection, I did over react somewhat.

I in no way intended it to get personal.

Hi Guys,

Might I just surmising, information is requested from the school? This would give you a greater insight into the reasoning behind this decision. My partner is a school teacher, and some of the things I hear do make me chuckle. The "Safety Adviser" for the school is an ad-hoc person, who also deals with HR, and has little or no knowledge of Health and Safety.

If a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been completed, it would in fact, probably pointed to both the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order Article 14 (Safe means of escape), and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, Regulation 10, Regulation 12, in particular.

Unfortunately, I think you school may have a valid point. On the other hand though, I would question the management of Health and Safety? Why, if this is common knowledge of leaving children outside, and holding books etc, have some sort of arrangements been made to combat this problem? This is the question I would be asking.

Could they not provide a canopy area, perhaps something gated, in which it could be organised that a rota is put in place between the mums?

I do understand your frustration. It`s like what I say to the guy`s at work "I may stop you from working unsafely, but this is only half of my job. If I stop you from working, there is a reason, but I will always have a solution, otherwise I will only be completing half of my job role."

This is why Health and Safety gets a bad name, because you have people uneducated in Health and Safety leading others. "The blind leading the blind" comes to mind.