Case Study 2

At a popular day nursery, set in the heart of a very busy town, the enthusiastic practitioners set up fantastic activities in the garden area to allow the children to run, climb and jump. The opportunities are essential as many of the children live in flats and tower blocks with no gardens of their own. The resources are carefully laid out to allow them to start at a simple level of climbing and jumping and then be able to progress when they feel confident to something more challenging. These activities are positively encouraged whenever they are outside. However, a number of the children try to climb the trees. They are stopped every time, being told such things as “you might fall off”, “what if you cannot get down again?” or “be careful; get down you must not climb the trees.” The children are quite confused by this. They are encouraged to climb most days on a manmade object, yet they are not allowed to climb in the beautiful, natural climbing resource that’s also in the garden. The children don’t have access to trees to touch them, smell them and climb on them outside of the setting.

• Is this a health and safety issue?
• Are there legal objections to children climbing trees?
• What are the benefits of the children learning to climb and what are they learning?
• How might children benefit from being allowed to climb the trees?
• What might be the negatives of the children being allowed to climb the trees?
• What do you think the setting staff should do about this?

It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.