Kinder Groups has three nurseries in Gravesend, Kent, where temperatures reached 100.6xF (38.1xC) on 10 August, making it the hottest day in Britain since records began. The chain's managing director, Allan Bishop, said, 'We have gazebos which can be erected quickly to provide shade and many of our nurseries have gardens.' He added that fans were being used indoors and air conditioning was being installed in the group's two new nurseries.
Mr Bishop said that because the chain's eight nurseries were on school sites, the children were able to use the school grounds during the school holidays, as well as nursery gardens. He said that children often ate outside in the shade and that the nurseries made 'maximum use of the sunshine, but we do ensure that all parents provide sunhats and suntan cream for their children'.
Busy Bees brought in more electric fans to cope with the heatwave in its 25 nurseries across England. Curtains were also kept closed to keep rooms cool in the settings, some of which had portable air conditioning units. But Margaret Randles, a Busy Bees director, said she was unconvinced about the benefits of installing air conditioning in all its nurseries. 'Children have the ability to cool themselves down. It is far more natural to allow your body to get used to the heat,' she said.
Ms Randles said the group's nurseries had taken common sense precautions to protect children from over-exposure to the heat. Cold drinks were available at all times and staff ensured children wore sunhats and sunscreen. The children also enjoyed playing in paddling pools.
'We try to get the children outside, there is nothing nicer for children.
But we limit the amount of sun they get and use shaded areas,' she added.
The hot weather procedure at Happy Days Day Nurseries in Cornwall included putting the blinds down, the fans on and opening the windows from as early in the day as possible. Owner Sarah Karkeek said tarpaulin canopies provided shade and while 'we want the children to be out as much as possible, of course the staff appreciate this too!'
She added that its seven nurseries also provided a minimum of factor 35 sunscreen and sunhats for all the children.