Baby it's cold outside
Published
In view of recent cold snaps, many parents wonder whether it’s safer to keep children at home on very cold days. It’s completely understandable — winter mornings can feel harsh. The good news is that nurseries across the UK follow national guidance, operate within strict safety standards and remain committed to keeping children warm and comfortable even in icy temperatures.
Emily Burgess, Director of Early Years at Family First Nurseries explains that early years providers follow UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance during severe cold weather. Many nurseries also have seasonal cold-weather plans aligned with the UKHSA’s Cold-Health Alert system, allowing them to respond swiftly to sudden temperature drops, icy surfaces or reduced visibility.
She emphasises that children with asthma, eczema, or other vulnerabilities are closely monitored, with routines adapted to meet their individual needs. And early years providers take a structured approach to safety, including daily risk assessments of outdoor areas and close monitoring of indoor temperatures.
Here’s how parents can help:
Pack spare clothes
Sending your child with spare clothes is one of the easiest ways to prevent them from staying in damp clothing after outdoor play. Extra leggings, tops, socks and gloves allow staff to change children quickly if they get splashed, sweaty, snowy or simply over-excited in a puddle. For younger children, it’s worth adding a base layer or a spare jumper.
Know the signs of cold
Children can get cold quickly, especially if they’re less active or wearing damp layers. Staff look out for early signs such as shivering, red cheeks, cold hands, slowed movement or children saying they feel cold or tired. Some children simply become unusually quiet. These cues prompt adults to bring them indoors, add or remove layers or offer a warm drink.
Encourage positive outdoor time
Cold weather doesn’t mean children should stay all day indoors — outdoor play is still hugely beneficial for their development, mood and immune health. With the right precautions, nurseries make outdoor learning safe and enjoyable. This might mean using sheltered areas, avoiding metal play equipment when it’s freezing, steering play away from icy patches, and building in frequent warm-up breaks.
Closures due to cold weather are uncommon. Nurseries consider it a last resort and will only close when they cannot maintain a safe environment. Decisions can be based on on heating failures, unsafe access routes caused by severe ice or snow or staffing issues caused by severe weather that affect safe ratios or supervision.
