Re: was Family hotels? now Bethruthan Steps

[Guest guest]

Hmmm - we went to Bedruthan Steps for the first time this Sept, and although

overall we all had a lovely holiday, I have to say I was disappointed with

the quality of the childcare. The first couple of times we left DS it was

fine and the nursery nurse, Sophie, I think, was very caring and good with

the children. However I felt that the staff ratio for 1 - 3 yr olds was low

at 1 to 6. The next time we arrived to find two other members of staff and

some very unhappy children. DS was also upset so we stayed to see if he

would settle, and I was really unimpressed with the standard of childcare we

observed. ONe child had been strapped into a buggy and left with a bottle

of milk. Another little boy was laying across the floor in floors of tears

and was given no attention - we bumped into his mum on the way out and no

effort had been made to contact her. One of the staff asked me if my little

boy had been in the creche before as she couldn't remember him and said

they'd had so many children that week they had all merged into one. They

were also unsure of one child's name as they hadn't put a sticky label on

her when she arrived. Needless to say we didn't leave DS in their care and

didn't use the creche again!

The other thing that I was unimpressed with was the notice on the door of

the soft play area saying that some of the ropes had been damaged by adults

going into the soft play area to rescue small children, and as a result

Bethruthan would not accept any responsibility for any injury that occured

because of the damaged ropes - it is not a cheap holiday and I felt that at

least they should repair any damaged equipment.

We also spent a couple of nights at their sister hotel the Sands.

Kate

Family hotels?

>

>

> It left me a-wondering where all the other ones are in England -

> family hotels, I mean? Someone mentioned one in Lytham St Annes (Ives

> hotel??) I mean also, apart from the rather exorbitantly expensive

> ones near Bath and Weymouth.

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Kate wrote:

> However I felt that the staff ratio for 1 - 3 yr olds was low

> at 1 to 6.

But isn't the legal ratio a lot higher than that? Like 1 to 3? DH would

know but has gone off to work.

Trisha

SAHM to 3 boys

Jack 8, 6 and Isaac 2

[Guest guest]

Kate, I think that that disclaimer re the ropes would have no legal standing

whatsoever. But your report would make me think VERY hard about visiting

the place!

Anneliese and Toddler Tim

Digest Number 1579

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[Guest guest]

> We also spent a couple of nights at their sister hotel the Sands.

>

> Kate

and was Sands better than your bad time at the Bedruthan Steps Kate?

I've always fancied Sands for a holiday and they do seem to make a

big effort. I only know one person who's been there so don't have a

lot of recommendations to go on, but she did enjoy it.

Hannah

[Guest guest]

Oh dear, I feel a little bad now that I might have put people off Bethruthan

Steps. Overall we did enjoy staying there, but then I guess standards of

childcare are pretty important to us. I think my only other criticism was

it came across that they were quite penny-pinching - i.e no free toiletries

( because they said of the danger to small children) ,and extra for cooked

breakfasts and even for a cup of tea in the children's teas, but also while

we were there they were polling guests to see if people would pay more for a

priveledge card which would include free toiletries. chocolates on pillows,

pool towels etc, so it certainly didn't come across that child safety was

the issue with the toiletries. We enjoyed the five course evening meals,

and the facilities for children are pretty good.

Sands was much less formal than Bethruthan. You could arrange an early

dinner so that your children could eat with you, or use the children's clubs

or babylistening service. The room wasn't quite as nice, but it was better

arranged and larger. At Bethruthan the children's beds and cot were in the

same part of the room as the chairs and tv. We preferred the pool at Sands

(strangely at Bethruthan you had to get into the pool either at the deep end

or clamber up the side into a paddling area but with no steps directly into

the shallow end, which personally I found quite difficult at 23 weeks

pregnant!) The grounds at Sands weren't quite as nice as Bethruthan, and the

location isn't as good as it is set on quite a busy road. We didn't use the

creche at Sands, but liked the fact that it was open plan so that you could

walk past and see what was going on. Hope that this helps Hannah.

With regard to the ratios Trisha, I think the childcare was for a maximum of

2 hours so from what your DH said that would explain why it was high. I

know in DS's nusery class aged 2 - 3 the ratio is 1:4

I'd be interested to hear how others have found either Bethruthan or Sands!

Kate

Re: was Family hotels? now Bethruthan Steps

>

> > We also spent a couple of nights at their sister hotel the Sands.

> >

> > Kate

>

> and was Sands better than your bad time at the Bedruthan Steps Kate?

> I've always fancied Sands for a holiday and they do seem to make a

> big effort. I only know one person who's been there so don't have a

> lot of recommendations to go on, but she did enjoy it.

>

> Hannah

>

>

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>

>

[Guest guest]

they were quite penny-pinching - i.e no free toiletries

> ( because they said of the danger to small children) ,

what???? and normal people don;t leave the shampoo on the side of the

bath at home do they???!!

We had a **fantastic** holiday at Woolacombe Bay Hotel in 1999 when I

was 7 months pg with DD2.

Because DD1 was under 2 and in a cot we did not pay a penny for her,

but she got Childrens' supper each night, breakfast with us, her own

room (called a connecting room -you entered into our room, from the

opposite door in the room was a small passage, off which was the

bathroom and her room, so she was as far from us as she would have

been at home, which meant we could watch TV and talk in the evenings)

The room contained bunks and a cot, so had she been out of the cot we

could have cheated a little and put her in the bed, !

All (cooked) breakkies were included and 5 course dinner every night

for us -childrens supper was good too, or we could have had her in

with us for dinner if we'd wanted to eat early.

There was baby listening, but we used the monitor when we went to

dinner. The staff were fab -providing warm milk at D's bedtime just by

us asking at reception, and all very friendly.

Can't comment on the childrens club as we went in May and its on;ly

open high season, but with a 19 month old it was not a big issue.

Over 2's pay, but I think its a sliding scale depending on the room

set up and meal arrangements (more if you want them to have dinner

with you!!)

Angi

[Guest guest]

> We had a **fantastic** holiday at Woolacombe Bay Hotel in 1999

And we had a great short break at the Peebles Hydro in 99 when I was pg with

DS4. Great room with a little room off for the kids with bunks and a cot,

children's club for the big 2 and a creche for DS3, pool with a toddler bit and

a selection of water toys, pitch'n'putt, children's high tea, baby listening

during dinner etc. It was really relaxing.

Lynda

SAHM to (8), (6), Fraser (4), Callum (1)

Newsletter editor, Mid-Northumberland Branch

Area Rep, Region 7

www.familygarland.co.uk

[Guest guest]

Woolacombe - ah fond memories (where I met DH - a long time ago).

Went back a few years later with a school friend and her boyfriend and

stayed at the Narracot Grand in Woolacombe - just over the road from

the Woolacombe Bay - much more down market as I recall. No idea what

the kids facilities were though. Last thing on our minds - though

had plenty of fun practising :-o

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

> We had a **fantastic** holiday at Woolacombe Bay Hotel in 1999 when

I

> was 7 months pg with DD2.