Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

What should I be looking for in a nursery?

17 replies

LegoLovin · 15/06/2021 16:10

I'm a FTM and planning to put my 12 month old in nursery part time (not sure what days/hours yet). I feel very nervous about leaving my baby with someone else, especially as we've spent so much time together with lockdown. I want to feel confident and comfortable with the nursery we choose, but I have no idea on what I should be looking for. Does anyone have any advice/tips please?

Also does it make any difference as to whether I have consecutive days or every other day with regards to either being more beneficial for a baby/toddler to feel more settled?

Also this may sound stupid but I'm really the only one who manages to settle my baby when crying. How can a member of staff manage this whilst tending to two other babies at the same time? Do they ever just leave them to cry for a bit?

OP posts:

Report

Getawriggleon · 15/06/2021 19:19

Nursery staff are miracle workers - they seem to have the knack to get kids to sleep and eat. We do non consecutive days due to availability and it's fine although it's not my preference.

I think it's worth thinking about what's important to you - my DD went at 2.5 so my list is probably a bit different. For me, it was outdoor space, good menu (we're veggie and most nurseries here still think that's revolutionary), access to toilets so she could go independently and good staff. I asked at a few toddler groups as well as asking friends to get some opinions and did a few look rounds before signing up.

Thirstquenching · 15/06/2021 19:33

I have worked in private nurseries for 16 years
My advice would be look for one that has good outdoor space. The first nursery I worked in had a tiny bit of tarmac for a garden and each room had a rota. It wasn't ideal whereas now I'm in a nursery that has a large grassy garden for each room so the children get free flow play.
Look at the menus/snacks

Ideally pick a nursery that uses the local community well such as walks and visits to the library etc so your child is getting valuable experiences outwith the setting.

Don't know how some nurseries are working tours at the minute but mine is allowing a tour after hours (with masks) so try to get a look at the equipment out on offer for the children. Is it well maintained or shabby looking? Is the room full of areas? Are the areas will stocked eg the drawing area etc

Toilet access for the older/toilet training children.

Look up the last inspection report.

In terms of sessions I would try to get them closer together obviously depending on what you want and what availability they have. I have found over the years that the children that do say a Monday and a Friday or one day a week do take alot longer to settle

MyFloorIsLava · 15/06/2021 19:37

I would suggest low staff turnover is a good indicator. Your child can't bond with their carers if they change every two weeks. If staff stay a long time its a sign the nursery is well managed with happy staff who enjoy coming to work. DS is at a small preschool and four of the 5 staff were well established when DD went there. They know him and care about him.

Do also look for well regarded local childminders too.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1 year olds Childcare & nursery Families General parenting

MuchTooTired · 15/06/2021 19:42

My DTs started nursery at 3. The most important thing for me when I was looking was somewhere with outside play space, and how the nursery workers were as people. I screened a few out just speaking to them on the phone as it wasn’t a gel.

We visited 2 nurseries (both of which were great) but went with the second one as there were less kids there so our two wouldn’t get lost in the crowd, the staff were so warm and welcoming and our kids got stuck in straight away playing. It has different areas that I knew our kids would adore playing in, and all the ‘challenging’ aspects of our DTs that we mentioned were met with joy and a not a bother attitude. I just knew it was right for them!

JeanClaudeVanDammit · 15/06/2021 19:46

Gut feeling, personal recommendation from people you know (if possible) and staff turnover were the most important for me but some practical things to consider:

Good outdoor space. Less relevant during covid but do they take them out on walks/visits/outings?

What’s included in the price vs what do you have to provide yourself? Nappies, suncream, sun hats, wellies, waterproofs - anything that’s going to make your life easier and mean you don’t have to lug loads of stuff between home and nursery.

If you’ll be walking or taking public transport there, what pram storage do they have and is it secure and heated (sounds a bit precious but I always walked and it was brilliant being able to leave behind a dripping wet buggy on a rainy day and it be bone dry by collection time!)

What do they do about nap and feeding routines in the baby room? I liked ours because my DC was a little younger than yours when they started and I was all PFB about them not being forced to have their bottle or their nap on a strict schedule that might not suit them.

How many rooms are there/what’s the age split? Some have quite wide age ranges in one group, others split them up into smaller rooms.

Amichelle84 · 15/06/2021 19:57

I think you need to decide what you want your child to get out of it, go and see a few and then make your decision.

Our son was a lockdown baby too, so for me my main priority other than him being looked after was social and outdoor space as we live in a flat.

It's done wonders for him, for example I was really struggling with weaning and now he eats everything.

Baby will get used to the new environment and settle quickly.

AdjustableAssholeSettings · 15/06/2021 20:04

Look at the children, are they bored or happy? One nursery was very close to home and had good ofsted results but the kids were just sat around. I went for the one where they were having lots of fun!
The other place is still deathly quiet every time I walk past, poor bored kids.

sparklyblue81 · 15/06/2021 21:03

I would definitely ask at baby groups or local area Facebook groups for recommendations. I looked for happy smiley staff who looked like they enjoyed being with the children & wanted a smaller, more cosy setting. I was also looking for a term-time only contract as I don’t work school holidays & didn’t want to be paying for that.

I went to look around several and one I really didn’t get good vibes from at all even though on paper it was good whereas the one I picked I found very friendly and the staff instantly put me at ease which is so important if you are a bit nervous about making that step. My instinct was right- the staff have been fab through 5 years of caring for my son & then my daughter.

nevernotstruggling · 15/06/2021 21:07

Low staff turnover and calm atmosphere. I picked a tiny Montessori and have no regrets. Cuddly staff who think nothing of letting babies nap on their laps.

Persipan · 15/06/2021 22:18

Part of what swayed my nursery choice for my lockdown baby was the settling in process they offered - find out what they're currently doing, as it may be different to what they normally offer sure to covid. The place I went with are still managing to do a nice gradual process, where I was able to be involved rather than having to just hand him over and go away.

Opalfeet · 16/06/2021 07:43

I went round one on a recommendation from a work colleague. It was a Montessori. My little one sat and played for a bit whilst I was walking around and he cried after we left. I liked it and he went. Gut feeling all the way. 🤷‍♀️

mondler · 16/06/2021 10:22

For us everyone recommended this big nursery near the office. We went and it was ok but we didnt get a great vibe. The next day we went to the slightly smaller one near our home and we just knew. It felt right. The staff were friendly, the kids have access to a large garden, and the baby room (he started at 12 months) was only separated by a baby gate so he could see and interact with the 2-3s. That also made transitioning into the 2-3 room easy.

Hes 2.5 now and loves it there. He goes 2 days a week. It helps he has breakfast there as it's a good motivation for him to wave to us and go in!

It was very hard leaving him at the start and there were tears from both of us! But they will settle after a few weeks and the staff will understand too x

LegoLovin · 24/06/2021 15:13

Thanks for the replies. Every nursery I contact has a ratio of 3 babies per staff member. Is 2 babies to 1 staff member unheard of or should I be trying to find a nursery that has this?

Also how can I find out the staff members qualifications without sounding like an absolute problem?

OP posts:

LegoLovin · 24/06/2021 15:23

Also how do you find out things like levels of staff turnover?

OP posts:

Amrythings · 24/06/2021 15:30

Keep in mind that depending on other children's attendance patterns you may effectively have them at 2-1 some days of the week anyway, certainly when DS was in baby room there were three days a week where they had 2-1.

Just ask the manager about qualifications. Ours has them all up on their site, but it's run by a family of ex-teachers and they work hard on getting all their staff qualified to the point where they can move up and onward, so the room managers all have at least Level Five Early Years BTEC or the Foundation Early Years degree, the others have at least Level Three and currently two of them are doing teaching degrees part time.

FizzingWhizzbee123 · 25/06/2021 14:13

1:3 is the legal ratio for under 2s, so it’s uncommon that you’ll find 1:2. Most babies don’t all need attention at the same time, aside from meal times, so your child will likely get plenty of 1:1 interaction. And all staff in the room with interact with your child, not just their keyworker.

We picked our nursery based on gut feeling and atmosphere when we visited, and recommendation from other parents. It worked well for us.

Other things to consider at the ethos (Montessori? Forest school?), outdoor space, staff turn over etc.

Don’t be lulled in by pretty facilities etc. They aren’t very important in the grand scheme. It’s the staff who make the place.

Our nursery advises that children who do 3 or more days settle better than those who do 2 days or less. They also said those who arrive and eat breakfast there settle better than those who come in after breakfast. I’m not sure about consecutive days, I expect it would help but not necessarily a deal breaker.

CupOfTPlease · 25/06/2021 14:19

I just signed my son up for play school so a bit different to nursery in some ways.

They only allow 42 children. It's all they can take. What I really liked is how much outdoor time they get, exploring and they supply wet weather gear too so they don't just stay in when it rains. If he gets his place he'll do Mon-Fri mornings.

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.