What to look for and questions to ask when choosing a nursery
We know that choosing a nursery is a big deal. And it's not something you commit to after reading some blurb on a website that promises to give your child the best start in life alongside a picture of a beaming clean child. It’s one the biggest decisions you make as you find your way through early parenthood, so when you decide to leave your child in the hands of someone else you really do your research.
Recommendations are hot property, whether it be from your mummy friends, trusted sites such as daynurseries.co.uk, or the oracle of childcare settings, Ofsted. These are often your starting point... and then it's time to have a look around the nursery.
- You'll meet the team and see how the staff interact with the children.
- You'll look at whether the children are happy and engaged.
- You'll want to see if it's clean and if the toys and garden look fun.
Then you make a judgement based on your gut. There’s always a feeling you get.
To take a look around you can book a face to face showaround with your local nursery to have a chat with the Manager, have a nose around the place and just get a feel for whether one of our nurseries looks like the right place for your little one.
You’ll be able to ask all the questions you have and you should get a good feel of what to expect. To help, we’ve pulled together a few things you might want to ask any nursery you visit so you can make a choice that’s right for you.
The Nursery Practitioners
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How many children do they look after in the nursery?
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Who will be looking after my child during the day?
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What ratios do they use, i.e. how many children are being looked after by each nursery practitioner?
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What is each person in the nursery responsible for and how can I get in touch with them if I need to?
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What are the qualifications of the practitioners, including any First Aid trained team members?
A day at nursery
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What activities do the children do on a regular basis?
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How does the nursery help to support their learning?
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Do they build in nap time during the day? What time is this at and where do the children nap?
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What do I need to send with my child each day?
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What should my child wear each day? Is there a uniform?
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Where do the children play, what do they play with and how does this support my child’s development?
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What are the age groups for each room?
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Do you have a pre-school? What does this offer?
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How will I find out about what my child has been doing, how they’ve been sleeping and eating and also how they’re progressing?
Food and drink
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Where is the food cooked and prepared? And if I can see the kitchen, even better!
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Where does the nursery get their produce from?
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When are mealtimes? (Knowing this can help you to adjust your child’s routine before they start at nursery).
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Can the nursery meet specific dietary requirements?
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How does the nursery make sure that the meals are balanced and nutritious... and can I see a menu?
Keeping you happy
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What will happen when my child first starts? Are there settling-in sessions?
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Can I pick up my child at any time?
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What are the main safeguarding policies that you have in place? (E.g. what happens if I need to pick them up?)
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Do you offer extra sessions if I need them? Are these available for everyone?
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Are there any discounts, savings, or other money benefits that I can claim?
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What support or extra activities are on offer for parents?
We believe that our nurseries are the perfect fit for you and your little one. But don't just take our word for it. Find your local nursery and arrange a visit with us today.