Tuesday 27 July 2010

Selecting a Day Nursery.


Finding the right childcare to suit both you and your child is a very harrowing experience for a family. If you have decided nursery care is the way to go there is then the issue of choosing which one, followed of course by seeing if you can afford it!

To at least take a bit of the strain out of the initial process i thought that i'd write a list of questions to ask when viewing the nurseries. This should help to give you a good insight into the facility.

I have been working in Day Nurseries for 15 years and before i left to mummy my own munchkin i was managing a Central London Branch of a very sucessful chain of Day Nursery.

Firstly you must must view all possible nurseries. Ring round and ask if they require booked showarounds or if you can just pop in anytime or if they have set open days.

Many will have waiting lists especially for under 2's so plan ahead where possible.It was not unusual for me to show round mums who were 3 months pregnant.

If a nursery offers a open door policy to showarounds this is a good sign. If they don't it may just be that the manager or senior staff required to show you around are otherwise engaged or counted in ratios at other times.

So you are at the showaround..... What questions do you ask?


  • In each age group ask the ratio of staff to child, and then to yourself check this is being worked to. If you see it is not do ask, it may be a case that one child is being changed by one member of staff and they are briefly in the bathroom etc..
  • Ask about qualifications of the staff how many are training towards them and if they are counted in the ratio. Likewise with students on work placements. Is there staff training available for the staff to further their development? What is the staff turnover like? (this can be a good sign of happy environment if staff stay a longtime)
  • Each child will have an Observation folder filled out by their Keyperson ask to view one and have the observation proceedure explained breifly. Ofsted require nurseries work to the EYFS Standards .
  • Each nursery will have a Ofsted inspection use this link to find each one BEFORE you go then have the copy on you to highlight any areas that need explaining to you by the management.
  • Cleaning rotas should be worked to so ask how often the toys are cleaned to stop germs from spreading around the children.
  • You should be able to settle your child in by staying with them at settling sessions over a fortnightly minimum period before their start date. The staff will then shorten or lengthen this on the individual childs needs. As the child settles the staff will ask you to leave for periods of time.
  • Ask what they would do should your child be unhappy or unwell during the day. This is The Health Protection Agencies Guidelines for illness that all nurseries should work to.
  • Allergy/Medical information should be given at the initial showaround so they are prepared even at the settling sessions. So if your child has any medical/dietary issues discuss at the showaround what precautions are taken and proceedures that are in place.
  • Observation wise check the children AND staff look happy and engrossed in activities.
  • Are the walls covered in work that shows the childrens work not adult lead artwork?
  • Lastly ask to see the nurseries Discipline Policy.


If you get home and find that there was something else you wanted to know ring and ask. If anything did not sit well with you bring it up with the senior staff showing you round or pop it in an email often a simple explanation will give you peace of mind.


There are many ways to gain help with the costs of childcare. Using childcare vouchers supplied by your employer means the costs of childcare are taken out of your wages before tax and NI. If your company doesn't use them try to ask your HR to start the program it benefits them as well as you. Other saving can be made check at your CAB to see what your may be entitled to.


I'm always happy to help with any queries people may have about daycare, just email me via the link or comment below.



5 comments:

  1. I went to visit one that was immaculate but it freaked me out. I didn't like it as it was too clinical and quiet. 15 Babies in two rooms upstairs too. I liked the nurseries with paint and stuff everywhere, and fewer babies in a bigger space!
    I also asked what the price included as some include all food (ask what type of food they get), nappies, sun tan lotion etc and some don't include any of this. I also asked to see where they nap as some only had one cot!

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  2. I have just paid the deposit for Mitch's nursery that he will start in May aged 10 months.

    It's not a nice thought that I will be leaving him but the nursery I've chosen is small, only 3 under 2yr old placements, great outdoor area, great food including cultural specialties every friday, open snacks of humous and veg sticks for an hour in the morning (where they are encouraged to think about their friends and share etc)

    I can see the nursery from my classroom window, a great bonus as I will cut down the time I am away from him by an hour as he will travel with me to work and back and I have the added peace of mind that he is right there, should he need me urgently (or vice versa!)

    The keyworker for under 2s is the manager of the nursery and is really lovely, we have worked on the same site for three years and I've only ever heard good reprts about her.

    The children were all playing nicely and the staff were very relaxed and happy, turnover is also very low.

    The only down side is it's a shabby building but that is the least of my worries.

    It also has a Good with Ofsted and they go outside come rain or shine which is really important to me.

    I visited a nursery once that didn't have a policy to take the kids out in the fresh air everyday which I thought was dreadful, it's not supposed to be like prison. I totally agree, if it's too sterile that's no good either..

    Another thing that was important to me was the security of the building and the safety of the children, I checked that they could see who they were letting in before they buzzed them in and that the children couldnt escape!

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  3. Ask how often they clean the toys, after my experience last couple of weeks I can safely say only once they know ofsted are visiting LOL

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  4. Its very common for hygiene to be a stated reason parents are put off a nursery. Don't get me wrong i believe any parents considering day nurseries need to accept that their child will catch bugs and by the age of 4 probably have one of the strongest immune systems known to man. Never the less the toys should be cleaned regularly and if there is a known bug or eye infection doing the rounds deeps cleans carried out.

    Security is always a big issue also. I have to say parents were always my worst offenders for just holding doors open to people they didn't know. It is always more reassuring when there are several security doors before access to the children.

    Fees is something you should really make sure you understand. What it covers as you say Helen but also are there holding charges for holiday taken or long periods of sickness.

    Helen i agree a too sterile environment is off putting the nursery areas should be stimulating and places where imagination can grow and develop.

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  5. I went to visit one that was immaculate but it freaked me out. I didn't like it as it was too clinical and quiet. 15 Babies in two rooms upstairs too. I liked the nurseries with paint and stuff everywhere, and fewer babies in a bigger space!
    I also asked what the price included as some include all food (ask what type of food they get), nappies, sun tan lotion etc and some don't include any of this. I also asked to see where they nap as some only had one cot!

    ReplyDelete