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.