What to look for when viewing a nursery
Yesterday I met up with a friend and we talked about how to choose a nursery. It’s not as easy as it sounds. With many nurseries in the Chelsea, Fulham, South Kensington, Knightsbridge and Battersea areas being so popular, it means many mums go on tours even before the baby is born, or at least long before the little one is due to start nursery.
When I registered Baby Girl at a nursery when I was pregnant, I was only thinking about location. I wasn’t really interested in taking time off work to visit the nursery, and I was happy reading the information on the website instead and do the tour later.
But the nursery closed down before Baby Girl was due to start, and I had to start looking for a nursery all over again – this time with a long list of requirements.
Here are some of the things that are important to me now:
- Good first impression
- Friendly, caring staff with a positive attitude
- Healthy and varied meals
- Clean and welcoming spaces, including outdoor space
- Wide selection of toys and other resources, such as art activities
- Good routines and suitable sleeping arrangements for under 2s
- Educational schedules and fun activities
- Ability to give parents advice on local prep schools
- Regular feedback to parents
Related Posts
Discovering The Secret Garden half-term experience →
Online art workshops for kids with Art Enthusiasts London →
3 free sites for improving creative writing skills during lockdown →
Always read the nursery Ofsted report.
Good point, Debbie! The Ofsted reports are definitely worth reading. See this link to search for Ofsted inspection reports: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report
As a former nursery manager and inspector, I always encourage parents to read the report and visit several nurseries. Don’t be afraid to asked questions!