I am a mum of a 5 year old who was so horrified by what I saw children's day nurseries feeding my child (who was raised on breast milk, followed by as many organic foods as I could find), that in direct response to this my husband and I created a company in 2004 -- Organic Schools Limited with the sole purpose to open organic children's day nurseries and organic nursery schools in the UK. Our first, Hedgehog Hill Organic Nursery School, opened its doors in Greens Norton Northamptonshire on 1 February 2005 to much media fanfare (from the UK, Europe and USA), largely thanks to what Jamie Oliver was doing for children and school diners!
We are planning to open the next two organic day nurseries in Oxford and Milton Keynes starting next year; we have been asked by a major publisher in London to write a book about our experiences; and have been approached to open a national chain of organic children's day nurseries by investors. We therefore are in desperate search for the viewpoints of mums and dads on:
- what exactly are you looking for in a day nursery?
- what is the most important factor in making your decision:
is it quality of food,
quality of care,
closeness to work, closeness to home,
educational factors,
cost,
or that gut feeling you get when you go into a day nursery or nursery school and meet the managers and staff???
and 3. What is it you dislike most about the children's day nurseries and nursery schools you have seen so far?
Background on how we provide nursery care for children differently from the norm:
Our organic children's day nursery not only provides organic food and drink. At least a dozen nurseries scattered throughout the country had been doing so since 1997 and we thought that was great, but thought "organic" could move beyond food in terms of caring for children. So in 2004 we developed an "organic curriculum" as well that includes all of the OFSTED recommended Birth To Three Matters and Foundations Stage education, but also includes regular sessions of ballet and modern dance; introduction to French Spanish and German through songs and rhymes; yoga; baby massage; musical instruction and drama (all taught by qualified instructors and at no additional cost to the parents).
Our organic nurseries have indoor gymnasiums for active play rain or shine and give up to twice as much space to children than the recommended OFSTED requirements.
We also operate with eco-friendly policies and teach children how to contribute to protecting the environment and the protection of animals through lessons and school practices like recycling, growing organic vegetables in their own garden, walking buses to school, etc. And have made a point of introducing our children to some lost country arts like felt making, spinning, pottery and basket making.
We pay our nursery nurses more than the current market so we can recruit and keep only the best. And the first quality we look for in staff is: are they gentle, approachable and child friendly!!! Then we look at qualifications.
But before all of this, we make sure every child feels safe, confident and happy. Because of all of this we have an organic children's day nursery that has practically filled in the first nine months of being opened.
Our first organic nursery is nearly full so we do not need these forums for advertising (which would be silly any way, as most of you mums reading this would live miles away). 'Til now, we have done everything based upon our own opinions and those of our friends and families. We think "organic" is about much more than food and drink -- it involves the whole child including their minds, education, play and first experiences and quality of care. Our philosophy is: "growing healthy minds and healthy bodies", and we think this should start from birth.
We need to hear from mums and dads everywhere, so a chain of healthy day nurseries and a book can actually meet the needs of parents and children instead of becoming just another "chain" putting money before children!
Thanks for helping by giving us your opinions in this forum - which has already been incredibly helpful in helping us to stay on track with what mums think and want and need for their children.