First time mum needing help with nurseries, any advice grateful.

[Evilwater]

Hello all,
Im a FTM and I'm trying to figure out about nurseries. I was a Tom boy and never thought I would have my son. But he's the best thing I've done.

What questions should I ask?
Is OFSED grade important?
The money side of things is driving me crazy, any advice?
Anything else?
Evil

[BusyTiredAndLoveIt]

How old is your ds?
How many hours are you thinking of putting him in for?

[Evilwater]

My son will be 9 months, I'm looking for 8 hours at time, four times a week. I work in the big hospital as a HCA and I don't have a set rota.

Evil

[BusyTiredAndLoveIt]

I think if you don't have set days and times, the nursery may well want paying more money to cover the staffing/inconvenience of not having set days and times. As they'll have to staff the nursery as if your lo was there all the time iyswim.

Ofsted is a good guideline, and informative. But I think you get a feel for a nursery once you're there. You can meet the staff, see the nursery, find out about the routine, what they do during the day, what they are fed, what are their practices for dealing with tantrums, how many staff per child, do they take the children out regularly.

The nursery we used took the dc out to sainsburys to buy ingredients for baking, to the park down the road, to the recycling centre. I wasn't asked each time, it was just part if what they were Discovering and learning about at the time.

I've been to a few nurseries where it just didn't feel right when I went to look around. And one I looked at online and fell in live with, we went to see with dc1 and he didn't want to leave! He settled straight away and loves it. That was rated outstanding by ofsted. But I do think your instincts play a role. Take baby along too and see how he gets on with the staff.

[BusyTiredAndLoveIt]

You may have to pay for five days a week every week

[Evilwater]

What about weekends? Saturday mornings I would need childcare?
Evil

[BusyTiredAndLoveIt]

I've never come across a nursery open Saturdays.

[Evilwater]

What would recommend for Saturday mornings? His father works Saturday mornings, and so does grandparents and aunt.

Evil

[BusyTiredAndLoveIt]

Can you change work rota at all? They do have to be more accommodating when you have a dc, especially if no child are is available

[Evilwater]

Busy- I can request shifts, but that doesn't mean I will get them.
Evil

[BusyTiredAndLoveIt]

Have you had your 'Back to work' interview yet?

You may be able to make not working Saturdays part of your new contract. You may even be able to request set days. They do have to accommodate a little more when you have a dc. As long as its not detrimental to the business then they would have to have a good reason to not let you do that.

You may be able to get a child minder for Saturday, but again I've never come across one.

Can your dh change his Saturdays at all?

If you have no child care you both cant work it

[Evilwater]

Busy- no back to work interview, infact no contact from work.
DP runs his own business and its the Only time he can get supplies.
I will ask work!!

evil

[BusyTiredAndLoveIt]

You have to contact work a month before you want to return to work. May even be two months-I can't remember. They won't contact you.

Might be worth having a read through the 'returning to work' topic. Some good advice there.

Good luck.

[Evilwater]

Thanks busy!

Evil