FREE REGISTRATION* across all Casterbridge Nurseries

Mumsnet partner Casterbridge Nurseries is offering free registration (worth up to £75) at any of their nurseries in Greater London, East Anglia and the South East. 

Finding and choosing the right nursery for your child can be a daunting task. It is a very difficult decision to make particularly when it may be the first time your child will be looked after outside the home or family environment.
There are many factors to take into consideration and the most important one being your child’s happiness. To get industry expert advice and tips on choosing a nursery click here >>

Top Ten Tips for choosing a nursery

Before you take that huge leap to entrusting your child’s care and education to a stranger you may want to consider the following tips to help put your mind at ease.

• Firstly make sure you give yourself plenty of time to choose, many childcare providers get booked up in advance.
• Before even stepping foot in the nursery make sure they are Ofsted registered.
• Make appointments to visit two or three providers to compare what’s on offer, and get a feel for the staff. Think about your child’s personality and interests – what environment will they prefer?

Visiting a nursery you will get an understanding for the layout, how happy they children are and how do the staff look and behave. Casterbridge Nurseries runs open days throughout the month of January – a perfect opportunity to visit. Click here to find a nursery near you.
Next, ask as many questions as you can. Here are some key questions and things to check:

• Do they have any spaces for the time you are looking at?
• What sort of settling in period is there and will your child be given a Key Person to take special care of your child and liaise with you about their progress.
• Ask about how you will be kept informed of your child's daily activities and his or her general progress. Is there a daily activity sheet detailing information such as what your child has eaten, what activities they have taken part in and, if appropriate, when they have slept?
• Do they provide all meals, if so what is it and where is it cooked, or do you have to provide food?
• If you have a baby, then you need to specifically check the following: Does the nursery provide nappies and formula? Where do the babies sleep during the day (ideally you would like to have the cots away from the playing area, but space is at a premium in nurseries so that is rare)? How much fresh air do the babies get during the day?

• What do they do about security and people entering the building, emergency procedures and staff vetting procedures?
• Do they accept childcare vouchers (if you get these from your employer) and do they offer subsidised places for three years olds?
• Check the equipment and facilities the children are offered. Is there a variety of creative equipment and is it well kept and freely available to the children?
• Check that the ratios of staff to children, which will vary according to age group and must meet set government standards.
• Does the nursery have a Parent Nursery Association (PNA) through which parents have a formal input into the running of nursery? Ask to be put in contact with a member of the PNA should you wish.

Not every nursery will suit you and your child so be prepared to look at more than one nursery and ask other local parents for their recommendations. You can get more information on choosing a childcare setting from your local Family Information Service by phoning 0800 234 6346 or visiting www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Childcare 

Casterbridge Nurseries have nurseries in: 

Banstead Bracknell Bury St Edmunds Caterham Chigwell Croydon Dartford Esher Farnborough Fleet Frimley Gaynes Park Guildford Highhams Park

Sonning (nr Reading) Swanscombe Kings Hill Kingston Upon Thames Lewisham Poole Richmond Upon Thames Shortlands Tooting Wembley Weybridge Windlesham Woodford Green

If after your nursery's visit you decide that it is right for you, Mumsnet members will get free registration for the children, by submitting a completed voucher. 

• To claim your special offer: free registration with Casterbridge Nurseries for Mumsnet members when submitting a completed voucher downloadable here. Offer expires 30/04/12

* Please note that a refundable deposit is payable to confirm your place. Free registration valid until 30 April 2012 and subject to availability - A deposit will be required prior to confirmation of a place.