Dropping in unexpectedley

[lizardqueenie]

Just after some advice really from parents who have dropped in on their DC's nursery without an appointment or nursery workers who have had parents turn up without an appointment. It sounds silly to say but what do you do, just say we were walking past & decided to pop in? Does it matter that nursery were not expecting you? Thanks

[Nevercan]

I would just say you wanted to check how your DC was getting on

[nurseryvoice]

Do you mean to pick up your little one early? because that is a good way to judge, but not to randomly go in, if you just went in to your childs room then left that would be disruptive to your child they would probably cry because they thought they were going home.

We sometimes get parents coming back with nappies or something theyd forgotten and they drop them at the reception.

We also get parents coming at all times to collect children, they just go and get them.

[hiveofbees]

If your child is at the nursery you just turn up to pick up earlier.

[Rubirosa]

I have gone in to pick DS up early on occasion without giving any warning. I have also had parents do the same at the nursery I work in - though I would say don't turn up halfway through lunch expecting to take your child away before they've had pudding

[MoaningMinnieRisesAgain]

My preschool has an open door policy, they also give you a brew in the office if you stay long enough I sometimes pop in to see the manager about various things but they never mind anyone calling in. I think it's a good sign.

[lizardqueenie]

Sorry I didn't explain myself very well in the OP. this would be a drop in visit for a prospective nursery so not one that my DD is at yet but that I'm thinking of sending her to. Hope you lovely ladies all come back with some more answers now

[DowagersHump]

I've always done that and then gone back for a more formal visit later. Any nursery that won't let you look round on an ad hoc basis is a bit dodgy IMO

[footychick]

We often have parents 'pop in' for a look around and we always try to accomodate. Occasionally it is not convienient, but we always offer a short 'look around' and ask the parent to arrange another visit for a more in depth visit.

I always think a nursery could have something to hide if they can not offer unarranged visits. That is why we always like to invite parents in for a short look around rather than turning anyone away.

[slatternlymother]

I did it quite frequency when my LO first went. Now, if I'm passing I still pop in just to see how he is. I'm his mum, I like to see he's having fun and there's nothing wrong with that

[insancerre]

I have never had a problem with people who just turn up. But just remember that nurseries are very busy places and it may be a bit chaotic.
I would avoid dinner and sleep time, so from 11.30 till 2pm. More often thn not the manager is coverimg lunches for the staff and may even be cooking the lunch so is a time best avoided.

[nurseryvoice]

Ah right, no should be fine to pop in without an appointment, we get several just turning up. ON the whole its ok but very inconvenient during lunch time as the previous poster said. I cover staff lunch breaks which means I am not spare to show people around, if I did then that would mean leaving a lot of children with 1 staff which isnt right or safe.
If I had to have 2 staff spare then fees would be more.

We had an afternoon last year when we had about 4 new customers come 1 after the other and crossing over which was a bit difficult to manage in the end had to put them all together to show round but some had heard/seen what id already said. Though I did say they were very welcome to come round again :-)

[discobeads]

it depends on the size of the nursery i think. The nursery where I work is vast and takes over an hour to show parents around properly - if you turned up at 9:30ish, we'd nearly always be able to accomodate you (staff sickness permitting!) but if you turned up before or during the lunchtime mayhem, there would be no chance.

Similarly, if yo are the second person that day to ask the same thing, then you'd have to book an appointment.

No nursery should mind you asking though, and should be able to give you a good reason as to why they cannot facilitate your show around.

[lizardqueenie]

Thank you all, very helpful.

I think I would look to avoid those key times when a visitor could be quite disruptive- ie drop off time, lunch & nap time & obviously going home time. I did wonder about what sparkle had said re staff being available to show you around/ taking them away from supervising children & ithats what made me feel I might be inconveniencing a nursery without an appointment. However as a parent I would appreciate having a look around/ say hello without an appointment but understand that an unscheduled visit might not be hugely convenient & therefore need to visit at another time also.

I've been back today to the nursery I have had my dd's name down for for a few months now - this is my 3rd visit but it was a brand new nursery do first visit there weren't any children there. Second time I liked it but decided to revisit as I had a niggling feeling. Really glad I did as sadly I wasn't very happy with the nursery in terms of staff interaction with kids (from what I saw whilst I was there) so now I need to find another nursery/ pre-school. Haven't listened to my gut feeling much before but did in this case & am pleased I did so.

[DancingwithDragons]

I to agree with all the poster who say to avoid the busy periods, which is for our nursery 11.30 - 2.00 and 4.20 onwards as that is when a shift leaves and often managers come into the room to cover as well as parents are doing the pick ups from the kind of time onwards, so the nursery is very busy. I often to chat to the new parents having a look see but my priority would be to a parent picking up then a show round.

[weddingseason]

Personally although I'd be happy with current parents dropping in to my dc's nursery whenever surely there's a bit of a security risk with letting in and showing round anyone who drops in off the street? I'm not particularly precious but this just doesn't sit comfortably with me.

[lizardqueenie]

Thanks everyone this has been useful. I think all the reasons that have been cited- security, staff availability etc are why I've not just dropped in when looking at prospective nurseries but have heard mners recommend it before as well as RL mums. So I was a bit confused as to whether it was the done thing or not or if I was missing out somehow by not doing it but I think my concerns over how practical it would be for everyone were valid