To ask you the good and the bad about nursery?

I love my DS nursery. hes been going since he was 11 months. They are lovely, hes not an easiyl upset baby but they give him loads of cuddles and pick him up lots so that must vary if other people say it doesn't happen at theirs. I often watch through the window before I go in and the staff are really attentive. He was one of the youngest in his room for a while and they really worked hard to settle him in.

The food is also great and they have a brilliant focus on outdoor play and great facilities for that, i couldn't recommend mine enough. I was tempted by a childminder initially, but actually ratios for a childminder can mean that they are dealing with more children than a nursery assistant. Its just the ages that would vary. Its also difficult to get a childminder to work the hours I need.

My two DDs go to nursery and they absolutely love it. My eldest is leaving this week to start school in September and I feel sad for her because she has had such a lovely and positive experience there (even though I know she will love school too). I feel that she has been equipped to deal with school so well thanks to nursery. She can count to 30, write her name and recognise letters and numbers. They can both also do lots of messy play there (where I wouldn't be too keen on them trekking through paint). The staff are all fantastic.

I think once children are walking and talking, not so dependent, they can really thrive history, really once they get past 1 and are more independent it benefits them a lot

I work in the nursery, and all our staff that care for the children like it. We had one miserable, lazy and always tired cow worker, but she's gone now. There's loads of unnecessary paperwork, and it does take a lot of time, but I can't think of one child that is unhappy all day long.

My DS (12 now), used to go to nursery, and loved it, but stayed couple of times before Xmas in the other nursery, as they offered pre Xmas cheap few hours for parents to do shopping, and was begging us not to send DD (2.5 now) there. He still remembers staff shouting and being very unpleasant for children. And this nursery has outstanding Ofsted report

DD took longer to like her nursery, but she loves it now. She talks more (if it's even possible), is more independent and has lots of fun there.

Personally, I found nurseries a bit instituional so my DS went to a childminder from 9 months. She's someone I know and they adore each other. He's firm friends with all the kids she cares for too.
He started nursery last week (now 3) and is doing really well.

I wanted DS to have a family atmosphere and a CM who loves him, if I cant look after him. He is part of their family now and so happy. The nursery we briefly considered was cold, clinical and a bit impersonal for my boy as lots of different staff would have looked after him. The nap room looked like it was from a 3rd world country.

Its up to you, but my DS goes happily every morning to see his CM, skips out the door and is loved. So I dont have to worry!!

I agree, there are Good and bad in everything. Myself I wouldn't choose to send babies to nursery if I had an option - the busy day and the independence ethos means that in nurseries I've worked in young babies are left to cry and as a new staff member I was told off for picking them up. I think 18 months plus nurseries are fantastic. Children are older and don't need so much cuddling as babies which means they're generally happier and I think it benefits children much more.

I do think staff all have children's best interests at heart and although mistakes do get made, in my experience it's never on purpose. One thing that did shock me is the use of value products. nothing against them of course but if I were a parent paying for childcare I'm not sure how I'd feel about it.

Management is a crucial factor. One manager I had would undermine us in front of the children, give conflicting advice or orders, and it was a very stressful environment where you made one mistake and were raked over hot coals. We never let that affect how we were with the children though, I would say though sometimes the outstanding nurseries can be worst in terms of warmth and love .

If you have any other more specific questions just ask

I am a room manager of 2 toddler rooms in a nursery and I would hands down send my child to nursery from a young age.

You have bad nurserys who do all those things you mentioned, but then you also have amazing nurseries that go above and beyond to give the children the bet possible care.

Some of the negatives are that the care isnt 1:1 and there is a lot of paperwork but these things shouldn't make a difference to the care your child recieves. These things should be managed efficiently to ensure all the children and happy and cared for.

My daughter started nursery at 2, 3 days a week. She loves it. They have a great outdoors area and the staff are dedicated. They all seem to want to be there, not just filling in time until something better comes along. My son, however, was at a different nursery, with staff who couldn't care less and run by a woman who only had the nursery because she thought it a good money earner. So I guess it depends on the nursery - go have a look around and get a feel for the place. You can pretty quickly work out whether or not it's for you

My children love their nursery. They are fantastic, and I'm so glad I chose the nursery they are at.

I chose nursery because I work shifts, I need reliable childcare that has no sick or annual leave days.

There are good and bad nurseries just the same as any other child care. There are good and bad child minders. I'm a nurse and have too much paperwork taking me away from my job too.

My little boy went to nursery from 2.5 and loved it. He had a childminder from 1-2.5 (and same childminder in the afternoons after that) and I was very happy with that too. I preferred that he had more of a 1-1 relationship with the childminder and the small group of children she cared for. I also liked knowing the same person cared for him every day. That worked for us.

People generally have more things to say about the negative than the positive.

"Nursery is good" isn't newsworthy.

Check the OFSTED rating which is always a good indicator.