to think that a nursery who can't be bothered to return a message isn't a good place to send a child?

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I've been trying to find a nursery for my daughter recently. Choice is between two- one of which picked up the phone when I rang and spent a good three hours discussing matters with us when we visited.

The other one has an excellent reputation so I've been trying to have a look at them. Phoned the number they have on their door several times a few weeks ago- it was never answered, eventually I left a message but no-one called back. I phoned a different number (for the same nursery) I found in a local family magazine today- nice chap on the other end explained that they'd changed their number (so presumably they hadn't bothered to update their advertising and sod the inconvenience to him) and gave me another one.

Slightly dippy young girl answered and explained she was just filling in and the boss was showing someone round, she'd get them to call me back within 10 mins. After a little prompting from me she took my name and phone number, but guess what? Four hours later and no call.

Now I realise that administrative incompetance doesn't necessarily mean that the nursery is no good, but I am starting to think that if I did send my daughter to them I'd have no chance of talking to them if I needed to unless I called in person- so if my train home was late, I'd be stuffed.

Am I expecting too much here? Do nurseries really not return parents phone calls during the day?

Go on your first instinct- its not the be all and end all if they cant take messages but they seem quite disorganised and this must be very off-putting! Go with your gut instinct and go with the one you are personally happy with.

Well the office staff are often covering due to sickness , lunch cover etc
I'd go down there and ask to arrange to look around

That's what I'm trying to arrange- but they don't seem that bothered about a potential new customer!

Are there better times than others to phone nurseries then? I realise that they can't drop everything every time the phone goes but surely they can find the time at some point??

tbf maybe they are busy looking after the children. good customer skills does not equal good child care

I think it's probably pretty normal for them not to be able to answer a phone every time. They have staff ratios to consider and can't always leave the room to go to an office to answer the phone. My DDs nursery counteract this by having an extension in each room of the nursery so that someone will always answer, even if they don't have time to talk to you!

I would expect them to call me back if I left a message though.

No....I dismissed a nursery purely on the grounds that the lady I spoke to on the phone was hoity toity! It also had a wonderful rep....the first point of call cal often indicate the true nature of care.

Hmm, I actually had a similar experience and ended up just turning up one day and booking an appointment to look round in person. We sent DD and she loved it, I liked that admin and touting for new business was less important than looking after the children they had.

But obviously there's a limit to how far you can take that if they're rubbish at managing the day to day affairs eg children's dietary requirements etc. so I think you also have to go on your gut. If you can get in to visit I think that would be a better indicator. Oh, and we never had trouble re being late etc, just left a message and it was clear they did check them, just prioritised stuff for the children.

I'm with bigchris, nothing like having a prospective customer suddenly appear! You'll see what they are really like in person and be able to judge whether the impression they give on the phone is the same as 'in person'.

The posh nursery near me (which has a 2 year waiting list) never returns calls. They don't need to - you have to work really hard if you want your child to go there :o

I have a feeling that this one might be a bit hoity toity about new arrivals- they have a huge waiting list so perhaps they feel like they are doing you a favour? Fair enough I would want them to prioritise the children, I do think that it is a bit rubbish not to respond to several attempts at contact though.

The other one doesn't need to advertise, however- yet they still managed to find time to arrange a visit for me.

At the nursery my dd goes to it's a nightmare trying to get hold of anyone
on the phone and in person
if we want to talk to someone we usually go to dd's room and ask if anyone from the office is around
they're quick enough to phone though if they think she's contagious and needs collecting