Aibu to ask what you look for in a nursery?

[Wonderponder]

My little boy is in a good nursery, but I think I could be looking for more! What would be your nursery (under three) dream list? Aibu to expect too much?

Anyone? Bump!

Most important is a gentle settling were the parents are allowed to stay with the child the first days/weeks and then gradually leave for shorter periods of time.

Then their approach to teaching and discipline (we practice natural parenting so want something that matches or belief.

Lots and lots of free play, international language and art curriculum (our nursery/preschool is bilingual or actually trilingual). I want the children to explore art not just copy and paste (I find many nurseries/kindergartens have the TA's do all the cutting, then show the children what the finished result should look like and move their things around if it doesn't look correct, hence you have 30 identical art and craft projects).
Last and least important is facilities, our nursery have 4 playgrounds and several other outside areas to explore (gardening, obstacle course etc), STEAM room, art room, ballet studio, auditorium that is used for sport, sensory room, music room and a water park.

Eh? A steam room in a nursey?!

Thank you for sharing. What about opening hours? My LB nursery, doesn't open until 8:15. But there is nothing else in the part of the country I live in. It's seems so stressful in the morning! What about staff- ours seem to distant!

But facilities really doesn't matter, our nursery was wonderful but when they changed management and curriculum it became crap, there was never any communication with the parents, lots of breaches of trust, didn't keep teachers confidentiality, took children to things their parents had signed a document stating they weren't allowed to attend (like dentist for a child that was terrified of dentists/dr's and destroyed a lot of work to improve that), didn't inform parents that a teacher had been removed due to hitting a child (and didn't report the teacher to the police) etc etc.

I think communication might actually be in my top 3 most important thing to look for in a nursery

Nice staff
Flexible so they follow the child's routine or will adjust theirs if child tired etc
Safe and sensible procedures in place
Nice other children
Good range of toys
Inside space with goodnatural light
Outdoor play area
Good parent/staff communication
CCTV (although not one on internet)
Healthy, cooked on premise hot food (not just toast and beans)
A teaching plan to get them to the basics and ready for school

Not a steam room but science, technology, engineering and math (some call it STEM in our country/region it's STEAM

Yes! Totally agree on the art front - I'd rather 80 ahem abstraxt pictures my DD wanted to produce than one 'perfect' piece.

Also, how are he workers with the children - do they give them cuddles, comfort them when they're upset. Do the children enjoy engaging with them, want to tell them things, involve them in their play.

Is it child led - what kind of structure do they have, and how does this evolve as the children develop?

And, odd as it sounds, how does it smell? A good setting won't have that 'institutional care' smell that other places can have.

8.15 is late opening - ours is 7.30

Ratios, settling in period, how often are the children outdoors, what they do about things like suncream, whether or not they allow unvaccinated children etc.

Staff who are experienced. My dd's nursery has a nice mix of grandmothers, mothers and young girls completing qualifications in childcare. There is a comfort in placing your child into experienced hands. One my dd's settling in session I was taken on a tour of the nursery and happened to see dd interacting with a nursery nurse. Dd had eaten a sandwich and started to object to having her face wiped. The nursery nurse gently leaned her back, blew a raspberry which made dd laugh and cleaned her face. No messing. They had a great cuddle policy too. If a child was upset, they got a cuddle. I'm a teacher, but educational activities were not on my list. Social interaction, manners and kindness were more important imo.

Staff turnover. The newest staff member at our nursery has been there 7 years!

The thing that sold me on our nursery was the tiniest thing - it was arts and crafts morning in the baby room and they were "painting". As they are all under 2, this basically involves bashing their hands in paint and smearing it everywhere. Even though it was an utter mess and their "paintings" were just splodgy smears, the nursery nurse diligently wiped their hands between colours so it wouldn't "spoil their lovely pictures".

Well paid staff so they attract good staff and keep them?

A steam room? More like a spa! My friends nursery, in London to be fair, does pick ups in the morning. Changes baby into uniform for the day, and returns in freshly laundered pyjamas. Crazy! It's not that it's not nice, I just think I would love if they were taken out for a push in the buggy, or had more opportunity outside the actual nursery. That would be on my wish list. Particularly as we live in the rolling hills!

I have two just finishing their second nursery (moved) and have visited seven in all. My things are:

1. Number one priority = safety, look at Ofsted report as they are hot on safeguarding etc. Ask nursery about their last serious incident, what happened, how did they respond etc.

1. Number two = kindness. You will get a vibe, when they show you round see if they call the kids by name, do the kids cuddle them, are sad kids being ignored etc. Ask local parents.

1. Staff turnover, it's a problem in the sector but you want at least a few staff to have been there for a few years. Ask whoever shows you round if they like working there.

1. Communication with parents, nice space and activities etc.

1. Convenience issues. We found a 7:30 start really helpful. Do they let the girls babysit for parents? Etc etc. But I would pick a safer kinder nursery over a convienient one every time.

It's a nerve-wracking time. Good luck

I just see so much educational opportunity being missed: I am an EYFS specialist teacher, and just think their curriculum could be better - as well as their services. I'm just wondering- how do people chose a nursery, as I think I might have made a mistake!

I love my daughters nursery.

It's outstanding. Has a large garden/outdoor play area with a covered section so they use it in all weathers. They have an onsite cook who cooks everything from scratch, and if you drop your child off early enough you can see the local greengrocer dropping off the fresh fruit and veg and the milkman delivering the milk. They open at 7.30 and close at 6. They're flexible so if you need to change days due to appointments or work commitments they're happy to do so.

Also they're approach to SEN is brilliant. My daughter has extra needs and they're great. They do 1-1 with her, are happy to have physios/pediatricians/nurses go in and work with her as often as need be, and they also contact these people themselves to ask questions. They also have regular review meetings with me to make sure I'm happy with her progress and that everythings up to date in her file as things change quickly.

Also an opt out policy for activities until they move to preschool room. So if a child doesn't want to do an activity they let them go and play and will try again later that day or later in the week.

Just trust your instinct, my Son goes to a small pop up 'good' nursery but it runs rings around our local outstanding preschool as the staff are so much more nurturing and kind

Free access to a lovely outdoor space.

Messy play encouraged.

Staff actively engaging with the children. I visited one nursery where the staff were chatting on a sofa while the children sat or stood and stared into the middle distance. It was creepy and horrible.

Lots of space.

I have that problem with DS nursery. They just seem a bit disengaged. But I don't know if it's because of my own background. They are rated as good by Ofsted, but then that can mean nothing!

Also- the room that the kids are in, is so uninspiring. I would love a nursery by a farm with a petting zoo!

Kind, interested and enthusiastic staff
Being inclusive and welcoming of children with additional needs
Sound policies and procedures
Open and communicative with parents and outside professionals
I would want to know how they deal with behaviour.
A strong interest in communication
Interesting and varied activities and resources
Lots of arts, craft and messy play out at all times
A happy, fun and safe atmosphere

Not much then!

Hours was number one for us - I need to drop and run at 7.30 to get to work so the 8.30 start boasted about by our local children's centre was a non starter! Inclusive early starts too, as some round here you can drop at 7.30 but for extra fee than a 8.00start. Outside play a must as is the messy play side as I'm rubbish at art so I let her do it there! Sensible calpol policy. I'm also impressed by the menu and that it's all cooked on site, and like that nappies etc are included in the fees so never have notes saying to bring in a spare nappy for x. Feeling on a look round sealed it though.