AIBU to put DD into two nurseries

[nurserygames]

DD's current nursery has recently had an inadequate Ofsted rating. It's a chain nursery,and as a result of this rating, resource and assistance are being offered to the nursery to bring it back up to scratch. Historically, the nursery often starts initiatives that are then not followed through - ranging from school uniforms to learning journals. In two years, we are on the third manager - the latest one has been there for six months, but there has been a mass exodus of staff since. A new teacher is due to start this week in pre-school. I have since found another nursery, which has all the typical systems in place - regular observations, phonetics, tracing kids names to encourage writing etc, large range of play equipment etc. I am torn between keeping her in current nursery and not uprooting her, or putting her into a nursery where they don't need further help to plan "lessons" or observe children. I thought about putting her in both nurseries part time to hedge our bets, but the new nursery has said this can be unsettling for a child. Has anyone been in a similar position? Has anyone else used two nursery settings or AIBU to even consider this?

I would personally move her to the new nursery now.

I'd just move her to the new nursery now. One period of readjustment rather than the confusion of two places, with many changes of staff and routines happening at the first nursery anyway.

I should add that she seems happy enough to go to nursery and has friends there, but would still prefer not to go at all if given the choice! I want her to go to nursery as I feel it's important to let her mix with other kids her age without me there, plus I was hoping they would teach her some phonetics etc in the right way, rather than me teaching her the wrong way.

Just move her to the new nursery. If you've visited a couple of times and feel comfortable with it, it would be less unsettling to just move her and get it over and done with.

Having worked in chain nurseries for a good few years up to manager level before a career change, your current nursery sounds a bit of a car crash. It takes time and consistency to fix these problems and if it was me I'd change settings now. The change will effect her for a week or so but children adapt quickly and will be best for your DD in the long run

I’d just move to the new nursery. Staff members that your child likes are probably leaving, which is unsettling in itself. Your child will be in a better environment and will get used to the change.

My parents did this with me. I went to the local feeds into the little primary nursery in the mornings and a private nursery in the afternoon. The private was very big on education, we had French lessons and workbooks etc.

I used to have lunch in the car from A to B. I loved it. I had twice as many friends and benefitted from two different approaches I think.

However neither nursery was failing so it’s a wee bit different. Could you keep her a day in her old one but move the rest to the new nursery?

Lots of people do a mix of nurseries/childminders/grandparents/nanny for childcare.
Sounds like the new nursery just want more business from you. It does sound like the new nursery is better though.

Neither of the choices feel right to me and I don't know why.

We use the local term time preschool 2 days a week and private chain nursery 2 days a week (4 in the holidays) dd1 loved having two lots of friends and I think it benefitted her hugely being in one big chaotic setting (chain) and one smaller setting that did more on learning to write your name type activities.

The nursery said a childminder and nursery could be ok, but not two nurseries. They did also say it was parental choice though, so I could do it if necessary.

NotExactlyHappyToHelp and Trilby - did you start both nurseries at the same time or add one later?

They are starting French lessons at the current nursery now. Part of me feels we've suffered all the dross and now that measures are being put in place, we're leaving!

Sorry to drip feed - I've only seen the new nursery in the holidays, where it was pretty empty, but I need to give them my decision before term starts.

I started the private nursery first then did two years before I started school at the local nursery (I had to call my mam to ask that I couldn’t remember for the life of me ).

I wouldn’t be happy with the new nursery telling you you’ve got to decide without seeing the place on a normal day. Round here nurseries tend to do a sort of taster session, a try it out day so you and your child can get a feel for what it’s like.

Are there no other options? Have you looked into childminders at all? I used one with DS and he had the most fantastic care. Best of both worlds if you can find the right person.

I used to work in a nursery and we had a few children who came to us some days and other nurseries others and they settled down fine. We had a little girl who was only with us one day a week and it was actually more of a problem for some of the other girls as she was very popular and they missed her when she wasn't in.

I know multiple children who go to more than one nursery setting, they all manage fine!

Move her now. She will adjust. My DS is at a second nursery because the first one was too expensive and he has adapted very easily.

Thanks. I was a bit worried about the settling thing, but it looks like lots of people do fine. I'll lose my place if I wait to see it on a normal day. Nurseries near me are in high demand. There's a great nursery near me which has a two year waiting list...people must put their name down when they're still ttc!!!!

My son went to a big nursery from 8 months old. I then added in a smaller one when he was 2 (which was minimum age there) but this was term time only. I kept the bigger one as I needed the cover in school holidays so upped the days there in holidays. He was fine with this initially but after a year I moved him to the small one completely. Being in two nurseries he had an obvious preference for one over the other, and I personally had a better feeling and experience with the newer one. So yes it did work but it was slightly harder (had to take in different things for each place as different policies, different start and end times, etc) and I was juggling this with my daughter starting school.

Two nurseries wouldn’t be an issue if they were both good; but I’m confused as to why you’re so determined to hang onto her current one?
Just move her.

Mine went to nursery so I could work but also a little pre school for more friends and because they enjoyed it. Never had a problem with being in both. However neither of them were failing, and I was happy with both.

I'm not sure myself why I want to hang onto current one - perhaps if they make (and stick to) the changes they're suggesting, it will be v good and I should ride out the storm. I'm also worried that the new nursery may not walk the walk and then we'll be onto a third one! Also, the ratio in current nursery will be v good now as there will only be a handful of people left in the pre-school (they can't take new admissions until Ofsted return).