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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to use a children's centre nursery in a deprived area?

19 replies

mrsbean78 · 22/05/2010 09:04

I work in a very deprived inner-city area. The CC nursery beside the school I spend the most time in (I work in a few) was rated outstanding in its last two Ofsteds. Went to visit it yesterday and can see why - it's bloody amazing. When I walked in yesterday all the little toddlers were outside in swimming trunks running through a hose they had set up to make a rainbow and the childcare worker was talking to them about all the rainbow colours. All the equipment is brilliant and the children seem sooo happy and the staff so lively and childlike yet caring and warm.. amazing home corner, great baby room.. staff have all been there since it opened, could go on and on but you get the drift, my ideal nursery.

I just feel a bit icky about taking a place in this centre away from the local community when I can, strictly speaking,afford to pay more...
but on the other hand..
they aren't full and there are no outstanding daycare settings where I live (11 miles away, 50 minute commute in good traffic). I've been to visit some ones that are rated good but they are nowhere near as good, not even a patch on this one.

I probably need to bring him to a nursery near work anyway because timing-wise I wouldn't be able to drop off where I live and get to work...

and if I did make the saving I would make from having him in the Children's Centre I could drop an extra session at work and just work mornings only..

I don't know. My conscience tells me it's not really good.. the selfish bit of me says go for it.

WWYD?

OP posts:
TotalChaos · 22/05/2010 09:06

yanbu - they aren't full, so you aren't stopping a local child from getting a place.

ben5 · 22/05/2010 09:09

sounds lovely. go for it and if its not full then it doesn't sound like you will be using a space for someone living nearer. sounds like you have a horrible commute 11 miles takes 50 minutes?

thatsnotmymonkey · 22/05/2010 09:10

I would go for it, it is near you and the kind of place you want your child to go too. Like you said it is not full.

StewieGriffinsMom · 22/05/2010 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TheJollyPirate · 22/05/2010 09:14

It's fine - my son went to the local CC nursery when I was working as a HV in the very socially deprived town it was in. It meant I was nearby if he needed me. The number of people who sniffed superiorly (and am ashamed to say one was a colleague) was shocking. It was fabulous - not sure if it was outstanding as never read the Ofsted. I was won over because they were the ONLY nursery who I contacted when looking for a place that told me to "drop in when you are in the area and see us how we are" rather than asking me to make an appointment. The care they gave DS was second to none and they tokerated and supported him with all his little oddities and foibles (he has ASD).

Go for it - if it's not full then you are n ot robbing any child of a space.

strawberrycake · 22/05/2010 09:14

I do exactly the same, and I should feel guiltier as I only manage to get the place as I work in the attached school. I couldn't turn down the chance though to have dc close to me.

dinkystinky · 22/05/2010 09:20

YANBU - if it is isnt full, it is better for them to have people use the childcare facilities to prevent it being on the list of CC to be closed down. If it was full or with a waiting list, the it would be different story I guess.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 22/05/2010 09:24

YANBU at all.

If your son is eligible (ie there's not any criteria to meet other than being of the right age), and they have a space then go for it.

It sounds a great place

LoveBeing33 · 22/05/2010 09:27

Defo yanbu

Original poster
mrsbean78 · 22/05/2010 09:31

TheJollyPirate

"they were the ONLY nursery who I contacted when looking for a place that told me to "drop in when you are in the area and see us how we are" rather than asking me to make an appointment. "

Same here!

OP posts:
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 22/05/2010 09:31

Yes, I agree, better to use the place to keep it open...I travel out of my area for DDs nursery and staff are thrilled that it is now full, as otherwise it is threatened with closure.

Original poster
mrsbean78 · 22/05/2010 09:32

I never even thought of the closure aspect, that's a good point really. Ironically it's considered very expensive provision where it is

I do just want him close by and somewhere that I am happy with. I had put him down for a different nursery but suddenly found myself in an absolute state about going back to work and it took me a while to realise it was because I was so unhappy with the place.

OP posts:
NewBirdOnTheBlock · 22/05/2010 09:50

CC nursery are fab due to the way they are funded and spending any profits on the children and resources rather than the owner's new porsche. (My friend manages one and the oney they spend on all the best toys is

I would go for it, it is very rare (here anyway) for a CC to not have a huge waiting list as they are that good.

cornsilkcottagecheese · 22/05/2010 10:04

It's fine. You are contributing to the area 'cos you work there. My friend did the same.

nannynick · 22/05/2010 10:14

You work at the school (and other local schools) yet say you are not part of the local community? Is that what you are saying... as I disagree... you are part of the local community. Sure you may not live in the community but you do support that community and have community connections.

Your job may involve a lot of contact with members of the community and you may be giving advice to members of the community about childcare related things - thus if that is part of your job, by using a local community childcare provision you are clearly showing that YOU feel it's a good place.

As others have also mentioned, they are not full... so by taking a place (assuming eligibility) you are helping them increase their numbers, thus helping make the provision sustainable.

Firawla · 22/05/2010 10:33

if theyre not full or oversubscribed take it, there is no reason at all to feel guilty in that case

SE13Mummy · 22/05/2010 10:57

Don't feel guilty. My DD went to a CC nursery which was on-site at the school I taught at in a very deprived part of London. I have no idea what Ofsted had to say about it as it hadn't crossed my mind to read their report; I chose it because of what I saw there.

The people who worked at the CC sent their children to 'my' school, I sent my child to 'their' CC. Although it's not the community I lived in it was the community I spent a lot of my time in and I considered myself part of it because of my role there. Some people queried my choice because of the CC's intake but that was precisely why I liked it.

Go for it, apart from anything I feel I gained a much greater trust from parents at school when they realised my own DD was in the care of the CC.

Original poster
mrsbean78 · 22/05/2010 13:15

nannynick, I think it's because I don't work at that school all week.. I work across the city but that's my most stable setting.. and I work in a specialist citywide unit at that school so I don't feel as though I am contributing as much to the community as I did when I worked in the local health centre - but it's a fair point!

Thanks for your contributions. I was kind of expecting a flaming so am glad am not being totally U.

OP posts:
Emster30 · 22/05/2010 18:59

We have our names down on a waiting list for the children's centre nursery across the road for us for our as yet unborn first DC. I thought it was just like a normal nursery even though it's a Sure Start centre - the fees are certainly the same as you'd pay elsewhere. It has a 16 month waiting list for a 0-2 place, crazy!

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