Help! Just realised we are moving in less than a month - anyone know Godalming?

[sophiaverloren]

I have been in denial but reality has hit me that we will have to leave our wonderful childminder and look for new childcare when we move.
Is there anyone who knows Godalming/Farncombe and what I should loook out for? I've got numbers of childminders from CIS link, have looked up a couple of nurseries, but would appreciate some local knowledge...

Also, DS is 2.5 and was only wee when I was last looking for childcare, so what should I be thinking of?

Sorry, I probably know what to do, but I'm in a spin, so all advice and calming words (as patronising as you like!) would be appreciated!!

Thanks!

Hi

I know Godalming very well, and am just looking for a childminder there myself - we live in one of the villages outside.

It's been a few years since I looked for a childminder and my old one has just retired which is a real shame as she was fab. Whereabouts in Godalming are you moving to? - probably worth starting your search at nearer childminders to where you live and then working outwards.

Welcome!

Thanks! We will be in Farncombe, on the Godalming side if that is clear (don't know it very well myself yet!)

Is it worth (or even realistic?) to consider nurseries at this age? I definitely wanted a childminder when he was more little, but now I'm not sure? Any pros and cons?

Oh, and thanks for your welcome! Despite being in denial, I am looking forward to moving there (well, not the moving part of it, obviously, more the living there and settled in part!)

Hi

I'm just going through this myself, and know Farncombe well as I have lived there twice! My DS is 16 months, and our nanny has just given us notice , and we were hoping to have her for another year and then start him in Nursery - Ladybird in Farncombe, which is where my daughters went about 8/9 years ago now!

We plan to go and take another look at Ladybird and check it is still nice, but my friends' 3 children have been through there and the youngest is still there so hopefully it will not have changed too much.

We think DS is still too young for nursery, so am thinking of a childminder for 3 days a week, and then moving him to nursery at about 2.5 to 3 years. Certainly I think they benefit from the interaction - which of course you also get at a childminder.

Hope you get some other views - am watching with interest!

ooh just flicking through the Surrey Ad, and it appears there's a new Children's Centre including a nursery at Loseley Fields in Farncombe - just opened this week, so might also be worth looking at.

hi i am a childminder and i am in regular contact with the godelming cms if you are looking for one in that area

Thanks so much Surr3ymummy and candifloss. Got my head back on this afternoon and called the Ladybird Nursery. Have to say, the location is hard to beat. Will go there next week and see what we think.

Will shout again if I need to!!

Hi there! Know Godalming well. now live in Milford - just 2 miles outside Godalming but lived in Farcombe for 4 years.

I can't tell you bout childminders unfortunately as both mine go to nursery. They go to Major Minors just next to the firestation in Godalming. Fantastic place - love it - although it's not cheap! They have a good website if you want to check it out.

If you're not looking for fulltime care, then there are loads of other places that do mornings and / or afternoons for 2/5 years and upwards. Friends of mine use The Wharf in Godalming itself or Little Goslings which is again in Godalming.

Hope you get something sorted though. You will really love the area though - it's all very family oriented.

I am just looking for nurseries in this area for my DS who will be be 11 mnths when i return to work (boo hoo am still disolving into to tears everytime I think about it , we have looked at Major Minors, Loseley Fields and Teddies. Major Minors and Loseley I really liked but are totally different from each other - MM is very glossy and has fantastic spec and facilities and the staff seemed nice. They are very busy and I was slightly put off by the fact that they won't let you do half days for under 2's.... so can leave them for half a day but have to pay for the whole day. I am only working mornings so to avoid being away from my DS more than necessary would have to pay for 2 whole days (v.exp) but only use part days - silly! Loesely is very new and seems really nice and very flexable as they are new - I liked their under 2's bit but think I may look elswhere for after that. There is a great place in Chiddingfold for 18mnths on called Barnkids - fantastic reputation. hope this helps

I temped at MM a few years back and a major issue was car parking. Location in my view is not very ideal if you intend to get there by car. When I temped there, I had concerns over ratios... but I would expect that they sorted that out (such as more staff to cover lunchtime period).
Useful tip for arranging visits to any nursery - visit at Lunchtime, as this is a busy time of the nursery day and you will get a lot better feel for how the staff cope with the number of children in their room.

Thanks for the extra tips - v good point about parking nannynick, it wouldn't necessarily have occured to me if I went mid morning or something to wonder what it would be like at pick up time.

Had to delay visits this week, but will be on the case next week.

My dog is from Godamling (or Gobbleminge as we call it)