12 month old hasn't settled at nursery

[KMP23]

Hiya, my 12 month old daughter started nursery in mid Nov last year for 2 mornings a week to start to get her used to the setting and the people. She didn't take to it well at all and cried for most of the time she was there. In Jan she started there 3 days a week and its gotten even worse, to the point where the nursery have told us they don't think its a good fit for her and it might be best to see if she settles better elsewhere. They said she wasn't just getting upset, she was becoming distressed and its wasn't healthy.
She's always been a very clingy baby and only really trusts people shes very familiar with, however I'm now back at work so she needs to go somewhere!

We are going to try a child minder, in the hopes that they allow me to settle her in more slowly and with me there more as I think thats what she needs.

Just wondering if anyone else has been in the same position and whether you did anything that helped? I'm trying to encourage her to play by herself more which she's very good at doing at home but as soon as we're out and about she clings to me.

My DD wasn't happy in the first two childcare settings I tried. With the childminder she cried all the time and with the first nursery she was quiet but not right and I had an uneasy feeling as when I spied on her through the window on a couple of occasions she was static, like a rabbit in headlights. Decided to try one more nursery and it was a perfect fit and she was really happy there. Happy to go, happy whilst there and generally on good form for the couple of years she went there.

Interestingly, DD remembers the first nursery, even though she was only 2. She remembers feeling not happy and bored there (she can also give an accurate description visually of the setting so I know the memories are real).

Just try another setting but don't assume that it's nurseries as a type that are the problem. Nurseries differ hugely according to the staff running them.

It’s worth trying a new setting as the nursery may not be the right one for your daughter. Maybe look round some other group settings and childminders to see if you feel she would be happier there. Long term settling in with a parent present can be tricky for some settings so have a chat with them and see if it’s possible.

Is there a reason why childcare places don't like you to be there to help settle them in? The only way my daughter will stay with people is if shes spent enough time with me and them to know they are safe and can trust them. I'm worried that if I'm not there too soon she will just start to associate that place as somewhere I leave her and she won't ever settle there. Which is exactly what happened at the nursery.

I'm a cm...my process is initial family meet and chat we play talk etc hour or so....family come back discuss details, after signing at third meeting arrange for settling to starts baby stays parents pop out for 30 to 60 minutes if that goes well we go for a few hours covering a nap or feed if that's not right we repeat until it is then a longer session with play feed sleep play....parents don't stay for these sessions because baby needs to be with me and accepting my care and comfort if a parent is there they will go to the parent ...parent can stay play and chat after a settling session. I don't start full hours until we're all happy baby is settling so it can be about 4 to 6 weeks before full hours start ....there is then a 4 week period for everyone to decide it's working or make changes