What would you like to see

[Nurserymam]

Currently a nursery manager and we have the opportunity to move into a bigger building, with outdoor space. We tend to do a mix of natural toys and plastic things and we have a small tv for quiet time. Main playrooms are carpet and all children take shoes off unless playing outdoors. Messy play and feeding areas are Lino or wood flooring. Walls are painted jungle theme by a local brilliant artist.

Just curios to know what parents would like/want to see in a nursery? What would make you pick them? What makes your current nursery stand out? Any help appreciated :)

Staff who care about the children, and have been there for a while.

Things that look pretty are a nice to have, but pretty toys and painted walls can't hide apathetic and inconsistent staff.

Assuming the staffing is great, then I would look for the following:

Settings without parent apps, as I find it takes the staff away from the children.
Settings that take children out into the local community
Settings that have a separate baby area
Settings that offer a free flow between inside and out, rather than set times.

@Whinge very happy with staff currently, we try and keep it as close to home as possible. Children are loved and cared for and all staff know children inside and out. lm Glad someone agrees about the apps, we have marvellous me for sending an odd picture home but I’d really rather not have staff taken away filling in a whole daily form on a tablet all day.
staff are great at going out in the local area (currently on a high street so great for that and new premises wouldn’t be so far away) however outdoor space isn’t currently attached so can’t offer free flow :( new space would though! Children get out at least once a day.

I agree, for me the staff are the most important. When we toured the nursery that DS went to, we were shown around by the leader of the baby room but when we went into the toddler/pre-school rooms, all the children rushed up to her and hugged her and she hugged them back and it was all just such a nice environment.

I wouldn’t be keen on the tv to be honest. My nursery didn’t have one and it would make be a bit wary that there would be too much screen time. The reason I picked mine was staff and low turnover but also the outdoor area- they had a massive area including access to a forest so were able to have a lot of really good outdoor play. I’d have not picked a nursery without a good outdoor area.

Your view is interesting around the children and the adult.

As a professional who monitors the quality of education this would raise a concern to be looked at further.

Rushing away to greet the adult, separate to looking at the nursery’s safeguarding policy, also indicates children who are not focussed on the learning/activity taking place. We would look further at the reasons why.

Staffing - engaged, motivated staff with similar approaches to educational and child development theory as I have. I really like that my DC is still really happy to see their teachers from their previous class.

Outdoor space with lots to explore and do.

Good security and medical protocols.

Possibly going against the majority view here, but I really like the parent-nursery app we use. It's not just a daily summary, it's a way of interacting and building on learning that's done in one setting in other settings.

Minimal screens. I wouldn't want a TV there. Sometimes, the teachers will use a tablet to bring up music or a video to start off an activity (eg listening to a type of music before the class creates their own versions), but I think screens should be minimal and only as an adjunct to an activity rather than as an activity themselves.

Suitable hours and minimal closures.

Suitable food for DC's dietary requirements.

Oh come on. This is utter nonsense based on what pp posted.

I agree, the staff/child relationships would be most important to me too. Also would like to see: free flow with outdoors, open ended resources, a focus on child led learning, no identikit artwork/activities, staff present in the moment rather than filling in learning journals, a curiosity/inquiry led approach.

Sorry I should maybe have made this a bit clearer, what about the environment/building would you like to see? Are we totally against plastic toys or okay with some? Are sand/water wanted out all the time or okay for focussed activities? Are we happy with climbing frames and slides in outdoor area? (obviously always monitored by staff)

@OliviaFlaversham what is identikit??

No, part of a line of enquiry when advising early years providers.

I don't mind some plastic toys, I think a balance is fine.

Having water out all the time could be a hazard, as children can drown in very small amounts of water.

Good quality climbing equipment that's appropriate for ages and stages is good - it needs supervision, of course.

Absolutely yes to climbing equipment, sand and water play. I think sometimes the anti-plastic stuff gets a bit ott. There are some toys that are very sensibly made out of plastic. If you’ve got the space outside some planters for the children to grow food would be nice. Mine loved growing their own vegetables and eating them at the nursery.

Plastic toys are fine, as long as there’s a good mix.

I’d expect sand, water and climbing toys.

I would avoid a nursery that uses the TV though. My DDs have been at three nurseries between them, and at all of them quiet time means books and music.