Nursery waiting lists - how long in central Bristol or Clifton?

[PlinkertyPlonk]

Am thinking about childcare options for when I return to work in April 2013. Yes, I know, it's ages away, but I've heard waiting lists are ridiculously long so I want to make sure I don't miss the boat!

Anyone know how long waiting lists are and can anyone recommend a nursery in the area? I'll be commuting in via the bridge, so needs to be central or Clifton based.

Clifton Tots, Mornington House, Daisy Chain all come highly recommended. Depending on how old your child is, Clifton College have a great nursery and it runs all year round. The facilities are out of this world. (they only take them from 2 1/2 though, but deffo worth a look)

DS goes to Mornington House and I can't praise them highly enough. Great facilities, very low staff turnover, fantastic food cooked on the premises. DS was very shy and quiet and he has really come out of himself since starting.

we got DS a place within a month.

LO hasn't even arrived yet, so I'm way ahead of myself! She will be nearly 1yr when she starts, so unfortunately not quite ready for Clifton College (I knew Butcombe was pre-school but hadn't realised they took them so young, so that's very useful to know).

I've read many good things about Mornington House too.

I've heard horror stories of 1 year waiting lists from friends, hence my question, but they are all in Redland (jostling for their place in the Redland Green queue :)). I guess most families move from Clifton to Redland as soon as they want a house rather than a flat, so maybe the pressure on places is not so great in Clifton?

That could be the answer Plinkerty :) Never heard of a 1 year waiting list for a nursery place, pre-schools perhaps.

Ah, it was probably pre-school they were queuing up for. I'll ask them.

Sounds like I can sit back for a little while then and relax!

(or in my condition!)

I'm at a nursery (art raft piglets) in redland and people said all the same nonsense to me - we still had our pick.

It's not all nonsense - my DS was on the waiting list for Windmill Hill City Farm nursery for pretty much a year (not the right area for PlinkertyPlonk's needs obviously - just saying, it can happen). If you have your heart set on a particular one then it's worth getting registered sooner rather than later, because any nursery can go from having a space available to having a months-long wait instantaneously when the last place goes, if it's going to be a while before the oldest child moves on. If there are likely to be several you would be happy with in the right area, you're probably OK to wait.

However, from experience with people I know, it's a good idea to make a decision before LO arrives - a couple of my friends found it really hard to imagine and prepare for the needs of an active 1-y-o toddler whilst their LO was less than 6 months old - they ended up looking for childcare suitable for the baby they knew, then finding it wasn't really active or stimulating enough when the time came and ended up changing their minds anyway. I think you are better placed whilst still pregnant to look for a good nursery for a toddler, before you get caught up in baby-world.