How hard to find a nursery?

[OliviaL]

Hi all

Moving to the South Wimbledon/Victory Road area next week. We have a three year old and while I plan to go back to work at some stage am going to take some time off to be with her for a while. She's been at creche since the age of 8 months and loved it so I hope to send her a nursery for a few hours a week/couple of days. Can anyone let me know how difficult it should be to find a place? Aware that I have likely missed closing dates for everywhere so suspect it is going to be a nightmare. Just hate the thought of her missing out on company and learning plus I will need a break myself for sanity!

Thanks in advance
O

Hi, it's not impossible...but prepare to put in a lot of leg work and possibly be flexible about the days / hours you want.

Just seen the date on your post - how have you got on?

Ignore my last sentence... (trying to multitask, unsuccessfully!)

Thanks FamiliesShareGerms, haven't even looked into it properly yet as we only move next weekend.
Am definitely flexible on days/hours - it's more for my daughter to meet a few little friends and have an outlet of her own.
Will start making calls tomorrow :-)

Can heartily recommend Wimbledon day nursery on Montague Road, they are opening a second site soon. Once I'd been there, nothing compared.
Also I believe a new one opening in Pelham road.

WDN has great recommendations, but even with the new site it's heavily over subscribed (i was told there were 300 people ahead of me of the waiting list..!) but worth speaking to them.

The new one on Pelham is called Nurture, and is opening at the end of the month for the initial intake, then further children join in October. Again, worth speaking to them.

300 people?! blimey!
ime WDN are very flexible and if you only wanted a couple of mornings you might be in luck
Definitely worth a phone call

Does anyone know on what basis state nurseries offer you a morning or afternoon sessions? I filled application forms, but they didn't ask me what we prefer, morning or afternoon

Hi, just thought I would update here. Just got a letter from St Mary's offering us an afternoon place for September. Delighted! Would prefer mornings but beggars can't be choosers :-)

Had also called the council last week and gave them our first two state preferences. Was told it would be unlikely I'd get them so will be interesting to see if I hear from them as they said they would offer me 'something'.

Now to entertain DD for four months!!

O