Bearsden nursery recommendations

[Constantbaker]

Hi

I'm looking for recommendations for a nursery in the Bearsden/Milngavie area. I've looked at Kelvin Nursery and Hillfoot Nursery. I felt much more drawn to kelvin nursery and they have the added bonus of providing food. I have friends that use both and recommend them. I was just about to decide on kelvin and I read the care commission reports - the report for kelvin nursery is a bit mixed so now I'm completely confused!! The report for hillfoot seems glowing but they don't provide food, the times don't work as well with work and the facilities didn't seem great when I went in.

Can anyone help?! I don't want to be a bad mum and make the wrong decision.

Thanks

If the Kelvin Nursery is the one in the Science Tech Park (Careshare one), I'd avoid it. I work in the building above it and I have twins; so when I was looking for a nursery I checked it out first as it would be very convenient.

However their baby room was shocking, very drab and three of the workers were in the process of redecorating leaving a lot of babies bored. Another worker was cuddling and bottle feeding a baby, ignoring the others, which I thought was a little strange until the person who showed me around mentioned that it was that particular workers own child and then informed me it was a great place to work as they get discounted childcare rates...

I have to admit the older children's rooms looked a lot better and they really encouraged independence in the older children. But that baby room was absolutely awful.

Also our building gets evacuated at least three/four times a year because someone in the nurseries' kitchen burns the toast and the children always look really cold if it happens in winter :(

I use to work in a careshare nursery, admittedly a different branch but as far as I am aware the same regional manager. I don't want to say too much on a public forum but I would not let anyone I know send their child to a careshare nursery.

Also, a note on care commission reports; we had staff drafted in from other branches who came armed with extra toys on the days care commission were in.

I would recommend visiting any nursery when they are not expecting you, it's the only way to get a true picture tbh. Equally I'd suggest when your child attends if you can collect early one day when they don't know you are coming then it never hurts. Also, ask how many staff are fully qualified, it's amazing how many have no childcare qualifications.

Sorry to sound negative and suspicious but my experiences were not good and I think it's better safe than sorry and best to make an informed decision.

Hello

My daughter is 2 and attends Canniesburn Nursery which I cannot recommend highly enough. It's quite a small nursery but is very well equiped both inside and out. The staff are great and Dihann the head-teacher goes above and beyond for the children. They get snacks throughout the day and a hot lunch.

Hope this helps!

Oh and meant to mention- it's a new nursery but they have recently had their first Care Comission inspection which went very well!

Thanks so much, this is really useful. Im probably going to be looking for 2 days nursery per week. One of the difficulties is most don't drop off from 7.30 and 8 will be tight for me for work.

I made an appointment at the careshare kelvin one but they were v quiet when we were in as it was over hols. The care commission report states it was an unannounced inspection. I might take a look at Canniesburn so I have another option.

Kelvin did seem really clean though and had rules like no shoes in the baby room, which hillfoot didn't have. It's a minefield!

My daughter is at the cares are nursery at the David Lloyd in Anniesland. It got a really bad care commission report recently. I felt really sorry for the girls who work very hard there and are genuinely interested in the wellbeing of the children. My daughter is 21 months and moving to the toddler room soon which is excellent. She is really happy there and eats and sleeps well. I'm going to take her out a 3 as she will be going to her preschool nursery.

Don't waste your time with Canniesburn!!

I have been to view all of these nurseries - and on first inspection chose Canniesburn as it seemed good and provided hot food (which was a massive draw over Hillfoot - despite the Hillfoot manager seeming absolutely lovely). So I registered my son there soon after his birth.
2 months before I was due back at work (and having phoned every few months to confirm start dates etc) Canniesburn sent me a short rude email stating they no longer had space and I should look elsewhere. I was appalled!!! They'd given me a space almost a year previously. I called to ask what had happened and the staff apologised but other than that offered no help. So my advice is I wouldn't risk registering with them only to have them cancel on you when it's too late to find somewhere else (as mentioned - I had spoken to them on several occasions throughout the year and they guaranteed I had a space on the dates that I wanted).
Frantically we started viewing different nurseries and when we visited Busy Bees at Anniesland we loved it. Being a teacher myself, I'm well acquainted with Curriculum for Excellence and this nursery is fabulous at it. The staff are extremely friendly, there aren't too many children per group, and they serve breakfast, a two course hot lunch, and a two course snack. I would DEFINITELY recommend them.

Today 10:39 Beech2005

Local nurseries have all got waiting lists. I would recommend The Glasgow Academy Nursery, Milngavie for when your child turns 3 ( go before to get your name down in advance). Fabulous school, staff, and a new outdoor learning classroom on Barloch Moor. This hidden gem also is an East Dunbartonshire Partnership nursery so you get funding too (not many people realise this!). As a parent, you can't fault it! My daughter went and my baby son will be going too. An outstanding place in an idyllic setting. I can't recommend enough.