Nurseries - what do I need to know?

[haventgotaclue]

I'm about to start visiting nurseries in preparation for going back to work in September.
I think I know most of the obvious (hopefully!) things to ask them. But, were there any other questions you wish you'd asked before deciding on a nursery or did you miss something which you later thought was obvious?
I'm new to all this and don't have any friends or family that have used nurseries, so any tips/pointers would be gratefully received.

That your instincts are the best possible guide to whether a nursery is right for your DC. That nothing matters other than the children look happy, and are cuddled when upset. That children do best when they get to choose what they do.

Go with your gut - do you just like the feel of the place?

But you might also want to ask: how long do staff stay ( ask for exact examples)? How much are late pick up fees (don't make yourself sound unreliable, but the differences between nurseries can be eye-watering)? What is the notice period (can vary from 1 - 3 months: if you find yourself having to go to a second choice whilst waiting for a place at your preferred, then you'll want as short as possible). If the nursery claims all food freshly prepared on the premises, do find out if "preparation" means cooking from scratch in the ordinary sense, or if it's jargon for "catering pack freshly heated up".

Agree gut feeling and what feels right to you. Mine is small so there is only 2 rooms and you get to know all the staff pretty well. But some people prefer bigger ones as they may have more whizzy facilities. Is outside space important to you? It was for me. The quality of management is important. Main thing that sold me though was seeing a baby in a bouncy chair absolutely beaming at me when I visited! Ask how they look after children when they are upset or if they have an accident. If they mention lots of cuddles first off you should be onto a good thing.

Thanks all, I really appreciate your comments. I'm pleased that gut feel ranks so highly with you.
Also, I feel a bit more confident now that I haven't necessarily missed anything.