KidsUnlimited and nursery menus

[lizja]

Does anyone have experience of the KidsUnlimited chain of nurseries, either positive or negative?

Also, is it standard practice for nurseries to serve puddings at lunch, as opposed to yogurt, fruit etc.?

no experience of them, but the little girl i used to look after had all kinds of things for pudding!

jelly, fruit, apple crumble, rice pudding, yoghurt... very varied

Yes, I thought it was probably the norm. Problem is that my DD has been on the pudgy side for a while, so I've stuck very closely to fruit and yogurt for puddings. I'm worried that let loose on crumbles she'll suddenly balloon again, but of course it's hardly fair to make her eat something different from the others all the time.

DH and I own, and I cook for two nurseries.Puddings are determined/planned in relation to the main meal. Guaranteed winner main eg. Home-made chicken goujons, potato wedges, finger vegetables = Fresh fruit dessert.
Lentil and vegetable casserole = Chocolate sponge and custard.

If we know they'll love the main, then we can give a lighter/healthier dessert (fruit) . If we hope they'll love/eat the main, we give a guaranteed winner (not especially 'healthy') dessert. The most importnat thing is that they eat, and it all balances out in the end. Ours always have fruit and milk/water for snacks, anyway.

Dentist gave us a talk at DDs nursery and said yogs aim at kids are a nightmare full of sugar

Thanks for those thoughts B99 & Seb (I'm a mean mummy - she only has boring natural yogurts). Interesting info. re. trade-off between main and pud.

Anyone else any thoughts on KidsUnlimited?

DS1 was at a KU nursery for a few years. As far as I can tell food was of a decent standard, i.e. cooked on-site, use of organic ingrediants. Puds did include "traditional" items like sponge with custard, as well as healthier things, but I believe that is typical of nurseries. Snacks were fruit, and drinks were water or milk only.

Hi Azure, were you happy with KU on other fronts? Anything I should look out for?

I was generally happy with them and felt the nursery to be much better than others I had looked at. My only complaint was towards the end of the time DS1 was there, there was a high turnover of staff and manager - I don't know why this was the case at that time.

My DD was at a KU nursery for 4.5 years, and DS is now at one - absolutely love the nurseries themselves - obviously only have experience of one. Staff v caring and friendly, plenty of different activities, no additives policy for food (although I don't believe organic at the one DS is at).

However not very impressed with head office and their efficiency. I know of several parents both from 'my' nursery and other KU ones in the area who have had problems with the amount they're charged (ie, the wrong amount) and had a really difficult time sorting it out. One mum I know has actually taken her son away from another KU nursery because she had such hassle with head office.

But having said that, I really do rate the nurseries themselves very highly.

hth

Thanks jax & Azure. I was impressed with the nursery and the staff when I went round, so I'm just hoping now that they can give me the days I need. It's great to hear endorsements from people who've obviously been using the nurseries for a while, especially since I'm new to this game and it'll be DD's first time at nursery.