How far in advance do you need to find a nursery?

[Mumblemumble]

How long before you want your child to start at a nursery do you need to secure a place?

I'm returning to London in December and need a a nursery place for early January. I'm stressing about it as there isn't that much I can do from abroad, e.g. not being able to actually visit and look around makes choosing pretty hard. Is one month enough time?

Er, probably not. I live in the provinces and, to get a space somewhere half decent you'd really need to be putting your name down now at the latest. You may have already missed the boat in London - I don't know. Is there anyone you can trust to look around for you? Parents, close friends?...

For London, probably not. Do you know where you will be ? Mnetters would be able to advise, and you could put a deposit for two places and accept that you would lose the deposit on one

Sorry to say but people in my nct class put their kids down last year before birth....and have just learned they don't have spaces for when the babies are 6 months

That's in london i'm afraid.

Where in London and what kind of nursery - day care or pre school? in nappy valley type areas and for day care people sign up a year in advance but you could get lucky and find a cancellation. for pre school i think it is less competitive but I'd still say sign up now... Sorry!

My dds name was down when I was 6 months pregnant, even then they said it was a bit late!!

We're in London.

I agree with others, you definitely need to be booking a place now. 1 month isn't enough. If you get on a few waiting lists now you might lucky with a cancellation.

I managed to get a part time place with 3 months notice so no need to despair if you get started now.

Can you give more details of the area? maybe mumsnetters can advise.

Thanks ladies, even if the news is bad : (

I'll be in W9 - Queens Park. but I guess anywhere around Maida Vale, Kilburn, Westbourne Park would be ok.

Moving back to the UK and not having an NCT class, it's doubly difficult as I don't have recommendations or anything.

Any advice on nurseries in those areas much appreciated!

Or childminders - ideally who take a few children as seems more social. DS will be 1yr in Jan so it's still early for nursery, but I prefer the idea of a place with facilities and structured activities.

Depends totally where in London your'll be based and how old your child will be, the one I work at has vacancies for all ages currently as its open been open a year! Where will you be based, maybe someone here can advise you!

pickcherries where's your nursery?

Have alook at ofsted reports and websites and email your preferred nurseries! Good luck!

It's in Finchley central so unfortunately too far from you! :(

shame!

Mumble you could try oftsted as a starting point, then google the ones you like the sound of - you may find discussions on forums about them. I have registered for 2 local nurseries based just on online discussions.

thanks I've just started trawling through the ofsted reports. Minefield!

As everyone has said, probably not enough time! I had my DDs name down as soon as I'd been to my 12 week scan (wanting a place when she was 12 months old, so about 18 months in advance), they couldn't guarantee a place anf I had to go on a waiting list!!

If you go on the Ofsted website, you can search for childcare providers b y postcose - put in your new postcode and it'll bring up the closest ones. Have a look through the Ofsted reports, then give some of them a ring, and speak to the manager. You'll get a feel for the type of approacvh. When you've got a shortlist, perhaps post on here for views / recommendations? It might also be worth contacting the local NCT branch, explaining your position and see if they can put you in contact with someone who lives in the local area.

Blimey. I didn't even start looking til DS was over 6 months, to start nursery at 1 year. Didn't actually sign up til about a month before he was due to start - this was in July, in Cheshire, for an 'Outstanding' nursery.

mrsalwaysawke Must admit its a fab nursery with only a small number of places, also in Cheshire though.

Having said that, lived in a different location when we were looking at nurseries for older children - enquired when they were 12 months old as I didn't need places until they were 2 (so 12 months in advance again). Only 1 nursery could offer places - my preferred choice eventually offered places the Christmas before they were 3 - so about 1yr 8months after we'd put names down on the waiting list!! I think thats slightly different though as places rarely come up for older children unless the nursery offers more places as the children get older e.g. if you have 20 baby places, chances are those 20 children will stay at the nursery for their entire pre-school years so unless they offer say 30 places for age group 2-3, you're stuck!