Oh goddd, how do I find a nice nursery?

[FrannyandZooey]

???

That's it really, I can't find one I like. Can someone else do it for me please?

Was just going to post the same question!!! I think I'll know by gut instinct immediately, but am currently looking for ft care for dd, so am extra paranoid about everything at moment.

Where are you & do you really want to look at just a nursery, why not a childminder? There are plenty of really good ones out there. Just remember that under the current round of Ofsted Inspections more childminders are gaining an 'outstanding' grading than nurseries!

Fran, I think you are somewhere in Essex and have one ds aged 3 (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Are you looking for a Full Day Care Nursery, or are you looking for somewhere to use your son's Educational Sessions entitlement (as he gets educational session funding from September - term after his 3rd Birthday)?

If the latter, then I would suggest looking locally at pre-schools/playgroups. Talk with other parents you meet locally about where their little ones go, as that will help build a picture of where is popular.

You say you can't find one you like... so that implies that you have started looking. What is it about places you have seen so far that you dislike? What would be your ideal pre-school/nursery.

Personally, I prefer the small establishments. They rarely run at a profit so physical things like condition of toys may not be ideal, but the staff are much more friendly I find and general atmosphere is better, as it's a community service rather than a profit making business.

maybe nurseries just aren't right for you?

I remember looking at loads of nurseries, was determined that I would put DS in a nursery .. but when push came to shove I never quite liked any enough

in the end I chose a childminder because .. well it felt right for me

Ooh replies! Thought this had died a death.

Erm, I don't feel he needs any 'educating' at the moment (am not into formal education for small children) but I would like him to have somewhere to go to be a bit more independent, and make relationships with other adults. He is very bright, talkative and sociable and makes very strong friendships given a chance.

He still sleeps in the morning and I can't see that changing for the near future so I am looking for afternoons sessions. I also only want him to go one session a week at first (possibly increasing to 2 sessions age 4). Yes I would use his vouchers to cover the costs, or part of the costs.

My problems so far have been:

finding a place that does afternoons
finding a place that does not insist he does 3,4 or even 5 sessions a week
finding a place where they give a toss but are not really formal and structured with lots of early reading work etc going on.

Basically I want him to be able to run around somewhere and do play dough and painting, have a story, chat with a friendly adult, play with some other children, for a couple of hours once a week.

IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK????

Nick you are spot on in your memory. I have only found one that I thought might fit my criteria (oh I forgot to mention, I have no transport so it has to be within walking distance too ) and it was shoddy and naff. I am picky and I am an ex-nanny / nursery worker myself so I feel it is doomed :(

I am starting to consider a childminder or creche instead, but ideally I would like him to enjoy the facilities of a nursery (art materials, expensive Montessori toys etc)

Oh bloody hell. It is very hard.

If you are finding it hard, so are other families in your area. Have you considered doing something yourself? Sort of like a Toddler Group for older children. Could rent a community hall one afternoon a week and do all the things you want to do. If less than 2 hours, then no registration difficulties. - Just a thought.

I'm about to go through similar -looking for a nursery for DS (nearly 2) for the same sort of socialising (in groups and without me) reasons.

I've phoned for info from a few and I'm planning on visiting them over the next week or so (some of them we looked at for DD 4 years ago).

From chatting on the phone to them it seems 2 half days are the minimum they recommend otherwise its a big gap between sessions if its only once a week. Most places seem to offer either mornings or afternoons -DS sleeps after an early lunch so we're looking at morning sessions.

When we looked at places for DD I remember that the one we chose seemed right immediately -huge garden, lots of outdoor play, big rooms, evidence of lots of creative play/arts and crafts, general atmosphere.

Whats public transport like by you F&Z? Would that enable you to cast your net further?

Oh god nick, don't get me going :)

I started up my own p+t group because I couldn't find one I liked, now I run 3 activity groups (music and movement and heuristic play). Ds really, really needs some time in a group where I am not the boss.

I don't know if other parents are having the same problems. Other people seem to be able to do mornings, many have transport, and generally people seem happy for their children to go several sessions a week.

I do appreciate your ideas. Sorry I am being negative about the whole thing.

Yes possibly Betty. I suppose if I have to go far, I am not going to have the added benefit of having some time to myself that day. Which would be a nice little extra :)

But yes, it is something I should look into.

have you googled montessori essex nursery? Some might pop up that are less than full blown nurseries

Don't get me going!! - I walked around loads of Nurseries and decided I wouldn't leave a dog in half of them. I started my own private day nursery when my daughter was a baby and retrained as a Nursery Nurse. It was the best thing I ever did for her - she has now flown off to school!! My advice - don't be put off by horror stories, a good Nursery like mine can be fabulous for your child's development in all ways especially socially. Consider the following : - view as many settings as you can
-why won't they send you a prospectus or give information on phone?(is this an indication of Customer Care)?

• think about the 'feel' and the welcome you get
• the cheapest is probably not the best (you get what you pay for)

-why do you have to make an appointment to view?(in our Nursery you don't - it should run as smoothly and look same whenever you call in) -Ask about staffing ratios (what happens lunch times when staff go on lunch) -Do they give a trial (we offer a free half day trial as a mark of confidence) -Is the Manager extra and do they have extra staff to cover sick/leave or use agency staff -Ask if staff are qualified to level 3 (Nursery Nurse equivalent) -Look for pictures and work on the walls -Ask about settling in and activities -Along with usual is it clean -Are the staff sat playing with the children -Don't be intimidated (if you are made to feel like that it's not the right Nursery) -Are they happy for you to go back with partner/grandparents

• Go again with your child (do the staff talk and make a fuss of you and your child)?

-You can also view nursery inspection reports on-line. Although these are not all are reliable as these inspections are announced weeks before due so settings can prepare

GOOD LUCK