Nurseries in Beckenham for 6 month old

[gloti]

Hi I hope someone can help me as I don't know where to start...
I'm still pregnant with my first (28 weeks) but people at work mentioned that they already had their childcare sorted by then!
I live in Beckenhamv and planning to send my son to nursery 3-4 days a week from 6 months as I will be going back to work.
Can someone recommend good nurseries in the area? I've looked at kidsunlimited and teddies online but would really like to hear from local mums...
Thanks a lot in advance x

anyone? x

I would never recommend a nursery for a 6 month old having worked in them for 20 yrs and now am a childminder but if you have no other options available and have to use one, i wouldnt go for a chain (all about money) or a ptivate nursery, i would use a community nursery/childrens centre - better quality of staff and care...

Thanks for your comment, can I please ask you the reason for this? Do you think 6 months is too young or in your experience nurseries do not provide good care for babies?
We would be taking him 3 days a week so I can go back to work... Thanks

i just wouldn't ever recommend group care for a 6 month. Particularly the chains and the private nurseries who tend to employ cheap (normally young) staff.

what is your budget? i would chose a childminder or a nanny (if you can afford one) for a baby over a nursery.

That makes sense I guess although one of the nurseries kidsunlimited has an outstanding ofsted report...

Budget is not an issue really I just don't know where to start looking for a nanny or child minder to be honest!

Also, how do to ensure they are reliable,etc?

try Mumsnet local or childcare.co.uk for nannies and/or childminders.

For childminders, call Beckenham FIS. Good Luck

Thanks a lot reetpetit, really appreciate it x

Hi for a list of childminders have a look www.bromley.gov.uk ? Community and living childcare. I'm in Elmers end. Hope this helps

thanks Dorset! I live near Eden Park so not far x

Another childminder here who has nursery experience and totally agrees that group care is not the best choice for a baby and that a childminder or nanny is a better option.
Good luck with it

And remember Ofsted don't know everything, so whatever you choose, read between the lines of their report and then make your own judgement.

My details are on mumsnet local if you decide to go down childminder route and wanted a chat. I had a friend who worked at teddies and she would not recommend it.

My opinion is childminder all the way for young children. It is so important they form trusting bonds with adults in the first year and even the best nursery is going to struggle to achieve this with their ratios and various staff and staff holidays and general group-ness. Plenty of time for socialising when your child is older. I live near beckenham and had plenty of childminders to choose from, found someone wonderful who really cares for my lo, affection, positive regard... (almost) everything she would get from me if I was there. And my lo loves her back. We put an ad up on Childcare.co.uk. Good luck x

thanks everyone I think you have almost convinced me... I'm going to research childminders and maybe see if I can meet a couple

Dorset I might take you up on the offer.
thanks ladies xx