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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

OK - who can explain to mewhy a Birth to Three room won't work?

51 replies

Katymac · 12/07/2006 17:03

Cos OFSTED say it can't

Surely B23 implies that one room for that age range is good - so why am I being advised to have 2 separate rooms?

It really mucks my idea of number up and I don't know how to make the space work?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SoupDragon · 12/07/2006 17:38

Is it because of staffing ratios?

JackieNo · 12/07/2006 17:39

Because all the toddlers will be rampaging around stepping on all the babies who are just sitting/lying there or just starting to crawl?

JackieNo · 12/07/2006 17:40

Sorry - 'rampaging' implies you'll let them - not what I meant. Just that they have the ability to walk and run and the babies don't.

FrannyandZooey · 12/07/2006 17:42

Babies who are seated / crawling are much safer if kept separate from those who can walk IME. Toddlers throw, drop, and poke, and babies are (literally) sitting targets. Could this be why?

tenalady · 12/07/2006 17:43

2 to 3 year olds are known for poking babies in the eyes!

Original poster

Katymac · 12/07/2006 17:54

I do it atm
I have 9 - I can see why having 12 would make it any different

OP posts:

SenoraPostrophe · 12/07/2006 18:00

I think it's because otherwise ofsted might not get its money's worth out of its inspectors?

blueshoes · 12/07/2006 18:58

Because a babyroom for non-mobile/crawlers can be nice and carpetted while a toddler room is not because they might wee and poo all over the place when toilet training?

Original poster

Katymac · 12/07/2006 19:41

I keep getting 0.25 of a person

and I can't cut them up

OP posts:

sparklemagic · 12/07/2006 19:50

thinking back to when ds was a baby, I would have HATED the idea of him being in a nursery setting with kids up to 3, who are huge, rampaging creatures when your precious precious tiny baby is sitting at floor level or laying flat on a playmat as they need to do for their healthy development.....the potential for accidents and for chaos sounds awful, can't see many parents wanting this sort of environment.

EvesMama · 12/07/2006 19:51

is this at your home?or are you opening a group?

Original poster

Katymac · 12/07/2006 19:53

A school have asked me to consider opening daycare/fundation stage as they are always short of reception children (they go to nurseries atached to school then go to that school)
I am trying to put together a proposal that will make me (a very small amount) of money - instead of costing me

OP posts:

EvesMama · 12/07/2006 19:56

how many people will be working with you? or just you?

it may be the amount and age of the children you have make them think it would be too much(ie: 3 under 1 etc??), even though im sure you could handle it, they prob have red tape to stick too??

Original poster

Katymac · 12/07/2006 19:58

It's getting scarily big - nearly 30 children (so the ratios work out)

I had it at 24 with perfect staffing 1:3 for under 3's and 1:5(ish) for 3-5's but if the 2-3 have to be separate to the under 2's it all goes pearshaped

OP posts:

Original poster

Katymac · 12/07/2006 19:59

I'm off out now (going drinking with a pal)

So if you solve my problem......do post it (so I can read it while drunk)

OP posts:

MrsBadger · 12/07/2006 20:03

look at that pdf from community playthings - they show how to divide up a space so the toddlers never go through the baby area to get to anywhere and there's a fenced-off space for pre-walkers to play safely away from the toddlers.

Original poster

Katymac · 12/07/2006 22:18

I suggested that to OFSTED today - but they didn't like it

"you would be unlikely to get a 'good' with that sort of set up"

OP posts:

hulababy · 12/07/2006 22:24

DD's nursery does 0-2 and then 2-pre school. However it is just one large room, with a dividing cupboard structure seperating the two. the cupboards are waist high so each group can see and communicate with the other easily, and they are often united for activities. The nursery always does very well in OFSTED inspections.

Original poster

Katymac · 12/07/2006 22:27

That's what I thought

The standards say under 2's should be in a separate area/room - but the guidance say it could be in a base in a larger room but the inspector said that it couldn't

I'm so confused

OP posts:

hulababy · 12/07/2006 22:29

Well ours is definitely in same room. It is an L shaped room. The smaller side is for the 0-2s. The other side is for the older ones, with a partioned off room within it, now used as play base such as a shop, home, school, etc. It used to be a sleep room once.

It works really well, especially as there are a lot of siblings. They get to see each other constantly and are not seperated up. 4yo DD adores being so close to the babies - she gets certificates for helping out in the baby section

As I say OFSTED always rate the nursery highly.

Original poster

Katymac · 12/07/2006 22:32

Could you link their OFSTED report? (I understand if you would rather not)

What number of children are in the nursery (just roughly)

OP posts:

hulababy · 12/07/2006 22:34

It is only a small nursery, probably less than the numbers you have mentioned. There are probably no more than 6 under 2s. There are more older ones than that but no more than a dozen at any one time.

Off to bed in a sec, but will see if I can find their ofsed tomorrow evening after work. Can't link to it on thread but will try to CAT you it.

Original poster

Katymac · 12/07/2006 22:37

Thank you I appreciate it

So is that 18 in all?

24 would only be a bit bigger.......

OP posts:

mumeeee · 12/07/2006 23:21

It's because of the staffing ratios and the differnt needs of the over 2's to the under2's. But you would be able to use one room if it was partioned in to two areas.

Original poster

Katymac · 13/07/2006 07:46

So could I have 1 member of staff in with 3 babies and one member of staff with 4 2yo's?

(obviously with cover for toilet/tea/meals)

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