Ok, as I've never done this before,

[BoohPear]

Can you tell me what I need to look out for and what questions are good to ask when viewing a nursery for the first time?

Dd is 8 months but will be a year when she starts.

Help!

You may be able to see a copy of their latest Ofsted inspection online before you visit.

It's a long time since I did this but I would ask:
What are their prices and opening times?

What is the staff to child ratio? [Not sure what current thinking is, I'd expect 1:3 for babies, 1:5 for 2-yrs olds].
Does each child have a key person, what happens if that person is not there?

Do they supply nappies/wipes/bottles or would you need to bring your own?
Later on you would want to see copies of the menu, how and where food is prepared [on site? daily?] and what time meal times are.

Can you see a copy of their policies and procedures?
eg What if there is an accident, will they notify you at once, will you always be required to come and collect your child immediately?
Ask for a parents' handbook to take home.

What are their daily routines like?

Ask to see the toilet and nappy changing areas, are they clean and tidy?

What is their policy on potty training?

What would happen if you needed someone else to pick DD up who hadn't been to the nursery before?

HTH.

Money - do you have to pay when they are closed?
Can you take any holiday and not pay for that week (some nurseries will allow one or two weeks but not many)

Mainly - watch what's happening - look for the staff interacting with, chatting to, cuddling the children. Not standing around chatting with each other.
Exclusion for illness - ask for a copy of the policy eg some exclude for conjunctivitis etc, you want them to exclude for 48h after last sickness or diarrhoea.
Naps - where do they nap? How do they settle them? Maybe ask them not to put her down for a nap at 4pm

That's brill thank you both, gives me a starting block to think of some questions of my own!

I'd go with your instinct too, we saw two nurseries which on paper were similar, DS ended up at both as neither had all the days we needed but one was so much better and is preferred it on the visit, luckily we've got all the days at this one now