Not sure if I should change my sons nursery

[Summerdays2014]

Hi,

I have a few concerns about my 18 month old sons nursery. He has been going 3 days a week since he turned one and has settled in really well. He seems very happy there and the staff are lovely. He's always happy to go in the morning and playing happily when I pick him up. He eats and naps well (unlike at home...)
However, I'm concerned that he doesn't get outside enough. When he was in the baby room (upstairs) he only went out a handful of times and only when the weather was nice. Now he's transitioning to the toddler room he is going out each day, but only in the mornings.

Also, they don't do any activities like forest school, going for trips, classes coming in like sign language/dance etc. Not sure if this is a problem but I've seen that other nurseries do it.
They always have the same thing for 'tea' at 3.30 - ham or cheese sandwiches or pizza and then yoghurt or malt loaf. Is this normal? They also give the same snacks every day - rice cakes, raisins and fruit. I think more variety would be better. I also know they give chocolate rice cakes and sweetened yoghurt which I'm not happy about.
I haven't had any feedback other that his daily sheets with what he eats, when he sleeps what he's played with etc. I seem to think I should have had some info on his progress since January. I always chat with the staff but should I have something more formal?

I haven't raised any of these issues and I'm not sure if I'm being silly. Would any of these be deal breakers for you? I'm not sure if I'm expecting too much? He seems happy and settled so I'm reluctant to move him, however I'm not sure he's getting the best deal? I looked around several nurseries before picking this one and chose it because it was small, clean and new, the staff seemed lovely and so child focused. Now I wonder if I let my initial impressions cloud my judgment. I instantly dismissed ones that were a bit 'tired' even though they offered a forest school and sign language lessons etc. More fool me?

Sorry this is so long. I'm just trying to get my thoughts down I guess. Thanks for reading.

Are the nurseries that offer bought-in classes and a more varied menu more expensive?

Elizabeth. No, all round me are pretty much the same price, around the £40 a day mark.

Hmm, all the nurseries I looked at for DD all had free-flow inside and out. That's something that's quite important to me. Ditto a good variety of food.

I think you may have missed a trick going to for the shiny new one - but it's an easy one to do. I'd either revisit the other nursery or speak to the staff about your concerns.

He's happy, you like and trust the staff - that sounds ideal.

I'm not sure children need all that other stuff. It might be nice to know more about what they do outside - is there a nature garden? Do they play structured outdoor games? Bit at 18m, I'm not sure sign language classes (or whatever) are really going to add much to his experience.

Full disclosure, my son goes to a nursery a little like the one you describe, and he is well-loved, secure and happy there. They do spend quite a lot of time outside, and have more than one outdoor space to use, but there's no Forest school or bought-in classes. I don't think he's missing out.

Hi
I am a nursery nurse and in my 12 years experience that is a typical day nursery routine. Very little time outside due to space and every week the same menu.
I work in a forest school nursery now and feel that it is a much better and rewarding experience for under fives.
We go out all weathers unless it is too cold or the weather is to dangerous.
The children love it. My son also attends my nursery and loves it too. I wish I sent my eldest to a forest school instead of a pre-school in a church hall.
It is all a matter of opinion and it does depend on the child and parents. We have had children who didn't get on in forest school therefore they moved onto a day nursery or a childminder or the parents don't like them being out in the cold.

Our nursery ask for a healthy pack lunch too, which I preferred as a mother as I know exactly what he is eating.

He's happy. You can't have everything; but that is the most important thing. If you move him you could lose that, and nothing is worse than a child who is unhappy at nursery or school.

I can see myself writing your post in years gone by! However, I don't think he's missing out on anything so long as he's happy and feels connected there. This is the most important thing for little ones. Does he have a carer or someone he's close to there? That is what I'd prioritise right now.
Also go back and visit the other ones and make sure you take your partner with you (again?) and see what he thinks.

If he's happy and well cared for it seems a bit daft to move him and risk the upset. The things you mention sound quite typical but there's no harm in giving your feedback especially if it's a new setup.

The trips, classes and lack of formal feedback wouldn't bother me, but outside play and variety of food would. Is the lunch menu more varied? How much of the morning does he spend outside?

Thank you everyone. Yes he is happy and that is the most important thing. He is close to his key worker (from both rooms) but lots of other staff and (I know he's too young) but he does seem to be 'making friends' and is always with the same couple of children when I pick him up (very sweet!)
I guess I have to remember it's only 3 days (in fact only one during the holidays as I'm a teacher) and I do lots with and spend ages outside on the other days. Can you go to forest school outside of a nursery (really like the sound of them!)
I think I will go and look round some of the others again, and talk to the staff at the current nursery.
Thanks everyone, it's good to just 'talk' sometimes!

Tilapia, not sure about the amount of time outside to be honest. I just know it's morning only. to be honest this could be an hour or a whole morning I guess... I must ask them. The menu at the other nursery I'm looking at is a lot more varied. They just received outstanding at their last ofsted and that's got me thinking and comparing. I really shouldn't have been so quick to judge when I first looked round.

I am not sure. You should look around in your area.
Ours provide a holiday club however it is for 4+.
Our forest school starts from 2 as well so if you're still not happy maybe put him in one then however if your son is happy and you are maybe leave him there.

In this area nurseries don't seem to have classes coming in. Some advertise trips out, but in my experience those ones over promise and under deliver. So I'd not put much value on those claims unless you see evidence of them.

Going out each day is important to me, but more than once a day wouldn't matter too much to me.

I'd not be particularly happy about chocolate rice cakes or raisins. But sweetened yogurt is normal to a lot of people, so I'd not worry too much about it.

I think you probably need to compromise a bit and only you will know if the compromise is too much for your values. I don't like our nursery offering fruit juice, but I let it go because I like everything else about it.

I wouldn't be overly bothered about extra classes (although when we've had them at my work we've found them so beneficial!) but the food and lack of outdoor play would bother me. We generally spend up to half of the session outside. The food doesn't sound particularly healthy or varied and dried fruit shouldn't be given every day because it's bad for children's teeth (I work in an area where tooth decay in children is very high so we have dental nurses who visit and they advised us not to give raisins for snack). I'd be tempted to consider others, I changed my son's nursery twice with no problems.

Still in shock at the £40 a day. I was paying £88 a day back in 2015! Zone 3 London, nothing flash. Brilliant staff but very mediocre facilities. Long waiting list. I guess it's a supply and demand thing in my part of London (SW).

If you like the staff I would leave him, that's hard to find. You could always ask or make some suggestions?

I currently pay £75 a day in the Home Counties. £40 is a bargain.

It seems that you are getting a lot from this nursery. You trust the staff and your son is happy and you get feedback about his day 👍
Sign language and forest school. These are activities that you and your son can do together. Where I live I know of toddler forest school sessions and sign language classes. These activities need training and should be done properly! I didn't use makaton because I wasn't trained. I would of hated to use the wrong sign.
To know about his progress would be done at a parents evening. I'm sure they will do one by the end of the year! There is a lot that goes into building up a child's learning journey and tracking progress. I'm assuming their learning journals are not electronic as most parents get observations sent home! Every parent has the right to see their child's learning journey folder - ask his key person to see his and take it home to look at.
It's a shame that the menu doesn't have variety! I think this could be better! Do they have a parents voice section where you could fill out a questionnaire or feedback form? Talk to the manager and say how much you love it there. Is there plans for the menu to have more variety or does it always stay the same!
I always listen to parents when they give me feedback! We once had a parent politely say they felt a bit pushed out as staff were cleaning before the end of the session - took it on board and cleaning was done after children left!

I run a children's nursery and we are lucky to have a large outdoor space. We are outside all weathers unless it is unsafe to do so.

I'd perhaps have a chat with the manager or your child's key person and share your views. Maybe it's something they could add into their ethos as a setting?