I think I’ve found THE nursery already

[pinklemonade84]

I’m not sure if I’m being silly, or if this is a good thing

We visited a nursery yesterday for dd and she just slotted in as if she had always been going there. The staff were lovely and put me right at ease to the extent where I left dd in their care for half an hour while I looked round the rest of the nursery. Which, is a huge thing for me because dd is epileptic and has only ever been left with family.

When we got back to the room the children were going for their afternoon snack and dd followed them through to where their tables are and sat down. And the staff were so lovely and got dd a drink of water and a portion of the snack that the children were having.

We have another visit booked for somewhere else tomorrow and even though it has better play equipment outside and would have been my first choice before yesterday, I can’t help but keep thinking to myself the place that I want her to go is the place that we saw yesterday.

Take this nursery. Happiness of your DD is by far the most important thing

That’s lovely I think gut feeling and your daughter being happy are the most important things in nursery choice!

I would go to the other one for the sake of comparison but I think gut feel is the most important thing so if you still feel the same tomorrow- job done.

When you find the right place, you just know. I had a similar experience when going round primary schools.

Oh yeah, get her in there pronto. As much as toys/outdoor space etc etc is important, nothing compares to the feeling you get when there. I wish DD was old enough to leave her playing whilst we looked around but she was only 11 weeks when we went! She starts in September and although I'm terrified I'm confident we've chosen the right place.

See how you get on tommorow, but the chances are if your dd enjoyed it and you have a good gut feeling then you could have found one that's perfect!

Our daughter was the same. She wasn't able to get any space in our local two nursery catchment area and took a HV for her to get placement at the one where she is now.

I LOVE the staff and the school/nursery is attached to our chapel priest so works out well friend wise too.

Have a look at both then make your mind up, I had my heart set on the first one I saw because the age groups were separated and felt needs for every age group were met (only downside was travel), I hated the second we visited because it was a mixed group and my son was heckled by older kids to the point he fell over and banged his head, the third was a mixed group and he loved it and was great with the older kids without any heckling (this is nursery I’ve put his name down for that originally I wasn’t going to even consider) and the final one for the sake of just seeing if it was really worth the expensive they are charging.

See how she is with the next one and then make your decision but get prospectus and forms for both. The one I chose I visited on a Friday and on the following Monday I dropped his form for a place in (this was last week), he starts in January 2019 but there were only 4x 2yr old place available so wanted to get in there before anyone

The one we saw yesterday has a huge outdoor space that she would really enjoy, like I say, just not the fancy outdoor play equipment.

I was so terrified about taking this step but they really put me at ease and made it so much easier. The staff said if there were any problems then they would bring dd straight to me.

When I left the room, I stood watching her through the window and she was playing happily and didn’t even notice that I’d gone, she was having too much fun

We did pretty much the same. We just got a good feeling about the people working at the first nursery we visited and offered to pay a holding deposit right away. It's all about the people rather than the facilities

Personally I agree about needing the play equipment in the outside space. We went to a nursery that had massive outdoor space but it was just an empty bit of grass. The one we've picked is much smaller but packed full of play stuff like climbing frames and swings. Much better for their development.

We’ve not long since been back from visiting the nursery this morning

It had the climbing frame outside, but that’s where the preferences ended for me. Something about it felt very forced and awkward to be honest. The staff didn’t come across as genuine as the staff did at the one on Tuesday

If it feels right then go for it. I have taken a place at a nursery more than once which didn't feel quite right due to lack of choice and really regretted it. If you love this one then out the deposit down asap!

It is the staff that make a good nursery, not the outside space or the inside resources come to that
It's the way the staff interact with the children and how well they understand children's needs
Don't be fooled by fancy pants equipment and resources
Go with your heart and choose a nursery where you feel that sense of belonging
It's the emotional environment that is important

I phoned the first nursery and said that I would like dd to start in September when she will be eligible for funding. They actually seemed genuinely happy when I said how happy I was and that I felt dd slotted right in there.

She will still have a very large outdoor play area (that actually looks in better condition) and the staff bring out play equipment each day for them to play on.

I can’t actually quite believe how content and happy with my decision I feel