Changing nurseries - existing nursery wanting details

[IceandIndigo]

We have decided to move our 2 year old DS to a different nursery. The one he's moving to was always our first choice but had a really long waiting list at the time we were looking. Initially we were happy with his existing nursery and probably wouldn't have moved him. However there was a change of management a few months ago and we don't feel that confident with the new manager and her approach, also DS moved to a different room and doesn't seem as settled there as he was previously, although I do really like his key worker and can see she has tried hard to support him.

I gave notice to his existing nursery by email and explained we were moving DS to a different childcare setting that better suited our needs as a family, thanked them for all their support etc etc. I deliberately didn't say anything about being unhappy with aspects of his existing care or where we were moving to.

I was quite surprised to get a follow up call from the nursery admin to say they need the name of the new nursery so DS key worker can write a handover report. They stressed that this needs to be sent directly to his new setting.

Is this normal practice? I did tell them because I felt put on the spot but I didn't really feel it was any of their business where he's going. And if they're going to write a report on my child I don't see why they can't just give it to me to pass on?

Now that the key worker knows where we're going (to a very similar type of setting, and in the same neighbourhood) I feel somewhat obliged to give her an explanation of why we're leaving, so that she doesn't think it was anything to do with her, but it's quite hard to think of a diplomatic way to put it. DS still has several more weeks there and it feels a bit awkward.

Just don’t mention it, and if she’s cheeky enough to directly ask you just explain you’ve been on the waiting list for ages so it’s just time to move, lie and say you have friends with kids who go there or something if you don’t want to be honest. I think the hand over report is fairly normal to be honest, mine did this when I moved nurseries. The new nursery will reevaluate your child when he starts anyway.

They usually do this with schools too. I think it’s about safeguarding as dc can be moved from nursery to nursery with nothing to link them so can fall through cracks. I think this is standard procedure and nothing sinister.

Pretty normal! I moved DS in December and the same happened, and in turn the same will happen again when he moves onto school.

They need to complete a transition document its standard procedure. We are required to complete one when children change settings and when they move on to school.

They do need your permission to share information but if you don't give it expect the new nursery to ask if they can contact the previous one.

I'm sure you have nothing to hide but some people move their children to avoid Safeguarding concerns and also because one setting picked up possible needs and they didn't agree. I had this scenario...I picked up the same needs.

Nothing untoward most of the time..its nice to have an introduction to a new child and an idea of their development before they start.

It’s standard and as awkward as you feel about it, people leave nurseries all the time and it won’t be an issue to them. Hope your child settles better at the new place.

That's reassuring to know that it's standard. The existing nursery is part of a chain and quite commercial in its approach, so I was a bit suspicious that it was part of their market research or something.

Yes this is fairly standard it's safeguarding to stop kids being moved around to keep abuse under the radar,

Ah ok, it hadn't even occurred to me that it was a safeguarding thing.

Yes, really normal. I did the same with our nursery and new nursery before we were planning to move (before the bastard vendors pulled out of the sale at the very last minute and have now sold the house for 200K more than our accepted offer...but anyway!). It's to do the report, but also I do suspect there is a degree of safeguarding involved. They have to account for where children go and that they don't just disappear off the radar.

Normal. We moved nurseries due to covid & a change in where we working (DD went to nursery near work not home). Her old nursery completed a full handover to the new one, including sending her learning journey too them. It was useful as the new nursery knew kinda where she was learning wise & what she was like at nursery etc!