help with choosing a nursery

[mankymanger]

I had my first visit to a nursery today. It is a community one so in a block of council flats and the corridor smells of fags but this hasn't put me off it. I saw the manager and she was really nice, experienced, answered all my questions. DS is 9 months but hope he can stay there til 4-5. Emphasis seems more on play which is a good thing but I am a bit worried that he will go to school and be behind - can they be behind? The preschool section had a bloke in it with kids crawling all over his back. Again, there could be pluses and minuses to this!

Going to see a montessori nursery on weds but have just read in the literature that you have an 'informal' interview and then if offered a place, a home visit to discuss settling in. Now feel like I'm on trial..

I think the community one sounds fab - love the thought of the bloke with kids using him as a climbing frame. I thought all pre-school was about learning through play, rather than formal learning.

Just to add that community nurseries on the whole have better pay, holidays, pension, sick leave and career structure than the private ones, so tend to have the pick of the best staff.

I really want my DD to go to the local community nursery, but it's full at the moment. Her ££ private one is ok, but I do prefer the community one.

I have never heard of having an interview or a home visit for a nursery place. Ds went to a montessori nursery and it was great but a lot more laid back that than the one you describe.

I wouldn't worry about your ds being behind his peers at school before children start school the 'education' they receive at home is much more important than nursery.

thanks perkin. I was talking to the manager and she told me she used to work in the private sector (including glossy nobs and whistles one down the road) but the staff were paid really badly so there was a high turnover. She didn't really like being told what to do by head office so left although she wasn't slagging them off.

It sounds great.
All nurseries have to offer learning through play. they shouldnt be teaching anything!!!
thats what the early years teams say.

chilren learn so much through play and a lot of children especially boys are not ready for formal learning until5,6 or 7 !!

dont worry they will learn numbers, letters by absorbing their surroundings.
good luck