What to look for when picking a nursery

[PatronSaintOfPotplants]

Looking for advice: we have some nursery tours booked for next week for our 2 week old baby, for when I finish may leave in about a year. What should we be looking for in terms of quality care, flexibility, etc? What should we manage our expectations about? Can anyone suggest websites or resources for us to consult? Thanks in advance :)

I picked the one where the people seemed kindest, never regretted it

1. Do they have places when you want to start?
2. What is the quality of their outdoor space and how often do they use it?
3. What is their behaviour policy/sleep policy/policy on breastmilk/reusable nappies (if applicable)?

I think those are the main ones for me.

This. It was also the only nursery that didn’t have a waft of poo as you moved through the building (I was starting to think that was just part of the parcel).

My DC’s nursery has good facilities, but the staff are just amazing. Lots of long term staff who seem genuinely invested in the children. I cant praise them enough.

Gut feel plays a role I think. I was more interested in how the staff interacted with the children, whether it felt warm or not, whether the children were happy approaching staff, how many kids were in the age groups, the homeliness of the setting, rather than some of the stuff around paperwork and curriculum.

Your initial feelings tell you a lot I think. I went to one where I got a very visceral NO reaction when I entered, despite it being an expensive and well-inspected nursery. It just left me feeling cold. Whereas the nursery I picked for DD was cheaper and smaller and not as good-scoring (although still good), but it felt so homely and the staff genuinely seemed to adore the children and were affectionate and so natural.

In terms of things you might want to ask though:

Practical stuff around hours, whether you supply nappies and wipes, is food made on-site or brought in, do they get outside time every day, do they close for bank holidays, etc.

As a poster said, go with the feel. I wouldn't be too swayed by fancy apps or anything - for me it's about staff who genuinely care about the kids. I was also interested in practical stuff like how long they close for in the summer/Christmas but wanted to bear in mind that I think it's important for staff to have a proper break too. Agree with what others have said about flexibility of routine (although be reasonable with this as I learnt, realistically they can't follow a different routine for every child and ultimately there will be an element of your child having to fit in with theirs), and outside space. Also, we love the range of activities our nursery offers - it's very varied and reflects lots of different cultures and experiences. We are in London.

Agree with going with your gut!

Other things which were important to me;
How staff interacted with children
Do the children seem happy
Outdoor space
Routine, are they strict on having them all have same schedule (naps etc) or following the child's home routine.

You just know, the nursery I picked is of a smaller setting compared to some in our area but they have went above and beyond for my child and I can see the love they have for him.

“Good” nurseries should all have the same policies concerning sleep, nappies and feeding, so IMO finding one that fits with your belief won’t set them apart.

For me, when we did the tour I saw how lovely and well behaved the children were. I liked how the staff were interacting with them too. I even saw staff “discipline” and older child and I liked how she did it. The manager also knew all the children’s names - that doesn’t happen everywhere. The outside space was good. Inside was colourful, equipment looked good.

I wanted all food cooked and prepared on site - some big chains don’t.

I wanted somewhere where “extras” weren’t included to make costs fair throughout his time there. Eg we provide the nappies and creams so I can be sure he’s getting what I want, then if we want to take up the options of dance / Spanish classes we pay, rather than all parents having to pay towards other peoples nappies / swimming classes / dance classes etc.

it’s very much a personal preference. Some people might not agree with the above. Go with your gut. You’ll know if you like it or not

Well we are about to leave ours and I really liked it when we chose. They obviously have major, major staffing issues (I do understand that that’s a nationwide problem- the hours are long and the pay is poor)

As a consequence we get harried for every minor ailment during our working days to come and pick DS up. Teething pain, a temp that magically isn’t there once collected, loose nappy, ‘not quite himself’ the list goes on and we are sick to the back teeth of it and it’s no exaggeration to say it’s putting our jobs at risk.

So my advice is to check staff levels are properly in place. Check their policies of what they will ask you to collect for and the exclusion zone that comes after it. It’s unfortunately soured our relationship with the staff there as it’s just not a workable childcare option for us (no outside family help at all, we just have to stop working to go and collect)

Other than that, it doesn’t have to be the shiniest or most modern. Kindness of staff and interaction with the children is far more important. As is the smell. Frequent nappy changes are important and you can smell when these aren’t kept on top off.

This 100%.
With dd1 I was also focused on having a separate sleep room because she was such a terrible sleeper.
I would also recommend looking not just for baby stage but also toddler & pre-school rooms and when they move & how they ensure space etc.

A friend runs a nursery and talking to her about what she offers, I'd want somewhere just like that-

All meals freshly cooked on site, herb and veg garden the kids pick out the ingredients, parents welcome to come take excess grown veg/herbs and weekends and closed periods

Chickens and rabbits on site, with access to fresh eggs (again for parents too)

All toys are educational and fun, wooden, lots of dressy ups, loads of books, lots and lots of opportunity to get muddy and messy, excellent outdoor spaces.

All food, nappies, wipes, milk provided in with the cost, takes childcare vouchers and govt funded hours.

Two nursery vehicles for trips out (daily), nursery backs onto safe woodland for nature walks and forest schools.

Excellent access to motorway links between two cities so easy for drop offs for working parents.

Honestly - I was so impressed with what they offer, just sad mine are past that age

Friendliness and happiness of staff is the most important thing.

I always give the same advice regarding choosing nurseries as I do when house hunting; when you find the right one, you'll know for sure!

I would pick one on gut feel, where the staff are loving, the environment is busy and the children are happy. Good outdoor space that they use a lot. Also, don't just focus on the baby room, look at the pre-school room (easily forgotten when you have such a tiny baby, but in view the most important room in the nursery). What age do they enter it and what is the preparation for school like?