New to Reigate - please can you tell me honestly if I have picked good nursery...

[vnewmummy]

Hi,

I am new to the area and a 1st time Mum so have no idea about nursery reputations etc. I have got a place for my DD at Asquith Reigate on Holmesdale Rd. She doesnt go for a couple of months so I have time to look for another if its no good.

The ofstead report is now out of date so if you know please can you help?

Thanks

xx

A friend used it in the past(2+ years ago) and was happy with it afaik. However they can change over a relatively short period of time. Presumably you've visited and liked it, that is as important as reputation tbh.

Hi, Yes I went to have a look last Nov and it seemed ok. Do you know of any better ones in the Reigate area?

Do you need daycare or just a sessional nursery/preschool ? I never used one but Lilliputs in Salfords was popular when ds was small (almost 10 years ago!).

Hi,

It is 3 full days a week...

Hi my son attends a different Asquith nursery near Reigate and we have been happy with it. The manager there knows the manager at Reigate and recommends it. My son has been going to nurseries for a couple of years now and the Asquith ones I have used or been to are the best I've found I'd say. Not perfect, none are, but they are professional and caring which many nurseries are not! I may have to switch my children to Reigate when I go back to work and Asquith would be my choice, if that is any help.

Be warned though, no nursery will live up to your expectations at first as a first time mum!

vnewmummy - Don't panic! In my opinion you have chosen the best nursery in Reigate!

My two children both attended this AC nursery from 6 months to school age, and were very happy, well-loved, made loads of friends, and are socially and emotionally well adjusted. They both still talk fondly of their time there when we look at photos too.

We still know loads of people who have children there , and some of the members of staff, and interestingly the turnover of staff is relatively low, which I think speaks volumes in itself.

The Manager, Angela, was the manager when we first went, and then left to have her own family. She has now returned, and her own children are in the nursery, so that can't be a bad recommendation!

One of the other nurseries in Reigate (think green pond creature...) had a very poor report, so AC is a much better option.

Don't worry - it will be fine!

that is definitely the general consensus that I have heard too!

that used to be the case. However,

Not long ago when we collected our DD from nursery the skin on her arms, legs and face was extremely red and inflammed. Having made enquiries over the phone (as we only saw the full extent of her reaction in the car on the way home) asquith confirmed she took part in cake making in the pre school room in the morning that involved her making skin contact with raw egg (and maybe even eating either cake mixture or the finished cake). DD has had an egg allergy throughout her time at Asquith's.

We were obviously extremely upset and shocked that this could have happened, especially as DD was in a lot of discomfort in the evening because her skin had reacted strongly to the contact with egg even many hours later.

Aside from the incident occuring, the response raised several other concerns about the care being given by their staff. Firstly it appears nobody in the room was aware of DD's allergy, or that she always has medicine and skin cream at the nursery for this eventuality. two weeks after the incident we found out her medicine was discarded last year and we were never told about this...

The incident calls into question the processes this nursery has in place for dealing with food allergies, both in ensuring all staff are aware and that medicine is readily available and used if required; the preparation process for starting introductory visits to a new room in the nursery; and the level of care and attention staff are paying to a child's physical welfare.

hope this post is helpful...specially if you are considering using this nursery if your kids have food allergies.