What happens at nursery?

[SparklingJoyous]

Just wondering as my little one will be starting nursery soon, with a staff ratio 1:3. I've obviously visited the nursery and staff are lovely but these ratios make me so anxious. How do they supervise 3 babies at once? Can anyone give me insight and examples of what they do with the babies.

DD started when she was 9 months, she's 10yo now so it was a few years ago and changed as she got older.

She'd go in first thing and generally there would be a breakfast time where they'd sit and have cereal or toast while all the kids trickled in, any kids not eating would play and there would be staff in the room on hand if any needed help or to get handover from a parent.

They had free range to be in or outside so there were always some staff inside doing short activities like messy play, crafts, I'll call it cooking but it was usually something like splatting icing on mcvities digestives, splashing in the water trays, moving sand around with little buckets. Then there would be some staff outside watching while the kids used the trikes, scooters, slide/obstacle course, sandpit, big wooden blocks etc.

There would be certain times when they'd all be bought back in for a snack or to try for a nap, or for lunch/dinner. They also had routines like all of them brushing their teeth after lunch (EYFS requirement).

The staff also need to document the kids learning at points so will take photos, or do little assessments (like games) to see if they are meeting their EYFS milestones, update their records and to work towards the qualifications the staff need to obtain and keep updated.

Remember that everything takes longer when you're dealing with kids en mass, so while sitting for lunch might be a 20 min job at home, it can take 15 mins just to get all of them in the same space, with bibs on, sat down and ready for food, then when the food is bought out there's lots of distractions, then they al need their faces wiped and bibs off, so lunch turns into an hour or so of activity.

It's rare there are only three babies, so you will have an adult for every three babies meaning there could be three or four adults in the room and the babies will go to each adult freely through the day. They usually bond quickly with the adults if they are there at each session.

Staff will usually do breakfast for the early arrivals and set up morning activities or toys. Baby rooms tend to have a little less structure than older rooms as babies sleep or need bottles at different times through the day.

They usually get some outdoor play time, in the summer and nicer weather this is likely to be free flow. A more structured activity may be in place, especially for children at the top end of the age group who might transition soon. Most structured activities are fairly short and changed frequently due to the attention span of the little ones.

Books and songs/rhymes are usually part of the day every day as this helps language development. Some babies may need more one to one time than others if they are settling on going through some other developmental stage/illness.

Lunch will take a while as adults need to get them cleaned up and ready to eat in their chairs and then clean them up after. Nappies are changed as needed or by schedule.

They are well cared for and even from baby room can make some close friendships.

You've got to remember the room will be set up to be safe - there aren't stairs to fall down, cupboard doors to get fingers trapped in, a TV to pull over like there would be at home.
So the babies will be bumbling around playing independently a lot of the time and won't need an adult following them around or having eyes on them every second.
You could have one adult setting up an activity, one out changing a nappy and then one adult sitting on the floor watching the other 8 babies.

You can look at videos on youtube about things like "a day in the life of a nursery practitioner" or tours of nurseries. There's one here looking at an apprentice who works in a baby room. With the proviso that all settings will be a bit different!

When I worked in the baby room at a nursery we would have babies from 3 months (although that was rare, most would be 6+ months) up until they were steady on their feet, so usually about 15-18 months). We would usually have 6 babies and 2 adults in the room. We used to do some outside play and messy play inside every day. 3 meals a day which would often take an hour each. Nap time. Then quite a lot of free play where they would be crawling about, pulling all the books of the shelves etc.

Thanks for responses
What is it like at meal time? I watch my little one like a hawk because I'm so worried about choking but she has only just started weaning (baby led)

An adult will be sitting with them while they eat. There's a requirement of the EYFS that children must be in direct sight and hearing of an adult while eating.

What age will your baby be going? By 9 months they will have been eating for some time and be used to eating more actual food and feeding themselves, and will tend to be on 3 meals and 2 snack a day, so a 1 to 3 ratio is fine for meal times at nursery. Mine both started at that age and had no issues.

Where in the eyfs does it state teeth brushing after meals is a requirement?

@nottodaytomorrow

help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/oral-health

Oh so they only need to "promote" oral health not perform. Thanks though just wondering why none of my under 5s have ever had teeth brushing in part of their days at nursery when i saw your comment