Nursery-home communication?

[desertgirl]

What sort of communication would you normally get from a nursery/daycare centre (in respect of the 0-3 year age range)? my son has been going to nursery for nearly 2 years now (I work) and daughter about to start, and although it's a lovely place, I wish they were a bit more communicative, but I don't really know what is normal.

When I pick dd up, they tell me what she has been doing, what she ate and how long and when she slept. Every six months we have a 'parents evening' type affair where they show us their development record books, which include photos of them playing, key milestones that have been observed etc etc.

I think that's about it. Is that the kind of thing you mean?

we get a daily written and verbal report as well as a "formal" review every 16 weeks

My DS is 2.2

Ds is 2.3 - they write activities, food, sleep and toileting in his book everyday and go through it as well as commenting about his day. Every 6 months we also have parents evening.

that sounds lovely! it is much more random where I am, and the people who are there at the end of the day haven't been with him all day. think I'm going to talk to them about it.

I have a brief chat with her key worker every day, they also write a diary including details of nappy changes, activities, sleep and what she's eaten. They also have parents evenings and general newsletters.

dd [18 mo] has a book with notes about food, drink, sleep, nappies. get verbal feedback from staff member when pick up.
ds [nearly 4] just have a chat with teacher every so often when I pick them up - DH is always late so grabs them and runs, can have a more formal meeting whenever we ask for one. they keep a lot of records.

to be honest i think its down to you in a way to initiate the kind of conversation that you would like to have with them, but it needs to be realistic and to the point. i'd think about what you really need to know.

Up to age 2 a little "going home" notebook with details of nappies, milk, sleep, food etc. Some of the parents use it as a 2 way thing and send messages from home, e.g. new things that the child can do. Also a verbal report on picking up (and in the case of babies updates in the day if you phone which they are happy for you to do)

Age 2 plus, a verbal report, also a whiteboard detailing planned activities for the day etc. Parent's evening annually. Office door always open.