Viewing nurseries - what questions should I ask?

[NobodyKnowsIAmACat]

We are beginning to view nurseries soon for my DS to go to when he is 11 months and I return to work. As I know my brain will just turn to mush when we're there as I don't want to leeeeeave him, could you help me prepare a list of all the sensible questions I must remember to ask? And will I just get a feeling about whether the place is right or not?

I have just been on the phone to my mum to ask her exactly the same thing! She used to run a nursery and is still on the board.

She said to ask about the following:

If you can ask the staff not just the manager about their policies such as staff to child ratio.

Ask about daily routines and whether they can accomodate your own childs individual routine.

Make sure they have progress files for children which contain a record of their milestones and often photos

Ask whether they keep a daily diary for each child eg do they record what they have eaten, how many dirty nappies etc. If not ask whether they would do so for your child

Ask about outdoor space

Ask about one to one time

Ask about how often the toys are cleaned. For babies they should clean toys daily

Whether they have a profile for each child (eg dietary requirements, whether they have a dummy) and how this is communicated to staff.

Be more worried if the place looks too sterile rather than a little rough around the edges. If the toys are a bit battered this means they are used!

I think that was about it. It will be my PFB and I am anxious about leaving him at nursery even though he is not yet born yet! Nurseries near me get booked up very quickly.

Hope this helps.

Thanks angfirsttimer - yes, my pfb too, and very anxious! Very useful questions. It's a whole new world of things to worry about

A good indicator is how the children are with the staff, do they happily go over to them, ask for help, show them toys etc. If you see any parents around have a chat to them too see what it's like from their pov. Also ask about staff turnover, high t/over is not usually a good indicator of overall management.

Agree that some of the best nurseries I've been to are quite shabby looking or if you prefer well loved.

Good tip about things looking well-loved and rough around the edges. We're looking at some places tomorrow, and I think I may have squeezed the appointments a little too close together to ask all the questions I need to!

Well I have just been to look at the two nurseries closest to me and it was rather a relief to see that I would not be abandoning my child to a load of teenage girls. Not feeling quite so panicked about childcare now.
NobodyknowsIamacat - hope your visits went well

Glad you got some reassurance angfirsttimer! Did you get a feeling that you strongly preferred one to the other, or would you be happy with either? I've got 3 visits booked for tomorrow, so fingers crossed!

I think I would be happy with either at a push but did have a preference. I spent 20-25 mins at one and over an hour at the other as I was enjoying watching the kids singing and running around! I think that gives you an indication which one I preferred!

I definately think you get a feel for the place. If you can sneak a look through a window (subtely of course!)before you go in that might give you a better idea of how much attention the kids are getting. At one of the nurseries they have CCTV in the area where I was waiting so that parents can watch how their kids are when they have left them for the first few times (nice idea) but it allowed me to see that the carers definately gave the kids more attention when I was in the room than when I wasnt.

Well, We looked around two places this morning. One was a smaller, more homely nursery and the other was a large, quite new place. The first one felt probably more comfortable, though the baby room is pretty tiny, but he got upset after we left him for around 20 minutes! At the second one, which is large and spacious and new, we didn't leave him as he'd already got quite upset, but he was very jolly while we were with him in the baby room. The new one is also about 25% more expensive. I think my instincts tell me I prefer the first place, but I was busy trying to hold it together, and didn't do too well on the question asking either

I'm sorry it was all a bit stressful for you. Some nuseries allow you 'settling in' sessions for free/reduction so that you can get your LO used to the place before you leave him properly - is that a possibility at either of the ones you looked at?
I am sure it will be fine [smiley optimistic emoticon!] hundreds of kids deal with starting nursery everyday and they get through it ok - so do the mums!
You can remind me of those 'words of wisdom' when I am in bits when I have to leave mine! hope it all works out for you xx

I found this page on my local council website. Hope it helps.

I found that it was kind of like viewing houses when you want to move....you just get a feeling when you're there, you;ll know whether it "fits" you or not. I went with my first instinct and dd's been there for 2 months and now laughs when she sees the gate, knowing she;ll have a good day. Makes my day much easier too!