HELP!! Treetops or Bobby's in Fulham?

[EvieBear]

Hi
I'm trying to decide which nursery to put my dd into in 2 months time. I have her name down for both of the above nurseries but am very confused!
I visited both but found the reception I received at Bobby's cold- I arrived 10 minutes late and the owner was very "ooh I'm not sure we can do your tour now" in a very stern tone. It ended up being possible so I went into the baby room first where a few staff were on the floor w babies but another woman sat in a chair. I smiled at her but she just glared at me leaving me quite uncomfortable. The other thing I feel strange about is that there are young chaps working there and when I spotted one of them changing a little girls nappy I felt it was very odd - am I being old fashioned???

Treetops Fulham - I had a tour here and the staff seemed warm and welcoming, taking my baby on their knees while I looked around etc.

I'm apprehensive about the whole nursery thing but would love any opinions on these nurseries!!!
Thanks

Go with your own instinct!

'young chaps' -are you for real?

Go with your instincts but
i do feel you are being old fashioned about the opposite sex working in nurseries. I work in a nursery where we used to have a guy working with us ( he left to move away not any other reason) and the children really liked having him around.
They have to go through all the same checks as us ladies.

Find out how long Treetops have owned the Fulham one. It may be absolutely fine but they've just taken over a couple including dd's one and they're making loads of unwelcome staff changes although they have brought in new toys etc and revamped it a bit. If they've had it for a while then what you see is what you're getting but if someone visited dd's nursery a month or so ago they'd see a slightly different picture now.

Good luck

I missed the bit about the men. One of the staff changes I mentioned was that dd's male key worker has 'gone'. She loved him and we're really sorry about it so yes you are being very old fashioned.

Treetops used to be Happy Times. My DD1 went there for 8 months or so (until we moved in 2008). I found it good, especially the fact that it was open until 6:30, which took the pressure off if I was stuck on the train. They were also pretty organised and the food was excellent. DD1 loved the staff. No idea what it has been like since it changed hands, but staff turnover is something I would definitely check out.

I never managed to look at Bobbies! They told me to put my name down and that they would call me if there able to offer me a place and only then would I be given a tour. They wrote to me every few months to ask if I still wanted to be on the waiting list. It seemed to escape them that I might need to plan my return to work. This was in 2007 btw, and I did know people who were very happy with Bobbies (nb, it closed at 6 though so they were always sweating it on the train home). It was also cheaper, although who knows whether this has changed.

I don't think a man changing nappies would bother me at all. What I would look for it how the staff interract with the children. Do the older ones come up and talk to the staff? Does the manager know all the children's names? And I would ask about turnover.

Thanks so much for replying. As we all know these decisions fall to us mums, my partner doesn't seem to be bothered at all about where dd is going to go to nursery, so I have no one to bounce ideas off.

Do you think I could still put these questions to the nurseries now e.g. staff turnover etc or would they be suspicious?

So I'm being old fashioned re the male nursery workers? Oops! I think what's playing on my mind is that one of these male workers lives with his parents near a friend if mine and she has has ongoing issues about his late-night and very loud parties when his parents are on holiday? Is this weird or should I just think that I probably wouldn't have known this had my friend not lived near him. I'd love your opinions as I'm anxious about choosing the right place for dd and bring relaxed about her when I'm in work.
Thanks a mill, it means a lot to hear opinions.

Sorry to say but dont think you should be comparign the guy on his late night parties as like you said you wouldnt know this if your friend didnt live near by. He needs to be judged on his abilities at work.

Definately ask questions about turnover etc if it concerns you though.

I'd def ask about staff turnover at the Treetops one, and about qualified staff numbers as these have been issues at ours since Treetops took over.

But, you are being old fashioned about the men working there. And if he has loud parties, it says nothing about his abilities at work.

Doesn't your partner ever change nappies? Men are just as capable as women.

I do not recommend to anyone to send their child to Bobbies, my experience of sending my child there was terrible. I would not recommend it to anyone.

is this your first dc? Have you looked at any other nurseries?

Sorry that was a bit of a test question as I wanted to make sure I had namechanged correctly!

I have experience of both. I prefer Treetops. Their facilities are great and the staff were wonderful.They have been there about a year now and I would reccommend them.

Lori73- what was wrong with your experience? Admittedly my ds went there a few years ago. I remember it was cheaper than a few of the others but there were things I disliked about it too. It may sound daft but one of the workers would take a child for a nappy change and say 'lets go change your bum shall we?' That really made me shudder. The outside space was not great either......

recommend

EvieBear - I think your first impressions on arriving at Bobbies say it all. I should have gone with my gut instinct but didn't. On your other point, I definitely would not worry about there being a male staff member. Londontown - yes it was cheap but I wish I had paid more to send my child somewhere else. My child is now at a different nursery and we are all very happy with it.

Lori73- could you give me more details on why you wouldn't recommend Bobby's playhouse in Fulham? I'd really like to know more. Thanks.

Londontown - thanks for your reply. It really helps as it is my first dc and so I don't really yet have any other non-first time parents to ask where they've put their children and why.

My DS went to Bobbys. Based on my own experience, Heaven help you if you ever want to raise any concern you may have with the owner there about your child. I had anticipated a sympathetic, understanding attitude but instead I received a response that was very defensive, and which really bordered on the ridiculous. For that reason I wouldn't recommend it.
I don't have first hand experience of Treetops so am afraid I can't give you any advice one way or the other on that one. Good luck

hi EvieBear - I am sure everyone's experience is different, and I can only speak for myself. Personally, I found the manager a very difficult lady to deal with. For me, this was not the kind of relationship that I wanted with the manager of a place of where your dear little one is being left, particularly when it is your first child. The staff in the rooms were ok and I do not direct any specific criticism towards them. Kotek has nailed it on the head with the message recently posted.

All I can say is that my experience with nurseries since then has been very different (for example, the managers at the nursery I changed to have always been friendly, understanding and genuinely willing to listen to any questions one may have without making you feel like a fool for raising them) and I would not hesitate to recommend my child's current nursery to everyone!! The carers are also kind and fantastic with the kids and a lot more motivated.

All I wish in hindsight was that I had used a website like this for some feedback before I had had to make my decision first time round.
Go with your gut instinct. I guess you could ask for another tour round or phone to ask any more questions you have, maybe that will help you decide. Best of luck to you and your little one.