Nursery closing . . . .

[June2008]

Just wondered if anyone had any experience of a nursery closing and the best way to transfer a toddler to a new nursery?

Our nursery is to close at Christmas - as a result of the withdrawal of a LA grant. It is also on site where I work, so doubly gutting. Dd loves it there and the staff are wonderful.

So, we've been to look at others but none compare for lots of reasons, although we have found what I think is the best of the rest, albeit with a waiting list.

Add a seven week old sibling into the mix and we have a dd who's world is changing completely.

A few questions - do we tell dd that its closing before the last week? How do we persuade her that new nursey is a good idea?

Luckily I am on mat leave until June so we have a while to sort it our but just wondered if anyone had any experience?

is it a surestart children's centre?

You don't say how old your DD is. We moved DD when she was 2 as we had moved house and the former nursery was, although still just about do-able, a fair way in the wrong direction and there was a very good nursery much more local to our new home. We told her that she was too old to be in her current room at nursery and so she was allowed to move into the next room now - and her next room was here [visit to the new place] with [these lovely new adults...]. She accepted it without any question and settled in fine. Is that an approach you can take? we didn't give her much notice, just when we took her in for settling in visits.

Ahh - June 2008 might be a clue! Similar age to my DD at the time then, if that is the case.

Do you know if any of the staff at moving to other nurserys? Maybe you could ask as then they would at least know someone.

Thank you for all your replies - and yes, DD1 was born in June2008!

bigchris - its not a sure start childrens centre - just a nursery run by a charity with local authority assistance in a deprived area.

Jenny, I might try your suggestion about moving rooms, although the nursery she's at atm all the children in together apart from the babies and even they are in with the older ones for some of the day (its only a small nursery).

I've visited another nursery and it seems massive - twice the size of the current one with seperate rooms as I think most nurseries are. The outdoor facilities are second to none though, they even take them boating! And I'm going to see another tomorrow where at least three of the staff are moving to.

Will keep my fingers crossed that one of them will be suitable.