What to look for when visiting nursery?

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Hello all,

I'm visiting a nursery tomorrow. My baby is currently five weeks old and I don't plan to go back to work until about nine months but I need to start getting my head around leaving him somewhere

Does anyone have any tips on what to look for/what to ask tomorrow?

Many thanks.

Personally, the main thing I'd look for is that the staff are really engaged with the children, particularly in the baby room.

DD is going to DS' old "good" nursery in Spring. The reason why she's not going to the "outstanding" one nearby is that in two visits I didn't once see a staff member playing on the floor with the children.

After that, security, cleanliness and the quality of food, I think, and whether I felt I could build a good relationship with the staff I met.

Not a 'what to look for' tip, but just to say that when I looked at nurseries for DS at 4 months I sobbed afterwards because I couldn't bear the thought of leaving him. When it actually came to leaving him at 11 months I felt much, much better. It's hard to imagine how you'll feel in a few months (or how much bigger and more robust your child will be).

How many key workers per child
Do other children their seem happy when you visit
What activities do they do with the children, can you see examples, painting, crayons, toys on display etc
Do they visibly play with the children
Is it bright and clean
What would they .do if your baby cried a lot
Do they change nappies on demand or at fixed times
Do they put babies down for naps at fixed times or will they be flexible.
What would they do if your child has difficulty napping. And where do the children sleep
Do they go outside (when older), how often
When older, is food included, what's the menu like.
Security, are doors and gates locked.
How do they manage allergies
Do they record what your child does in the day (mine doesn't but they give a "debrief" of eating/sleeping and general activities at pick up)
What's their policy on holidays, late collection, notice if you want to leave
Do you "like" the manager/owner
What's the ofsted like

I would not have had an opinion on this a few weeks ago but I've been doing a placement in a nursery for my uni course and I would now say not to be obsessed with what ofsted say but to look at the interaction between staff and children and also to see how they deal with the transition between rooms. What I mean by this is to check what happens when baby moved to toddler room and toddler moves to pre-school. The perfect scenario would be that the key worker who your baby has bonded with moves with your baby through the setting so there is continuity of care and to carry on the attachment. This way it's not like your baby starting all over again iyswim? At the very least you want there to be a scenario where your baby still has contact with his key worker from the baby room. Don't be suckered in by lovely displays and check that they take the babies out in he fresh air daily, not just cooped up in cots in an artificially lit room. I realise that sounds random!

Don't just focus on the baby room, as that's the first one you will be using, look carefully at all the rooms as hopefully you would stay with them for years.

Go with your gut instinct, we didn't get a good feeling about our outstanding local nursery and chose a different one instead.

Ask about their behavioural policy, some nurseries still use time out which isn't considered best practice now.

Make sure they have lots of outside time.

As a poster above, I also cried after viewing nurseries, I just couldn't imagine leaving him there. Try not to let that cloud your judgement. Good luck

Tips.yes stop beating yourself up anticipating how hard it will be.lose the face
Ask about staff turnover,turn up unannounced,observe all nursery facilities
And your baby will be fine

Turn up early - not just 5mins, but a good 30mins.

Agree with the above. Also, it can be a bit of a shocker the first time you visit any nursery if you're a first time mum. They're loud, messy and a bit scary for grown ups!! So it's a good idea to visit a few different ones to get a feel.

Ask about they're sickness policy. Will they take a child with a heavy cold? What happens if they get a temp? Will they give calpol without a doctors prescription? Will they give antibiotics? Lots of nurseries will send home at the drop of a hat which is a nightmare for work. Ours has a sensible policy of if you're happy to leave, they will take, other than d&v of course, or a temp over 38 that doesn't respond to calpol.

Do they integrate age groups or are the babies always shut away in a separate room. DS nursery is open plan with gates and they're all together for meals and circle time. This is great for development for little ones and teaches caring for the older ones.

Go with your gut feeling. I saw several recommended by friends and could feel my stress levels rising. Found DS's nursery and knew as soon as I walked it that it was the right place for him.

I would want to find out how they deal with staff absence, do they use bank staff or agency.

Also ask if there is a key person 'buddy system' whereby if your child's key person is sick/ on annual leave, the 'buddy' would step in.

Again, like others have suggested above, ask about how often children go outside. This would ideally be free flow for older children. Also do they do library visits? Visit local green space?

Good luck with the upcoming visits

Can you ask any local mums for recommendations (maybe via MN Local if you don't know any that use nurseries)? Personal recommendations can tell you a lot more than OFSTED reports.

Also, be practical about location if you'll be trying to balance drop offs/pick ups with work. Toddlers can be tired at the end of the day and it's best to have a short trip home.

It's a good idea to do your research early on as some nurseries can have waiting lists, especially the popular ones, so I wouldn't leave it too late.

And try not to worry, most children enjoy nursery and a good nursery can be great for their development. It'll be far harder on you, your baby will most likely adapt very quickly.

I think that staff retention is the most important thing to consider. If the nursery is happy place then there will be staff who have been there for years. Access to outside space is important for development.

I agree that asking about sickness policy is important. If a nursery accepts ill children to readily then your child will be ill more often.

Also at 9 months your child will be eating, How do you plan to wean your child? And will they comply with it

Look at a few and compare.
Arrive unannounced and ask to have a quick look around.
Ask how long staff have been there.
Of course Ofsted reports.
How much time do they get outdoors?
Good luck

I think there is not much point visiting now as you don't know all the things that will matter to you in 9 months!
Can't you wait and do it when you are nearer the time you will need the place ?

No no don't wait!

A good nursery will be booked up ages in advance. I booked my cd places as soon as I'd had my 12wk scan! And it was very necessary.

I booked 12wk pg.they had huge waiting list.dont delay baby rooms are popular

Don't panic op it depends on the area.

Is 4mth adequate time to find a good nursery place?

Go with your gut feeling! Also, look for how clean it is & ask about staff turnover.

I went to our nursery before ds was born - there was a baby boom & I was worried about places. At the end if the day what matters is love, consistency, safety & good food is a bonus.

Like I said, gut feeling will tell you what you need to know and at the end of the day if it isn't good enough you can change without any lasting effect on your child.

As a working mum I've found it useful they'll give calpol, anbesol etc without calling. They don't send them home at the drop of a hat & will take prescription medicine. But cos they love him it lessens the guilt when I have to send him in when he's less than 100%

Not sure about arriving unannounced. You can't expect to turn up and wander in when you feel like it. A decent nursery will have a secure door system in place and won't let strangers in that they are not expecting!

Thanks so much, everyone.

I hated the nursery. I'm not sure if it's too early to be able to look at things objectively.

It wasn't overly clean, the babies slept on 'mats' on the floor, which looked like dirty rugs, 'mats' was way too luxurious a description!! Is that normal?

We had baby with us and only two of the staff even looked at him, asked after him and cooed over him a bit. All the others were disinterested!

I definitely need to look at some others, maybe this is just what nurseries are like and I'm expecting too much. Or maybe it's too early and I'm looking at things too emotionally.

Also, it was an open day with no children present, I think I need to see other nurseries with the children there so I can see how the staff interact with them.

The nurseries I've contacted don't seem to have massive waiting lists, which is a positive!

Would you consider a Childminder?

No OP. That's not a normal (good) nursery. At DS old nursery where dd will be going, the babies sleep in cots with their own bedlinen put away between sleeps and the mattress wiped over with antiseptic before the next baby uses it. Once their out of baby stage yes there are mats and cushions for naps but they're clean.

The Hoover is out a lot. The floor has some marks but the whole place is cleaner than mine! The toys get disinfected twice a week.

And the staff have always been wonderful not only with DS but us too. Lots of cooing over dd when she arrived too. I have often arrived to see him sat on a knee having a cuddle.

What you're describing is how i felt about one of the nurseries i saw. Keep looking!

as someone whi currently works in a nursery i would add:

• check how long staff are working there. high staff turnover indicates the nursery isn't following regulations.
• general atmosphere should be relaxed.
• place should be clean including floors, bed linen, toys etc. if these are dirty its a place I would turn immediatly away from.
• childrens involvment should be obvious by way of artwork etc.
• staff should be interested in your child. if they can't be interested in front of you they def won't be when you are not there.

I think you'll know as soon as you walk in whether you have found the right place or not.

Absolutely no to choos