Nursery

[mehhh]

Hi alll

I have been looking at nurseries for my DD to start in the summer, she will be almost 1 by the time she starts, I've been to view 2 so far:

Nursery 1: 2 seconds from my house, big open plan purpose built place, outdoor area lots of toys, bouncers for babies etc, quite relaxed in terms of routine could go outside whenever they wanted nap whenever etc (they don't actually have any places left at the one I went to visit I just don't really know about nurseries so using as an example) one thing they did do which I really liked and kind of had my heart set on was a app which you could download and they'd upload pictures and progress through the day, progress reports at the end of the day and the babies pick their key worker based on who they warm to most... obviously no spaces but there is one a bit of a drive away which we could try (about 20 mins maybe)

Nursery 2: in a very large old house so smaller closed off rooms, outside area, not as many toys and walkers etc and a lot more basic, a bit more routine based due to the size so can only play outside at certain times, to check up id have to call, I forgot to ask if they do progress reports at the end of the day, babies are allocated to the people who have least etc... this is 10/15 minutes drive and on route to work

So basically, which kind of environment do you prefer? Is it unusual for the app thing or quite common now? What things do your nursery do which you like/don't like? What would you choose?

Sorry for such a long post about this I just want to make the right decision as I don't want to disturb dds routine once she's settled and happy

That’s a tricky one. Which one did you warn to? Do you know any local parents who use 5he nurseries?

Around here the one everyone tries to get their children into is in a fairly poky terraced house. It’s the staff and the reputation that keeps it full.

*warm

Those were exactly the two types of nurseries we had to choose between when looking for our ds. I liked the idea of the old house one as it seemed more of a home environment and less sterile.

In the end we plumped for the big modern open space nursery (wws also a franchise) with the app that tells us what hes doing all day and it's very much based around his needs. The nursery is so well equipped and he loves his key worker (like yours based on who he naturally bonded with) and I don't regret it one bit. We just had a gut feeling that it met more of his needs. They have an excellent chef on site too which the other one didn't.

The best thing you can do is go with your gut instinct though, it's not an easy decision to make I know

I would say go with your gut, but also wouldn’t go massively out of your way for one either. When our first started nursery, it was probably a 15 minute drive (I worked from home so about 40 minutes round trip to do each drop off and pick up). It was an amazing nursery and very child led and outdoor based, so worth it (also the next closest was about a 20 minute drive away so no closer!). I think pick what feels right but don’t under estimate how much work the drop offs and pick ups can be. Somewhere 15 minutes away added about an extra hour and a half in the car every day (40 ish minutes morning and afternoon with time settling her in). That’s a lot of time taken away from family life.

That said, I would ask about the communication at the second one. Many use an online app now (Tapestry), ours did and our dd’s school uses it too. So it’s very likely they do or will soon.

I agree with PPs about going with your gut. Our DS was in a big house set up but it drove me nuts that he was kept inside the whole day (even in rare Scottish sunshine!) So am now moving him to a bigger one with more outside space and space to run around. Think it depends on your baby's temperament too. Both nurseries had apps and 'learning journals' which I like!

@JiltedJohnsJulie I definitely warmed to the first I went in and was instantly ready to put my name down, I felt like it was clean and well equipped with loads of interactive toys, bouncers etc... I don't really know anyone with a child in either which makes it harder.. the 1st nursery is outstanding on ofsted the second was good in the most recent report and requires improvement in the one before that

@mindutopia thank you, I hadn't really thought about the commute to nursery in traffic which could potentially be a nightmare ...I hadn't heard anything like app based (other than doggy day care- and I don't really know about nurseries), when I asked they basically said I could call whenever I liked; but sometimes it's more just a quick check to see how they're getting on rather than the rigmarole of a phone call conversation - seeing pictures would be nice too!

I'm just kicking myself for not looking into this earlier and getting my name down for nursery 1!!! I thought i was prepared looking now with 4 months left but apparently there a pregnant people on the waiting list of nursery 1!

I think my only option is to put my name down for nursery 2 pay the sign up fee and keep chasing nursery 1 for drop outs etc, is it common for people to drop out does anyone know?

I didn't think I'd get so worked up and anxious/down over this, it's literally all I've thought about for days 😩

Don’t assume either that being in an old building means not going outside. DD was in an extremely old building for her preschool and seemed to spend tonnes of time outside. Again, I think it’s more to do with the staff that were there.