Nurseries - help me!

[chinchilla]

I am completely in the dark about nurseries for my ds. He is one, and I understand that the age to send them is about 3? However, I hear that you have to sign up really early in order to get them a place.

I asked my hv for details of good ones near me, but she said to go to a M & T group to ask people there. Well, I did this last Monday, for the first time (I hate cliquey things, so have avoided them so far!)I asked a girl there what to do, and she said to ask my hv!!

Where can I find info on everything to do with nurseries? For example:

Are these nurseries different to the ones that you leave babies at if you return to work?

Do you have to pay?

How often do the kids go to them?

How do I put ds's name down?

Will he be guaranteed a place?

Does it matter if he doesn't go to one?

Where can I find these nurseries (e.g. Yellow Pages?)

As you can see, I know nothing about this matter, so ANY info will be most gratefully received. Please give me all your knowledge, as I am sure that all of you out there have some experience to pass on.

Thanks

If you mean a private nursery, generally used by working mothers, they can go from a few months old, usually for the whole day though some do 1/2 days, and cost (in the Southeast anyway, I don't know where you are) from about £30-£45 per day. If you mean a nursery attached to a primary school, they can go when they're 3 or 4 for morning or afternoon sessions and it's free. Playgroups take children from 2 or 2 1/2 and cost a few pounds per session (usually 2 or 3 hours in the morning). Contact the Early Years Unit at your council's education dept, they'll send you a list of playgroups but not private nurseries. Be very very careful though and do try to get recommendations, aa some private nurseries are not very good. Hope this helps.

Forgot - for playgroups and nurseries you do have to try and get your child's name down, and some have longer waiting lists than others. For state nurseries attached to schools you have to wait until they're 3, I think only the church school ones have waiting lists.

Chinchilla - it sounds like you are talking about pre-school nurseries, which are often, but not always, linked to a primary school. I don't think it is compulsory for your child to attend, but from what I have read elsewhere on this site it can be difficult to enrol your child in a particular primary school if they have not attended the associated pre-school (if there is one, of course). I haven't any direct experience of this yet as dd won't be three until next summer, but I have enrolled her at a pre-school already and had to pay £5 to do this - I don't know if this is typical. She will go to just two morning sessions a week to start with, and I don't have to pay for these.
If you look here you can obtain a list of all the private and LEA pre-schools in your area, and their OFSTED reports. You could also try your local library. HTH

I also meant to say, OFSTED reports and even recommendations, particularly if you don't know the person doing the recommending, are no substitute for a personal visit - there is no 'best' nursery or pre-school, just one that is the best for your ds .

If you are talking about a pre-school nursery, you usually have to get the child's name down by 1 March for the September intake - it shouldn't matter what date you put name down, ie it isn't first come first served. They are usually for only either morning or afternoon sessions - about 2.5 hours per day - and should be free.

In my area, there is no catchment area either, unlike for schools, so you can, in theory, take your pick. Obviously, they are usually heavily subscribed though.

Contact your early years officer at your local education authority nearer to the time and they should be able to advise.

Hi Chinchilla!
I think signing up early is a must, unfortunately... You put his name down by calling individual nurseries, arranging a visit and filling out their forms. Being on the waiting list will not guarantee a place. Some private nurseries will charge a fee just to be on the waiting list. State nursery schools- most but not all of which are attached to primary schools- are free. Many private and voluntary sector nurseries operate the nursery grant system and so offer a free part time place for all 4 y.o. and some 3 y.o.
It probably doesn't matter if he doesn't go as long as he has plenty of exposure to other kids and gets used to being away from his immediate family for short periods so he doesn't get a rude shock when he starts school. I am a huge fan of my boys' nursery though- they have so much fun and do all sorts of stuff that I can't really summon up the energy to do with them! It also provides the basis of a routine, something I am very bad at providing but that my boys need to some extent. (I know, I know- bad, lazy, easily bored mum! Very adoring though, I promise.) So all things being equal I'd definitely go and see a few and put your son's name down, Chinchilla.

Thanks everybody - the info is really helpful! I have looked at the site recommended by Soothepoo, which was brilliant, so I will be signing ds up very shortly to the ones near me.