Change nursery - what do you think?

[snoopy8]

My DD is 2 in Sept. She goes to a nursery about 15 mins away and has been since she was 12mo.
The baby room was amazing and she loved her key worker. She seemed to get lots of attention and always came out very clean.

A couple of months ago she moved to the toddler room. It seems much more chaotic and she comes out filthy/runny nose etc. I think she has a key worker but they've never introd themselves. It's not terrible, it's just not as good. She cried going in for the first few weeks but now will go in ok although isn't running in happily.

There is a more local nursery to us, much more outdoor open space and has a farm attached. I haven't looked round it yet but plan to. It's also 2 mins from where we live. I think it's more of a family/homely feel vs a normal town nursery if that makes sense.

My question is; do you think it's too disruptive to change nurseries? I know it takes a period of adjustment and I want her to be happy.

No. That's seems a reasonable thing to do.

I changed nurseries for both of mine at different times for different reasons. They settled in so much better to their new places, so absolutely the right thing to do in our circumstances. I wouldn't want to keep changing, but once is fine. You say outdoor space and a farm, sounds awesome.

Ah thanks this makes me feel better. I'm going to properly review the new nursery and make sure it's totally right before changing her, as I would t want to change her again.

Could you ask for her to go back into the baby room for a little longer? Maybe she’s just not quite ready for the toddler room.

But, no, absolutely nothing wrong with changing nurseries. My DD moved to a new nursery a few months ago (similar age to your DD), she took a couple of weeks to properly settle but is very happy there now.

@TheMotherlode although the baby room was lovely, towards the end she was getting a bit bored with the baby toys / activities. So it was right for her to move up, it just seems like a slightly different standard there.

Anyway I spoke to the other nursery today and they had no spaces 😓 so I got a bit ahead of myself there. I've asked to be put on the waiting list...

I always think it’s a good sign when my toddlers come out of nursery dirty (by which I mean muddy and covered in paint) It usually means they have had a great time. That said, I would defo move your DD if there are things bothering you and there is a good alternative. I moved DD1 because we were unhappy and it was a good move. She settled really quickly.

This is my experience too with my own 2yo. Dirty I don't mind, but chaotic and less cared for bothers me. Once they forgot to give my child breakfast (they usually have it before they arrive but it is paid for by me).

What you describe is so close to my experience that I have half a mind to DM you.

You should definitely know who her named key worker is, very poor practice if the nursery haven’t told you this.

I totally agree paint / mud etc is a sign of a good time! It's more food and snot that bothers me a bit.
I think they're all nice people, they just perhaps have a slightly higher ratio of children to workers and it shows. They have very little outdoor space, but go to the park round the corner most days. I think it's just a shame they don't go out every day (because they say they don't always have enough staff to take all the children out) so on some day my DD doesn't go outside at all.

I'm probably painting a bit of a bleak picture! It's a very well reviewed nursery and generally great! It's just more of a vibe. One day my DH went to collect her and they took ages to bring her out.. they said they'd not realized she hadn't been brought down.. it just makes me wonder what she was doing at that time when they didn't think she was there!

I think I would trust the vibe you get over ofsted or good reviews and yes food/snot is different to mud and paint. The not knowing where she is thing is a safeguarding concern isn’t it? And I think toddlers should be out every day in the absence of high winds or thunder too. I think when a nursery is right you don’t have any worries at all about it. You just know you child is safe, happy and cared for. I hope you get a space at the other nursery soon!

Thank you! Really appreciate everyone's advice :)