We moved at the start of the year and have been struggling to get our daughter, now 2, into a nursery closer by...until now! She's just completed induction in a new private nursery this week with the intention to move across from next week. She's previously been in a private nursery near our old house since she was 10m so no issues with settling in etc. She's a confident 2yo who hasn't been phased by the different setting etc.
Today I've heard back from the local council nursery that she has a space (we applied in March!) So I'm torn as to what to do for the best.
Private nursery:
£10 per day cheaper than her previous nursery
I need to provide a packed lunch but snacks/breakfast are included.
Staff all seem really friendly, have all been there a long time with low staff turnover which is unusual.
Big building but not big group sizes.
Good outdoor play area (only seen pics)
Full room inside with a proper soft play setup which the different ages/groups take turns with.
Hours are 7.45am to 5.30pm
Council Nursery:
£1k a year cheaper than the above
All meals and snacks included
Is the school nursery for where she'll be attending when the time comes, shared building/playground etc
Open 52 weeks a year but expects children to attend for 48, so 4 weeks holiday we need to cover that.
Open 8am to 6pm
Both are within a few minutes of our new house, so no difference in travel and likely in both places she'll get to know local children/go through primary with some of the same kids etc.
Not allowed to go in and visit either of them still (we're in Scotland). Both well rated in the community.
Please help me choose if you have experience of both? Are council run nurseries much stricter about illness etc?