Questions to ask at nursery viewing

[Fortuny]

Viewing for first DC, are there any important questions I should be asking or things that I need to be aware of?

Feeling out of my depth as DC won't be going for over 6 months away and I've not got my head around the idea of going back to work yet, let alone care for DC. Feeling a bit sad about it tbh.

I’m viewing nurseries for my first at the moment, these are some of the things I’m looking at:

• age range in each room
• how many children per room, and per staff member
• if they have a ‘curriculum’ they follow (I’ve seen one based around forest school principles, and one Montessori)
• how naps and routines work
• what the menu looks like (one nursery I viewed had a 90% quorn based menu)
• how much time they spend outside

I think you just have to go with your gut feeling though, based on how you feel when you view and talk to the staff. Try and arrange your viewing so it’s not during nap time, so you can see if the kids look happy and how the staff interact with them.

What staff turnover is like

You will def know what feels right - view at least one other nursery for basis for comparison. I ended up removing DD when she was 1 from her first nursery as they were beyond terrible and it was totally my fault as I panicked about not getting a place before I went to work and asked NO questions.

She is now at a wonderful nursery - all the staff are always so polite, friendly and cheery and all seem very content - they have very low staff turnover and take pride in advertising being a good employer. Engaged staff is so important.

Ask about things like sickness policy, how they settle babies in and get them to sleep, outdoor time and trips, and how and how often they will update you with what DC are doing.

You will get a feel for a good nursery you are happy to leave your baby in. If you aren't moving in the next few years and forsee your child going to primary school in the area ask about wrap around options. I am having to think about moving my child due to this, from a nursery I'm otherwise very happy with which is a nightmare.

What the feedback, handover, parent update system is.

One nursery here is shocking, a slip which says ate, didn't eat, ate a little, circled.

Dd now in school nursery, have an app updated daily with photos and videos. Detailed handover, really fantastic communication.

I wouldn't have thought of any of these, thank you! Super useful.

I’d ask about closure dates/holidays and whether they have any policies around minimum days/sessions, especially if you don’t work a standard pattern or may have to work on bank holidays. If you have a Monday space, you may have to pay for bank holidays even though they’re closed, for example.

Some nurseries may insist on you taking a Monday or Friday space; some have a minimum number of days/sessions per week.

I didn't ask, but should have, about flexibility for the little ones. Some nurseries put the toddlers down for a nap all at the same time and that's that, and are sticklers about meal times and content - no alternatives. My nursery feeds meals or snacks when the kids are awake, lets them sleep where and how they need to, accomodates for super light sleepers (our baby number 2) etc. My firstborn had some severe feeding issues that they worked around, and even now with his v limited diet, they prepare something basic as an alternative when he won't eat what the others will. Our nursery seemed a bit chaotic but cheerful when we visited, but we were never around kids so didn't know what they were really like!