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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

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Original poster

how do you find nurseries in your area? and how do you choose one?

9 replies

hairymclary · 29/12/2006 22:00

it seems like such a minefield.
I can't find a proper list of nurseries near me, so how am I supposed to choose one?
argh i need help

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hunkermunker · 29/12/2006 22:01

Have you been to the Ofsted site and put your postcode in?

Original poster

hairymclary · 29/12/2006 22:02

no, i'm not THAT clever lol

OP posts:

TheBlonde · 29/12/2006 22:03

Your local council should have a Children's Info Service - they can send you a list

or try here this

iPodthereforiPoor · 29/12/2006 22:04

spend an hour at anyone you are interested in - just sitting on the floor in the corner with your little one near you or off playing. Will make it easy to see it how it is really rather than just going on a tour.

Original poster

hairymclary · 29/12/2006 22:06

god the ofsted list is about 4 pages long lol

OP posts:

Original poster

hairymclary · 29/12/2006 22:07

theblonde, that link is really good, thanks.
I can even see what has vacancies and everything, which narrows it down somewhat

OP posts:

kiskidee · 29/12/2006 22:08

contact your LEA. mine sent out a booklet of those relevant to the part of the city i needed with a blurb about each.

then visit the ofsted site and fine tune your search. then visit the ones you narrowed down.

nannynick · 29/12/2006 22:10

Children's Information Service (CIS) will hold a complete list of registered day nurseries. TheBlonde posted the link you need to find your local CIS.

Use the internet to research the nurseries, you never know what you may find. Visiting the nursery websites themselves may answer some of your initial queries, such as fees.

Visit as many nurseries in your local area as you can so that you get a feel for what is provided. Try to have a variety, small independents, small chains and large chains. Depending on the amount of time you need childcare for, you may also find that other providers are worth visiting - preschools/playgroups, nurseries attached to schools.

Narrow down your choices, and revisit your favourite two/three at different times of the day. Mornings at nursery can be very different to afternoons - so try to see both if your child will be attending all day.

Hope that's of some help.

Original poster

hairymclary · 29/12/2006 22:14

good point about school nurseries nannynick.

the school that I'd like ds to go to is a church one that he is probably not going to get into unfortunately.
he isn't old enough to start a nursery attached to a school either, but I need to go back to work a couple of mornings a week and I think he'll really enjoy it at nursery

I am just wondering if it'll be too much upheaval for him though if I change his nursery when he is 3 (he is nearly 2 atm) and then if he has to leave friends to go to a different school.,

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