Nursery likes and dislikes

[TheFutures]

Hi mums I was intrigued and wanted to find out what mums love about their child's nursery and what they believe should be different. Asking as I have become a nursery manager and would like to make a few changes.
Appreciate your comments thanks

Ok some great ideas thank you so much!
Growing own vegetables yes I will get on to that tomorrow!! I also really like the idea of baking a birthday cake for the birthday boy/girl instead of parents bringing in cakes. I will have to upgrade our baking sets!

I personally don't think the separation is necessary but I will carry out a survey within the nursery and see what the parents think.
Would be very surprised if the results stated opposite

Insancerre - why don't you offer OP some ideas instead of interrogating her?

When a child does something that you feel needs to be mentioned to a parent don't just tell them what the behaviour was. E.g. Bob scratched a child's face today.
Say what they did but include why they did it and strategies your putting in place to try to prevent it from happening again.
If a parent is just told what the child did was wrong it serves no purpose bar make the parent feel horrid. The child is too young to talk about what had happened or action it at home to help change the behaviour.
Telling the parent why it happened - tired , wanted toy etc and saying what you're going to resolve it leaves a parent feeling confident about your nursery, happy you understand their child and less stressed.
Unbelievably many nurserys don't do this.

Yes the nursery is up to years 3
We take safeguarding very serious I believe it depends on how managers prefer to work
1:3 -2 years 1:4 2-3 years

Must be my terminology

Yes thank you I didn't want to be rude but honestly it's early in the morning I'm trying to improve my work style and environment if you can help that be great but if not then please don't comment

for me most important thing is that everyone on site has paediatric first aid training. my oldest was born a few days before millie (of millie's trust) her mum was on my birth board, it's something that is non negotiable for me.

after that i like rooms with natural light, clean, equipment in good nick (saw a nursery once and lots of toys broken) good outdoors space with lots of outdoor time. i look at the kids, are their faces clean, are they happy, how engaged are the keyworkers with them... i have viewed over 30nurseries for my kids combined, and they have attended 4 between them, and it really is a feeling. good luck, sounds like you are trying to make positive changes.

I like clean organised spaces, where each theme or activity is clear. Crafts to bring home, cards painting etc.

Good god selection and taught about healthy eating/choices made it easy for us to reinforce at home.

Great book corner with cushions, dark cosy space where a child can have quite time (not enforced for naughty behaviour)

Free flow play with a clear understanding of developmental activities. My DS left nursery this year with little experience of holding a pen/pencil because he preferred to build towers. He wasn't forced to sit and draw, stand and paint etc and so is a little behind now. I know he shouldn't be forced btw, but some creative ways of overcoming this should have been found.

I was put off when visiting nurseries by dirty floors, rugs, cushions etc. Poor menu, with snacks or foods we wouldn't give at home. More DVDs than books, with caveat of watching only when it rains. Huh? Over reliance on unqualified staff in training, with few experienced staff kept on after training period (says to me management don't value the staff they have or are willing to pay the going rate).

Trust is the most important thing for me. As DS was coming to start school I had some uncomfortable issues with nursery. No problems with my own son but unhappy with how another boy was being treated. Poor management of challenging behaviour from a high spirited child.

Sorry, just thought of another - our nursery doesn't segregate by age (easier as children start from age 2). I like this as dd benefits from being around older children e.g. potty training/speaking through copying peers.

The nursery use an app to track dd's development and we can add things done at home to it which is lovely.

Point taken
I shall try to be more positive

I'm going to express a different view to a pp - I like the children to sleep in the same area as they play, that means (to me) that children are free to sleep when needed and staff don't have to have a dedicated person supervising the sleepers.

Chalotteamanda,
Thank you very much, yes this is very true honestly I remember when I was a practitioner working in the room and i was giving feedback to one of my key child's parent and when I told her that there was a biting incident twice in one day the mum turnt around and asked me what are you going to do to prevent it. So from then I understood that ok we need a strategy a way to distract the child no good telling the parents as like you said talking later at home about it is not very effective as they are so young.

I like almost everything ay my son's council run nursery school. Best bits include:
"Signing in" process to help them learn to recognise and write their names.
"Now, next and then" to teach them planning and self discipline
In general- the comforting repetitiveness of the school routine
They do PATHS to learn emotional maturity
Everyone learns Makaton so the kids with speech delay and special needs are really integrated socially with the other kids
The way the space is set out with different activities in different areas and loads of interesting little things to look at and touch- a real achievement given the pokiness of the building.
How lovely and nurturing the teachers are.

Worst bits:
Jumbled communication to parents. I.e: millions of notices everywhere covering everything from domestic violence awareness day (not info about help- just the fact that it's awareness day!), "inspirational" quotes, random stuff about kids projects- then hidden right in the middle of that "there has been a suspected case of foot and mouth"
"Homework" that is poorly disguised child protection trawling: "Write what you ate today" "What are your family rules"
This is going to sound terrible but I don't enjoy the attempts to "involve me" in his education. I am as big a supporter of the nursery as they are likely to find, but I'm happy just to trust them to get on with it. Every time they call I think he's had an accident or there's some developmental concern and then they just want me to help them build a raised bed or something- it's anxiety provoking!

I can take or leave: The mud kitchen. Seems a bit faddish. Why's everyone so into mud kitchens all of a sudden?

Overall, I am very happy with my son's nursery. This a council run nursery in a poor area. I picked it because it was nearest and the exceptionally high quality of the education was a surprise. The staff team is really committed and inspirational. I feel very privileged that he has the opportunity to go there.

An app wow that is impressive!
That will be on the to do list for sure will have to research that

Hi I would like to ask a question about children sleeping in the same area.
I believe if children are tired and want to lay down they can as we have sofas and big pillows and mats in our play room but I think a separate area just for sleeping is better for hygiene reasons and to continue play for those that are not sleeping? Hmmm just my opinion may be wrong

Lots of nurseries use a website & app called Tapestry which uses the EYFS to track children's progress. That might well be a useful thing to research.

Bobgoblin23
Thank you for you comment

Everyone thank you this has been so helpful

Lots of children won't sleep if there's playing going on around them. That would be a deal breaker for me.

I think sleeping area separate is better as some just won't be able to settle with things going on, so will be tired for half the day. But my DCs nursery did 'naptime' a bit after lunch, where all the 1.5-2.5 yr olds room had a nap on roll mats. It seemed to work (kids who wouldn't sleep, or woke early, went to play in other room until most were waking up.
I used to drop in occasionally (to satisfy myself that the place was run well even when they weren't expecting parents...), So if u think parents r a bit odd, coming at 11am to drop off DCs spare mittens, that may be what they're up to ;-).
Don't like the sound of segregation of full and part time - my DCz were always part time as I cut my hours when they were small (before the government paid contributions) but would not have wanted them to be seen as different. The splitting of those who take just the free time and those who pay sounds quite a worrying idea (and could well move toward less facilities and lower staff ratios for those who r part time...).

DS2's nursery has separate sleeping policies for children under and over 3.

The under 3's are encouraged to have a nap after lunch. They have a small room off the main room for this purpose with mats, cushions etc, for the older ones to lie down and nap on. Cots in the baby room for the smaller ones to nap in.

The over 3's don't have a dedicated sleeping area, or a special nap time where everyone is expected to lie down and rest. They do quiet things just after lunch instead - stories etc - but they have a corner in the main room with mats etc where an older one could rest if they wanted to.

I'm fine with that, as by the time both my DC reached 3, they were at the stage where they didn't really need a nap everyday.

I love the "homework" that nursery sets, family-based, seasonal things like an autumn treasure hunt. Next is a bonfire night-themed art project. They are really good fun.
I also like the online log thing where they post pictures and videos of what DD has been doing, it has a personal log in so only we can see our children.
I also like the fact that they go outside every day and sometimes walk to the park, shops etc.
I would like it if the children took off their shoes indoors. Partly for hygiene reasons but mainly just because it seems like a long time for little feet to be strapped into shoes!

That's true if the child doesn't sleep there shoes are on for the entire day not very comfortable I will suggest this to the staff. I may need to put carpet down as the laminated floors will be cold.
But I like this idea
I'm going to change the floors!

Our nursery let's them take slippers - carpet would be filthy

I must admit we do take events very serious too. This months topic was transport so one week we had a big bus and was role playing being a passenger on the bus had a driver and inspector second week we had a big aeroplane and was role playing the aeroplane theme third week fire engine and had many fire fighters fourth week we had a large broomstick the children helped decorate dressed as witches as its Halloween and room on the broom is one of the children's favourites.