What’s daily life in childcare really like? Ask your questions - £100 voucher to be won

[LibbyMumsnet]

This Q&A is now closed

As part of our wider Q&A with the Department for Education about funded childcare, we’ve had loads of brilliant questions about eligibility and how to apply.

But for lots of parents, the biggest question isn’t can we get a place - it’s whether we want to use childcare at all? Maybe you're worried about how your child will settle, what actually happens during the day, or whether childcare is the right fit for your family right now. Maybe you're feeling the pressure to go back to work when you're not sure you're ready. Maybe you’ve done it before and have lots of excellent wisdom to share with other parents.

If you're on the fence, full of questions, or just want to hear how others made it work, this thread is for you. Come and share your thoughts and experiences and help others who are figuring it all out too.

Post your questions below - whether you want to know:
– What a typical day looks like, whether in a nursery or with a childminder
– How childcare settings support learning and development
– How naps, meals, and tricky behaviour are managed
– Or how to help your child settle in

👩‍🏫 Our expert Sarah Walker, an experienced Early Years teacher, is on hand to share insight from inside the setting - and help you feel more confident about your choices.

Sarah Walker is an experienced Early Years teacher based in Bradford, working across two local schools (Carlton Mills and Marshfield Primary). In 2022, she was shortlisted for the Award for Outstanding New Teacher. In 2023, Sarah collaborated closely with the Director of Early Years to spearhead the transformation of Carlton Mills - from “Requires Improvement” to “Outstanding” - demonstrating her expertise in curriculum development. Passionate about fostering a love of learning from the earliest stages, Sarah continues to drive high standards and innovation in early years practice.

💬 Ask your question below by 31st August and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 VEX gift voucher (T&C’s apply)

Many settings will avoid taking the children out during the hottest point of the day. My advice would be to ensure you send your child into setting wearing appropriate clothing, a sun hat and apply suncream before their nursery session. Also provide your child with a water bottle. Your childs setting may also be happy to reapply the suncream throughout the day if needed. If you are worried speak to your childs setting as it is a welfare requirement to keep children safe at all times. I hope this helps @Mabiscuit !

Hi @Kentishbirdlife ! It's insightful that you've observed differences in your children's experiences at different nurseries. The Early Years Foundation Stage framework creates mandatory requirements for children’s learning and development, but it does not set a particular teaching approach so this can vary between settings. Addressing such nuances with nursery staff can be delicate, but with a thoughtful approach, you can foster constructive dialogue. Remember, nurseries value feedback that is constructive and aimed at enhancing the children's experience. By approaching the conversation with empathy and collaboration, you're more likely to effect positive change..

Hi @StormyPotatoes - I would speak to the setting. I am sure they will more than happy to share what he has been doing during the day. Many setting have channels for communications with parents like apps, websites, newsletters etc where they can share what the children are leaning about, and more importantly how they are settling in and how happy they are. I'm sure your setting will be more than happy to help!

When weaning, and going to nursery at the same time, can staff take the time to spend with weaning as I would want it, I am wanting mostly vegetables with minimal meat, and salt.

What do you feel is the biggest misconception parents have about Nursery?

If you are toilet training - is it best to keep off nursery and try this at home, or will nursery spend the extra resources and time need to aid with toilet training ?

Do childminders operate a low-allergen household in general?

How do childminders manage neurodiverse children with competing needs?

My question is should there be compulsory cameras present in the rooms for safety? The children are vulnerable as they're so young and can't tell you what's happening.

What would the staff ratio be to enable a good level of care and the ability for staff to follow a childs routine as closely as possible and be able to give the children a good supervision, I took my DD from a setting because I felt the staff were not giving the children the level of supervision necessary and when there was a SEN child who would bite they were even more stretched looking after this child.

What is the processes for business continuity should there be a staff illness issue, or a break-out of a contagious illness amongst the children - do parents still pay when the nursery has a forced closure

How would you ensure that training, (food safety, first aid and safeguarding) are up to date without impacting the nursery staffing ratio ?

Do early years settings have enough staff to maintain routines of your little one, and do setting make formula or store your milk for you and warm it up correctly - is this checked with records you can request ?

Will an EY setting help with toilet training - or would this take up too much of a resource and you are better doing this at home where you have more of a 1 to 1 with your child.

How does a setting regulate nap times so a child does not get overtired, and would a setting put a child to a quite part of the setting if they were obviously in need of a nap to be able to continue with their day ?

Does a setting offer speech therapy or would this need to be done elsewhere ? My DS went to speech therapy at age 3 - and would want for nursery to continue some of the strategies and time spending on the nursery days.

I would want to try to make sure that my DC would get a varied, and wholesome diet - how would I know that a setting would give a child a balanced good quality diet when they are there - and not skimp on ingredients and quality of food ?

Do you think a setting can cope well with a special diet or a child with a nut allergy ?

Do you think nurseries offer good value for money ? some are incredibly expensive, and I cannot see why - I had to give up work because of childcare fees would have taken up 70% of my earnings

What strategies do you find most effective for fostering emotional and social development in young children?

I’m interested in understanding how you create a nurturing environment that encourages children to express their feelings, build relationships with their peers, and develop essential social skills during those critical early years.

If a child is being disruptive or violent - as some are as toddlers - how would your deal with a child like this - and when does it come an expulsion - of would this never happen to a child ? I am worried about staffing ratios dealing with difficult children - who may well come to nursery as a safeguarding measure at home.

Do you feel sorry for the children in extended care who barely see their parents ie. drop off before breakfast then pick up close to their bedtime, meaning they (and parents) are missing out on shared milestones?

Do nurseries have a business continuity plan as standard - in case of fire, flood or vandalism - so the setting can reopen in some form very quickly ?

Hi @DinkyDaffodil,

Ofsted currently evaluates nurseries based on four key judgements which are:
-Quality of education
-Behaviour and attitudes
-Personal development
-Leadership and management
Inspectors will also look at whether safeguarding requirements have been met.

Inspectors conduct a learning walk around the setting, observe children and staff practices, and hold discussions with leaders and/or managers. Parents are actively involved. Inspectors seek parents' views via meetings (often without staff present), informal discussions at drop-off/pick-up, or through parent view surveys.

Once the inspection has taken place the Ofsted inspector will then write a report, which the settings will share with parents. The report will also be available on the Ofsted website.

In September 2024, the Government announced the removal of the overall effectiveness grade for school-based settings – and in September 2025, Ofsted will be publishing its consultation response regarding inspection reform and report cards, with the new approach being implemented for all early years remits from November 2025.

Hope that helps! @DinkyDaffodil

Hello @Gorondola - Childminders support neurodiverse children by keeping groups small, adapting routines, and working closely with parents and specialists. Their approaches often vary depending on the child, and the childminders specific experience and strategies.