Been to see Ds's nursery and i'm not impressed....Am i being picky ??

[nutcracker]

Went to the college today to enrol and see the nursery.

Ds 21 mths has got a place there for one day a week.

The manager took me to the room he will be in and I have to say i just hated it.
Can't really put my finger on anything major but it just felt horrible.

There was about 10 kids between the ages of about 14 - 24mths, and about 5 staff (at least 2 of which were students training).
They said we could stay for a bit so we did.
They seemed to be having free play as there wasn't anything organised going on.
Then they sat down to have toast and milk, which seemed o.k, but kids were allowed to just wondewr off with no one watching them.

All of the staff seemed nice enough i suppose but most of them looked like they would rather be anywhere but there.

One little boy was standing sobbing in the middle of the room. Several memebers of staff walked past him several times until one went over and was just about to comfort him when the phone rang so she left him again.

I just didn't like the feel of the place.

I asked if they have a nap and they do but they don't make them. Well Ds wouldn't have a nap here if i didn't make him either. They sleep on mattresses on the floor, so Ds will just get up. Here he sleeps in his cot.

So am i being picky or not ????

I know i was already all over the place abourt going back to college anyway, but this is really worrying me now.

Given the choice (which i don't have), I wouldn't want him there.

Don't know, don't know, don't know

I should change my name to Indesicion

If you try for one day and he hates it then you haven't done him any real damage, and you've given yourself a chance. Please try! As others say, 5 adults is a good ratio, and the sleeping thing is not uncommon. Just give it a go???

It sound like the nursery have no incentive to improve if the college pays. Parents would vote with their legs in a normal nursery but here it seems the parents don't really have a say. That would worry me I think. Sorry you're in this situation. Not very helpful I know. Surely the other parents might not be totally happy either, could you contact them?
How old is your DS? do you think that, once he get's over the strangeness of the place, he'd cope? Playing with the other children would be good for him, and he could cope without a nap for one day a week.
It's going to be a hard step even if the nursery was perfect, sympathies.

I am being picky i know i am, don't know why i felt the need to ask when i know the answer anyway.

Sorry i feel like i'm wasting everyones time, what with this thread and the find me a job one, i just feel picky, paranoid, stupid, and fed up.

God i'm happy today aren't I.

Go on, Nutty - give it a go

As said, sleeping arrangements sound similar to our nursery - red mats on the floor. Some parents used to be amazed when I told them that their child slept - but the staff sit down with the children in the sleeping area and I used to stroke their faces/hair or pat their backs and they would drop off

Staff ratio is good - usually it's 1:3 in that age group (for private nurseries anyway)

10am is usually snack-time/freeplay etc as children haven't usually been in that long. And the snack is good - milk/toast - some places chuck them "sweetener-laden juice and biscuit".

Why don't you pop back for another look - go at a different time of day. Don't make an appointment, just drop in.

As an aside, I remember when I went back to college 5 years ago, (I left my 2 kids at their usual nursery) but my friend was entitled to free childcare. I know she had to use the college nursery to obtain the funding.

Oh no nutty, please don't feel like that! The way you feel is prefectly valid, and I didn't mean to nag. I just think it would do you so much good to do this college course. Please don't stop posting

it is 1:5 for 2 yr olds at my ds's nursery! and 1:8 with the 3 yr olds!

Hmmmm have about an 30 mintues to decide now as i have to inform dd's after school club wether i want their places or not.

Might speak to the private nursery on the site of dd's school and see if they could take him after xmas. I would feel a whole lot better about that as i know the staff.
I would still get dd's after school paid then but would have to pay for ds which would be about 20 quid a day.

Lots to think about as usual.

You weren't nagging Tamum is just me, and my inability to make a desicion about anything.

Stop posting on MN, that'll be the day.

You go girl! Think solutions, not problems.
xx

I would use that nursery until I sorted alternative child care.My university's nursery is very much like what you describe, sometimes I think is that way because they have assured to keep the business going as most families who used them are new to town or don't know many people in the area who could provide info about better nurseries, or simply, they know that it's conveniently located. Food is plain rubish, attention as well, they are so unfriendly to the parents but they still keep getting more people.

I used it just while I get space in another nursery, now I have seen other nurseries I can't believe the difference...

Well i went and confirmed Dd1 &2's after school places so it looks like i'm going.

Sorry for moaning on about it all day

I will see how he gets on and if i'm really not happy, i will try and sort something else out for after xmas, when i may be able to afford another nursery.

Thanks for all the advice, i'll let you all know how he gets on (and me).

nutty xxx

Well done, you're being very brave. I do think it's worth a shot.

Brave no not me, i'll cry like a baby when i drop him off.

nutty you will be fine

ill provide a shoulder to cry on nutty, im glad you have decided to come, you can go over on lunch and see how he is getting on.