Asquith Court Nurseries

[Dinny]

Still changing my mind about returning to work!Does anyone have experience of Asquith Court? Went to see one today - seemed quite nice.... Thanks, Dinny

[dooleyrama]

I have just seen a lovely nursery Asquith in Finsbury Park. I would really like to send my dd but wanted to see if anyone has experience of this nursery, thanks

[vict17]

Edam are you still around Just to update - we had our hour meeting today and guess what? As part of the meeting it was arranged for 2 settling in periods next week. One hour on one day and a morning on the other. Don't know what the person on the phone was talking about but suspect my dh probably wasn't listening properly

[Marina]

Hodgie, how did you get on - just seen this. I heard on the grapevine that the Eltham AC was not too good under its previous ownership, so I am sure it will improve under AC's care (they have not long taken it over). My one concern would be the limited premises size-wise. I recall it is basically one room for all ages when we looked round a couple of years ago.
We remain happy with N Eltham AC, the staff in the Baby Unit are lovely and the babies all seem happy, dd certainly is. We do have minor grouses about the food (spaghetti hoops, as others have remarked). Maybe you could get on the waiting list for N Eltham? I think the spacious, secure grounds are another big selling point. Good luck, anyway.

[vict17]

Thanks Edam - that's really helpful. i think I will suggest the being on the premises idea

[edam]

Sorry if I've worried you, and overall I'm sure your ds will be fine. Mine settled into nursery very happily and really enjoys it, I'm sure you will have just as good an experience.

Ds was almost 7 months and was certainly old enough to tell the difference between me and another carer. And when I'd left him (briefly) in a creche to go to the dentist's they'd phoned to say I'd better come back as he was upset (although OK by the time I did reach him).

I'm doubtful about the 'babies don't have separation anxiety so you can just leave them with no preparation' line, if that's what your nursery are saying. Sure, the visits are for you to get used to it as well, and that's important because babies will pick up on a worried mummy. But even tiny babies recognise their mother's smell, face (OK, hairline), voice. 'Separation anxiety' as a defined phenomenon may come later, but that doesn't mean small babies can have a complete change in environment and carer with no preparation, IMO. Saying that 'separation anxiety' starts on the dot of 9 months or whatever is a bit like the crude definition of 'bonding' that you get in some hospital where they will say 'oh, we don't take the baby away from you immediately as you need time to bond' as if establishing a relationship with your baby is something that takes place in the first 10 minutes and is then complete.

Certainly briefing them on your ds's routine is important to make him feel secure, and it's a good sign that they recognise this. But if you have time before you start work, I would recommend you both spend a little time in the baby room, and then leave him in the room but be on hand if you are needed. I'm sure you won't be, but it helps!

[auntynon]

I'm going back to work in two weeks, dd is to start at the ac in Epsom, any one got any comments on that nursery? I'm dreading leaving her although she is 1 yr.

[vict17]

Just read your post again Edam. IMO the 1 hour meeting is preparation and the settling in you experienced sounds more for the mother at the stage my ds is at. Did your 7 month old have separation anxiety by then maybe?

[vict17]

edam - ds is 5 months and the nursery said at that age they don't ahe separation anxiety yet. I agree with them in that he is quite happy with being looked after by anyone at the moment. The 1 hour meeting lets us tell them his routine and have another look around etc and means that they get to meet him and tell us what we need to bring etc. Do you really think that is irresonsible (she says trying not to panic!!)

[edam]

Puzzled by your post, Victoria. Settling in periods are just as important for babies. Ds was 7 mos when he went - first of all I stayed with him for an hour or so, then another visit where I left him in the room but stayed in the building, then a visit where I left him for a while while I went for a coffee nearby. I don't think any responsible childcarer would recommend that you just leave your baby there without any preparation!

[PotPourri]

Anyone got any experience with the Hounslow AC? We are thinking of putting our baby in that one. Sounds like there are a few that people can recommend. And I do think a personal recommendation is always going to put your mind more at rest, even though the decision is always your own about what you think when you see the place...

[vict17]

Thanks for the replies. We've got an appointment this week for a meeting about ds starting. It's just an hour. Apparently they don't do settling in periods for babies, just toddlers. At the meeting we tell them ds' routine (as much as there is one) and have another look around and meet the person looking after him. Is this what others have experienced with babies going to nursery 1st time?

[edam]

Happy with the AC I send ds to ? obviously, or he wouldn't be there. Committed, enthusiastic staff, good facilities, caring environment... only queries are yes, staff turnover can be higher than I'd like (but it's a low-paid industry despite the enormous fees, so what do I expect...) and food is sometimes not up to scratch - the cook is obsessed with providing 'cheesy mash' for supper and however much parents suggest might be nice to do something different she just comes up with 'cheese and potato pie' or any other variation on those two ingredients. Strange woman. Not very impressed that they fed the toddlers spaghetti hoops last week either - that's not what I'm paying nearly £1k a month for.

[edam]

Happy with the AC I send ds to ? obviously, or he wouldn't be there. Committed, enthusiastic staff, good facilities, caring environment... only queries are yes, staff turnover can be higher than I'd like (but it's a low-paid industry despite the enormous fees, so what do I expect...) and food is sometimes not up to scratch - the cook is obsessed with providing 'cheesy mash' for supper and however much parents suggest might be nice to do something different she just comes up with 'cheese and potato pie' or any other variation on those two ingredients. Strange woman. Not very impressed that they fed the toddlers spaghetti hoops last week either - that's not what I'm paying nearly £1k a month for.

[Hodgie]

Hi, does anyone have any experience of the Eltham (not New Eltham) A. Court? I've been left without childcare and this is the only local nursery with any current space. I don't know anyone who has sent their child there and they are only holding a space until tomorrow. Have visited, seems a bit small but does seem very friendly. Am unsure and would welcome any feedback.

[ZolaPola]

rather appalled by the small, upstairs environment of AC in Windsor (backing on to hospital carpark overlooking main road), also tiny, tiny garden, seemingly disinterested staff yet v expensive. also heard worrying things about staff turnover & attitude from a couple of local mums. Having said that, ds went to a creche run by AC in London which was absolutely brilliant mainly due to the great manager...childcare here in windsor also v. difficult - we have only 2 full daycare providers - AC or Edith Rose (which ds is in), not brilliant and bad ofsted report but staff seem kind and enthusiastic, like others, we have little choice if I'm to work!

[vict17]

Thanks Blu - that's really good to know. I guess I'm a bit worried as i don't know anyone who has children already there. Childcare in Canterbury seems pretty poor - this was the only nursery that would even put us on the waiting list as the others were so long and people have told me to look around but that's impossible if it's the only one with a space available!

[Blu]

DS spent a few months at AC near the Oval when he was tiny. I used to pop in at all times of the day, unnanounced, as DS was having so much trouble acepting abottle - and i never saw anything that unnerved me. If a worker had to leave the room, one of the managers would always come out of the office to cover, rather than use trainness to make up numbers, I always saw them disinfecting the toys every week (every day in baby room), saw the delivery vans from good local greengrocers / butchers etc, AND when we went round endless nurseries on visits, AC was the only one that actually practised the 'no shoes in the baby room' rule amongst staff, and asked visitors to do the same. Many of the staff were mature women and mums with children actually in the nursery.

[vict17]

that should read 'The Secret Garden Nursery'!!

[vict17]

Hi. Does anyone have any expereince of the Asquith nursery in Canterbury? It used to be the secrey garden nursery and is next to the chaucer technology college? TIA

[Marina]

FairyMum, Alicat, we might bump into each other come January. We have a place reserved for dd after visiting earlier this summer. We liked the people we met and the atmosphere very much. I was very touched that they made a big fuss of ds (who was too old to be a client but expressed his approval of the outdoor play areas and the sensory room) and they also remembered that we had originally contacted them about a baby we unfortunately lost and were very kind about it.
It is quite a bit bigger in scale than our old nursery, but we found the ambiance a good mix of the homely and the professional. It's always good to have personal recommendations as well!

[Lil]

Both my little ones have been at Asquith since they were 6 months old. Yes very expensive, but also good quality. I guess you gets what you pays for!

[FairyMum]

I understand your worries. I was really worried too when I put my son in nursery. The first time I left him alone with them (for 1 hour only) I sat outside the nursery in my car shaking and crying. I was so upset. When I got back inside to pick him up, he hadn't even noticed that I had been away. Ah!
The first couple of weeks back at work I felt physically sick every single day and like my heart had been ripped out. I slowly got used to it and now I am so glad I did manage to leave him. He thrives in nursery and I thrive at work.
My point is that if you choose to go back to work and leave your child in care, you will always worry. Especially in the beginning perhaps, but I do think that there is a part of you who will always feel slightly uneasy and "What if something should happen when I am not there!!!"
I think the only thing you can do is to choose the best care for your child and I firmly believe that a child is better off in a nursery than at childminder. They are qualified to care for children and if your child is sick they can always dedicate one person to look after your child. When my son has been sick I have always found him cuddled up in the arms of one of the nursery teachers when I come to take him home, and I feel reassured that he is safe and cared for.
Good luck with your choice.

[alicats]

Hi Fairymum

Thanks for the advice about New Eltham AC, me and the DH went to have a look at it a couple of weeks ago, it did seem rather expensive but had a lovely atmosphere.

I was a little concerned about the baby room though as my dd was 10 weeks prem so I am rather anxious about the issue of nurseries and whether they would be able to cope if something went wrong.

Any further info or advice would be greatly received.

[giggle]

I worked at AC for 1 1/2 years..loved the parents and children but wasn't impressed with the number of young college leavers they employed as most didn't want to be there at all. Not keen on big companies as they are all ££££££.expensive yes but NOT reflected on the staff's pay!! In fact i was never sure where they did spend all their monies??

[Mo2]

DS1 (3.5) and DS2 (11 months) have both been in Asquith Court since they were 6 months old. On balance I've been pretty happy with the experience (or else I would have moved them by now...)
Broadly any issues I've had have been typical of a lot of nurseries - turnover of staff; ratio of young vs. older carers; nursery policies re colds/ spots/ conjunctivitis/ diahorrea etc.

I've had occasion to complain on a couple of occasions - once about cleanliness of toilets and once about damage to clothing and on both occasions the response / solution has been rapid & good.
I'm a firm believer in giving them constant and polite feedback - even just in a conversational sort of way... for example, one thing that was pi**ing me off was that every day both my sons were coming home in their 'spare' clothing, even if there were just a few crumbs or a juice dribble on their tops. Basically it meant that by the time they came home, had some more teas and played in the garden I had fours sets of clothes to wash from just one day. When I asked why they were always changed the superviser told me that one set of parents ahd commented that they liked to pick up their child 'clean & tidy' as they sometimes went out for a meal straightaway, so as a result they had started doing this for all kids - they'd never considered that it might actually annoy me! (now I happily pick up my dirty kids instead.....!)