How to Choose the Best Nursery for Your Child

One of the biggest milestones in any parent and child’s life is the transition from being cared for exclusively at home to entering day care. If you’ve decided your child will benefit from attending nursery – and research suggests that they will – you then must find the best setting for your own child’s needs. Here are our five top tips on selecting the right nursery for your child.

1. First, gather information on what childcare providers are in your area. The internet, and especially your local council’s website, should contain a directory of what’s available where you live. For each entrant on your list, establish whether the childcare provider has vacancies for your child, what hours they are open and the cost per session or per week. Check each provider’s website for information about the ethos of the nursery and the resources they can offer your child.

Visit Your Shortlisted Nurseries

2. Use all the information gathered above to draw up a shortlist of available nurseries, and aim to visit each one. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like – the way the nursery staff respond will help inform your final decision. Questions you might like to ask include what qualifications staff hold and what training they attend on an ongoing basis. Ask about staff turnover – being in an environment where staff are constantly changing can be unsettling for you and your child. Also find out what the staff to child ratio is, so you know your child will get the one-to-one attention they deserve. Ask about daily routines – do these include a good mix of activities and quiet times? What are menus like and is the food prepared on site, with snacks available between mealtimes?

3. Take into account your own impressions from your visits to the nurseries. Do the other children already there seem settled, relaxed and busy? What is the outdoor space like; is it fun, secure and safe with lots to do? Do the staff welcome your own child warmly and with interest? Are indoor spaces clean, bright, light and full of fun? Are there plenty of toys and equipment around, and quiet areas where your child can relax at nap time?

Quality Considerations

4. You don’t need to rely on your own impressions – there are external checks made by the authorities. The majority of childcare providers will be registered with OFSTED, which visits all providers on a regular basis. The latest reports, giving feedback on whether standards are met and children are safe, can be found on the OFSTED website at www.ofsted.gov.uk. It’s also perfectly acceptable to ask the nursery for references from other parents, and even other families’ contact details so you can ask about their impressions of the childcare offered there

5. Once you have chosen the nursery you feel is best for your child, book a place and agree hours, a start date and other administrative details like who the nursery should expect to pick up your child at the end of each session. Be aware that this is a big step for you and your child, and don’t expect them to settle into the new routine immediately.

At Twinkle Toes Day Nursery and Preschool, we will work with you to ensure your child settles in as quickly and smoothly as possible.