Early Years
When you have a child, you want the best start for them in life and that means choosing a good nursery and pre-school
Choosing a nursery or pre-school place for your child can be difficult – it all depends on your personal circumstances.
Firstly, do your research and visit those local to you. If you are going back to work, you may find it easier to find one nearer to your workplace rather than at home so it’s more convenient for the drop off and pick up. Ask colleagues at work and friends for recommendations.
If you are lucky you may find a purpose-built nursery with separate rooms for each age group.
Most nurseries also have wonderful outdoor play areas, where children can socialise and enjoy activities in the fresh air.
Visit the nurseries and get a feel for the place and ask as many questions as you can. Look around at the children to see if they are happy and settled and ask the staff how they monitor a child’s activity throughout the day, will it just be verbal, or will you get a daily written document? Do they get nap time, do they get to play outdoors and are their suitable potty-training policies in place?
What are their opening times, do they fit in with your work situation and do they open during the holidays or just term times? A big question is cost. Ask about fees and funded places, so you know exactly what the impact is on finances.
What is the staff turnover like? If the staff have been in place for a while, it’s likely they are enjoying the job, but if you are seeing a different face every time you go, you need to ask why. Also is the number of staff per child ratio correct. What is the policy if your child is ill?
These questions are just a guide. You will get a gut instinct about the place, but the main thing is to give your child a chance to settle in. Remember it will be a big change for them as well as you, but with the right nursery you will see your child flourish, grow and develop and at the end of the day, that’s all we want for our children.
