What do I need to look for in a nursery?
Choosing a nursery for your child involves researching your local area, asking plenty of questions and being observant. Start your search as soon as you can; many nursery places are booked up months in advance, especially for babies. Use the following factors as a guide, although you may want to add your own criteria about what is important for you and your child.
When you start your search you should look for a nursery with:
• A good reputation (word-of-mouth, Ofsted registration and inspections)
• Established ground rules and policies
• A stimulating and structured environment
• Curriculum guidance being followed
• Qualified, caring staff
• Clean, safe facilities
• Current registration certificate
• Key worker system in place.
Contact your local Children's Information Service for a list of registered nurseries in your area. You will find the phone number in your local telephone book, or you can get their details from the national Childcare Link website.
A good nursery should have a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and be known locally for its caring environment. When you visit the nursery, see if you can chat to one or two of the parents who are there to get a feel of the place through them. Your own first impressions are important too. What do you see? Is it clean, calm and, most importantly, do the children look happy and occupied? Whatever the nursery tells you, it's important to listen to your instincts.
Talk to other local parents and see if they have heard anything, either positive or negative, about a nursery that you are interested in.
What sort of policies should I look out for?
It is important for a nursery to be flexible, letting you pick up and drop off your child at different times, for example, but it should also have clearly established policies for everything from opening and closing times to dealing with emergencies. By checking that these procedures are in place, you can see that the nursery takes the responsibility of caring for your child seriously.
Along the same lines, look for a nursery with a strict illness policy. Find out which illnesses will keep your child at home, and for how long. Although this may inconvenience you if your child is ill, keeping sick children (and staff) away from the nursery makes sense. Since 1999, all employees have been eligible for time off for emergency care, which gives you the right to take a reasonable amount of time off work if you need to care for one of your dependants at short notice.
A good nursery should also have an open door policy and will encourage parents to drop in unannounced. Some nurseries go beyond merely letting you in and encourage you to become part of the nursery community by helping with activities, or accompanying children on outings. Many working parents will find this difficult to fit in on a regular basis. But now many parents are eligible to take parental leave and this may be just the opportunity to enjoy it.
What activities should I expect to find in the nursery?
The best nurseries have a structured curriculum that includes plenty of time for physical activity, play, quiet time (including daily storybook sessions for groups and individuals), group activities, individual activities, meals, snacks and free time. Television and videos should play little or no part in what your child does at nursery. If videos are part of the curriculum, make sure that they are age-appropriate and educational. A well thought out curriculum stimulates your child's development and introduces variety and interest, although of course your child will see all of this as different ways of playing!
Remember that children learn through play, so look for somewhere that places a high value on children simply doing activities that they enjoy and having fun. Many nurseries will keep parents informed about forthcoming topics so you can talk about them with your child at home.
Look for a nursery with a wide range of age-appropriate toys that will encourage your child's development and, as she gets older, stimulate creative, imaginative play. Look at what is on the walls, too. It is important that there are plenty of drawings and paintings that the children have done themselves, showing that their creativity is valued.
Finally, find out what the nursery serves at meal times and check that they are geared up to serve nutritious options to vegetarian children or those with food allergies or intolerances.
Look for staff members who share your views on sleep, discipline, feeding and other care issues. Good carers will ask detailed questions about your child's health and care to help determine whether their nursery is right for you.
They should also make time to get to know you and your child quickly, talking to you at the end of the day, especially during the settling-in period. Make sure the nursery has plenty of staff so your child gets the attention and care that she needs. At least 50 per cent of the staff members should have a childcare qualification.
Research has shown that the smaller the group, the better the care. The child to staff ratio should be:
• 3:1 for under twos
• 4:1 for two to threes
• 8:1 for three to fives.
Staff function at their best when they are valued by their employer. Look for a nursery with good staff benefits. Those that pay well and offer a good employment package are more likely to keep their best staff. Low staff turnover is one key to ensuring consistent, stable care for your child.
Some nurseries close early every so often for staff support and training. Although inconvenient in the short term, this is time well spent - showing that the staff are valued and up-to-date in their skills. If staff training isn't up to scratch, and they seem overworked and stressed, then the nursery is not for you.
Do nurseries have to follow health and safety regulations?
All nurseries are required to provide a safe environment for staff, children and visiting parents. Make sure that this is in evidence, for example, that all play equipment is safe and that fire drills take place regularly. Security must be a high priority. Check that children cannot leave the building without being noticed, and unauthorised persons cannot enter without valid reason.
Prevention of dangerous situations is a must in a nursery setting. You should satisfy yourself that steps have been taken to minimise every risk.
A good nursery is clean and sanitary. Floors, corridors, walls and the kitchen area must be spotless; rubbish bins should not be left sitting unemptied, and the building should be suitably heated, lit and ventilated. Staff must be aware of the importance of personal hygiene, and follow appropriate procedures.
Is there anything else I should look out for?
Look for a nursery that has an outdoor play area. Children should have the chance to play outside every day - running, jumping and skipping are good for them physically, mentally and socially. If you live in a built-up area, where even the best nurseries may not have enough space for an outdoor playground, make sure there is a spacious indoor area and that the children are taken out regularly for visits to the local shops, park or playground.
Do nurseries need to be registered and inspected?
They do, and the registration certificate is usually displayed prominently. If it is not immediately apparent, ask the manager if you can see it. All registered nurseries in England are regularly visited and approved by an Ofsted childcare inspector. You can read nursery inspection reports on the Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.
Nurseries that are an integral part of private or independent schools can be registered as part of the school. If you are thinking about sending your child to a nursery attached to an independent school, you may want to find out how it is inspected.
Reviewed October 2007
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