Working mum Sarah Greig ran the gauntlet, and chose a nursery for her son Freddie.
Here is her advice for parents starting the search:
Finding out about your options
Check out your local council site: they have all the registered local childminders and nurseries.
www.ndna.org.uk can supply you with a list of day nurseries in your area.
Join a nanny share website and set up an ad.
Choosing a nursery
Go with your instinct..... one of your closest friends could view a nursery you love and hate it, it's your child and you will get a feeling for a place; the first nursery I visited I burst into tears at and thought I'd never find one but I did in the end!!!
See at least 3 to get a comparison.
Register your baby at least 6 months before you plan to go back to work, they often have long waiting lists.
Asking the right questions
What is there staff turnover?
Do they have outside space?
What do the children eat?
What will your child's routine be?
What is included in the price? Nappies, food, baby milk etc.
Do they have a settling in period. This is normally done in the week before your child is due to start and involves you spending time with them and them getting used to nursery.
Check out there Ofsted rating
Do they accept childcare vouchers?
What do they charge if you are late to pick up your child.
Which days are they shut?
Which days are they shut?
What to keep your eyes out for
Check how the staff interact with the children; this is far more important than shiny new toys.
Check they have a key worker or similar system and that your child's behaviour and day will be recorded.
Check the nursery is clean.
Most importantly remember this doesn't have to be a permanent option... If it doesn't work out for you or your child: most nurseries are on a 6 week notice period.
No comments:
Post a Comment