Choosing a nursery: what you need to know

Finding the right nursery is an important step for you and your family and it can be a pretty stressful process. Whether you are a first-time father or have just moved to a new area, you're faced with a range of options. So how do you know which provider to choose? Dad Info has some answers...

The most important thing to remember is that you are the customer.

Nurseries are big business and can be very expensive, so it is worth doing a bit of research to get the best care for your family, and value for money for your wallet.

• Childcare: what are the options?

Where to start?

To find a list of nurseries in your area:

• visit the Schools and Childcare finder (if you live in England)
• contact your local Children's Information Service (if you live in Wales)
• visit Scottish Childcare (if you live in Scotland)
• visit Employers For Childcare's website (if you live in Northern Ireland)

All childcare centres and nurseries are checked out by the Government agencies: Ofsted (in England), Estyn (in Wales),HMIE and the Care Commission (in Scotland) or your local Health and Social Services Trust (in Northern Ireland).

All will have a registration certificate, which should be on display

There are also some basic questions that you can ask when looking at childcare in your area:

What qualifications do the staff have?

• All nursery and childcare staff should have at least some basic training.
• The better qualified the staff are the more likely it is that the children will do well.
• Supervisors, managers and anyone with responsibility for other members of staff should have NVQ III in Childcare and Education, or equivalent, as a minimum.
• Support staff and assistants should have NVQ II. A good nursery will ensure that staff have regular training to update their knowledge and will not mind you asking about their qualifications.

How long have the staff worked at the nursery?

• If the staff change regularly at the nursery it's more difficult for you and your child to get to know them and build up a sense of trust.
• If most staff have been at the nursery for over three years then you can be more confident of a stable environment.
• However, there may well be a good reason for recent staff changes and it is well worth taking the time to find out a bit of background.

Will they tell me how my child is doing?

A good nursery will find ways to involve you in your child's life at the nursery, for example by giving you updates at the end of each day and by organising regular meetings to discuss how they are getting on and any issues.

What food will they provide?

•  Food is an important part of nursery life.
• A good nursery will have a well-balanced menu and be able to provide for any special dietary requirements.
• It is quite normal for parents to ask to see an example of the menu.
• This is also a good chance to discuss any special dietary requirements or allergies your child has.

Who will look after my child?

• Ideally, young children need to spend time with a consistent group of children and adults.
• A good nursery will ensure that they spend most of their time with a small group of children and a few adults that they get to know well.  

How will the daily routine fit with my child's sleep/rest/feeding times?

A well-run nursery will adapt their routines to match your child's needs, for example they will organise flexible sleep and rest times and find out from you when your child has their bottle.

Author

Bernadette Duffy, manager of Coram Children's Centre

Your experiences

What are your thoughts and experiences? What are the best ways to tell if a nursery is right for your child? Use our comments system below to share your thoughts.