Is Nursery the Right Option For Your Child?

Before your child goes to infant school, nursery or daycare is often their first stepping stone. For many parents, nursery is the perfect option as they return to work or feel ready to give their child some independence and find their feet away from home. But, since every child is different as are the needs of each parent, it’s important to consider all childcare options. 

When looking for childcare options it’s important to do your research and consider all avenues carefully. Which childcare option would suit your lifestyle best? How much can you afford to pay for childcare? These are all key questions that you need to ask yourself before enrolling your child anywhere. 

Luckily, to help you out we’ve put together this useful blog on all you need to know about childcare, so you can decide if nursery is the best choice for you. Read on for all you need to know.

What are your childcare options?

Although one of the most popular options, nursery and preschool is not your only option to consider. Large families may be able to have help from other members or perhaps you’d rather have in-house help. 

Here is a brief overview of the top options.

Nursery and preschool

The great thing about nurseries and preschool is that they are run by professional childcare practitioners. Available for young babies and pre-schoolers, you can choose between full-time care or part-time depending on your schedule. There are many local nurseries that offer great childcare services. Enrolling your child means they can meet new friends and you haven’t got to worry about a family member being sick or being stuck for options when you need to get to work.

Family care

If you’re lucky enough to have family or friends who can help with childcare, this may suit you better. Family care can be very convenient and flexible and you can mix this with nursery or preschool too so your child can experience both. For small babies and children, you may feel more comfortable having your family look after your child but this is down to preference.

Nannies and au pairs

For those who prefer hiring their own childcare help, nannies and au pairs are something to consider. Registered nannies will have childcare training, first aid training and more. The benefits of hiring this kind of help is that your children get to stay in the comfort of their own home and can develop a personal relationship with the nanny. 

Things to think about when considering nursery options

Finding a good nursery may seem like a mammoth task but it doesn’t need to be. Consider the most important factors in your search and you’ll find it a lot easier, plus you can then secure your child’s place quickly. Most day nurseries are privately run and although they are run for childcare purposes, they will usually follow a curriculum. 

Here are some of the top things to consider when looking for nursery options.

OFSTED rating

You can find OFSTED reports of nurseries via the official website. Here you can find a detailed overview of recent reports, this will include the quality of care from staff, leadership, welfare and anything else that was observed. OFSTED is a great way of understanding how a nursery is being run the kind of reputation it may have. Sometimes it’s hard to assess how good a nursery is just from one visit, but an OFSTED report will give you more in depth information.

Cost

Consider how much you are able to budget for childcare. You may be entitled to the 30 hours of free childcare depending on your situation so it’s always a good idea to check this beforehand. If you are, paying the remaining hours can be very affordable but this will vary between nurseries. More often than not, the cost of nursery childcare is worth it especially when you consider the convenience and quality of care.

Location

Choosing a nursery that’s close to your home or place of work can make your daily routine a lot easier. Consider looking at facilities in your local area first and if you know other parents with their children in nursery, why not ask for a recommendation? A lot of parents choose a nursery that’s on the way to work or close to their families so picking up and dropping off is a breeze.

Why is nursery so beneficial to children?

Sending your child to nursery isn’t just about keeping them safe. In a professional learning environment, children can gain so much from being in nursery which aids their development. Nursery is a place where children can grow new skills that will prepare them for school and social environments. Although this may be their first experience being away from home, it’s a chance for them to flourish.

Here are some of the top benefits of nursery.

Run by trained childcare professional

Since nurseries are run by fully trained practitioners, your children are experiencing the benefits of a classroom environment while feeling comfortable and at ease. Team members will have expectations to meet in terms of the quality of care they are offering and how this is met. Sending your child to nursery means they are part of the early years curriculum and this kind of learning can help your child meet their developmental milestones.

Children develop socially

At nursery, your child will be able to develop socially as they make friends and meet new children from all backgrounds and cultures. There are several ways that nursery can help with social development including play, confidence building, communication and more. Although children do experience this at home, being in new situations with different people creates more opportunities for learning. A great thing about nursery is that many of the children that attend will end up going to the same infant school so your child will already have a group of friends when they start!

Independence and school preparation

Every child is different - some are happy to enter new situations but others are a little more hesitant. Starting your child at nursery can help develop their independence in time for school and generally become more confident. Nursery is a chance for children to discover new things whether that’s opening up in new social situations, asking for help, sharing with children and more.

Sandfield Day Nursery: Exceptional Childcare in Nottingham

At Sandfield Day Nursery, we’re proud to offer professional childcare services within Nottingham. As passionate caregivers, we understand that every child has different needs which is why we go above and beyond to provide a comforting, educational and stimulating environment at our nursery. 

We take children from aged six weeks to five years old and have dedicated rooms for each age range. Our fully trained and experienced team are there to support the educational growth of your child and prioritise their welfare always. We have worked hard to establish a reputation that is second to none among local daycare facilities and can honestly say that you will not find a better place for your child to spend their formative years than our beautiful nursery school in Nottingham. 

If you are looking for affordable childcare in Nottingham, look no further than Sandfield Day Nursery. Contact us today for more information.

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