Useful Questions to Ask a Nursery
Selecting the right nursery for your little one is a big decision to make. It never feels easy to leave them in the care of others, particularly when they are a little bit younger. With that in mind, you need to be sure that you are putting them in the care of experienced and qualified professionals who can ensure their absolute safety and give you the peace of mind that they are in safe hands.
For many parents, the decision is also pretty overwhelming and even a bit daunting. Making sure you pick the right nursery isn’t as scary as it may seem. However, in order to make sure you make the right choice, there are a few things to consider and a few questions it's certainly going to be worth asking.
It goes without saying that you will want to find out as much as possible before committing to sending your child there. You will wanna know as much as you can - but where do you begin? What are the questions you need to be asking them and what information do you need to allow yourself to make an informed decision?
To help you out, we have collated a few questions that it's certainly worth asking the potential nurseries you are looking at. This should hopefully be able to support you when you are visiting nurseries for the first time as it's certainly easy to forget what you want to ask or get a little distracted. Read on to discover more!
Where do I start in terms of finding the right day nursery for my child?
When seeking out potential nursery candidates, there are certain obvious considerations that you will have no doubt already considered. Obvious factors such as location to your home, a good reputation and a warm and welcoming environment - are all obvious, key considerations. But here are a few other things to think about which may have slipped your mind - which you can simply ask!
What policies do they have?
Perhaps not the most exciting question to start off with but certainly something which is worth asking. What you want to know in regards to this question is whether they have clear policies in place which relate to your child’s care. This could be something as simple as opening and closing times as well as what measures are in place in case of emergencies or if your child were to fall unwell at nursery. Ideally, you want to use a nursery that is both efficient and flexible.
An example being, you want to know that it will be opening on time every day but also, is there going to be the flexibility that if you needed to change the times that you may pick up or drop off your child would that be an issue and if your working hours changed would the nursery be able to work around this at short notice? These are all things to consider, especially if you work full time.
Another policy to be mindful of is their sick policy. What we mean by this more specifically is how they deal with childhood illness and the periods of time you are expected to keep your little one at home.
Keeping a poorly child can complicate working hours and a few other practicalities but it's certainly reassuring knowing that the nursery takes illnesses seriously and will not allow them to spread it around to other children. A good nursery will be extra vigilant with things like this, especially in light of COVID-19.
Will they be able to cater to your child’s needs?
Another great question to enquire about is if they provide lunch or whether you’ll be required to make your child a packed lunch, this is something that varies from nursery to nursery. If they do provide meals for your child. You may want to ask about the various options available and make sure they offer a range of healthy and nutritious options. If your child has specific dietary requirements, intolerances or allergies, it's also important to enquire about this on behalf of your child.
Another important thing to think about is if your child has specific medical needs which need to be factored in, for example, if your child is diabetic or needs to take medication at intervals throughout the day, this is worth bringing up with nursery candidates.
How do they ensure the safety of the children in their care?
A nursery is going to be required to carry out risk assessments regularly and in all areas of the nursery but safety is something that is at the forefront of most parents' minds no doubt, you are well within your rights to ask about this. It also goes without saying that a nursery is going to record and monitor any accidents or incidents as well as making a record of any medication that is given.
What activities will they offer?
A nursery is going to be able to offer your child a variety of activities that are going to be appropriate for the age and needs of the children present. Be sure that you gain an understanding of what kind of things your little one will be up to and ensure that this is in keeping with what they will enjoy and are interested in. For example, maybe your child loves being outside and there are great outdoor activities and facilities for them to utilize.
Is the nursery going to be registered or inspected?
The answer to both will undoubtedly be absolute, yes. All-day nurseries are registered and inspected regularly by the necessary authority depending on the location of your facility:
● England: Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education)
● Northern Ireland: your local Health and Social Care Trust
● Wales: CSSIW (Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales)
● Scotland: Care Inspectorate
A nursery will proudly have its registration certificate displayed clearly. If this isn’t immediately apparent, enquire if you wish to see it for any additional reassurance.
Sandfield Day Nursery - A Safe, Happy, Stimulating and Caring Environment for Your Child
As experienced and compassionate childcare providers in Nottingham, we understand that choosing the perfect day nursery for your little one’s childcare can be challenging. That’s why, at Sandfield Day Nursery, we go above and beyond to create a comforting and educational nursery environment for the young minds of Nottingham. Our day-care facilities are suitable for children aged six weeks to five years old and are run by a team of friendly yet qualified day-care staff who recognise and appreciate the specific needs of each child.
Caring for children is our passion, and it’s our staff who are your child’s greatest assets. We diligently select our staff, taking into account their child-friendliness, qualifications and teaching experience. Our parents know that their children are in safe hands, able to leave them in our care with peace of mind.
If you’re searching for established day-care facilities in Nottingham, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today to find out more about the various services we offer or feel free to explore our website.
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