5 Things to consider when choosing a nursery

Word of mouth is a great tool when it comes to researching settings. 

• Speak to friends, family and other parents in your area

• Ask what it was they liked/ disliked about various settings 

• Discuss on local social groups for recommendations 

• Review each nursery's latest Ofsted report.

• Read reviews on trusted websites such as Day Nurseries

Do remember though that visiting in person will give you the best impression as sometimes it can be difficult to verbalise what was liked or disliked. 

Visiting different nurseries is so important to getting a feel of the setting for yourself. Some key things to consider and ask are: 

• What are the different room/ areas like?

• Do they have appropriate resources and toys for each age group? 

• Do the children in the room look happy and settled? 

• Are practitioners actively engaging with the children?

• Do the staff appear friendly, calm and relaxed?

• Can children choose what they want to play with or is it more adult led? 

• Do the indoor and outdoor environments feel safe and secure?

• Is there parking and / or space to leave buggies? 

• What opportunities do children have for outdoor play?

• Are the outdoor toys well looked after?

• How do the children get to the garden?

• What is the sleeping area like? 

• What are the kitchen and dining areas like 

• What are the toilets like and how accessible are they for the children? 

• Did the nursery make you feel welcome, comfortable and relaxed? 

During your visit, or on the phone / email prior to the visit, here are some key questions to ask: 

• What is the number of children in each room, and how many staff? 

• What age do the children move up in each room? 

• What is the transition for starting nursery or moving up rooms 

• Do you take the children out on trips - is so what kind of trips and how do you ensure the safety of the children whilst out

• How do the preschool team support children's transition to school?

• What is the SEN support like? 

• What is your illness and exclusion policy? 

While cost is naturally an important consideration for many families, it's also worth looking at exactly what's included in the fees so you can make a fair comparison between nurseries.

• What the fees include and what extras may need to be paid e.g. milk/ meals/ snacks/ wipes/ nappies/ suncream/ enrichment classes and/ or trips 

• How is the funding applied - are there any specific times/ sessions that funding can be used?

• What is the cost for unfunding hours?

• Does the nursery close at any point and do you pay during these closures 

• What happens on a bank holiday and/ or over christmas / new year 

• What funding support does your nursery accept 

5

Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what you liked about the nursery. Make sure you give yourself time to gather your thoughts and ask yourself:

• What was your initial reaction?

• Did you like what you saw?

• If you took your child, did they seem relaxed and keen to play?

• Did you feel happy after your visit? 

• Would you feel comfortable leaving your child at the setting?