Day Nurseries, also known as Day Care, provide a stimulating environment for your child to learn, play, eat and nap. They accommodate infants from birth to 5 year old when school starts.
Most day cares in the UK are open throughout the year except on bank holidays. Children are usually grouped based on age and do age appropriate activities. There is usually a ratio of children assigned to one key carer.
All day nurseries in the UK are to follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This provides organised learning for the children.
Day Nurseries usually cost from £25 to £50 a day.
Day Nurseries provide “settling in” periods where you come in for a few days with your child to get them accustomed to the new environment.
Some mums are blessed to work in organizations that provide day nurseries for employees’ children with subsidised day care fees. If you do, I think you should take advantage of this fantastic opportunity!
Things To Consider about Day Nurseries
- Think about your child’s age, temperament & interests. Is your child ready to be cared for outside of the home?
- Think about your own needs. Are you emotionally ready to hand over your infant to “strangers” for a long period of time or would you rather wait till little one is a bit older? Personally I waited till Bionic was two till she started nursery. We were both ready then.
- Can you afford the cost of day care? If you are a permanent employee, find out if you are entitled to child tax credits or childcare vouchers at your employment. At age 3 to 4 the UK government provides 15 hours of free education at day care for your little one.
- Check the Ofsted inspection report of the day cares around your area.
- What is the proximity of the day nursery to your home? Is it easily accessible?
- It is also a good idea to find out from other trusted parents about what nurseries they recommend.
- It is a MUST to visit the nurseries you are interested in so you can compare and determine which one best suits your child.
- Observe the other children and the staff together. Your first impression about the nursery and its environs is usually correct.
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- Is it a friendly place?
- Is the nursery secure? Are strangers allowed in and out easily?
- Is the nursery ventilated? Does it look clean?
- Is it spacious or cramped? Is there an area for napping?
- Is there an area for indoor and outdoor play?
Questions To Ask At Prospective Day Nurseries
- What type of activities do they engage the children in?
- What are the opening and closing hours? What days of the year is the nursery closed? Is there flexibility in pick up and drop off times?
- How are the children grouped into rooms? What room will your child be? **Make sure there is space in the room that best matches your child’s age. Some nurseries might try to persuade you into putting your child in a lower room if there is no space in the upper class. E.g. putting your 2 years old in the 0-2 years room till there is space in the next class. I personally would not recommend this as your child should be advancing not regressing.**
- Do they have written policies? Ask for a copy
- How often would they provide reports on your child’s development? Who will be their key caregiver?
- What training and experience do the staff members have?
- What happens in an emergency? Is the staff trained in first aid?
- What is the nursery’s view on discipline?
- What type of meals do they provide? Are the meals cooked daily? On site or off site? You can ask to see a copy of their meal timetable
- What is the notice period if you want to change nursery hours or remove your child from nursery? It is usually a month but may vary.
- Do they accept childcare vouchers?
- If you have more than 1 child ask if they provide discounts for siblings
- Do they provide milk, nappies, sun cream etc. or is your little one expected to bring in?
SWMs, for pros and cons of choosing day care as child care option, click the link.
What do you look out for in day nurseries? Please feel free to share with us in the comment section below. Thanks
