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Day nurseries provide full day care and education for
children from as young as six weeks to pre-school five year olds.
Day nurseries are different from nursery schools and can be
privately run, community, council or workplace services.
However, they must all be registered and regularly inspected by
OfSTED, and must comply with strict guidelines on staff/children
ratios. In general, for under two's, one carer to three children;
two to three year olds, one carer to four children; three to five
year olds, one carer to eight children.
Staff must have, or be working towards, the relevant
qualifications in childcare. Hours will usually fit in with a
normal working day of 8am to 6pm and care is provided all year
round.
Ideal if:
- you feel happiest leaving your child with a team of
professional staff trained in childcare
- you want a stimulating environment for your child with the
opportunity to build social skills with similar-aged children
- you need your care to be 100% reliable - if one staff member is
away ill, your childcare arrangements don't fall to pieces
- you want continuity of care - your child could stay at the day
nursery until school age, although your child's key carer may
change over time.
Not so suitable if:
- you need more flexible hours such as late evening or weekend
help
- the nursery is too far away from work or home, or if older
children need taking to, and collecting, from school. Although some
day nurseries offer school collections and after school care, it
may be cheaper, and save time, to combine all your childcare needs
under one roof
- you want your child to be cared for in a more flexible, homely
environment, enjoying care that could continue once they start
school - although, again, some day nurseries do provide
after-school care
- your employer is not 'family friendly'. You will need to have
back-up for emergencies, for example, if your child is ill you will
not be able to take him/her to a day nursery.
Always check
- the day nursery takes children at the age you're looking for,
and that they have places. Some nurseries don't take under-two's,
and many get booked up months in advance
- that the day nursery operates a key-carer system. This means
your child will have one person they can build a relationship with
and who is responsible for them. This is particularly important for
babies
- there are different cultures positively represented in the
toys, books and wall displays
- that the premises are clean, light, airy, child-centered, and
there is lots of space to play, inside and outside.
- the facilities will grow with your child, with different
nursery areas depending on age. For example, babies should have a
seperate room
- children should seem happy and relaxed and should be well
supervised by staff who communicate with them in a warm,
child-centered way.
Questions to ask
- what is the ratio of carers to children, and what was the
turnover of staff in the last year?
- what will be your child's routine? For example, what are the
routine activities, when and where are the sleep sessions?
- what are the routines for mealtimes? Can they provide a special
diet if required?
- will they take children off the premises? If so, where and with
what ratio of staff to children?
- what is their policy on discipline and how is information about
your child's day conveyed to you? Are there opportunities to talk
to staff at the beginning and end of the day? It's important for
you to have feedback on your child's day.
- what is their settling-in policy? Do they encourage parents to
stay with the child until they feel completely safe and
secure?
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