Going on a nursery tour is a great way to narrow down your childcare options. You get to ask questions about what a typical day holds, learn about the nursery’s values and get to know their staff. To find the perfect place for your little one to learn, you want to make sure you’re asking the right questions.
We want you to get the information you need out of your nursery visit. To help, we’re sharing the top 10 questions you should consider during your tour.
1. What are the opening hours?
We know drop off and pick up can be a stressful time of day for any family. Fitting this in around your job can be near impossible! Make sure you know whether the nursery does early starts or later pick-ups. Not finding what you’re looking for? A full-time nanny or a childminder might be a better option as they provide more flexibility.
2. What is your staff recruitment process?
When looking for a nursery it’s a great idea to ask how they recruit their staff. What are the requirements? What experience do they need? Are they referenced? Do they complete first aid training? Asking these questions can give you confidence you’re leaving your child in the best care possible.
3. What are the child to adult ratios?
Of course as parents we want to ensure our little one is receiving appropriate 1:1 attention, especially in a somewhat hectic group setting. When working with children, there needs to be enough adults to give each child the supervision and attention they deserve. Make sure you get a clear idea from the Nursery Manager of their child to staff ratios.
4. How do you support my child’s learning and development?
All nurseries need to follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This ensures each child is being provided the core learning and development opportunities for their age. That said, make sure you ask what else they do to go above and beyond.
5. What sorts of activities do you do throughout the day?
This might seem like an obvious question, but be sure to ask about the types of activities they will do with your kids. Will they go out and explore the local community and the outdoors? Make sure you get an idea of the activities and how they connect to the wider EYFS guidelines.
6. How do you manage the children’s behaviour?
We all know our little ones love a good moan – it’s part of growing up. But learning about different big feelings can be challenging. And how adults respond to these behaviours and emotions can differ. Asking the Nursery Manager what the protocol is for handling feelings and tantrums is incredibly important.
7. What feedback will I get about my child’s learning?
As parents, we want to be involved in our child’s learning as much as we can. Of course you want to know what they get up to each day! Ask what information will be provided to you and how often. For instance, some nurseries may send photos throughout the day. Others may give an ‘end-of-day’ update. As each nursery may differ, it’s better to ask ahead of time.
8. What does the meal and snack menu look like?
Health and wellbeing are essential to a child’s development. Ask to have a look at the menus the nursery will offer and ask whether it will be inclusive of different kinds of diets/restrictions.
9. What do your fees include?
Make sure you understand the nursery fees and what those fees cover. Do they cover nappies and food? Being fully informed is critical to your childcare journey and will save you from some costly surprises further down the line.
10. What was the result of your last Ofsted inspection?
Most nurseries will have this readily available on their website. If you can’t find it or have specific points you’d like to question, it’s definitely worth the ask.
But is nursery the best fit for you?
You have an idea of what questions to ask during your nursery tour. Now it might be worth asking if a nursery setting is the right fit for your family.
Koru Kids’ Home Nursery’s try to marry the social aspects of a nursery with the 1:1 attention a full-time nanny can give. Following OFSTED’s guidelines, our childminders look after a maximum of three children at any one time. This provides your little ones with more personalised care, while also allowing them to socialise with other children. They are able to better teach your children about understanding and regulating their emotions in a healthy way. All of our childminders also incorporate outdoor learning in their daily lessons. Read more about the benefits of childminders.
If you’re looking for 1:1 care and can afford it, a full-time nanny might be the best option for you. With a nanny, you’re able to get personalised care for your child and tailor it to fit around your schedule. Find your full-day nanny today.
Whatever it is you’re looking for, know that Koru Kids is here to help every step of the way.
