When you’re visiting a nursery for the first time, asking the right questions can give you a comprehensive understanding of the setting. Here are essential questions to ask during a nursery tour:
General Information:
- Operating Hours: What are the opening and closing times?
- Sessions and Flexibility: Do you offer full-day, half-day, or flexible sessions?
- Fees and Payment: What are the fees, and are there additional costs for meals, extracurricular activities, or any other services
Staff and Safety:
- Staff Qualifications: What qualifications and training do your staff members have?
- Background Checks: Do you perform background checks on all staff members?
- Staff Turnover: How long have key staff members been with the nursery?
Curriculum and Activities:
- Educational Approach: What educational philosophies or approaches do you follow?
- Daily Routine: Can you explain a typical day or routine for the children?
- Outdoor Play: How much time do children spend outdoors, and what kind of outdoor activities do you offer?
- Learning Goals: What are the learning objectives or goals for the children?
Care and Communication:
- Child-to-Staff Ratio: What is the ratio of staff to children in each age group?
- Parent Communication: How do you keep parents informed about their child’s progress and daily activities?
Facilities and Safety:
- Safety Measures: What safety measures do you have in place, especially in emergencies?
- Childproofing: How is the environment childproofed to ensure safety?
- Play Areas and Resources: What play areas and learning resources do you have for children?
Inclusivity and Policies:
- Inclusivity: How do you promote diversity and inclusivity within the nursery?
- Discipline and Behaviour: How do you manage behaviour and discipline issues?
- Policies and Procedures: Can you provide information about your policies on pickups, drop-offs, holidays, and any other relevant policies?
Settling In and Transition:
- Settling-In Period: Do you have a settling-in period for new children, and how does it work?
- Transition to School: How do you prepare children for the transition to primary school?
- Additional Services:
- Meals and Snacks: What kind of meals and snacks do you provide, and can you accommodate specific dietary requirements?
- Additional Services: Do you offer any extra services such as music classes, language lessons, or classes?
Asking these questions during your nursery visit will help you gauge whether the nursery aligns with your expectations and requirements for your child’s care and development.
Follow us @StGeorgesNursery to learn more about our activities.
Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence at St. George’s Nursery: A Look Back at Our Milestone Anniversary Events
At St. George’s Nursery, we are proud to celebrate 30 years of providing outstanding childcare and early years education across Leicester and Nottingham. As part
Checklists for New Parents When Starting Nursery
Deciding on the right childcare can be a minefield for parents, so many things to be taken into consideration and agreed by all involved. How to recognise a good setting for your child, needs a lot of time and consideration.
How to Choose the Right Nursery for Your Child
Deciding on the right childcare can be a minefield for parents, so many things to be taken into consideration and agreed by all involved. How to recognise a good setting for your child, needs a lot of time and consideration.
