Five Things to Consider When Choosing A Nursery

Choosing a nursery school for your child is one of the biggest decisions you will have to make, so it pays to consider carefully what to look for.  Nurseries, such as the Treehouse Nursery, can provide a great environment for your child to develop their early learning skills. With this in mind, here are five things to consider when choosing a nursery:



The 'feel' of the nursery Following your gut instinct is probably the most important aspect. How does the place feel when you step inside? You should be able to tell fairly quickly whether you think this nursery will suit your child. Are the staff welcoming? Can you see any evidence that parents are welcome, such as a parents' noticeboard?

What is the décor like? If it looks bright and cheerful, with equipment in good condition, interesting displays and everything nicely maintained, it's likely that the childcare will be good quality too.

Think about security – you need to feel sure that your child will be kept safe both within the nursery and safe from possible intruders.

The children

One of the best ways to judge the quality of a nursery is to look at the children. Do they look happy and confident? Are they enjoying a wide range of activities? Ideally, children should be able to choose from a variety of options. Is there a balance of organised activities (perhaps led by an adult), and child-led activities where children can choose for themselves what to do?

The staff

Of course, the staff are critical to the success of any nursery, to make careful note of how they interact with the children. Are children happy to approach them with a problem? This can be a critical indicator of how their relationship. Are the staff engaged with helping the children learn?  Do you feel they will treat your child as an individual? Check whether each child has a specific person assigned to them. Are all staff fully qualified and receiving ongoing training?

The structure of the day Find out how the day is planned and organised; many nurseries display their plans for learning so you can see what is going on. Is there are range of learning opportunities planned - the best nurseries know that learning needs to be organised to achieve the best progress, and tailored to individual children. Do they provide nutritious meals and snacks? Ask to see a sample menu.

Ofsted report

You can access the Ofsted report for any nursery online and it's a good idea to read this before making a decision. However, it's important to remember that an inspection can only give you a 'snapshot' of the nursery on any given day, so take all the other aspects into account as well.

A high quality nursery, such as the Treehouse Nursery, can bring a host of benefits for your child, such as developing their independence, helping them to make new friends and handle new situations, and ultimately prepare them for 'big' school. So take time to consider everything carefully before making your decision.