We're going to visit a nursery tomorrow, what should i be looking out for? UPDATED!

After my previous thread about nursery fees and me going back to work next week, we have decided to put E into nursery for one day a week.

We're going to visit our local nursery tomorrow morning who are going to show us round etc. I know that i'll be looking out for smiling happy children there, but what else should i look out for? What should i ask?

Sorry for the thick question, i'm clueless about this sort of thing!

Well we went for a look round this morning and it was really nice

Really secure entrance system, lots of activities for the children and different rooms for different age groups. The baby room was lovely and bright, and they had a sleeping room with cots and a mobile projector that projected stars and moons on the ceiling. They showed us the diaries that they keep every day for each child and assured us that they will fit in with E's routine which is great. The cook was there preparing the lunches and we saw her making homemade shepherd's pie and and homemade bread, something which she does every day.

So all in all it was lovely and E starts there next week! Eeek! Thanks for your advice on this Hitchers X

well as you said see how the children are and how the staff interacts with them, i saw a nursery before and the staff was awful, so unenergetic and kids look all bored, so the first thing is follow your insticnt on the athmostphere, then changing facilities , meal time, activities, ratio for kids etc

My "top tip" would be to trust your instinct.  Find out what the children do all day, how the day is divided, how many naps do they have, do they have music or movement classes, have a look at the menus, ask how they report back to you at the end of the day, ask about how they are implementing any recommendations from the last ofsted.

Again what everyone else said about your instincts. Does it feel right for you?

As the others have said go with your instinct.  You'll know as soon as you walk around whether it's right for you.

Please don't be put off by upset children, but look at how they are dealt with.

You want to know the ratio of carers to children. How many first aiders per room. What their routines are. Food - is there an onsite kitchen? Allergies, sickness - how are they dealt with? Security. Do they get to go outside much?

Fantastic, thank you everyone!

Must remember to go with my instinct

Off the top of my head (we've been settling Jacob in today so fresh in my mind!):

Ratios

Staff qualifications and turnover

Structure of rooms and ages

Activities

Routines - what is the average day, will they follow your routine if it is different?

What is included in the cost - food, milk, nappies?

What is the menu for food provided?

Trips/visits?

First aiders? Will they administer medication as needed?

Where do babies sleep?

But I would agree with everyone else that instinct is most important - I visited one nursery which my colleague has sent all 3 of her children to and speaks very highly of but I took an instant dislike to it and it wouldn't have been right for either of mine.

http://www.btwiki.ebrey.net/index.php?title=What_to_look_for_when_choosing_a_nursery

HTH

WTabsS - I used the Wiki questions

One thing that swung it for me with the nursery we went for was that they have a separate sleeping room for the babies, the others didn't have that, just cots/prams in the corner of the room.  I knew that there was no way M would sleep if other babies were playing and she was sat in a cot, no matter how tired she was.