Choosing a daycare for your child as a new Mum can be a daunting task fraught with emotions.

As a Nursery Principal, I would meet several Mums and Dads each day with long checklists of criteria doing tours. I once met a Dad who told me he had visited 17 nurseries that week and he stood with a spreadsheet on his phone ticking off the criteria that my nursery met. Interestingly, my nursery that day didn’t meet the spreadsheet criteria; but he chose our nursery all the same. When I asked him why he chose us, he told me it was just a feeling, an instinct.

I think that instinct came from the warmth, the welcome and the care I showed him as we walked around the nursery. The primary need is for parents and children to feel listened to, and to find somewhere that demonstrates care and attention. Over the years I have stood at the nursery door hugging poor Mums who are sobbing as they say goodbye to their babies. I think the most important thing of all is finding professionals who are passionate about their work.

Here’s some criteria to consider when choosing a nursery…

1. Where you live? Location to work and any support network for pick-up support.
2. What is the congestion in the area like at drop off and collection?
3. Which curriculum or early years pedagogy such as Montessori or Reggio do they follow, or feel inspired by. Can you see evidence of that around the nursery?
4. Will you choose a standalone nursery or a chain of nurseries? Is it an established nursery/school?
5. The hours, breakfast club, and full day provision for working parents, does it match your needs? How do they alert parents on closures?
6. What is their up-to-date reputation and reviews? Can you speak to any current parents?
7. Fees and extra costs, can you pay monthly?
8. The facilities are well-maintained, look up and down, and all around.
9. When you are on a tour do you see relaxed children at play?
10. Does the team have time for questions? Do you feel heard?
11. Are the resources meaningful and carefully considered?
12. Were the teachers appropriately dressed for their role with small children? Were the teachers active on their feet and focussed on the children?
13. Did you see displays of evidence of their policies, procedure? Did you see examples of learning displayed on the walls?
14. Do the nursery policies match your values?
15. Were the bathrooms and changing areas clean and managed well?

Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few nurseries, book a tour. Don’t just tour once, visit at other times.

I think it’s worth checking on parent involvement and engagement, sometimes this can be visible through social media or their website. Do the photos, and the information they share display a sense of community where you could see yourselves being a part of? Can you visualise your child being there?

When you are on the tour and going through the registration process are they able to find time to answer your questions? Some questions to ask may include: what do they feel makes them unique? What one thing would they change about the nursery and why? As you tour, can you see engaged children who are enthusiastic about learning and teachers who are relaxed and comfortable? As you finish the tour you may ask yourself if the nursery resonates with your family values.

Most parents will decide on the feel, an instinct, a connection and also how their child reacts…

What about the children themselves? Should they choose? Children will see nurseries in a different perspective and may choose based on colours, toys and facilities. It’s important to allow children space to ask questions and take part, however, you are the grown-up with the most understanding and experience.

Whichever nursery you choose I can guarantee it will be bustling, as nurseries are living breathing communities of people all doing their best. No school is perfect.

I wish you all the very best as you can make your choice and beyond.

With Love