Choosing a nursery

pinkshoes

I'm going back to work 3 days a week when DS is 9 months (so another 5.5 months to go - yippee!), so have recently been arranging to go and look round nurseries.

There's one near-ish to work, which will be £39/day. They responded to my email that evening, and sounded lovely on the phone when I phoned to arrange a visit. The only issue is that they open just 10 minutes before I need to be at work, so it'll be tight on timing, and closed for 2 weeks over christmas, which will eat up most my holiday...

There's another nursery (in a chain of about 6) that is on the way to work, slightly cheaper, but has much better opening hours, and has minimal days when it's closed, and it seems lovely online. I sent an email a week ago, which they didn't reply to, so thought I'd phone them to arrange a visit. The woman who answered seemed really rude, and before I'd even got chance to ask if I can come and look round, I got told "we're busy at the moment, in the middle of doing something, we'll reply to your email at some point", then pretty much hung up after a pause! She didn't even ask my name, so how does she know which email to reply to?!

My gut instinct is telling me that if they can't even communicate properly, then it's perhaps not the sort of place I should send DS to.

What do others think?

I'm new to all this childcare and nursery stuff, so don't know if that's normal!

Fellpony_2

I would reccomend going to look at both of them, the second one could have been in the middle of an emergency etc, go in with an open mind and then look at all the options once you have been to see them. HTH

onlyroz

I'd still go and visit the other nursery - after all you could just have caught the lady at a bad moment when she was trying to change 3 nappies at once or something...

As for the first nursery - you say that timings will be tight, but could your employer be a little accommodating? After all, parents have the right to request a flexible working arrangement, and if it's only a matter of arriving to work a little later (and maybe leaving later at the end of the day, or taking a shorter lunch-break to compensate) then most employers would be ammenable.

As for the nursery closure - my daughter's nursery is closed for 4 weeks in the year. One at easter, two in august and one at Christmas - this is when we time our own holidays, and we also occasionally ask the grandparents to cover if they're able.

My recommendation is to visit 2-3 nurseries and then go with your gut instinct as to which is best.

toffifee

Go with your gut - always. Unless they were having a genuine emergency when you rang e.g. a burst pipe flooding the builiding, the second nursery sounds dreadful. Any good place should be happy to let you have a look whenever you want. Maybe call again to see whether you get the same treatment.

I think most nurseries will be closed for the three days between Christmas and new year. 2 weeks seems a bit much though.

Can you work hours be changed slightly to let you get there on time from the first nursery? I think they have to at least consider any requests like this when you have small children.

Good luck.

brians_daughter

Go look at them both! My sons nursery is awful with any forms i ask them to fill in it takes them weeks to get it back to me... but they are far too busy looking after the children and making sure all their ofsted tick boxes are ticked. ie the 'important' stuff! They are wonderful with the children and ds2 actually cries when its time to come home so they must be more fun than me and daddy!

Another 'tip' (although recommendation is a good way to find palces) is to think about what your child 'needs' Example- my son needs to have the 'free reign' to go and mix with older children (gets very bored with the other 2 year olds) and what was meant to be 'the best nursery' in the area simply wouldnt allow this, whereas the nursery he attends is happy to let him mix with older children when he likes. He is an outdoor boy and loves to be outside in all weathers, again the nursery he is at are willing to allow that even in the lashing down rain, where as other places only had set times for outdoor play

At 9 months your child may not need anything 'extra' as such, but always worth bearing in mind. i know a boy who doesnt eat much in the mornings (due to medication making him feel sickly) but will eat 2 meals within 2 hours come lunch time, his mum chose a nursery that would allow for this ..simple things that will make all the diff IMO

pinkshoes

Hmmm, might ring again on another day. I just thought it odd that they didn't bother replying to the email (as they state it as a form of contact), and then to be so rude on the phone.

Even in a crisis, I would either not answer the phone, or at least apologise, and ask the person to call back a bit later due to whatever reason. I just find it odd that someone can be so rude to a stranger - gives me the impression they don't cope well with pressure!

There aren't many nurseries in the area, hence me having to find a place so early. The other one nearby is £45/day. All the rest mean driving a long way out!

I work 8am until about 5.30pm, so quite long hours. Work don't like to be flexible, and my 3 days a week is going to be a trial to prove I can do the job in 3 days. I really don't want to have to give them any reason not to continue the trial.

Spendless

Is a childminder an alternative option, as they can be flexible with start/finish times unlike a nursery that has set ones. Very few nurseries in my area open before 8am or finish later than 5.30, so I can understand your problem.

galvanizersbaby

pinkshoes wrote: »

Hmmm, might ring again on another day. I just thought it odd that they didn't bother replying to the email (as they state it as a form of contact), and then to be so rude on the phone.

Even in a crisis, I would either not answer the phone, or at least apologise, and ask the person to call back a bit later due to whatever reason. I just find it odd that someone can be so rude to a stranger - gives me the impression they don't cope well with pressure!

There aren't many nurseries in the area, hence me having to find a place so early. The other one nearby is £45/day. All the rest mean driving a long way out!

I work 8am until about 5.30pm, so quite long hours. Work don't like to be flexible, and my 3 days a week is going to be a trial to prove I can do the job in 3 days. I really don't want to have to give them any reason not to continue the trial.

You may have spoken to the admin person - this may not be a good reflection of the actual nursery - I know the manageress (who wasn't hands on - used to answer phone and do the accounting) at the nursery I used for my 2 didn't exactly have a good telephone manner :eek: in fact the opposite.
Nevertheless the nursery had a good reputation and many of my friends used it for their children which was one of the reasons I picked it.

I would go and look round both nurseries if I were you - nothing much to lose - good luck

nottslass_2

Spendless wrote: »

Is a childminder an alternative option, as they can be flexible with start/finish times unlike a nursery that has set ones. Very few nurseries in my area open before 8am or finish later than 5.30, so I can understand your problem.

My CM is lovely and very flexible.

The best tip I was given when choosing a CM was to meet her own children and if they appear to be how you'd like your own DC to be then you won't go far wrong

pinkshoes

I might look at some childminders too, but think I'd prefer DS to be with lots of other kids.

Also, the MIL has hinted she wants to look after him, but she's not been well recently (dodgy heart), there's a very bouncy and badly behaved dog at their house, and their house is always filthy! If I used a child minder, I fear she might get offended that I'm not letting her look after him! I don't want to hurt her feelings (she's a really nice person), but personally I don't think she's up to the job, and their house isn't a great environment for a baby!

Am I being mean???

Counting_Pennies_2

If you go for a CM remember that she will want four or five weeks holiday. So you will have to have an agreement over when you take yours.

In terms of nursery, usually I find the gut reaction is the best way to work out what is best for your family.

You definitely need to go and visit both so you can be sure. You could have a chat with the one that opens just before you need to work and ask if you might be able to have an arrangement with them to drop five minutes earlier.

Also go and visit some others that are further away so you get an idea of what is out there.

hth