Choosing a nursery

galvanizersbaby

pinkshoes wrote: »

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???[/QUOTE]

I don't think so - it's a tricky one as you wouldn't want to offend MIL obviously but I would say go with your gut instincts on this one

choccymoose

It's important to note that not all childminders take 4-5 weeks holiday. They are as indiviidual as the nurseries you will visit. Although when in the CM's house they will be with a smaller group of children that is not always the case, a lot of childminders in my area go to the local childminding groups ran by the children's centres or events that are put on by us as a local authority where they get to mix with a wider range of children. you will need to be very clear though if you are going with a childminder who pays what and when for example are day trips included or extra, do you pay for when you are on holiday and not when childminder is or half fee for both etc.

With regards the nursery I agree with the others that say to visit the 2nd one aswell, although we continually say to nurseries to remember that first impressions count it only takes an inexperienced member of staff to pick up the phone to put people off. Make an appointment with both, ask to see Ofsted reports (although remember that this is only evidence of how the nursery was on the day) once you have visited, drop in again on the pretence of dropping off forms or you were just passing and wanted to ask a question. Always interesting to see the difference between the nursery when its expecting you and when its not. Gut feeling plays a key role in finding the right place for your child.

HTH

Choccy

go_cat

When you look at a nursery look at:

How happy the children look, are they say crying / looking miserable ? or happy and engaged

Do the staff interact with them?

Read the latest nursery OFSTED reports these should be available online

Can the nursery accomodate your routine e.g milk every 4 hrs sleep at 12 noon etc or do they want all the children to do the same thing at the same time

What training has the staff had .. at my DS nursery the staff are either qualified in childcare or training towards different levels of childcare qualifications

What does the management structure look like - do they look after their staff = is the turn over high you don't want your child to be attached to a key worker who is likely to be changed regularly

Is there outdoor play available if that is important to you?

Does there seem a wide variety of toys to stimulate and engage the child?

When you go to visit is there groups of staff stood outside smoking I saw this at one nursery and didn't even go and visit it :eek:
Do they seem interested in you and your child when you talk to them?

By the way you will know by instinct when you find the right one, have you asked local friends for recommendations that is often the best way and how we found ours

Good Luck

pinkshoes

Just read the Ofsted reports for the two, and the one that sounded nice has either good or satisfactory for all categories, and the one that gave me a poor first impression have "satisfactory" results, and two "inadequate" results.

I'm just looking into childminders, although the holiday bit worries me, as I only get minimum holidays in my job. I won't be working Mondays though, as I didn't fancy loosing so many days of holiday to bank holidays!

What happens if a childminder is sick?

I've also heard horror stories about nurseries refusing children for every hint of illness - are childminders equally as strict?

EDIT: I've also just looked at the third (but VERY expensive nursery) that is en route to work, and they are rated all good and excellent by Ofsted. I think I might go look at that one, even though it is £45 a day!

go_cat

You may be able to get childcare vouchers through work which will save some money

As far as nurseries and sickness ours will take the children unless they have sickness / stomach upsets and anything contagious e.g impertigo chicken pox etc

Childminders who have other children to think about would probably have the same rules

galvanizersbaby

pinkshoes wrote: »

Just read the Ofsted reports for the two, and the one that sounded nice has either good or satisfactory for all categories, and the one that gave me a poor first impression have "satisfactory" results, and two "inadequate" results.

I'm just looking into childminders, although the holiday bit worries me, as I only get minimum holidays in my job. I won't be working Mondays though, as I didn't fancy loosing so many days of holiday to bank holidays!

What happens if a childminder is sick?

I've also heard horror stories about nurseries refusing children for every hint of illness - are childminders equally as strict?

EDIT: I've also just looked at the third (but VERY expensive nursery) that is en route to work, and they are rated all good and excellent by Ofsted. I think I might go look at that one, even though it is £45 a day!

Usually if a childminder is sick you won't be charged for their services - I know some work with other childminders so another childminder may be able to take your child that day.
A nursery or a childminder will not usually look after your child if they are unwell - which is understandable I think - maybe a childminder may be a little more flexible but I find this can work against you - e.g my DD was with a childminder for a short time who tended to hang on to poorly children so DD then caught whatever the illness/bug was as did the other children in her care including her own.
Generally if your child is ill whether in the care of a nursery or a childminder) you will need to take time off work to look after them (unless a grandparent etc can cover adhoc) - you should be entitled to unpaid parental leave for this - I think this is the law?

If you are thinking of your job as a long term option then bear in mind that when they get to school age there are lots more holidays to cover than a childminder is likely to have - your current job doesn't sound very childfriendly or flexible.

I would go and actually look at the nurseries rather than go by Ofsted reports if I were you.

EDIT - just to add - both my children started nursery at 6 months - only got 6 months maternity leave back then and I did find that they did catch everything going for the first 6 months while their immune systems were building and I have heard other parents echo this so might be worth bearing in mind - I think you will have to be flexible when first returning to work - hope your present employer is reasonably accommodating

mummyroysof3

would mil be willing to have your child at your house, 1 day a week , problem is if she is in ill health then she might let you down or soilder on unwell and baby might not be cared for as you would like. as you do have plenty of time it would proberly be best to look into every option before deciding. as regards to taking time off for any reason do you have a dh/oh to share that with? it souldnt always be you having to ring in

good luck with deciding what to do

duchy

I went back to work about the same age (of the little one) that you are planning to. Most of the nursuries in the area we lived in were owned by the same company and I'd pretty much made up my mind -then I went for a visit . That visit changed everything-after I'd had the show around I asked if I could sit in a corner and just observe for ten minutes. Just to get "a feel" for the place. They happily agreed-the staff knew we were there. It was meal time -the staff weren't interacting with the babies at all-and then one staff member dropped a spoon on the carpet (where the kids had been playing) picked it up and shoved it straight back into the food and continued to feed the baby !! Needless to say I was out of there like a bat out of hell and thankfully hadn't paid a deposit. If they did stuff like that with a prospective parent watching-what the heck did they do when they slacked off ???

I decided to go the childminder route instead -and must have visited six or seven before I found the right one for me -nothing wrong with most of them (apart from the JW who informed me she'd be taking my son out with her to sell WatchTowers door to door !!) . The one I chose was wonderful-she had a son just starting school and on half days so my son got a good mix of mornings just him and the minder -she did take him to toddler groups etc too-and then social time with her son after lunch. They treated him like a member of the family -and he adored them. School holidays if they had outings-he was included-it really washome from home. He got far more interaction and attention -at that age -than he'd have got in a nursery-although at two I switched him to a nursery when he needed more kids around as the minder was planning to go back to work and by then he was ready for it (although NOT the original nursery obviously )

Follow your gut feeling-when you visit the right place for your son-you'll know it-and you may be surprised !

onlyroz

If your mother-in-law was willing to help, couldn't she cover the periods when a childminder is on holiday or the nursery is closed? Also, when my childminder is on holiday (my son is picked up by a childminder after school 3 days a week) she provides details of other minders that might be able to provide temporary cover.

Regarding sickness - no nursery or childminder will take on a sick child, and they'll often have policies like if they have diarhoea or vomiting they must stay off for two days. It's a fact of parenthood that you'll have to sometimes use up holiday leave to look after a sick child - or arrange for granny to do it for you on those days.

pinkshoes

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

If you are thinking of your job as a long term option then bear in mind that when they get to school age there are lots more holidays to cover than a childminder is likely to have - your current job doesn't sound very childfriendly or flexible.

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

I think you will have to be flexible when first returning to work - hope your present employer is reasonably accommodating

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Oh dear! I work in a male dominated environment, my 3 days a week are only a trial, and my work are anything except flexible! I'm amazed they agreed to 3 days a week, but I'm going to have to keep my fingers crossed that DS never gets ill, as I really want the 3 days to become permanent, and not revert to 5 days (otherwise I'd have to quit!).

So how on earth do normal people in non teaching jobs cover school holidays?!?! (My mum was a teacher, so school holidays weren't an issue!). Is it about 15 weeks a year they spend off school in total?

If we ever have a second child, then my career will be over, as child care for two would be equal to my take home pay.

With tuition fees at £9k a year, I wonder how any females wanting kids will ever pay tuition fees off, unless they earn salaries of over say £45k?!