Child Nursery

susancs

In regard to looking for a Nursery look for the interactions between the staff and children when you go on a visit. Are they sitting on the floor with the babies and toddlers talking to them and playing with them. Are toys stored where they are eaisly accessable to children so that they can make free choices on what they want to play with. Do they have messy play out at each session to develop sensory play and early investigation skills. Is there a quiet area with soft cushions and toys where children can look at picture books with an adult. Is there children's work on the wall and photographs of the children (so they feel a sense of belonging).Ask if they adapt sleep routinues to the needs of the child's home environment as your child is only doing 3 days it is important that the Nursery try to fit in with home routinue and not for example put every child down for a nap after lunch if they go for a sleep at 11am at home for example. Every child should be given a key person responsible for their overall care and usually this key person builds up a bond with the child so ask what the key person role is in the Nursery. The role should include verbal feedback to parents when they drop off or collect, keeping a daily written record of what. your child has eaten, played with, times of nappy change s and sleep. The key person should change your child's nappies and help your child go for naps. You need to look at where your child will sleep e.g. in sleep room or main room, in cot or buggy and the arrangments that are in place for regularly checking your child when asleep (breathing, temp of room and them, sound monitors etc). You could ask about outdoor play and if they have coverall waterproof suits and wellies for children to go out in all weathers. The nursery should provide a learning journal record for each child which for babies consists mainly of photos and paintings and sticking with comments on the development or learning these shows and observations with next development steps noted. There are also usually highlighting ages and stages development sheets for each child which are dated when milestones are achieved. You also need to ask how they use observations to plan for each child's development. For example if your child was observed to play with cars but seldom made marks in paint, they may put car wheels in paint and onto paper as a way to encourage baby's mark making skills on the activity planning. You could ask for details on the Nursery's menu and where children will eat their food. Obvious other questions would be whether you supply nappies and wipes and do you need to send in a pack of both or some in a bag each day with spare clothes. Are outdoor shoes taken off before entering the baby room as this prevents accidents and outdoor germs from shoes coming into the room. In regard to safeguarding- Does the Nursery have a no mobile phone useage policy for all staff and visitors. What are the procedures for ensuring only those authorised to do so can collect your child. Ratios should be in line with 1 adult to 3 babies as per guidelines. Just some ideas.