Nursery Concerns.....what to do for the best?

sacha28

warehouse wrote: »

Why do people use a nursery? It's a case of get as many kids in as possible with the least staffing cost. They want to make as much money as they can, as quickly as they can and some of the people they hire are simply not good enough to care AND develop children.

Would you like to offer an alternative then? The reason I opted for this nursery in particular is because it's attached to the hospital I work at, therefore the hours are more suitable. They start at 7am which is great when I start work at 8am or I'm on a night and finish at 8.30am and my OH starts at 7.30am.

What do you use? How is it different/better than a nursery? I'm not being arsey, I am genuinely interested in hearing alternatives as I don't think I did enough research into childcare before I returned to work (tbh I didn't know where to start and there didn't seem to be much help at the time!!)

flutterby_lil

warehouse wrote: »

Why do people use a nursery? It's a case of get as many kids in as possible with the least staffing cost. They want to make as much money as they can, as quickly as they can and some of the people they hire are simply not good enough to care AND develop children.

I would guess it is because we have to work and can't exactly take our children with us!!

flutterby_lil

sacha28 wrote: »

Would you like to offer an alternative then? The reason I opted for this nursery in particular is because it's attached to the hospital I work at, therefore the hours are more suitable. They start at 7am which is great when I start work at 8am or I'm on a night and finish at 8.30am and my OH starts at 7.30am.

It sounds like it works well for you, would another nursery open so early, you have that to consider before moving him? My nursery doesn't open until 7:45. Or what about a childminder?

warehouse

I would use an ofsted registered childminder over a nursery every time. There are enough out there to be able to choose one that suited you and your child, and the child would get a much more varied and caring day than any sterile nursery could provide.

warehouse

flutterby_lil wrote: »

I would guess it is because we have to work and can't exactly take our children with us!!

So no alternatives to nursery's then?

sacha28

I don't know enough about childminders to feel confident enough about switching to one. For some reason I have it in my head that they're just grown up babysitters (ridiculous I know!!) and don't adhere to a curriculum.

I was also put off by the fact that a few months ago I was offered a training post (before having the funding taken away!!) and emailed a childminder to see if me and my LB could have a look around but I still haven't heard anything!! That just shouts unreliable (I know, I know, you can't tar a whole profession with one brush but it did put me off!!)

grandma247

Childminding is very different nowadays. There is a lot more regulation and accountability. Years ago the most important things seemed to be a Fire safety check and an Xray for TB

quidsy

Childminders are regulated & offer a more personal & flexible chilcare option. they are in no way a grown up babysitter , they do educational play with kids the same as at a nursery but they have the flexibility to take the children to playgroups & activities rather than being stuck in one place all day.

whitewing

Around our way there are a fair few childminders who are primary school teachers - or other managers - on a career break while they bring up their own children.

Our nursery is brilliant. The observations that staff make are fantastic. They know the children very well.

There are a lot of very professional nurseries and childminders nowadays. I moved my son when he was two to a nursery nearer my new home. He settled in very well. They were very different nurseries and did things differently but advantages and disadvantages to both - 1 wasnt better than the other.

cte1111

I think different childcare works well for different children. My daughter was always ahead of the milestones and needs lots of stimulation. She loved nursery and the varied activities, as well as enjoying interacting with the different children. She actually liked 'helping' look after the younger children, e.g. I bathed the babies today Mummy. I was working full time when my daughter was young and needed reliable childcare that could cater for the hours that I was working.

My son was a quiet child and liked being at home. We were able to both work part time and he went to a childminder for a couple of sessions. He liked being with just one other little boy and lots of cuddles from the childminder.