Choosing a nursery for their child is a difficult decision for parents to make.
Every mum and dad wants to be sure that the nursery they choose provides the right environment for their little ones, and making the right choice is never easy - especially for parents making that decision for the first time.
Rachel Staley is head of early years and playwork at The Children’s Centre.
Her role includes responsibility for Park Road and Woodbourne Road Baby Nursery, Woodbourne Road Nursery, After-School and Holiday club in Douglas, Bonwick Day Nursery, After-School and Holiday club in Ramsey, and Jurby Pre-School Nursery and she appreciates the concerns parents have when making a decision about nursery care.
She says: ‘First and foremost parents want to be confident that the nursery provides a safe and secure environment. I advise parents to visit as many nurseries as they can to find the right setting for their child and have a list of questions ready to ask staff so that they can get a detailed assessment of the pros and cons of each nursery.’
Rachel suggests that parents consider the following factors when exploring which nursery to choose.
Curriculum
‘All nurseries are different. Some will have more emphasis on encouraging social development through play, others will focus more on formal, academic education; and some will try to offer a balance between the two. All these types of care have merits and parents will have different views on what type of nursery care they want for their child, so it’s important to see for themselves what each nursery offers and talk to staff and parents of children already attending a particular nursery. Nurseries that follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum provide a good introduction to formal education and this is a factor parents may wish to consider if it is something they want their child to experience. The EYFS curriculum was updated last September, so parents may want to ask nursery managers if they are up to speed with this development.’
Quality of care and staff training
‘Parents should check to make sure that nurseries they are considering are registered with the Department of Social Care. The department’s registration and inspection unit monitors nurseries to make sure they meet set standards of quality and care. It’s also important to note that Government credits given to parents for pre-school care can only be used at nurseries approved by the Department of Social Care. Forms can be down loaded from http://cf.gov.im/categories/education,-training-and-careers/pre-school/
Remember, you are free to choose where your child goes to pre-school as there are no catchment worries – your child can go to any pre-school and it doesn’t have to be where they will go to primary school. Parents can ask nursery managers for inspection reports to get an independent view. Some nurseries may have accreditation for the quality of the care they provide, so it’s always worth asking if nursery staff have any additional qualifications or if the nursery has Manx Step Into Quality or similar accreditation. Parents need to know that there is someone who can tell them how their child is getting on and answer questions about their development. Some nurseries do this via a ‘Key Person’ who observes how children are developing and acts as the main contact for parents who have concerns about their child’s progress.’
Location
‘Choosing a nursery close to the parents’ place of work means being able to get there quicker if there’s an emergency and they need to pick up their child during the day. However, choosing a nursery closer to home can mean that their child is playing with children who live near them so they can play together and build friendships that extend beyond the nursery environment.’
Point of contact
‘Parents need to know that there is someone who can tell them how their child is getting on and answer questions about their development. Some nurseries do this via a ‘Key Worker’ who observes how children are developing and acts as the main contact for parents who have concerns about their child’s progress.’
Outdoor play
‘Outdoor play is not only fun for children but it also has an important role in their development, both physically and mentally, as it allows them to learn a range of skills including how to manage risk and build friendships. It’s worthwhile for parents to ask about what opportunities their child would have to play outdoors. Some nurseries offer trips to places of interest and this also has benefits for a child’s development.’
These are the main points for parents to consider when choosing a nursery. It’s not easy to make the right choice, but asking the right questions is the best way to start the decision making process. For more information about nursery care go to www.thechildrenscentre.org.im/what-we-do/children-young-people/nursery/