Smart Start Day Nursery
Reay Nadin Drive
Streetly
Sutton Coldfield Birmingham
West Midlands
B73 6UR
Here at Smart Start Day Nursery, we want all our children to feel loved and secure in the absence of their parents. We want them to recognise ourselves as a source of help, friendship and authority, so that they can share with their parents the new learning experiences they have enjoyed in nursery. All children are taught the value Home from Home’ in the environment that our nursery offers them.Our fully qualified staff cater for the individual needs of every child, ensuring the highest standards of care and safety are maintained at all times
Within our brightly designed nursery, we cater for children from three months to five years old. The capacity in our baby unit is twenty four babies. In our Toddler and Pre – School area we have a total of thirty four places.
Baby Unit
We have Three rooms to our baby unit that have up to six babies in each room. The rooms consist of a sensory area, a kitchen to prepare bottles and meals and a bathroom. All rooms are fully equipped with attractive stimulating toys and play materials, providing the children with an atmosphere similar to the home environment. Babies aged three months to twenty four months will be encouraged to further develop their skills and co ordination through stimulating play, such as walking, talking, listening to and singing songs, enjoying books, and painting. A daily routine is implemented for the babies, structured to their individual abilities and needs.
At the end of each day we complete daily reports, giving parents information about their child’s day at nursery. During theirtime in the baby unit we monitor and record their progress in a personaliseddevelopment folder through observations and evidence collected.
Toddler’s and Pre School
Our open plan, brightly designed rooms have the benefit of wooden floors and carpet areas which provide the children with all the space they need for many stimulating activities.Children have access to water play, painting, collage materials and an indoor sand pit. There is a home corner for the children to explore and a wide variety of books to read. Adjacent tothis is computer and printer facilities for the children to use.
Children aged twenty four months to preschool have a varied timetable to follow that encompasses letter and number work, early science, art and craft and physical activities.
Children aged three to five years participate in stimulatingtopic work which is planned to incorporate the early learning goals that areset out in the curriculum guidance for the foundation stage and required from OFSTED. These areas are personal, social and emotional, language and literacy, mathematics, knowledge and understanding ofthe world, creativity and physical development
Extra Curriculum Activities
* Spanish lessons weekly
* Martin the Music Man visitsus weekly for a music session
* Throughout the year wearrange various outings such as the farm and zoo.
* We also arrange social eventslike Easter Bonnet parade, Charity Fundraiser and Christmas concert
* We have a photographer whovisits us in May and November every year.
* Occasional visits fromSutton Coldfield library who read to us
* We take advantage (weatherpermitting) to visit Sutton Park as it is on our doorstep.
* We also have links with Longmoor School and also make good use of their outdoor play facilities,sensory area and extensive playing fields.
Hillfield Grange
2 Tanworth Lane
Shirley
Solihull Birmingham
West Midlands
B90 4DR
Hillfield Grange Day Nursery is a private establishment run by qualified experienced staff. We have been established since October 2007 and operate from a converted Dr’s Surgery, open from 7.30am to 6.30pm. We are registered with OFSTED and receive the education Grant for three and four year olds. We provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment, in which the child can grow and develop, with respect, self discipline, independence, purposeful activity and the development of the child’s absorbent mind.
There are six main care rooms for the varying ages of children, which are supported by a music room and rear gardens for the children to play and further increase their social, moral and spiritual development. We are registered for thirty-seven children per session, offering a total of ten sessions per week. The setting supports children with special educational needs and those that have English as an additional language.
The nursery currently employs eight full time staff. The nursery does not allow students, work experience or unqualified staff to work within the setting.
Before a child starts at the Nursery, parents will be invited to bring their child to a Nursery session during which the children can play and parents can ask questions of staff. Each parent will be given a Nursery Prospectus, which contains details of the Admission Policy and the Curriculum as well as other useful information relating to the Nursery. During the “settling in period” when a child starts Nursery a member of staff will talk to the parent about their child, The duration of the “settling in period” will be flexible and will continue until the child feels happy and secure in the Nursery setting.
Parents will have access to information regarding the curriculum activities and events through discussions with staff, regular newsletters and written information placed on the parent’s notice board. The parent’s notice board will be updated on a regular basis. Newsletters will be sent out each month. Parent’s contributions are always welcomed and we have a suggestion box by the front door.
At Hillfield Grange we plan activities and experiences which will help your child to progress in their development and learning. We offer a high quality provision to meet these needs. Our Aim is to support and enhance the development of the children and to respect, understand and value the contribution parents make towards their child’s learning. We will provide support, guidance and encouragement to parents as educators.
A Parents Evening will be held twice a year to give parents an opportunity to discuss their child’s progress with staff, but parents are welcome anytime to discuss their child’s progress. The Nursery Manager and Proprietor are always willing to discuss any issue with parents/carers and if they are busy with the children then a meeting can be arranged at a convenient time for both.
The first weeks when your child is settling in, are of crucial importance to their later
time at pre school extra care taken before and during this period will minimise difficulties later on and how easily and happily they mix with others.
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Unhappy children result in unhappy parents – So how can you help your child settle from the start?
Put your child’s feelings first.
They have formed a strong attachment to you and need support and time to form another strong bond with the staff at the nursery. If you leave just 10 minutes after handing over your child, it would not be a surprise if they became clingy or frightened. You know that they’ll be looked after and will have fun, but they need to learn from experience that they’re safe and that the staff will care for them. This is why a settling in period is so important.
The nursery should allocate a key worker to help your child settle in and feel safe and confident.
The settling in period is a gradual introduction of your child to the nursery, its children, activities, daily programme and staff.
It is also a gradual withdrawal of your presence, and these two aspects have to be carefully and sensitively balanced. At first, the nursery is bound to be rather an overwhelming experience, particularly for children under 3, and for those who have not had experience of a playgroup, childminder, or some other form of care outside the home. Your child’s personality will certainly make a difference: some take to the change very easily, whilst others need more care and time.
At first, your child is going to need your support and presence to be able to cope with the new experience. This is why your first visits should be short and you should not try to leave your child at all.
However, you can use these visits constructively by talking with the key worker and other children, and perhaps drawing your child into whatever activity is going on. It will be the key workers job to form a strong bond with you and your child during the first visit, settling-in period and ongoing weeks and months of childcare.
It is important to make sure the key worker will be around for the duration of that early period, so ask them if they have holiday or training leave that will take him or her out of the setting during the first week, at the very least. A second key worker should be introduced as back-up, in case the primary person is taken ill.
Remember that your child is used to having you with them wherever they are.
That’s why the key worker is crucial in helping your child feel secure when you leave. Once you have acquainted yourselves with the Nursery (and the Nursery staff with you!) and you feel your child is ready to be left for a while, first mention this to the key worker so they can be ready to provide any extra help that is needed. It is normally best to be open and straightforward with your child about leaving them. Slipping away when they are not looking can be very distressing to a child when they find out you have gone. For the first time, you are only going to be away a short while, so tell your child and the key worker, then leave without hesitating.
It is much harder for a child to deal with you leaving if you are obviously unsure and hovering. It may help if you give your child a minute or two’s notice that you are leaving, so they can begin to get used to the idea.
The nursery should plan, and budget for, the time that the settling-in period will take.
Most settings schedule a minimum of two to four weeks, during which time they can get to know you and your child, and invite you for progressively longer try-out sessions. Resist any shortcuts. These sessions should cover every aspect of the day, not just the first half-hour. Use them to gently introduce your child to toileting, snack and meal times, play time, walk time and more – in fact, anything your child might find scary on their own.
The nursery should make you their partners.
The staff can learn just as much from you about the best way to care for your child as you’ll learn from them about the setting’s policy and routine. At first, you change, toilet, talk to and feed your toddler while they’re around, and do tell the key worker anything that may make it easier for them to respond to your child’s needs. For example, is there anything your child particularly likes or dislikes, are there any ‘family words’ for particular things, does your child have a special comforter and so on. Mention anything you feel may be relevant.
Throughout your child’s stay in the setting, build on the early partnership with staff.
The staff at the nursery should take time to talk to you (about how your child is sleeping, eating and feeling) at drop-off and at the end of the day. Staff will let you know the best way to get in touch either by phone, text or email, and explain how they’ll communicate (through a diary or day book, for example) the events of the day with your child.
Virtually all children will settle in if this guidance is followed, and even if there are setbacks, your child will gradually get used to what is a major change in their life. You will probably find that your child reacts in some way; they may be more clingy than usual, or they may be more rejecting. Both are normal reactions, and a little extra attention and love will help them to cope with these feelings.
A good pre-school will provide a sound introduction to skills and concepts that will help your child when they start school.
Most pre-schools offer a foundation-stage curriculum which prepares children to progress with confidence to the National Curriculum at the age of five. Socially, pre-school (or nursery) is one of the best ways of helping your child to learn how to interact with other children and with a wider range of adults. Nevertheless, it can be quite a stressful transition, both for you and for your child. Here are some ways in which you can ease the process for all concerned:
* If you know any other children who are going to the same pre-school, try and introduce your child to them in advance and maybe invite them to play at your house.
* Gradually get your child used to spending time away from you, maybe with other family members, or a day with daddy while you relax at home!
* Do an introductory visit to the pre-school and see if they will let your child stay for a little while as an introduction, maybe with you there also for some of the time to help him settle in. Some nurseries offer a system where your child goes in for one morning a week and gradually builds it up over two years until they are there all week. This gradual transition will help your child to get used to a completely new set-up, not to mention helping you get used to not being around your child.
* Talk to your child about the interesting things that they will be doing at pre-school and the new friends they will make. If youíve already visited the pre-school, pick up on things that you saw there that appealed to him.
* Donít worry about getting your child reading and writing before they start pre-school. The most important skill for children at this stage is language ñ talking, singing, exploring and reading to your child provide the best preparation for pre-school.
* Get your child used to some of the things they will be expected to do at pre-school, such as tidying away toys and using a knife and fork at meal times ñ check with the pre-school what your child may be expected to do. Some strict nurseries expect your child to be potty trained or to have dropped naps before they start, but most will work with the routines your child is already in.
* Look in book shops for books about nursery schools that are designed to help your child understand what will be happening. These are great at introducing the concept to your child and also to get them used to the idea through imagination and stories.
There are also plenty of books for toddlers on subjects such as potty training, starting school and even telling the time.
* Prepare yourself for the fact that the first time you leave your child at nursery there wil be tears – from your toddler and probably you!
* Get involved with your child’s nursery as much as possible so you feel informed and cconfient in speaking up about any issues that concern you.
* Try not to be too competitive. By pushing your child at nursery it might have adverse effects and make your child less willing to learn or accept being there.
* Above all, try to be up-beat and positive about the move to pre-school and if you are apprehensive about it, donít let your child pick up on this.
Weíd all like our children to start out in the world as confident little people who know that the worldís their oyster. However, the truth is that confidence and self-esteem often take many years to achieve, and are often gained only after a lot of trying and failing and doubting ourselves.
Here are some hints at helping to encouaging your child’s confidence:
- Show him that you hold him in high esteem. After all, youíre the person whose opinion matters the most to him so if you think heís great, then the rest of the world is sure to follow. The opposite is certainly true ñ if he is constantly criticised at home, then his self-esteem will be rock-bottom. If you donít have a high opinion of him, who else is going to? The trick here is to find a balance – being overly critical can backfire as much as over-praising (so beware if you are telling your child they are amazing or ‘beautiful’, too much as this can make them have an inflated ego! Obviously telling your child you love them is a great way to reassure them and make them feel secure and confident, but also let him know how much fun he is to be with by telling him you can’t wait to go to the park with him after work for instance, and that you’ve been looking forward to seeing him all day!
- Lack of confidence is underpinned by a fear of failure, so make it clear to your child that you believe in him. Highlight past achievements and do your best to set him up for success at his next task ñ make it manageable and achievable. Set your expectations high, but within reason. If your expectations are low, his self-esteem will suffer ñìif thatís all they think I can do, then they must be right.î If your expectations are too high, then youíre setting him up for failure. See our features on games to play with your baby and Toddlers and play for ideas on play and how you can encourage your child’s confidence through play.
- Donít heap praise on insignificant achievements, or praise something that isnít really worthy of praise ñ he will soon start to see this false praise as patronising, and he wonít rate your opinion very highly. Praise should be reserved for instances where it is really merited, as this is where it will be most appreciated.
- When he doesnít succeed, give him credit for trying and offer constructive criticism, but keep it simple and then move on to something else and donít dwell on his failure.
- Try and get a balance between his valuing the opinions of others but not being too influenced by them. You wonít do him any favours in later life by constantly telling him that he is the best, and to disregard anyone who says otherwise. Explain that of course he wants his teachers/friends/sister to think highly of him, but that respect and praise has to be earned. You can explain that he can do this by sharing, not telling lies and playing nicely with other children.
- Let him see thatís itís OK to fail at things, and donít cover up mistakes that you make ñ share them with him, and heíll see that even grown-ups canít expect to get everything right. Just by saying ‘Uh-oh, Mummy scribbled outside the line, i’ll try to be neater next time’, will make him realise that it is OK to make mistakes and that even adults make mistakes sometimes!
- Encourage your child to try new things on a daily basis. This may mean food he hasn’t tasted before, climbing on something new in the park, or playing a new game at nursery. This will also help to develop his confidence as he feels able, with your reasurrance to tackle new challanges.
- Using books to develop confidence can be helpful, especially if your child has a certain fear – fear of the dark, fear of dogs or even fear of the new baby arriving! There are plenty of books writtten on all these subjects which can reassure your child and help to dispel their fears and restore confidence.
- Talk to your child constantly about how he feels. Ask him how his day was, whether he enjoyed the park for instance or what he did at nursery. Ask him what parts he liked most about the day and which he didn’t. This will encourage your child to express his feelings and lets him know it’s OK to tell you if there is something bothering him.
- If your child is old enough you could try using a simple technique such a worry box. Here your child can post his worries into the box and you can respond to them – they might range from worries about his friends or the rabbit at nursery school, but can sometimes reveal deeper issues, like his fear at being away from you for example. Obviously this method works best if your child can write and may not be suitable for a young child, unless they are willing to express their feelings to you.
- Sit down with your child and ask him to tell you all the things that are special about you (mummy or daddy) – he might say he likes your hair, or that you make him nice food for instance. Then run through the things which make him special to you – that you love it when he mixes words up, or when he sings his nursery rhymes for example. This will further develop the confidence he feels about himself.
- Listen to your child. Even if he is babbling or knows only a few words you should try to listen to and respond to what he is saying. To know that you are worth listening too, is a confidence builder whatever age you are!
- Encouraging your child to put on his own clothes, shoes and to do-up buttons in a great confidence booster, but beware when he gets frustrated and be ready to help him out if he needs it.
- Do things like eat as a family and have family days out, or even have eggy bread together in bed on a sunday morning! This will help your child to feel part of the family and to fit in, but also provide him with happy memories as he grows
If you are looking for nurseries in Edgbaston or nurseries in Edgbaston
Childcare is something that is necessary with working parents. We want to keep our children safe and make sure they have something to do until the parents get home. However, it also sometimes feels like we are working just to pay for daycare as child care costs can be quite expensive. If your employer offers childcare vouchers, though, this is a great way to save money each year and get a significant discount on day care costs. In today’s economy, this is a solution that should be taken advantage of if offered.
Vouchers are often offered through your employer. While just about any employer can offer them, many larger companies have them as an added benefit to their employees. The way the vouchers work is that a portion of your salary is deducted every pay period. This amount gets put into a fun that is used for childcare expenses. But how does this save you money? The amount that is deducted from your salary is non taxable. So, you get taxes deducted from a lesser amount of salary each pay period while still having the money available for day care expenses with the childcare vouchers. At the end of the tax year, these vouchers can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars.
The use of childcare vouchers is very simple. Some are available electronically for increased efficiency and convenience. The day care provider will get timely and secure payments with no hassle. Many places that offer vouchers also have some additional benefits such as childcare hotlines where you can get the latest information on day cares and childcare workers. Whether looking for a full time provider or one for emergency use, you can get the information quickly and pay for the services via the childcare vouchers.
Part of the reality of becoming a new mum is taking stock of your family’s finances and working out how you will cope financially. When you’re considering returning to work, how you will afford to pay for childcare and what kind of childcare you will choose are important decisions. Many new parents will not be familiar with childcare vouchers, how they work and how they can be used to pay for childcare.
The use of childcare vouchers is very simple. Some are available electronically for increased efficiency and convenience. The day care provider will get timely and secure payments with no hassle. Many places that offer vouchers also have some additional benefits such as childcare hotlines where you can get the latest information on day cares and childcare workers. Whether looking for a full time provider or one for emergency use, you can get the information quickly and pay for the services via the childcare vouchers.
Childcare vouchers are a financially beneficial way to pay for childcare in the UK, because you don’t pay tax or National Insurance on childcare vouchers to the value of £55 a week. This means that working parents can save as much as £1,195* a year by paying for childcare with vouchers. The savings could be double, if both parents sign up for a childcare voucher scheme.
1 Check whether your employer’s childcare vouchers are a benefit that is paid on top of your normal pay or whether it’s part of a salary sacrifice scheme
2 Work out how your tax credits will be affected
3 If your cash pay is affected, ask if your other earnings-related payments will be affected (pension, overtime rates, pay rises etc.)
4 If your cash pay is affected, ask will your benefits-related payments be affected? (will your NI contributions to your State Pension be affected etc.)
5 If your cash pay is affected, ask would any student loan repayments be affected?
Childcare vouchers are redeemable to pay for childcare and child minding ensuring that a parent’s return to work need not have a negative impact on their family finances.
Parents can also be assured when selecting a childcare provider that they have undergone rigorous vetting procedures. Before childcare vouchers can be used to pay providers the provider must be registered with an approved regulatory body and will need to meet the standards set out by that body. Ensuring only registered providers can accept vouchers for payment offers additional peace of mind to mums knowing that their child is being looked after in a safe friendly environment.
Quality day care options are not cheap and in today’s economy, it is more important than ever to save money wherever possible. Using vouchers is a great way to continue working and providing a dual income while saving significant money on childcare costs. If you work for an employer that offers vouchers but are not yet taking advantage of the opportunity, you should reconsider and enroll in the plan. You will still pay your childcare provider using vouchers but you will save a lot of money in taxes that are deducted from your salary. Childcare vouchers are a smart way to save a lot of money.
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The very words “Child Care” can create a wealth of emotion when the subject is raised. Caring for a child is one of the most important things anyone can do. Taking proper care of a child can mean the difference in development between a well adjusted and mal-adjusted adult. Thousands upon thousands of words have been written on the subject of child care and today child care itself has grown into a huge industry.
Enormous changes have taken place over the last two generations concerning the way in which children are cared for. Years ago the child’s mother took sole responsibility for bringing up her child (apart from those children whose parents were wealthy enough to employ a nanny or a governess) whereas nowadays parents both work full time. In today’s world, it has become an economic necessity for both parents to work against a background of ever increasing costs plus a lifestyle, which our grandparents could never have begun to imagine. Child care is now extremely big business. Nurseries for babies and toddlers have mushroomed and, in some cases, parents have to put their child’s name down to attend a particular nursery soon after the child is born.
All parents think their children are special and they are. However, once a baby or toddler begins to attend nursery or nursery school that child has no choice but to learn and accept that attention from staff has to be shared between all the children. An only child has become used to being the focus of attention at home. It often comes as a considerable shock for an only child to realise the world doesn’t revolve round him/her. However, children are far more versatile and resilient than most parents realise and most children soon adapt to a new environment. This forced interaction with other children can in fact, be extremely beneficial, especially for only children. Many of these only children often have to cope, at some stage, with the arrival of brothers or sisters, which frequently creates jealousy on the part of an only child. Having learnt to share attention with others at nursery or nursery school prepares a child to accept a new member of the family far more easily than would have been the case had that child not learnt to interact with children of the same age.
Choosing a suitable nursery usually throws parents into a panic as they consider the implications. How will they recognise which nurseries offer excellent care? Will all the staff be fully trained? What is the percentage of staff to children? Are meals provided? What is the level of cleanliness, both in the nursery and in the kitchens? Is time set aside for babies and toddlers to sleep? How good is security at the nursery? Does bullying occur? What arrangements are in place if a child should become sick? Many parents feel overwhelmed and have no idea where to turn for advice. Nurseries which fulfil all the requirements needed to operate a successful nursery are normally registered with the local community which will be happy to supply details of these nurseries to anxious parents. One of the best ways of deciding upon a suitable nursery is, of course, by recommendation. Mothers whose children already attend nursery are generally are only too happy to advise other mothers which nurseries are particularly good as opposed to those which are merely satisfactory.
Another option for childcare is to employ a nanny who will work at the family home. This option has become something of a minefield due to fairly recent high profile cases in which a nanny has physically harmed a child in her care. Other cases have actually resulted in the death of the baby by the nanny left in charge. It must be emphasised that these cases are very rare indeed and are not representative in any way of the majority of child care undertaken by nannies. A reputable agency supplying nannies has strict rules in place for their selection. References will be required as to the nanny’s previous positions and will be scrupulously followed up. If the references are not satisfactory, the nanny will not be recommended for that particular vacancy or any other.
A section of childcare often taken for granted is that of grandparents who are happy to devote countless hours looking after their grandchildren. Grand parents offer one of the very best forms of childcare, simply because of the relationship between them and their grandchildren whom they look on as their own. In addition, this form of childcare usually comes free although some parents give financial payment for the time and effort expended on their children by doting grandparents.
There is no doubt that most babies and toddlers acquire confidence by attending nursery schools. A child who has never spent time away from home finds it tremendously stressful if he/she ever has to cope with the absence of a mother perhaps through hospitalisation. On the other hand, a child who has learnt to adapt to a different environment will not be nearly as traumatised by the absence of a parent and will be able to deal with the separation far more easily.
Obviously, all children attending nursery school have to conform to certain rules, which amount to a form of discipline. It has long been acknowledged that children exposed to discipline welcome the fact that boundaries have been set which makes them feel more secure and, consequently, happier. Some children will always rebel but all children will be faced with some form of discipline as they grow up and will also be expected to comply with rules and regulations in the workplace. Without such rules, anarchy would reign. Quite simply, discipline is based on showing consideration for other people and their possessions.
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Mothers who breastfeed their babies may want to move on to bottle feeding at some point – for example when returning to work and or placing there child in a Nursery. Switching over doesn’t necessary spell the end of breast feeding. It is perfectly possible to combine the two.
When to Start
There are various approaches to introducing a bottle:
* Right from the start. Some mothers introduce a bottle in the first few weeks. This gets round the problem of babies who are so used to the breast that they’re reluctant to take a bottle at all. However, babies can get confused between the different approaches. This could mean that breastfeeding ends sooner than planned and that the baby misses out on the benefits of breast milk.
* After breast feeding is well established. If this method succeeds, it can be very useful for mothers who want to take a little time away from breastfeeding or to use at times of day when there are other pressures. Some mothers carry on for many months in this way, although others find that breastfeeding starts to tail off.
* A few weeks before the ‘changeover’. In this gentle approach, breastfeeds are gradually replaced by bottle feeds – starting with one a day for a while, then two, and so on. Babies who are well established with breastfeeding may be very reluctant, but there are techniques to help (see below).
* Simply swapping over with no gradual introduction. This ‘cold turkey’ approach can be upsetting for the baby and for the mother too if the baby becomes distressed. But sooner or later they will be hungry enough to feed. This is not for everyone, but it can work, particularly if the baby is being fed bottles by someone other than its mother.
REMEMBER:- You can always ask for advice from your Nursery School
If the Baby Refuses a Bottle
It’s not surprising that a breastfed baby may be reluctant to take a bottle. They are used to the warm comfort of their mother’s breast and the distinctive taste of her milk. A little perseverance may be needed:
* Try putting breast milk in the bottle. The familiar taste may be enough to overcome the baby’s reluctance. If this seems to work, try expressing milk with a pump and then store it in the fridge. Breast milk also freezes well.
* Get someone else to give the bottle. The baby associates its mother with the breast, so the idea of a bottle can be better coming from someone else.
* Don’t make the mistake of thinking the baby needs to be really hungry. A baby who is crying for the breast may be anxious and upset when a bottle appears instead.
* Choose a time when both mother and baby are relaxed. In the morning or after the baby’s afternoon sleep might be good, when he or she is fresh and not looking for the comfort of the breast.
Choosing a pre school is one of the most important decisions that a working parent will make to help ensure the health, safety, and overall well being of their child while they must be away from them.
There are a number of ways to find a day nursery this can be through recomendation, newspaper advertising, or inceasingly common specalist childcare websites.
There are some particularly good sites like www.look4nurseries.co.uk.This site provides parents with the opportunity to search though many areas inculding nurseries in Birmingham any shows detialed information regarding fees, menu opening hours plus detialed description of the nursery and photos.
The website offers the ability to contact the nursery directly at the click of a button.
Once a day nursery has beeen selected to view.
There are many questions to ask a daycare, and over the years Ive met all kinds of mothers . Some of which are very organized in their search and others who are not sure of what they want. Im here today to help you make some choices and hopefully give you a better understanding of what the child care profession is all about.
A lot of you out there are really wondering what kind of educated questions you should be asking when choosing the right childcare centre for your child. Its probably one of the most important decisions you will make, making the wrong choice for your child could amount to a big inconvenience and a bad start for you childs learning .
Here are some points or questions to ask a day nursery:
1. For each childcare that you visit be sure to bring a pad of paper and pencil to write down your notes, questions, feelings.
2. Dont base your thoughts about a childcare over a phone conversation. Give the day nursery a chance by visiting them and meeting those who work there.
3. Collect all information regarding policies for a center. Make sure you are aware of all rules, and regulations.
4. Rely on your gut feeling. If you feel that you would not be happy, chances are your relationship would not work out in the long run.
5. Do children look happy?
6. Who will be taking care of your child? And what happens if that person becomes ill?
7. What if my child becomes ill? What is your policy?
8. How many years have you been in childcare?
9. How long have your current children been enrolled here?
10. And most of all do you trust that provider? Do you feel that the provider is loving, level headed, energetic, and generally loves all children?
11. Do you see childrens art work on the walls?
Most of all take your time making a decision, and dont base your decision on price, fancy equipment, and convenience.
We recognise the fact accurate information is key when making you child care provisions, finding the perfect childcare for your children can be a complete maze. So we come you with this step be step guide to choosing childcare.
Approach your daycare search as you would a job hunt. Be thorough, do your homework, and start your quest early — six months before you’ll need it isn’t too soon, especially if you live in a large city where daycare slots fill up faster than subway cars during rush hour. Once you find a promising nursery you’ll need to take a few steps to make sure it’s one you want to stick with. We’ve outlined the process for you below.?
One: Identify your priorities
First, decide what you want. Are you looking for daycare near work? Or would one closer to your home be more convenient? Write everything down so you can refer to the list as you size up potential sites.
Two: Do your research
?• Go online. View the childcare directory for childcare. Search for childcare near your priority area. ??• Make Some Selections . View the specific pages for each nursery and view the details in depth. you can now this fill out the contact form or — print of the listings and start calling around.
Three: Visit and interview
You can ask a few preliminary questions over the phone (fees and ages of children, for example), but you won’t really get a sense of what a daycare place is like until you go there and meet the staff and director. Ask the provider about everything from hours, fees, and holiday schedules to philosophies on childrearing issues like discipline, feeding, and sleeping. Get a schedule of the day’s activities and the center’s policies. Pay attention to your gut feeling and how the manager or caregiver handles the questions.??Ultimately, choosing a daycare is a very personal decision. Our points highlight specifics, but basically, you’ll want a warm, clean, safe environment and experienced carers who are happy with their jobs. Children crave consistency and need to form strong relationships with their caregivers, so you don’t want carers who come and go.??Pay attention to the caregiver-child ratios, and how many children are in a classroom.
Four: Kid-test it
Come back and visit for a while with your child. You’ll want to see how he and the carer interact and if he seems comfortable in the providers environment.
Five: Get on the waiting list
If the daycare of your dreams isn’t available, don’t despair. Putting yourself on a waiting list almost guarantees you’ll get in at some point — even if it isn’t precisely when you need it. In the meantime, keep looking and arrange interim care until a spot becomes available.
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