Questions to Ask a New Nursery When Visiting

Visiting a nursery isn’t as simple as just looking around a building and deciding whether or not you like it. It’s about really understanding the environment in which your child is going to experience large portions of their development, and the members of staff who are going to support that.

As a result, you need to ask the right questions during a visit which allow you to properly understand the ethos and approaches the nursery takes to providing holistic care, and supporting development appropriately. 

The importance of asking questions when viewing a new nursery

Asking questions when viewing a nursery is so important because it ensures that you’re picking a nursery which is the right nurturing and safe environment for your child. 

The right queries allow you to gauge staff qualifications, security standards, and a number of other factors which all play into your child’s development and happiness. Having an informed view of the nursery you’re sending your child to means you’ll have peace of mind that it’s the right place for them, with the right members of staff.

Key questions to ask about a nursery

Here are the questions you should consider asking a nursery when visiting:

General Nursery Information:

What are your nursery safeguarding policies?

Safeguarding should be at the forefront of your child’s care. This includes:

• Child protection
• Staff recruitment
• Site security
• Health and safety procedure

Asking to see Ofsted Reports is always a good idea. Tiddlywinks’ successful reports showcase our commitment to safeguarding. 

How many staff do you have per child?

EYSF outlines guidelines for staff-to-child ratios. These are:

• Under 2 years – 1 adult per 3 children

• 2 years – 1 adult per 5 children

• 3+ years – 1 adult per 8 children, or 1 qualified teacher per 13 children. 

These ratios are important because they contribute to supervision and contact time between adult and child. 

Can I use free childcare hours at this nursery?

If you’re hoping to use your funded childcare hours, double check that the nursery allows you to use government funding.

Check out our dedicated blog explaining how funded childcare hours work.

What do nursery fees cover?

Most nurseries should have the following included in their fees:

• Daily essentials, like nappies and wipes

• Nutritious meals plans and snacks

• Activities such as sports and yoga

• Educational curriculum

• Extra trips and events

Learn more about our nursery fees here.

Nursery Wellbeing Policies:

What do you do to prepare children for school?

On top of educational curriculum, nurseries should focus on emotional and social development on top of promoting independence and confidence. Ask the nursery how their approach incorporates these aspects.

What food do you feed your children?

A key part of your child’s development is the food they’re eating, and nurseries have a responsibility to provide healthy eating with varied meals and snacks.  

Do you have specific policies to support child wellbeing?

Ask staff to explain a number of internal policies which cover all aspects of wellbeing, from physical to mental health.

Questions About a Nursery Team:

What qualifications do your staff have?

Qualified staff have the training and expertise to provide top-quality care. Enquire about level 2 and 3 educator qualifications, as well as degree-level qualifications. 

Do you support staff training and development?

A nursery that invests in its team is one who clearly cares about the environment children are brought into. Asking a new nursery about staff training and development gives you an insight into whether staff are highly-skilled educators and care-givers. 

Will your team communicate with me regarding child progression?

A good nursery should adopt a collaborative approach with parents to communicate about progress and development, as well as ironing out any issues that may arise.

At Tiddlywinks nurseries, we inspire to have clear transparency from the first moment a family visits. We have an app that parents sign up to so they can see each part of their child’s day. 

What is staff retention like at your nursery?

It may be useful to find out whether the nursery has long-standing staff members that you are comfortable with your child getting used to.

General Health and Safety:

How do you keep the nursery safe day-to-day?

This includes physical security measures like fencing around gardens and keypad protected doors. 

We keep our nurseries safe with regular internal reviews of our policy and procedures, ensuring staff, parents and even kids are alert and aware.

How often is the nursery cleaned?

A clean environment is vital for health, safety and comfort. Enquire about cleaning procedures and routines. 

What is your recruitment process?

A rigorous recruitment process ensures your child’s safety is guaranteed. This may include:

• Enhanced DBS checks

• Work trial periods

• Qualification checks

Book in a nursery tour 

Get in touch with Tiddlywinks Nurseries today to tour one of our sites, have the space to ask any questions and ensure we’re right for you and your child. 

Contact us today.