As a parent, you want to choose a nursery which is best suited to supporting your child’s development, growth and independence.
Basic childcare alone isn’t always enough; sometimes you need to be sure that the team of staff you’re leaving your child with are committed to providing nurturing and responsive care.
That’s why viewing your new nursery options, as well as knowing what to expect during a viewing, is just vital.
What happens at a typical nursery viewing
The goal of a nursery viewing is for a parent to get a proper feel for the environment, as well as getting to know the staff to assess whether they are the right team to look after and help develop their child. Our tours normally include the following steps:
- Arrival and greeting – Our nursery managers will greet you upon arrival, introducing themselves and the nursery as a whole.
- Tour of all facilities – We’ll show you round our modern gardens/play areas as well as taking you around all of our different age-specific rooms, sensory areas and nap areas. We’re more than happy to answer questions honestly throughout the tour.
- Meeting our staff – Next, we introduce you to our dedicated and friendly staff, giving you the opportunity to gauge whether they’re the right people to support your child with their development. You’ll be able to see how they interact with our children, hopefully developing some understanding of how this will benefit your child.
- Daily life discussion – We always aim to inform and educate you on our ethos and values, as well as our curriculum, and how this would play into the daily life of your child through activities, healthy eating and interactive learning.
- Time for questions – To ensure you have all the information you need, whether it’s about our fees, or further enquiries about your child’s needs, we’re happy to help (Link to new blog when live – find out more about what questions to ask at a nursery visit).
Book your Tiddlywinks tour today!
Ready to visit?
Book a Nursery TourDo you take your child to a new nursery tour?
Whether or not you bring your child to a new nursery tour is entirely up to you. You may wish to see how your child interacts with our staff and environment, understanding whether or not the feeling is right for them as well as you.
On the other hand, it might be more difficult to listen to and engage with our management and staff regarding our policies and approaches if you’re more focused on soothing an anxious or crying toddler.
How soon should you book in to view a nursery?
You should look to book a nursery viewing as soon as possible, even 6 – 12 months before you need a place. Nurseries can have long waiting lists, so researching and viewing top options far in advance is vital to secure a spot.
How many nurseries should you visit before deciding where to register your child?
There is no ‘right’ answer to this question, but we’d generally recommend visiting more than one nursery so you can get an idea of the variations between different nurseries and what they offer. One nursery may place more emphasis on certain aspects of their curriculum than another, which might be exactly what you feel your child needs.
That said, you might end up visiting one nursery and deciding that it’s perfect for your child, in which case, you might immediately look to register.
Why booking in a new nursery tour is so important
Many children are at nursery multiple times a week from within the first year of their life, all the way to the age of 4. These are some very important formative years for your child, and it’s imperative that your child is cared for and educated in the right environment, by the right professionals.
Viewing/touring a nursery allows you to:
- Assess safety and environment – You can see for yourself whether the nursery is a clean, secure and safe environment.
- Meet the team – Visiting the premises allows you to meet and speak directly with the team who will be responsible for much of your child’s early care and development.
- Observe staff engagements – Sending your child to nursery can be nerve-wracking, so watching dedicated and passionate members of staff interact with children may put your mind at ease.
- Ask questions – Asking senior members of staff about their approach to childcare and education helps you to make the right decision.
Attending a Tiddlywinks nursery tour
Attend a Tiddlywinks nursery tour to discover what we can offer for your child in terms of care, support and compassion. We’re committed to delivering education and growth in an environment that feels just like home for your child, and we’re eager to show you what we have to offer.
For more information about each of our nursery locations, please visit the links below: