Language
Choosing the right nursery school can be incredibly overwhelming and daunting when you’ve been the primary carer for your child all this time.
Taking a huge leap of faith and trusting someone else to care for your child can be scary.
Each child has different needs, so it’s essential to consider a few key factors throughout the process to ensure you’re making the right decision for your child and family.
We’ve put together a step-by-step guide with all things to consider when choosing a nursery school.
Think about when you need childcare and filter those schools based on your requirements.
Some nurseries will accept children from birth, whilst others may only accept children aged 3 and above, as they are designed to be educational and prepare them for Reception.
You might be looking for wraparound childcare if you have regular work commitments. This type of care happens outside school hours and includes breakfast clubs and after-school care. Some options for this start as early as 8am and finish at 6pm.
You may also need to consider how many days you need childcare for. Some nurseries offer full-time care while others offer part-time childcare. Review whether the nursery you’re looking at has a minimum number of days too.
There are many benefits of a nursery, and each one will offer something different. Therefore, it’s important to research the options available to identify which one will work best for you.
Spaces at the ‘best’ schools will usually fill up relatively quickly, so allow plenty of time to research to enable you to find the right fit for your family life.
When researching different nurseries, we recommend checking the following:
Try to visit as many nurseries as possible, as what works for a friend or relative may not work for your child or family.
Visiting nurseries will give you a natural feel for what the school is like, as well as the staff, facilities, and classes. It is also worth taking other family members, i.e., grandparents, if they’re likely to be involved in the day-to-day pick-ups and drop-offs.
If you need more guidance on what questions you should consider ahead of your visit, we have a starting nursery checklist to help you.
Before you decide about the nurseries you have visited, it’s essential to take the time to think about your experience of the nursery.
There are a few important questions every parent should consider after they have visited the nurseries to guide you through this big decision.
Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to. After all, you want to make sure you are making the right decision!
Based in a beautiful countryside campus in Gloucestershire, Wycliffe’s Nursery Class is where their education starts as we support them at the beginning of their learning journey.
We’re proud to offer classes based on building academic foundations through play-led learning. We have exceptional facilities, including a Forest School, French lessons and swimming, to help your child to thrive and become a brilliant future global citizen.
By attending Wycliffe, your child will have a smoother transition from nursery to reception as they will already be familiar with the Wycliffe community.
At Wycliffe, we offer wraparound care to all our families so that you can have the confidence that your child is being looked after in a fun and supportive environment whilst you juggle your work commitments.
Contact us for further information about our nursery class or how to apply.
Related Articles
