Top tips for making the most of your nursery visit

Everything you need to know about choosing the right nursery for your family

At Partou, we understand that choosing a nursery is a difficult decision and there are so many factors to consider to ensure that you are making the right choice for your family. 

The best way to find out if a nursery is right for your child is to book a nursery visit. This way you can meet the team, see the rooms your child will progress through and get to ask any questions you may have. 

Let’s take a look at some of the questions families have about nursery viewings to help you make the most of this. 

What happens at a nursery viewing?

When you book a tour at a Partou nursery, you will receive an email reminder the morning before which contains the address and a link to our registration form so when you like what you can see you can register straight away. 

All of our nurseries operate secure entry policies so once you arrive, you will need to ring the bell and a member of the Nursery Management team will come to meet you and check your photo ID. Parents with children attending the nursery are aware of this so please don’t be surprised that the door isn’t held open for you if another family is entering or exiting the building! You will be asked to sign in and be asked to leave your phone in the office as we operate a no phone in the nursery policy for staff and visitors. The Nursery Manager will show you round the different rooms and any outdoor space around the nursery and talk to you about the early years curriculum and how that is applied in each age group. You will meet the team as you move around the rooms and see how they interact with the children, many of whom will be curious about their visitors! 

You may want to ask your questions as you go or save them until the end, our Nursery team will be happy to answer these in whichever way you prefer. 

After your nursery tour, you will receive an email assisting you with registration if you’d like to go ahead and a post tour survey if you have decided not to enrol your child. We welcome your honesty here! If there are any concerns or doubts about registering your child, we’d love to know as this gives us the opportunity to improve. You will also be contacted by a member of our Family Care Team who you may have booked your nursery tour with to see if there is anything else we can do to assist you. 

What questions should you ask at a nursery visit?

• What is the nursery’s settling in process? 
• What are the staff to child ratios throughout the various rooms? 
• What are the staff’s qualifications and how do they stay updated with changes in child development? 
• What safeguarding policies are in place?  
• What is the nursery’s daily schedule? 
• What can you expect at drop off and pick up each day? 
• What updates will you receive about your child throughout the day and how? 
• What time do children nap and where? Do the nursery follow the child’s existing nap schedule or will they naturally transition to the nursery schedule? 
• What will your child be learning and how does this vary as they get older?  
• Can you see a copy of the early years curriculum? 
• How often do the children play outside and is this scheduled or “free-flow”? 
• What times are meals, where is the food prepared and what types of meals are served? Can the nursery cater to any allergies your child may have? 
• Are all staff first aid trained? 
• Can the nursery support children with special education needs? How do they do this? 
• How will the nursery update you on your child’s development and raise any concerns? 
• What funding is available to your child to help with childcare costs and how can you access this? 

Can I take my child to a nursery tour?

You can absolutely bring your child to view a Partou nursery, and it is great to get a feel for how the team and your child interact. If your child is younger or more reserved, please remember that the unfamiliar environment may be a little unsettling in such a short experience and that this isn’t representative of their nursery journey once attending as we work closely with families when settling children into nursery life. You know your child best so if you think you will find it easier to view the nursery alone then we understand however we’d be equally happy for you to attend with them. 

How many nurseries should I visit before deciding which one to register my child at?

How many nurseries you view before registering your child at one really is a matter of personal choice, some families visit multiple and some only one before they decide it is the right choice for them. You may have heard that you need to visit at least three to make a decision however if you visit one and it feels right for your child and you think they’d be happy and supported to grow there then you shouldn’t feel obligated to keep looking and verify your choice – unless you want to!    

How soon should I view a nursery?

The recent expansion with childcare funding means that nursery spaces are in higher demand than ever before; we even have children on our waiting lists that haven’t been born! To avoid disappointment, we’d encourage you to view a nursery as soon as possible so that you can reserve your child’s place and enjoy time with your child knowing that a nursery place has been ticked off your to-do list.  

Nursery Viewing Checklist

Ahead of choosing a nursery, here are our top tips for making sure you get everything you need before reserving your nursery place: 

• Make a wish list based on your child’s interests – do they love being outdoors? Then a nursery with a great outdoor space could be the one for them! Do you like them to get out and about? You can make sure to ask the nursery about trips in the local community. Partou nurseries operate a child led approach, so we’d love to hear about your child’s interests! 

• Do your research – look online for your local nurseries and read reviews, this can be a great way to find out what other families love about the nursery and see how this fits in with your wish list. 

• Book a nursery tour – this is the best way to get a feel for life at the nursery and how you will work together to help your child to learn and grow. 

• Write down your questions – our Nursery teams understand that you may have a lot of questions, and we want to make sure you can ask them. Writing them down is a great way to make sure that any questions you have walking into the nursery, are answered by the time you leave the nursery. 

• Visit the nursery – talk to the team, ask questions and see how you feel when you think about that nursery as part of your child’s early years education. You may want to see some other options, or you may be ready to decide straight away. 

• Register your child’s nursery place – Once you’ve decided, it’s important to register your child for nursery as soon as you can to avoid missing out. 

Choosing a nursery can feel overwhelming however we want to make sure you feel as supported and informed as possible during this stage of your child’s life. Our Family Care and Nursery Teams are here to guide you through every step of the way.