Bonjour lecteurs! Selecting the right nursery for your child is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a parent. It goes beyond the cost and the location. It will significantly impact your child’s early years experience and educational journey. Nurseries in Hove and across Brighton offer a variety of approaches and environments so here are 5 Things You Should Know Before Choosing a Nursery. It will help you make la décision finale with ease.
Different Types of Early-Year Settings
There are many early-year settings and they all provide in different ways. So you’ll have to consider the needs of your famille.
Day nurseries usually offer full-day care and are open from birth to five years. They often offer longer opening hours to accommodate working parents. However, if they are linked to a primary school, they might be closed over half-term.
These settings usually offer structured activities and follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.
A pre-school is usually part-time and for children aged 2-4 years. Généralement, they tend to be more play-based and may operate during term time only.
A childminder might be une meilleure option for you. If you want your child to be looked-after in a domestic setting, it’s a great way to have a family-like environment. C’est parfait for toddlers.
I also looked at the Montessori approach with Stanley. It’s a child-centred educational method based on self-directed learning, independence, and individual progress. I loved it but there was none locally.
What option is best for your child’s personnalité? Do they love the outdoors? Maybe a forest school might be appropriate?
Staff Qualifications & Ratios Matters!
When I looked at nurseries options for Stanley, I was very attentive to the staff, its qualifications and the kids ratio. C’est très important as it will determine what sort of attention your child will get.
When visiting nurseries, ask about the staff qualifications. They should have minimum requirements for staff (Level 3 childcare qualification is standard). I would also ask about the percentage of staff with higher qualifications (Level 4, 5, or Early Years Teacher Status) and what sort of ongoing professional development opportunities they have.
Ask around and see what is the staff turnover. If it’s high, it could hide some more serious issues… As for the ratio, legally it should be 1:3 for children under 2 years, 1:4 for 2-year-olds or 1:8 for 3-4 year-olds. Many quality nurseries maintain better-than-minimum ratios. Basically, it mean more individual attention for your child!
It’s also good to remember that that every child should have a designated key person responsible for their daily care, observations, and development planning. Ask how this system works in practice, not just in theory.
Look Beyond the Ofsted Rating
While Ofsted ratings provide a useful benchmark, they represent a snapshot from a single day and may not capture the full picture of the nursery.
Look for the most recent Ofsted reports, specifically the quality of teaching and learning as well as the leadership & management. Don’t miss the areas for improvement and how they’ve been addressed.
Beyond Oftsed, listen to your gut feeling when you visit the nursery. It’s worth checking if they have any awards and recognition. I would also check the local Facebook pages to see what experiences others had.
Many wonderful nurseries in Hove have strong reputations within the community that go beyond their official ratings. Speaking with current parents can provide better insights than a report.
The Right Learning Environment
When you go in, look for:
- Well-defined activity areas
- Child-height displays and accessible resources
- Quiet spaces for rest and reflection
- Evidence of children’s own work displayed respectfully
- Age-appropriate resources in good condition
The physical environment significantly impacts children’s experiences and learning opportunities. Personnellement, I did not like locations without a designated space for naps. It felt weird to think that he would sleep in a room where he played all day…
I would also observe the quality outdoor space. For me it was essentiel. Ask about:
- How often children access the outdoors (ideally daily, in all weathers)
- The range of experiences offered outdoors
- Whether the space encourages appropriate risk-taking and physical development
- Natural elements like plants, sand, water, and mud
It’s also worth checking the mealtimes arrangements:
- Who prepares meals? Are they freshly cooked on-site?
- How are dietary requirements and preferences accommodated?
- Are mealtimes social learning experiences or just functional?
- Is water freely available throughout the day?
Communication With Parents
Last but not least, I think the way the nursery communicates with parents says it all. I feel the same about school as it’s truly a partnership between you and their team.
What day-to-day communication is in place? Nowadays, it’s often via an app. But we loved having a chatter with the nursery staff when we picked up Stanley. It was also important to see how our concerns were addressed.
And if you can, feel free to get involved! Many nurseries offer parent workshops or information sessions. I think it’s une idée brilliante and it adds so much trust.
When you visit the nursery, ask about the settling-in process. Par exemple, how will they deal with anxiety?
Making The Final Decision
After considering these five key areas, trust your instinct. The right nursery should feel welcoming to both you and your child. Arrange a second visit if needed, perhaps at a different time of day to see various routines in action.
Remember that the best nurseries don’t just care for children. They work together with families to create consistent, nurturing environments where children can thrive. The right location will support your child’s unique journey, celebrating their individuality while helping them develop the skills and confidence they’ll need for the next steps in their educational journey.
We LOVED our nursery back in the day. Stanley’s carer was very fond of him and he had her wrapped around his fingers. She even had tears when he left for primary school. I am ever so nostalgique. He had a great time there and it was such a relief to see him going there happily every day.
Collaboration with Hopscotch Children’s Nurseries, providing quality childcare in Brighton and Hove.
