A day nursery, as opposed to a nursery school, usually follows a curriculum for the 3-5 year olds.
These are normally privately-run nurseries for children aged three months to five years. Please make sure that the nursery follows the guidelines and curriculum set down by the government.
It is best make a list of nurseries in your area and ask parents if they can recommend any. Then narrow down your list and then start phoning around to book a visit.
Based on Super nanny expert Amanda Coxen these are the ten key questions and things to check out while choosing the right nursery for your baby
- Do they have any spaces for the time you are looking at?
- How many children do they have now and what is the maximum they take?
- Do they provide all meals, if so what is it and where is it cooked, or do you have to provide food?
- If you have a baby, then you need to specifically check the following:
- Do you need to bring your own nappies and formula?
- Where do the babies sleep during the day (ideally you would like to have the cots away from the playing area, but space is at a premium in nurseries so that is rare)?
- How much fresh air do the babies get during the day and how are the babies transported outside of the nursery (ask to see the prams and buggies)?
- How much time if any do the babies spend in the company of the older children (depending how you view this, it could be an advantage or a disadvantage)
- Can you see a copy of their latest license listing all the details of the nursery.
- What sort of settling in period is there?
- If you need to leave the nursery, what is the notice period?
- What do they do about security and people entering the building?
- Is there outside space?
- Are they following all the necessary guidelines set by the local authorities for running a nursery in the UAE.
Although finding the right nursery for your baby can be a tense time, it can be also very rewarding. The key points to look for are the staff, the manager, the hygiene and safety norms are in place and a proper environment. These important factors can make all the difference between a good nursery and a poor one.
.
Very good blog you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get advice from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thanks!