What Should You Look for During a Nursery Tour?
A nursery tour gives you an opportunity to see beyond the photographs, inspection rating and carefully written description. You can observe how the setting works, how adults speak...
Choosing Childcare
Guides to choosing nurseries, pre-schools and childcare providers, including what to look for, questions to ask and how to compare options.
How to Compare Two Nurseries Without Relying on First Impressions
First impressions matter when visiting a nursery, but they are not always reliable. A bright entrance, beautiful garden or confident manager can make one setting feel immediately a...
How Much Should Ofsted Affect Your Nursery Choice?
An Ofsted inspection report can be one of the first things parents check when comparing nurseries. A strong result may provide reassurance, while a disappointing one can cause a fa...
What Does an Ofsted Rating Actually Tell Parents?
An Ofsted inspection report can give parents valuable independent information about a nursery, preschool or childminder. It can show what inspectors found during a particular visit...
Nursery vs Childminder: Which Might Suit Your Family Better?
Choosing between a nursery and a childminder is not simply a choice between group care and care in somebody’s home. Both can provide warm relationships, early education, outd...
Nursery vs Preschool: What’s the Difference?
Nursery and preschool are often presented as two clearly different types of childcare. In practice, the distinction is much less tidy. A nursery may have a preschool room for its o...
Questions to Ask When Visiting a Nursery: A Parent’s Guide
A nursery visit can be surprisingly difficult to judge. You may have only 30 or 40 minutes to take in the rooms, meet staff, understand the daily routine and decide whether you can...
How to Choose a Nursery: A Practical Guide for Parents
Choosing a nursery can feel like a surprisingly big decision. You are not simply comparing buildings, opening hours and Ofsted reports. You are deciding where your child may spend...