Choosing a nursery

 They’re everywhere, aren’t they? Nurseries, I mean. And, sadly, there are both good and bad in the nursery industry. My advice to you is don’t rush into an easy, early decision. Make sure you talk to people, read reviews and do your research. A day nursery (as opposed to a nursery school) is normally a privately run nursery for children aged three months to five years, but there are also local authority nurseries and community nurseries. A day nursery is run for childcare purposes but normally includes a curriculum for the three-to-five year olds. Hours are normally 8am to 6pm all year round, except for public holidays.

 A nursery school tends to operate during term time and only takes children from three to five years. All nurseries have to adhere to strict guidelines and the curriculum set down by the Government, with strict ratios of staff to children. As with schools, the best nurseries will get booked up as much as a year in advance, so make sure that you don’t leave it too late.

 Of course, nurseries range in size (from 10 to 100+ places, sometimes), and while this is an important consideration, don’t be put off by a large nursery, as they usually have better facilities. Just check the class sizes to make sure your child won't “get lost” and enjoys this wonderful. Character-developing time of their lives.