The staff are the heart of any nursery, and asking the right questions can tell you a lot about the quality of care your child will receive. Of course, if you’re still narrowing down your options, our team has plenty of tips on how to choose a nursery to help you shortlist settings before you visit.
Ok, let’s say you’ve already chosen a few nurseries (with Nuuri’s help, of course). When you're visiting those nurseries to choose childcare for your child, it's not just about looking at the rooms and the toys, or seeing how many children are smiling at any one moment.
The staff are the heart of any nursery, and asking the right questions can tell you a lot about the quality of care your child will receive. Of course, if you’re still narrowing down your options, our team has plenty of tips on how to choose a nursery to help you shortlist settings before you visit.
You don't need to conduct a formal interview, but having a conversation with the nursery manager, nurse or staff members about how they work is really important. Here are five key questions to ask that will help you understand if a nursery is right for your family.
1. How Do You Support Children During Settling In?
This is such an important question because how a nursery handles settling in says a lot about their approach to your child's emotional wellbeing.
A good nursery will have a gradual, unhurried settling-in process, possibly with set settling in sessions. They should be willing to work at your child's pace, not rush them. They might start with short visits where you stay with your child, then gradually increase the time you leave them. They should have a key person system, which means your child will have one main staff member who they build a relationship with, which can really help with managing nursery separation anxiety.
Listen for answers that show flexibility and understanding. If they say something like "most children settle in a day or two," that's a red flag. Every child is different, and a quality nursery will recognise that.
2. What's Your Approach to Learning and Development?
You want to understand how the nursery supports your child's learning. Ask them about their curriculum and how they approach early years education.
In England, they should be following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In Scotland, it's the Curriculum for Excellence. In Wales, it's the Foundation Phase. A good nursery will be able to explain their approach clearly. They should talk about play-based learning, following children's interests, and supporting development across all areas.
Ask them to give you an example of how they might support a child's learning through play. If they can give you a specific, thoughtful example, that's a good sign. If they're vague or just talk about keeping children entertained, that's less reassuring.
3. How Do You Communicate With Parents?
Communication between nursery and home is crucial. You want to know how often you'll hear about your child's day, what they're learning, and how they're getting on.
Ask how they keep parents updated. Do they use an app? Do they send photos? Do they have regular conversations? How often can you call during the day? What happens if there's a concern?
A quality nursery will have regular communication built into their routine. They should be proactive about sharing updates, not just reactive when there's a problem. They should also be open to you calling or visiting, and they should welcome your involvement in your child's learning.
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4. What's Your Approach to Health and Safety?
This is non-negotiable. You need to know that your child will be safe at nursery.
Ask about their safeguarding policies, how they handle allergies and dietary requirements, what happens if a child gets ill, and how they manage outdoor play safely. Ask about staff qualifications and whether they have first aid training.
A good nursery will be transparent about these things. They should have clear policies, trained staff, and a genuine commitment to keeping children safe. They should also be willing to discuss any specific concerns you have about your child's needs.
5. How Do You Handle Challenging Behaviour?
Every child has moments where they struggle with their behaviour. How a nursery handles this says a lot about their philosophy and their training.
Ask how they support children who are struggling with emotions or behaviour. Do they use positive discipline? Do they try to understand what's behind the behaviour? Do they work with parents to support the child?
Listen for answers that show empathy and understanding. They should talk about helping children develop emotional regulation skills, not just punishing bad behaviour. They should also be willing to work with you if your child is struggling, not just tell you they can't manage them.
What Else to Look Out For
Beyond these five questions, pay attention to:
- How staff interact with children: Are they warm, engaged, and responsive? Do they get down to the children's level?
- The environment: Is it clean, safe, and stimulating? Are there a good range of activities and resources?
- Your gut feeling: Do you feel comfortable leaving your child here? Does it feel like a place where your child would be happy?
- Ofsted rating: Check the Ofsted report (or equivalent in Scotland and Wales). What do parents say in the comments?
- Parent reviews: Read reviews from other parents on Nuuri. What do they say about the staff and the nursery?
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Trust Your Instincts
Asking these questions will give you a lot of useful information. But don't forget to trust your instincts too. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. A quality nursery should make you feel confident and reassured, not worried or uncertain.
Take your time visiting nurseries, ask questions, and don't settle for anything less than a place where you feel your child will be safe, happy, and supported.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You can ask some of them during your first visit, but you don't need to ask all five at once. It's better to have a natural conversation. You might ask a couple during your initial visit, and then ask more detailed questions if you're seriously considering the nursery.
If a nursery is evasive or won't answer your questions clearly, that's a sign to keep looking. A quality nursery will be transparent and happy to discuss their approach and policies.
Some nurseries might be willing to put you in touch with parents, but many won't for privacy reasons. Instead, read reviews on Nuuri or other parent review sites to get a sense of what other parents think.
If you have concerns after your child has started, raise them with the nursery manager or key person. A good nursery will take your concerns seriously and work with you to address them. If you're not satisfied, you can also check the Ofsted report or make a complaint to Ofsted.
It's worth visiting at least two or three nurseries so you can compare. This gives you a sense of what's available in your area and helps you make a more informed decision.
