| Many parents know that they need to thoroughly | | | | sleep during nap time? Are they given foam |
| check out any nursery schools they're considering for | | | | mattresses and blankets? Can you provide your own |
| their children but then are often at a loss as to what | | | | sleeping bag and blanket? Ask to see any that the |
| that actually means. | | | | facility provides so you can be sure they're clean and |
| What are you supposed to find out when interviewing | | | | sanitary. |
| nursery schools and what do the answers you get to | | | | What about snacks? Some nursery schools provide |
| your questions actually mean? Here are some basic | | | | snacks and lunches as part of what you're paying for, |
| questions you might consider asking and what | | | | while others expect you to provide them. Look around |
| information you can get from the answers you're | | | | the facility carefully. Does it look inviting and clean? Is |
| given. | | | | there a buildup of dust or dirt anywhere? |
| The most important things you need to know about | | | | What about the toilets; what is their condition? Nursery |
| any of the nursery schools you're considering have to | | | | schools should look and feel welcoming to the children |
| do with the staff. What is the ratio of adults to | | | | but should also be cleaned thoroughly on a regular |
| children? This will tell you how supervised the children | | | | basis, and this includes the toys, closets, and other |
| are versus the chances of neglect. | | | | areas. |
| Too many children per adult and there's a good | | | | Safety is also a concern when it comes to nursery |
| chance that the adults will get overwhelmed, and this is | | | | schools. Ask how they keep unauthorized persons |
| when neglect happens or tempers rise. | | | | from entering the facility and how they make sure the |
| Ask what the staff turnover is like. If they go through | | | | children are picked up by the appropriate individual. |
| personnel rather quickly then you can guess that the | | | | How many accidents have there been in the past |
| staff are not happy there and the facility needs some | | | | year? How do they feel about the parents dropping in |
| improvement. | | | | unannounced? If they seem hesitant about any of |
| Is there any type of formal training for the staff, and | | | | these answers or don't allow parents to visit at all, you |
| what do they look for when hiring? How many are | | | | may want to look elsewhere. |
| qualified in first aid? Even in the best run nursery | | | | Nursery schools should be very concerned with the |
| schools there can still be accidents and emergencies, | | | | child's safety first and foremost and have |
| so it's good to have at least one or two of the staff | | | | programmes in place to protect the children, and should |
| that are trained in first aid. | | | | never hesitate to allow the parents to drop in |
| Getting a feel for the facility is also important when | | | | unannounced as long as they are not disruptive to the |
| evaluating nursery schools. Where do the children | | | | school's environment. |