Finding nurseries in Dorset for your child can be a lengthy process, but it doesn’t need to be if you know what you are looking for. There are some key considerations you should think about when searching for a nursery which we have outlined below:
When looking for nurseries in Dorset, what are they rated by Ofsted?
All 4 of our nurseries are rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, this is very important when you are looking for a nursery to enrol your child at. Our Outstanding certification was given to Kids Love Nature based on the excellence of teaching and the high quality of childcare that each child receives.
What is their approach to education?
We feel deeply that an evolved, integrated approach to early years is essential to making the best of the future. At such a critical stage of childhood, our aim is to make every day extraordinary for as many children as we can.
For this reason, we focus on teaching independence, freedom and creativity so that your child can develop and thrive as grownups.
Find out what qualifications the staff have
When recruiting, we always look for a certain person to fit the mould, aside from having a love of working with children, plenty of enthusiasm and obviously naturally love the outdoors. We also ask that our staff have a minimum Level 3 Childcare Qualification.
Can you visit the nursery or are open day’s available?
It’s always good to see the nursery in action, so try to arrange to visit the nursery or check if they have open days available.
Is nursery funding accepted?
As per the government legislation, all our nurseries accept the 30 hours free funding.* From September 2017, if you are living and working in England, 3 and 4-year-olds may be entitled to 30 hours free childcare.
What are the nursery opening hours?
You should consider whether the nursery you are looking at offers opening hours that suit you and your lifestyle. We offer both morning and afternoon sessions, some of which open from 7:45am until 6pm.
What’s included in the daily rate?
If you enrol your child for a full day, you should check with your chosen nursery if that rate includes lunch and snacks. Our day rates including lunchtime meal and snacks, plus a range of activities such as trips into the great outdoors, visiting artists and musicians, special events, family days and more.
Is the enrollment process simple?
Our registration is now open for enrolment in September 2018, and the process is simple, just fill in this short form which will take around 10 minutes to complete. You can enrol your child to start from 2 years old, however, we accept registrations at any point up to 5 years old, so if you want to get prepared early you can do!
Do they have reviews online you can check?
Reviews are critical to any nursery as a business can easily say they get great feedback, but real reviews will prove this. We would recommend always checking their social media first. Kids Love Nature have received many 5 star reviews, which you can see here. Or take a look at the dedicated location pages on Facebook for Lymington, Durlston, Marwell Zoo and Avon Heath. Follow us for weekly updates of what we’ve been up to at the nurseries.
Want more information about Kids Love Nature?
If you would like to discuss the Kids Love Nature approach and our nurseries in Dorset, we would love to chat with you. Contact us here.
*https://childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk/par/app/extendedentitlement