Questions to ask on a nursery visit

A nursery visit is short, and it is easy to come away remembering the paint colours and little else. Going in with a list of questions, and asking the same ones everywhere, makes nurseries much easier to compare. Our printable nursery visit checklist has all of these; this guide explains what each question tells you.

Your child’s day

Who will my child’s key person be? Every child must have a key person. Ask how they are chosen, how many children each looks after, and who takes over when they are on holiday. A good answer names a person or explains how the match is made.

What does a typical day look like for my child’s age? Listen for a balance of play, outdoor time, meals, rest and quieter moments, and for routines that bend to the child rather than the other way round.

How much time do children spend outdoors? Ask whether children go out every day in all weathers and whether they can choose to be outside.

How do you handle sleep? For babies and toddlers, ask whether the nursery follows your child’s routine and where children sleep.

Staff and safety

What are your staff-to-child ratios in practice? The law sets minimums (see nursery staff ratios). Ask what the ratios are through the whole day, including lunch cover and early and late sessions.

How long have the room leaders been here, and how many staff left last year? Stable staff matter a lot to young children. A nursery that knows its numbers and talks about them openly is a good sign.

Who is the safeguarding lead? Every setting must have one. Ask how they would raise a concern with you.

How do you tell parents about accidents and incidents? Most nurseries use an app or a written form you sign at pick-up.

Learning and development

How do you plan for each child? Under the EYFS, staff observe children and plan around their interests and next steps. Ask how you will hear about progress and how often.

How do you support children with extra needs? Ask to meet or hear from the SENCO, especially if your child has, or may have, additional needs.

How do you support children who are learning English? Ask how they help children who speak another language at home.

Food and health

Are meals cooked on site? Ask to see a menu, how allergies and special diets are handled, and whether you can bring food instead.

What is your sickness policy? Ask how long children must stay home after common illnesses, and how quickly you must collect a child who becomes unwell.

Money and the contract

These are the questions parents most often wish they had asked:

• What is the day rate for my child’s age, and when does it go up?
• How are funded hours used here: term-time only or stretched, and on which days and times?
• What is charged on funded hours (meals, consumables, trips)? Can I opt out by bringing my own?
• Is there a registration fee or deposit, and is it refundable?
• What notice do I need to give to change days or leave?
• Do I pay for bank holidays, closure days or days my child is ill?
• Do you accept Tax-Free Childcare?

Ask for the answers in writing before you sign, and run the numbers through our childcare cost calculator.

What to look for, not ask

Some of the most useful information comes from watching. Are the children engaged? Do staff kneel to talk to them and use their names? Are crying children comforted quickly? How do staff speak to each other? Is the outdoor space used, safe and well kept? Does what you see match the latest Ofsted report card?

Finally, trust your sense of the place. If something did not feel right, our guide to nursery red flags may help you work out why.