A Parent’s Guide to Making the Most of a Nursery Open Day

Choosing a nursery is no easy task for parents, who might ask: How do I know it’s the right one for me and my child? Do the childcare hours work with my schedule? Can the nursery staff provide special care for my child?

Making the most of a nursery open day can help you make an informed choice that is right for your family.

Visiting on a Nursery Open Day

There’s only one sure way to decide if you like a nursery, and that is to see it in person. Visiting a nursery in person will allow you the opportunity to meet the staff, find out more about them and their experience, and ensure the setting is clean, safe and well-equipped.

At Kids Planet we have a number of Open Days throughout the year, or you can book a show round at your preferred nursery through the nursery pages Find a Nursery | Kids Planet Nurseries When you go to the visit, consider bringing a friend or family member with you, as well as your child. This will allow you to get a second opinion on the nursery and your child will have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the setting.

Find out More About the Nursery

Seeing a nursery in person on an Open Day can give you a great feel for whether it’s a good fit for you and your child, but it’s also the ideal opportunity to find out more about how this specific nursery operates. 

By observing and talking to the team, you can get an insight into the setting’s approach to early years education, the nursery’s SEND support structure, the teaching methods and the daily routines for various age groups. 

One area that you might be interested in is the nursery’s approach to outdoor learning. At Kids Planet, we love time outdoors and see the positive impact it has on children and their development every day. Find out more about the power of outdoor learning activities for children.

An Open Day Nursery Visit Can Ease First Day Pressures

Attending the nursery on an Open Day, before booking your place, means that your child has an opportunity to get familiar with their new environment before they start there. We think it’s important for both parents and children to get a feel for the setting and meet the team to put any anxious minds at rest.

If your child seems particularly nervous about going to nursery, whether it’s for fear of meeting new people or simply leaving the comfort of their home, it can be helpful to visit the setting before their first day. They can explore the new environment, engage in any activities that are going on and spend some time interacting with other children and the early years education and care team. This is in addition to settling-in sessions once they have secured their place, to help every child acclimatise.  

You Can Chat to Other Parents at a Nursery Open Day

Even during a short nursery Open Day visit, there is often the opportunity to connect with other parents who are there and at the same point in their decision-making process about nursery for their little one. Some parents may already have little ones enrolled at the nursery and can give you more insights into how they find it for their family.

Questions to Ask When Visiting a Nursery

When you visit a nursery, it’s the perfect opportunity to get answers to questions you couldn’t find online or need discuss further, and really get a feel for the nursery.

Do the children have access to an outdoor space, and if they don’t have access, then how do the staff incorporate outdoor time into the children’s day? Is there a warm, welcoming, and positive atmosphere?

Some common questions to ask when visiting a nursery in the UK could include:

• Hours the nursery is open
• How many weeks of the year the nursery is open
• What happens on Bank Holidays?
• The cost; per hour, day or week
• Space and availability

Here are some more of the most commonly asked questions we get from parents at our nursery Open Days:

• What is the ratio of staff to children?
• What qualifications and experience do the staff have?
• Are all the staff DBS checked?
• Who looks after the children while the staff are on their breaks?
• What does a typical day look like?
• Are there designated nap times for younger children?
• Are the facilities suitable for my child who has additional needs?
• What kinds of indoor and outdoor activities do you provide?
• How will you support my child’s learning?
• Do you provide meals?
• How will you support my child whilst settling in?
• How will my baby sleep?
• What do I need to bring with my child to nursery?
• What is a key worker?
• My child has food allergies. How will they be managed?
• What will the daily routine be like?
• What feedback will I receive about my child’s day?
• What should my child bring to nursery?
• Do you take children out into the local community?
• What do your fees include?
• Does your menu change?
• What happens if my child becomes poorly whilst at nursery?
• How do you manage the behaviour of children at the nursery?
• What is your current Ofsted rating, and can I view the most recent report?

You can visit our article for more ideas about questions to ask on open days.

Why choose Kids Planet?

At the heart of everything we do are the children in our care, and ensuring families feel secure and at home within our nurseries.

Kids Planet are responsible for the care and education of over 30,000 children. We are fully committed to ensuring each child is given the best opportunities during their time with us. 

Find out more about the Kids Planet philosophy.

Book in for a show round

Step into your nearest Kids Planet nursery to meet our wonderful teams, have a show round of the nursery and ask as many questions as you like – whether that’s about settling in, our delicious homecooked meals, free funded places, outdoor learning, additional support, or anything else!

Discover so much more with Kids Planet’s award-winning, family-led nurseries and pre-schools.

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