Phileas Fox on making the right nursery choice

Evgenia Lazareva, Founder of Phileas Fox Nursery School in London’s Little Venice, gives pointers on the key areas to consider when choosing that first vital educational setting

Choosing a nursery for your child is an exciting first step in their educational journey, but it can feel overwhelming. A good nursery can work wonders for your child’s development, instilling fundamental skills for lifelong learning, so it’s important to allow plenty of time for research and visits to make the process smooth and rewarding. Here are practical tips to help with the choice.

Define your priorities

Start by asking yourself why you want to send your child to nursery. Is it for childcare as you return to work, to prepare them for school or to give them socialisation opportunities? Understanding your primary motivations informs the type of setting you need. Some nurseries are open year-round and accept babies, while others admit children later and have strong ties to prep schools. You might prefer bilingual settings, Montessori or forest schools. It can be hard to find a nursery that ticks every box, but having clear priorities helps narrow your shortlist.

Begin your search

Start looking within your local community. Local parenting groups – whether on social media or in person – are information goldmines. Many parents have navigated this exact process and are happy to share their experiences and recommendations. However, what works for one family might not work for another, so make your shortlist around your key preferences. Do keep an open mind, as you may find that a nursery you hadn’t initially considered becomes your top choice.

Arrange a visit

If the essentials such as opening hours, holiday schedules, and fees fall within your expectations, book a visit. No online reviews compare to seeing a nursery in action, meeting the leadership team, and asking questions directly.  During your visit, pay special attention to the staff and their interactions with the children. Also find out about qualifications and experience of the team and study the environment – is the space clean and well-organised with age-appropriate and stimulating resources available?

Look at the outdoor space, too, and ask to see where children nap. Finally, find out how the curriculum is delivered, how much individual attention each child receives and what regular planned activities take place. How is progress tracked and what measures does the nursery use to ensure school readiness?

Practical Elements come into play in final decisions. Ideally, your nursery will be within walking distance from home or on your route to work. However, exceptional nurseries may be worth a longer commute if logistics allow. Consider session times and flexibility. It’s particularly important to know if the nursery will accommodate early drop-offs, late pick-ups and ad-hoc requests – these details can significantly impact your daily routine.

After each visit, listen to your gut feeling. You might immediately know you’ve found ‘the one’ or have a choice between a few excellent nursery options. Weigh up the practical pros and cons and arrange a second visit if needed – particularly valuable if your initial visit was some time before your child’s proposed start date.

The right nursery will nurture your child’s confidence and independence, fostering play, growth, and a love of learning. Taking time to choose ensures that first educational experience sets down a firm foundation for future learning success.

Phileas Fox Multilingual Nursery School phileasfoxnursery.com

Further reading: Sophie David on phonics for fun