Any full time nurseries around with no waiting list?

[reginak]

We are hoping/planning to move to ED shortly but am wondering if there are any full time nurseries available for a 1 year old without waiting lists in the area? Unfortunately we will be moving just as my maternity leave is due to finish so I will need a nursery opening immediately...would really love to move to the area soon but this is our biggest worry...if no nursery openings, what to do? (and I really do prefer the nursery option to the childminder option)

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[prdarling]

I'm afraid the only thing you can do is ring round to see if there are any spaces anywhere but as you probably know already many in this area have 1 or 2 year waiting lists and some are so in demand they won't even add you to their waiting list. Others will be along to recommend good nurseries but off the top of my head Asquith, Nelly's , Gumboots, Mother Goose are all mentioned often on here but you may struggle to get a place for a 1 year old??

You really may need to consider a childmider as you can invariably find one at short notice. If it's any consolation I have used a childminder for 3 and half years and she is amazing. She has looked after both of my sons from age 11 months to about 3 - one is still with her and she still helps me out with ad hoc days for my elder son over the summer holidays. She is much more flexible than a nursery would ever be, cheaper than most nurseries and the children benefit from a home environment to eat and nap in, plus one or two other playmates, plus all of the other activities like childminder playgroups, trips to museums/parks/soft play etc.

They are Ofsted registered and provide activity reports each day and every 6 months I get a wonderful CD of images which gives a snapshot of what they have done over that time. I can't recommend them (well mine) highly enough.

Anyway, it may be something you have to consider even in the short term while you get on a nursery waiting list. Good luck!

[charlottep]

Nelly's is opening a third branch in sept. Could be a long shot bit it might be worth calling them?

[Fuschia]

A nanny share is probably comparable to a nursery in price and easier to sort out at short notice....

[alibo]

I had teh same problem and I ended up putting baby in a nursery near work and have his name down at a local nursery for when a space comes up. I know it sounds like a nightmare commuting but the littlun enjoys it, and I get to spend more time with him, plus I can pop into the nursery and see him during the day if I feel the need and join in all the nursry activities when invited. Having said that I will still take the local nursery when it comes up, but it is an alternative if you don't like the nanny/childminder option.

[bea_filkin]

Just to add I have recently been offered a place at the one in Sainsburys car park for starting this autumn despite not being on the waiting list. My friend at the same experience there and at asquiths in peckham rye. May be we were very lucky and it was all dependent on being flexible on days, but it seems it is sometimes possible to avoid the horror waiting list lengths.

[Emski]

We were recently offered a place with Mother Goose on Upland Road for full time from Sept for our 1 year old, despite only applying a couple of weeks before. You may be lucky!