nurseries

[new mother]

Getting depressed by what I see nurserywise and cannot afford the 32/35,000 out of my post tax income that the nannies we've interviewed are looking for.

In nursery terms though, we think we are prepared to pay at more or less the top end.

This is what we want - is it too much to ask?!

1. good openair spaces for breaktimes and lunchtimes.

2. all day possibility ie 8am drop off and 6pm pick up and not sessions of a couple of hours here and there.

3. low turnover of full time staff who are mature and well spoken

4. minimum of good from OFSTED

5. flexible re location

We cannot consider:

1. short sessions ie 930 to 1230 sort of thing.

2. high turnover of staff or many part timers for the number of children at the nursery

3. very young staff who don't speak English properly.

These requirements seem to me to be basic but are not met by the vast majority of nurseries we look at. My husband has been shocked by some of the carers and his phrase was that they "would be hard put to look after a goldfish properly", so it's not just an over protective mother speaking.

Any ideas? Feel free to pm me if you prefer. We are a bit desperate to be honest and would appreciate any ideas practically from Dulwich to BLackheath and in between!

[Lochie]

Hi New Mother, we have our son down for Nelly's on Turney Road in Dulwich. It does fit the 8-6pm day length that you require. When I went to look around in the summer, I was really impressed. There is some outdoor space, its not huge, but its well kept and they make good use of it. The kids seemed really happy there (from what I could see anyway, and I peeped through the fence to see what they were up to before knocking for my offical visit!)

When we signed up though we were put on a waiting list that we were told was '2 years long'!!! They have opened another branch on Lancaster Avenue in West Dulwich so not sure if this reduces waiting list.

I agree, it is hard with the cost situation and nursery v nanny, and I know that Nelly's is on the upper scale of cost depending on how old your child is. However, Nelly's was the only place we looked at that had 'full days' not half days, so we don't have much to compare it to when it comes to full time nurseries.....

[new mother]

many thanks Lochie

any other thoughts?

I'm on the case tomorrow am... (again)

[Mellors]

What age of child are you looking for care for? I can think of a couple of great ones but they only take them from age 2.

[cg]

My son goes to Clive Hall on Clive Road in West Dulwich (even though we live in East dulwich) as this was the one i liked the most. They have two outdoor play areas - a garden and another play area where they get out trikes etc. They are open 8 till 6 and are thinking of opening 7 to 7. Some of the staff are more mature and they do have some younger staff but they all seem very nice and to geniunely enjoy being with children (my little boy is quite a handful and they have been really good with dealing with this and working with us to try and sort him out!). My son is extremely happy there and all the children look like they are enjoying themselves.

[Monkey]

Asquith Peckham Rye seems to fit all our requirements. Open from 8.00am to 6.00pm with possibility to drop off at 07.30am and pick up at 6.30pm. Purpose built building set back from the road. The staff is great and some of them have been there for years. Food is cooked by a chef on the premises, menus are worked out by a dietetician etc etc... Garden has just been done up and looks fab. Gbp1,320 a month for a full time place for under threes.

[alieh]

Asquith Peckham Rye was going to be my recommendation too. We liked it but ended up finding a childminder we liked better in the end. But nursery-wise it seemed really good.

[ontherye32]

Another recommendation for Asquith Peckham Rye. My little boy has been there a couple of days a week from 7 months and loves the staff. They get great food (puts my cooking to shame) and spend lots of time outside in the newly done up garden.

[ratty]

Another vote for Asquith PS who just got an outstanding ofsted report! Sadly my lad will be leaving in March after being there for 2 years! :(

[new mother]

THanks so much, everyone. I have just read their OFSTED. it's unusual to get an "outstanding", I suppose, by definition. OTOH, the only place I've liked so far actually failed or was put into sp measures or eaten by the OFSTED dragon monster or something so maybe my judgement isn't very good.