Nurseries- any secrets to getting a response?

[tortor]

Hello

I registered with 4 nurseries in the East Dulwich/ Peckham areas about 4 months ago, paying fees to all. One was very honest and said there was a 2.5 year waiting list (!) However the others were all quite positive about me getting a space for my baby in mid June.

BUT.... since then, despite repeated phone calls and emails I have heard nothing. And I am at the stage where I have to confirm to my employer which days I will go back to work. I am waiting to hear about availability of nursery places before doing that. It's a nightmare!

So my question is- does anyone have any advice on how best to get a response? Any magic solutions?! I don't want to name the worst offenders on here, but I do find it hard to take that the nurseries are happy to cash our cheques and yet don't even have the decency to respond to perfectly legitimate queries regarding a place. I'm sure they're busy, but if there are that many people on your waiting list you can't cope, close the waiting list.

Sorry- didn't mean to bang on but it is so infuriating (and v stressful when you're wondering what the heck to do about going back to work!)

Thanks for your time.

[RenF]

The only advice I can give (and which was the thing which got my daughter a place) was going in person to the nursery and speaking the the admin/manager. I got the distinct impression that the system a lot of nurseries have in place is slightly different from a clear 'list' that you or I might imagine.

Of course, they may still be over subscribed and without places but at least they can't ignore you in person!