Nursery recommendations in ED please ! ! ! !

[CLAU]

Hi everyone!

We have started to look for nurseries for our first child, and getting increasingly concerned as we have been told that nurseries in the area (East Dulwich) have lengthy waiting lists of 18 months plus!

I have contacted a couple of nurseries as I?d like to visit them before applying for a place, but haven?t really got far as some of them don?t appear to have websites.

Can anyone recommend a nursery in the area? My child would be joining at the age of 12 months or perhaps slightly earlier.

Many thanks!

Claudia + Peter

[edanna]

Hi Claudia, you may find that you won't get a place at any of the nurseries you like in time for when you need childcare. This happened to me with child number 1 and so we went for a childminder and he got a place at our chosen nursery when he was 2. I put my daughter down on the waiting list when I was about 5 months pregnant - she got a place at 20 months. They both went to First Steps on Upland Rd - I haven't got recent experience of it but it was lovely when my kids were there, so worth a look.

[minder]

CLAU I would just say (by telephone or email) that you are going to come along one day to see the manager at a nursery and see what they say. I know what you mean about nurseries not having a website but that is something virtual and you need to speak to somebody in real life!. As a childminder working towards the EYFS it is virtually impossible.

I've been a registered childminder for over 15 years and other settings have never worked with or contacted me as another provider.

[ludoscotts]

Hi yes unfortunately due to number restrictions nurseries tend to have long waiting lists for under 3 years old children. Nurseries and childminders are not allowed as many younger children. I'm not sure what the allowance for nurseries is but I'm a childminder and we are only allowed 3 under 5 years old and only 1 or these can be under 1.

But we are allowed more older children. This results in long waiting lists for the younger children and why a lot of people end up using us childminders until the children turn between 2-3 when more places are available.

You really don't get an idea of how the nurseries are run from websites which is why many don't bother. You will know if a nursey or childminders setting is the one for you when you go and visit.

I can highly reccomend dulwich village preschol but the youngest they accept is 2 years old but really worth a visit and see if you like it. good luck in your search.

[CLAU]

Thanks all.

I meant they dont have websites so i cant even find out what the options are in the area. I was not suggesting to get to know a nursery through their website - Im just trying to get a list of options.

All the best!

[Convex]

ah in that case you can get a list of nurseries from the southwark website.

[fergju]

I hate to say that I had found i had left it too late when I started looking for nursery places for my twins when they were 3 months. Some places just said their waiting lists were closed another others gave a suggested wait time of 18months. We did eventually manage to get the girls places but at a nursery that had not been on my original list. they only stayed there until we were able to get them into one of our first choices which was after a 12 month wait. in the end they spent nearly 2 happy years at My Favourite Nursery just off Barry Road - which may not be the flashiest but the staff were very caring towards to children and the environment was always fun, safe and clean with outdoor play area, separate sleep area for babies and its own cook which were all on the top of the tick list.

[lauram]

We were laughed out of town when looking for our son at 4 months old. That being said, when we had to change nurseries very suddenly we were able to find a place pretty quickly. My advice would be to keep calling, be persistent. We're at bright horizons in sainsbury's car park and very happy there.

[EDGN]

Hi guys, it may be worth checking out Le Nid Childcare in East Dulwich Grove. Its a newly renovated nursery that opened in November just off Lordship Lane, with a good team and remarkable play space. You can call up for a show around on 0208 299 9518.

Hope this is of help if you are still in search of a local nursery. :)

http://www.daynurseries.co.uk/daynursery.cfm/searchazref/65432212003#general-info