Day Nurseries in Kingston upon Thames

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Day nurseries provide care and education for pre-school children aged from six weeks to five years old. Hours tend to fit in with an average working day of 8am – 6pm and care is usually provided all year round. You can send your child full or part time. Some nurseries offer school pick-ups or out of school care.

Whether privately run, community, council or workplace, they must be registered with OFSTED on the Early Years Register and follow the standards set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

This means that parents can be confident that all services which are provided for children aged from birth to the 31 August following their fifth birthday (including childminders and schools), will be inspected against welfare requirements in care and early education.

Further information on the registration and inspection of childcare can be obtained from OFSTED’S helpline 0300 123 1231 and their website.

We recommend that Ofsted inspection reports are viewed before choosing a childcare provider.

These can be downloaded from the Ofsted website or contact the FIS to make arrangements to read the latest report.  All childcare providers should have copies of their latest inspection report available to view at the premises.

Day nurseries caring for children aged 0 – 5 years will be registered on the Early Years Register.  Ofsted inspectors will grade the group using the four gradings outstanding, good, satisfactory or inadequate. Inspections will continue at least every three years unless a complaint is received which suggests that the requirements of the EYFS or any conditions of registration are not being met. If a nursery has received an inadequate grading, special arrangements and more frequent inspections will be set in place. If a nursery does not take measures to improve, their registration maybe suspended or cancelled.

Also please note that inspection outcomes will not be available for settings who have only received an inspection on registration. Ofsted will inspect these settings again once they start caring for children so that a judgment can be made when children are attending the setting. Where this is the case the box will say “Registration Inspection”.

Ofsted also grade day nurseries on the care they provide in relation to the Early Education Funding. Most day nurseries are eligible to provide this. Under the Government's Early Education Scheme, all children are entitled to a free, early education place for 15 hours per week from the term following their third birthday.

• Do you have any written information I can take away?
• What are your charges and opening times?
• Do you charge a deposit?
• Do I pay in arrears or advance?
• What happens to the children when there is staff sickness?
• How do you take account of children’s cultural and religious beliefs?
• Can you cater for my child’s dietary, medical or cultural needs?
• Can you cater for my child’s special needs?
• How would my child identify with a particular member of staff and how do I receive information on my child’s day?
• How much individual attention can my child expect?
• Discuss sleep, rest and mealtime arrangements
• Do you have a discipline policy?
• Have you had any complaints and how were these dealt with?
• Do you go on outings?
• Do you provide part time early education funded places for 3-4 year olds?
• Is the group working towards a Quality Assurance Award? (Accreditation by Investors in Children Quality Assurance scheme shows the provider is striving to deliver high standards and good quality service. This demonstrates that the service goes beyond the minimum standards.)