14 Key Factors To Ask About When Visiting A Nursery: Your Complete Parent Guide

Choosing the right nursery for your little one is a big decision. Visiting nurseries in person gives you a chance to see the environment, meet the team and get a feel for how your child will spend their days. But to make the most of your visit, it’s important to come prepared with the right questions. Asking detailed questions during your nursery visit helps you understand the quality of care, safety and educational approach, so you can choose a nursery that best suits your family’s needs.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential questions to ask when visiting a nursery, covering everything from qualifications and daily routines to meals, communication and fees. Use this as your checklist to feel confident and informed during your nursery tours.

Understanding the Nursery Environment

What Is The Staff-To-Child Ratio?

One of the first things to ask when visiting a nursery is about their staff-to-child ratio. This ratio affects how much individual attention your child will receive and is crucial for safety and wellbeing. Nurseries must follow government guidelines on minimum ratios, but some go above and beyond to ensure more personalised care.

Ask the nursery what their typical ratio is for your child’s age group, and how they handle breaks or staff absences. A lower ratio often means better supervision and more opportunities for your child to engage one-on-one with their key worker.

What Qualifications Do Staff Have?

Knowing that your child is in the hands of experienced and qualified staff is reassuring. Ask about the qualifications and training of the nursery team, especially the key workers who will be directly responsible for your child. Qualified staff will have undergone Early Years education and safeguarding training.

It’s also worth asking about staff turnover rates. High turnover can disrupt your child’s routine and affect the consistency of care and learning. Nurseries with stable teams often provide a better, more nurturing environment.

How Does The Nursery Ensure Safety And Security?

Safety is a top priority for every parent. During your visit, ask how the nursery manages security. This might include secure entry systems or visitor check-in procedures.

Also, inquire about their safeguarding policies and how staff are trained to recognise and respond to any concerns. Find out what their procedures are for emergencies and accidents to ensure your child will be well looked after in any situation.

Daily Routine And Child Development

What Does A Typical Day Look Like?

Understanding your child’s daily routine at nursery is a helpful way to imagine their experience. Ask how the day is structured. What time activities start, when meals and naps happen, and how playtime is balanced with learning. A clear daily routine gives children a sense of security and predictability.

Look out for a mix of free play, structured learning, outdoor time, story sessions and creative activities. This balance supports early development while ensuring your child enjoys their day.

How Is The Curriculum Delivered?

It’s important to ask how the nursery supports learning and development. Many nurseries follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which encourages learning through play and exploration. Ask how the curriculum is delivered and how progress is tracked.

You might also ask how staff plan activities to meet each child’s individual learning needs, and whether they adapt activities for different interests, abilities and stages of development.

How Are Individual Needs Supported?

No two children are the same. Ask how the nursery supports children with different learning styles, personality types or additional needs. Do they offer support plans? Is there a dedicated SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) coordinator?

Also ask about their settling-in process. How long it takes, what it involves, and how they work with parents to ensure a smooth transition.

Communication And Parental Involvement

How Does The Nursery Communicate With Parents?

One of the most important questions to ask when visiting a nursery is how they keep you updated. Many settings now use communication apps like Famly or online learning journals to share photos, daily updates and progress reports.

Find out how often updates are shared, whether they include meals, naps and achievements, and how accessible staff are for questions or concerns. Strong communication builds trust and helps you feel connected to your child’s day.

Can Parents Visit Or Get Involved?

Ask whether the nursery welcomes parental involvement. Are there opportunities to volunteer for activities or attend events? Can you drop in for a visit or is it strictly scheduled? Nurseries that encourage family engagement often create a stronger sense of community and partnership.

Meals, Health And Wellbeing

What Meals And Snacks Are Provided?

Nutrition plays a big role in your child’s wellbeing, so ask to see a sample menu. Is the food freshly prepared on site? Are dietary needs and allergies carefully managed?

You can also ask whether meals and snacks are included in the fees and how mealtimes are structured. Some nurseries even involve children in food preparation or offer themed days to encourage healthy eating habits.

How Are Sleep And Rest Times Managed?

For babies and toddlers, naps are an important part of the day. Ask where and how children sleep? Do they have individual cots or mats? Are routines flexible based on each child’s needs?

You might also ask how the nursery ensures a calm sleep environment and how staff comfort children who struggle to settle.

What Health And Hygiene Practices Are Followed?

Hygiene is a very important factor. Ask how the nursery maintains cleanliness, especially in shared areas like changing stations, toilets and toys. What is their handwashing routine? How do they handle sickness or symptoms during the day?

Nurseries should also have clear safeguarding and first aid protocols, with at least one paediatric first aider on-site at all times.

Fees, Funding And Policies

What Are The Fees And What’s Included?

Cost is a key factor when choosing a nursery. Ask for a full breakdown of fees and find out what is included, are meals, nappies, wipes or outings part of the price?

Clarify payment terms, notice periods and whether they charge for bank holidays, sickness, or holidays. Transparency now avoids surprises later.

Are Funding Options Available?

Ask whether the nursery accepts government-funded hours (15 or 30 hours), Tax-Free Childcare, or childcare vouchers. You can also check whether there are discounts for siblings or referrals.

If your child won’t be eligible for funding immediately, find out how the fees might change when they are.

What Are The Nursery’s Key Policies?

Before enrolling, it’s important to understand the nursery’s policies on things like sickness, absence and late pickups. Ask how they manage unexpected closures (e.g. weather or illness), and whether they have a clear behaviour or discipline policy.

Don’t forget to check their notice period if you decide to leave, and what happens if fees are paid late.

Final Tips For Nursery Visits

• Trust your instincts! If something feels off or the atmosphere doesn’t suit your child, it’s okay to look elsewhere.
• Observe the environment. Are children engaged? Are the team warm and attentive? Are spaces clean and well organised?
• Bring a list or checklist to guide your conversation, and don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions.
• Visit more than one nursery to compare approaches, facilities, and overall feel.

Conclusion

Visiting a nursery is your opportunity to see beyond the website or brochure and get a real sense of how your child will be cared for each day. By asking the right questions, about staff, safety, routines, meals, learning and communication, you’ll gather the insight you need to make the best choice for your family.

Use this guide to prepare for your next nursery tour and feel confident knowing you’re asking the questions that matter most.