Jun 10, 2026
Choosing a nursery can feel overwhelming. Discover the key questions to ask, what to look for, and how to feel confident you’re making the right choice.
Choosing a nursery is a big step – for you and your child. If it’s your first time, it’s completely normal to feel a little unsure. What should you ask? What really matters? And how do you know if a nursery is the right fit?
With so much advice out there, it can be hard to know where to begin, especially when you’re also thinking about the little things, like how your child will be comforted or how you’ll stay connected during the day.
The good news is you don’t need to have all the answers before you visit. That’s exactly what open days are for. Asking thoughtful questions and understanding why they matter can help you feel more confident in your decision.
At The Old Station Nursery, we meet many families at this stage of their journey. We’re here to guide you through some of the key questions to ask, what to look out for, and how this can look in practice.
Before diving into specific questions, it helps to keep a few things in mind:
For many parents, it’s the small moments – how staff speak to children, how children respond, how calm or busy the space feels – that often give the clearest picture of day-to-day life.
This helps you picture your child’s day – from arrival to pick-up – and understand how their time is structured.
What should you look out for?
How do we approach this at The Old Station Nursery?
Our days balance routine with flexibility, so children feel secure while still following their interests. Through our All Aboard Approach, children explore language, maths, creativity and the world around them through play, alongside time outdoors and space to rest.
Starting nursery is a big step for children and parents. A thoughtful settling-in process helps children feel safe, build trust and begin to enjoy their new environment.
We take a flexible, child-led approach to settling in, with shorter sessions that help children get to know their new environment at their own pace. Each child is supported by a key person, building a familiar, reassuring relationship from the start.
Strong relationships are at the heart of early years care. Children feel more secure when they’re with people they know and trust.
Every child has a key person who gets to know them and their family well. This creates consistency, builds trust and helps us tailor care and learning to each child’s needs, while keeping parents closely involved.
Good communication helps you feel connected to your child’s day and reassured about their wellbeing.
We keep parent communication open and simple. Alongside daily conversations, parents receive updates through our parent app – sharing meals, sleep and key moments from the day – so you always feel connected.
While all nurseries follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, how learning is brought to life can vary. For many children, this is where a love of learning begins.
Our All Aboard Approach builds on the EYFS through play-led experiences that fully support the child – from communication and early literacy to maths, creativity and exploration – shaped around each child’s interests.
The early years are full of big emotions. How these are supported helps shape confidence, relationships and self-understanding.
We focus on helping children feel safe, understood and confident. Through warm relationships and calm, consistent guidance, we support children to manage emotions, build friendships and grow in confidence.
Outdoor play supports physical development, wellbeing and exploration.
Outdoor play is part of everyday life, whatever the weather. Some of our nurseries also offer Forest School experiences, where children can explore, take supported risks and build confidence in natural environments.
Food and wellbeing are a big part of your child’s daily experience.
We provide balanced, nutritious meals made with fresh ingredients, alongside relaxed, social mealtimes where children can try new foods, build independence and develop healthy habits.
Choosing a nursery is a big moment – and it’s okay if it doesn’t feel straightforward right away.
The questions you ask when visiting a nursery will help, but it’s often the small things you notice during the visit that stay with you. The way a child is comforted, how a team welcomes you in, the feeling you get when you walk through the door.
Take your time, ask what matters to you, and trust what you see and feel.
If you’re beginning your search, you’re always welcome to visit one of our nurseries. We’ll take the time to show you around, answer your questions, and help you feel confident in whatever comes next.
Find your local The Old Station Nursery today.