Questions You Need to Ask During Nursery Visits
- Caroline Curtis
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
Picking a nursery is one of the most significant decisions you'll make as a parent.
It's more than just childcare; it's finding a place where your little one will feel safe, loved, and inspired to grow.
With the excitement and overwhelming feeling of visiting nurseries, it may be hard to focus on what questions to ask.
What should you look out for?
What matters the most?
How do you tell a good nursery from a great one?
This blog gives you a simple, question-by-question, nursery visit checklist to take on every nursery visit.
Remember, there are no silly questions when it comes to your child's care.
The right nursery will welcome your questions and answer them openly and honestly.
That's the exact approach we take at Lucky Beans nurseries at Balham, Tooting, Streatham and Norbury; we want you to feel confident and informed every step of the way.
Questions Before You Even Visit
Save yourself time by asking these questions on the phone or via an enquiry form before booking a tour:
Do you take children from [your child's] age?
Not all nurseries cater to every age group. Some only start from two years, while others accept babies from just a few months old.
What are your opening hours and session options?
Find out whether they offer full days, half days, or flexible sessions that fit around your work schedule.
Do you have places available in Balham / Tooting / Norbury / Streatham?
Nurseries fill up quickly in South West London. Check availability in your preferred location before arranging a visit.
Do you offer funded hours or accept tax-free childcare and vouchers?
Understanding the financial support available can help you budget and plan. You can find out more information on funded childcare in England on our previous blog.
These early questions help you narrow down your options so you only visit the nurseries that actually fit your needs and circumstances.
At Lucky Beans Childcare, we have a number of nurseries across these areas, all with those home-from-home vibes.
Questions About Safety, Ratios and Staff
When you're leaving your child in someone else's care, safety and staffing are at the heart of everything. Here's what to ask:
What are your staff-to-child ratios in each age group?
UK regulations set minimum ratios, but some nurseries go beyond these. Lower ratios mean more individual attention for your child.
How long have most staff worked here?
Low staff turnover is a good sign. It means children form stable, trusting relationships with familiar faces.
What qualifications and training do your team have?
Knowing about early years qualifications, first aid training, safeguarding courses, and ongoing professional development will put your mind at ease that the nursery setting keeps up with the latest regulations and teaching practices.
How do you handle first aid, accidents and safeguarding concerns?
A good nursery will have clear, transparent procedures and will communicate with you immediately if anything happens.
Is there a named key person for each child? What does that mean day to day?
Your child's key person is yours and your child’s main point of contact; someone who knows them deeply, tracks their progress, and builds a close bond with your family.
At Lucky Beans Childcare, we focus on creating a true home-from-home environment and feel like a family.
We employ passionate, well-trained educators who genuinely love what they do.
We take security seriously with safe premises and controlled entry systems. But we also believe that safety is about emotional well-being too, helping each child feel known, valued, and secure.
During your visit, watch how the staff interact with the children.
Are they warm and attentive?
Do they get down to the children's level?
Do they seem genuinely engaged and happy to be there?
Questions About Daily Routine, Naps, Meals and Wellbeing
You should be able to picture your child's day during your nursery visit.
Ask these practical questions during your nursery open day to understand what a day at nursery actually looks like:
What does a typical day look like for a child of my child's age?
Ask for a rough timetable. When do they play outside? When are meals? Is there a balance between structured activities and free play?
What kind of meals and snacks do you provide? Are they cooked on site?
Nutrition matters. Ask to see a sample menu and find out whether meals are freshly prepared in the nursery kitchen.
At Lucky Beans Childcare, all our meals are made on-site by our chef. We take into consideration nutritional and cultural needs when planning our menus. Parents receive a copy of any new menus we produce.
How do you handle naps and sleep routines?
Every child has different sleep needs. Find out how the nursery accommodates individual routines, especially during the settling-in period.
You can read more on how many nurseries handle nap routines in our previous blog.
How do you support children who are still settling or need extra comfort?
The first few weeks can be emotional for everyone. A good nursery will have a thoughtful settling-in process and will reassure you that comfort is always available.
How do you approach behaviour, emotions and big feelings?
Young children are still learning to regulate their emotions. Ask how staff support children through tantrums, frustration, or conflict.
At Lucky Beans Childcare, our curriculum balances learning with joy, play, and rest.
We never rush children through the day, and we always make space for the emotional and personal development that happens alongside the learning.
It's absolutely okay to ask very practical questions when visiting a nursery.
Questions about nappies, potty training, comfort items, and how you'll be kept informed about your child's day. These details matter.
We have a very helpful guide on potty-training if you’d like some tips on this.
Questions About Learning, Play and the Nursery's Ethos
A nursery isn't just a place to keep children safe while you're at work.
It's where they learn, explore, and develop.
Here are some questions to ask nurseries during your visit about their teaching approach:
How do you balance free play with more structured activities?
Play is how young children learn. Ask how the nursery supports child-led exploration while also introducing new skills and challenges.
How do you follow the Early Years Foundation Stage and track my child's progress?
All nurseries in England follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Ask how they observe, assess, and share your child's development with you.
What is your approach to learning through play?
This tells you a lot about the nursery's philosophy. Do they believe in hands-on, messy, creative play? Or is it more formal and instructional? Choose the nursery that is best for you and your child.
How do you support different personalities and learning styles?
Every child is unique. A good nursery will tailor their approach to suit each individual, whether they're shy, boisterous, cautious, or fearless.
At Lucky Beans Childcare, our curriculum is bespoke and child-centred.
We don't believe in one-size-fits-all childcare.
We offer strengths-based activities like AdventureBox, Spanish, and tennis to help prepare children for primary school and beyond.
During your visit, ask to see examples of recent activities or learning journals.
This gives you a real sense of what children actually do all day and how their achievements are celebrated and recorded.
Questions About Outdoor Space, Forest School and Local Area
Outdoor play is essential for children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
Don't skip this part of your tour:
How much time do children spend each day outdoors?
Some nurseries only go outside "when the weather's nice." Others embrace outdoor learning in all seasons. Again, look at what’s best for our family.
What is the outdoor space like? Can we see it?
Always ask to see the outdoor area. Is it stimulating? Safe? Does it offer different types of play - climbing, digging, running, quiet corners?
Do you follow forest school principles or run nature-based sessions?
Forest school is about more than just being outside. It's a holistic approach that encourages risk-taking, problem-solving, and connection with nature.
Our forest school ethos runs through everything we do, encouraging curiosity, resilience, and a love of nature.
Do you use local parks or green spaces regularly?
If the nursery doesn't have a large garden, do they take children to nearby parks, woods, or nature areas?
At Lucky Beans Childcare, our nurseries are perfectly placed close to parks and green spaces across Balham, Tooting, Streatham, and Norbury.
Questions About Communication with Parents
Leaving your child at nursery for the first time is hard. Good communication helps you feel connected and reassured:
How will you keep me updated during the day?
Some nurseries use parent apps with photos and updates. Others provide daily handover chats. Find out what to expect.
Do you use a parent app, daily handovers, photos or learning journals?
Ask for specifics about how information is shared, both in everyday moments and the developmental milestones.
At Lucky Beans Childcare, we produce a termly newsletter as well as discussing activities with parents every day.
How often do we discuss my child's progress and next steps?
Regular progress meetings (usually termly or twice a year) give you a chance to sit down and talk in depth about how your child is doing.
How do you handle concerns from parents?
You need to know that if you have a worry or if something significant happens, you can talk to someone quickly and easily.
At Lucky Beans Childcare, we see parents as true partners in their child's care and development.
Our home-from-home approach means staff get to know families well, and communication is open, honest, and regular.
We understand that staying in the loop about your child's day helps you feel confident and connected.
Questions About Fees, Hours and Funding
Childcare is a significant financial commitment, so make sure you understand the whole picture:
What are your fees, and what's included?
Ask about daily rates and what’s included - meals, nappies, formula, etc. Also, will there be any extra fees, such as trips or special activities?
What are your payment terms and notice periods?
Understand when fees are due, what happens if your child is ill, and how much notice you need to give if you want to change your sessions or leave.
Here’s Your Printable Nursery Visit Checklist
We’ve put together all those questions in a printable format, a simple nursery visit checklist to print (or screenshot) and take with you on every nursery tour.
Before Visit
What age do you take children from?
What are your opening hours?
Do you have places available?
Do you offer funded childcare hours, and do you take tax-free vouchers?
Staff
What are the staff-to-child ratios?
How long have the staff worked here?
What qualifications do they have?
How do you handle accidents and safeguarding?
Is there a named key person for my child?
Routine
What does a typical day look like?
Can we see a sample menu?
How do you handle naps and sleep?
How do you support settling in and emotional well-being?
Learning
How do you balance free play and structured activities?
How do you follow the EYFS?
What's your teaching approach?
How do you support different learning styles?
Outdoors
How much time do children spend outdoors?
Can we see the outdoor space?
Do you follow the forest school ethos?
Do you use local parks or nature spaces?
Communication
How will you keep me updated during the day?
Do you use a parent app or a learning journal?
How often do we discuss progress?
How do you handle concerns?
Fees
What are your fees, and what's included?
How do funded hours work?
Do you accept tax-free childcare vouchers?
What are the payment terms?
Choosing a nursery is a big decision, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming.
Armed with the right questions to ask nurseries during your visit, you'll feel more confident visiting, comparing your options, and spotting what makes a setting truly special.
Remember, there are no silly questions when it comes to your child's care.
The right nursery will welcome your curiosity and answer every question openly. That's exactly the approach we take at Lucky Beans Childcare. We want you to feel informed, reassured, and excited about your child's start.
Ready to Start Visiting Nurseries?
Book a tour at your nearest Lucky Beans nursery in Balham, Tooting, Streatham or Norbury. Bring this question checklist with you, and see how we can support your little one's start in life.
Contact us today:
📞 Head Office: 020 3875 7752
Or fill in our online enquiry form to get started.