Nursey moved premises, new building is awful

[Theyoniwayisnorthwards]

Really torn, we chose our nursery for DS1 last September. It was a small operation in a spacious private house adapted for little ones in a safe area right beside a lovely park that the kids visited regularly. The nursery were forced by the council to move as local residents had complained about the building not being registered properly for use as a nursery. They contested but lost and had minimal time to find a new building locally. They have ended up about 10 minutes away in a local rugby club. It smells, it's grubby looking and most worryingly it has no gate and anyone can walk onto the grounds (building has a locked door). The grounds are frequently used by dog walkers, office workers having a smoke, people playing ball games etc.. I hate it but DS1 is happy there, loves the staff and has relationships with the other children. I would not have chosen the nursery had it been presented as it is now but reluctant to unsettle my toddler. I also really like the staff and think they are lovely with the children and seem to all genuinely work well together. I wrote to the owner who says they are working on getting a gate installed but I feel uneasy every time I drop off. WWYD?

[Theyoniwayisnorthwards]

Bump

[AnnieLobeseder]

Are they actively looking for a new site? If so, do they have any idea how long it will be before they move again? I think I'd probably at least be looking into other options while the nursery get themselves together. It's never worth having your child in childcare you're not completely happy with.

[Theyoniwayisnorthwards]

They don't have plans to move anytime soon. It's a very small family-run place and the owner has very young children herself, I can see why she would be reluctant to go through the upheaval of moving again.

I think I will have to look around for alternatives but I've been doubting myself, worrying I'm prioritising my own anxiety about strangers wandering the grounds over my DS's experience. He is happy there.

[Seb101]

Id leave your little one where he is. The building is really not that important. Children don't notice such things. If your child is happy, settled and well cared for, that's worth it's weight in gold! You may move him to a beautiful shiny nursery in a fantastic location, but the staff may be crap and your child could be unhappy. I think you'd be mad to move him to be honest. Many people can only wish their child was as happy as your child sounds in childcare. I don't see the problem with not having building gated/ fenced in. As long as door to nursery is locked, what's the harm? Nothing is perfect and issues like this would pale into insignificance if my child was happy.

[lcdaff]

Why don't you ask about the risk assessment they've done for the new site so you know staff are a wear of any potential risks. It might help set your mind at rest. Visulant staff are better than all the gates and security messausres in the world, after all nothing's fool proof.
On the appearance front, grubby/smelly why not ask if they are organizing a clean up/freshen up day, mentioning yourself or partner are handy with a paintbrush. We've had the odd few days or evenings at the nursery I work at when a key worker has wanted to brighten up their room or the shed needed a lick of paint and came about because a parent offered their services.
Although a site or building can be difficult to over look it is staff that make a nursery and you know your ds is happy. Unless buildings are purpose built you'll never have an ideal set up, even then in a few years things can but worn and outdated. You say the last premises was converted to suit the children best, this place could be made just as lovely.