Hi there, Â I started my daughter @ nursery about a month ago and it's been quite traumatic. Â To keep it brief my review and experience below so that hopefully others don't have to go through the same:
Seen and called the following:
My nursery: 1) they are not a true a true Montessori (see www.montessori.edu/refs.html). Â 2) not the friendliest and cleverest people answering the phone. Â 3) during the viewing everyone seemed artificially and overly nice, to a degree that even the cleaners and cooks would make comment on how cute my baby was. Â Felt like a car showroom! Â My instinct was to reject this one based on gut feeling. Â I was glad that i did as not long after i heard from various baby group moms that babies are left in bouncer chairs all day and even though they claim food is freshly prepared, it isn't unless you consider canned tomato soup as fresh.
Busybees excel (aka leapfrog): after viewing this nursery I decided to start my daughter here. Â BAD mistake! Â I should have followed my gut instinct again, but was really running out of nursery option and time, so thought perhaps it's just a typical mom anxiety to not feel right. List of problem i had: 1) My daughter was given cheese although she has know allergies and a million forms were completed to avoid this. Â Ended up with a daughter who had a severe skin rash all over her body and needing antihistamine. 2) having complained to the nursery manager (who seems more like a sales person) she advised that it takes time to investigate. Â About a month on, no response or conclusion! Â We have left this nursery now, but will speak to ofsted again as the following point happened post raising my complaint 3) caught one of the carers shouting at my 11 month old to lie down (military style!!), even though she had crawled away from her allocated mattress on the floor... And is on her knees crying and wants to be picked up. Cruel? Heartless? Disgusting behaviour i think -considering that she was only 11 months and wouldnt even get the concept of staying on her mattress, let alone lie there and fall asleep w/o anyone when she is used to being with me since birth. 4) no shoe policy!! They wear street shoes in all the nursery rooms. So on a rainy day if you have a baby that's not walking yet, he/she will crawl on wet dirty carpet (if unlucky dog faeces!!) 5) baby diary log book: some carers have terrible terrible spelling and verbal english. Â 6) understaffed at times!!! Â 7) one good point was the outdoor play area and a selected few carers and the business manager being very nice and great at what they do. Â But overall: I would not recommend this place to anyone as it's currently run. Â Very chaotic!!
Crossharbour  Montessori: what a bunch of unethical cowboys! Called for weeks to get an appointment to view the place. After gazillion calls I get an appointment, do the walk through (seemed ok as all new but very loud as its one huge room divided by baby gates),fill in the forms and getting ready to pay deposit (as at this point I had gone back to work and really desperate to have a place for my daughter) I am told by one of the business managers that there is no place actually even though there was when I spoke to him on the phone the day before AND whilst he was walking us through the premises.  Why?! Basically I ask questions on their allergy policy, which may have been a bit too much for them to handle.  Why take on a child that requires special attention when they can take a 'non problem' child right?!?  As they say they are inundate with parents wanting to enrol their child.  Of course he denied this being the reason, but c'mon I am not stupid! Disgusting I think, what are they like with children w minor or major disabilities!?  ps: they also are no montessori  either see why here : www.montessori.edu/refs.html
Little unicorn: love love love the place!! Â They have been great with my daughter unlike at busy bees, she literally leaps into the arms of the key workers when I drop her off. Â Why they are great? 1) children are TRULY kept occupied and engaged (singing, painting etc) 2) they may not have an outdoor play areas but they take them out for walks 3) all staff are qualified and most seem genuinely to enjoy the company of children and want to be there 4) NO outdoor shoes throughout the premises. 5) there is always a very fun and playful and yet calm environment there. Â My daughter is one happy baby now!!! I am soo glad I don't have to worry anymore.
The above is based of course on my personal experience, but my experience has been so unpleasant I wanted to share with others my thoughts. Â Hope this helps, but by all means form your own opinion.
Good luck, xx