Choosing a nursery is one of the biggest decisions you will make for your little one. You want a place where they feel safe, happy, and loved, where their curiosity is encouraged, their individuality is celebrated, and every day brings new opportunities to learn and grow.
At Safari Childcare, we understand just how important this decision is. We also know that visiting a nursery for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially with so much to consider.
A nursery tour lets you explore the environment, meet the people who could become an important part of your child’s life, and discover what makes a setting special.
To help you make the most of your visit, we’ve put together some of the most important questions to ask when choosing a nursery.
1. How Will You Help My Child Settle In?
Every child’s nursery journey begins differently. Some children cannot wait to explore their new surroundings, while others need a little more time, reassurance and support.
Ask how the nursery approaches settling-in sessions, whether these are tailored to individual children and how practitioners build relationships before a child starts attending regularly.
At Safari Childcare, we recognise that every child is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to settling in.
We take time to get to know your little explorer, their routines, interests, likes and dislikes, and what helps them feel safe and secure.
Our priority is building positive, trusting relationships with both children and their families, laying the foundation for a happy, confident start to nursery life.
2. Who Will Be Looking After My Child?
The people caring for your child are just as important as the environment itself.
Ask about staff qualifications, experience, training and how the nursery supports its team to continue developing their knowledge and skills.
You should also ask about the key person approach and how practitioners get to know children as individuals.
At Safari Childcare, our team is affectionately known as our Pride.
Our Pride is at the heart of everything we do. We believe exceptional early years education starts with passionate, knowledgeable, caring practitioners who genuinely enjoy spending time with children.
During your tour, take a moment to observe the interactions around you. Are practitioners down at children’s level? Are they having meaningful conversations, responding warmly, and showing genuine enthusiasm?
These everyday moments often tell you more about a nursery than anything else.
3. What Will My Child Actually Learn at Nursery?
Nursery should be more than just somewhere children spend their day while their parents are at work.
The early years are an extraordinary period of development, when children build the foundations for communication, confidence, independence, friendships and a lifelong love of learning.
Ask how the nursery plans learning experiences, incorporates children’s interests, and supports different stages of development.
At Safari Childcare, our Safari Curriculum brings learning to life through carefully chosen stories, exciting invitations to play and meaningful hands-on experiences.
Our story-led approach encourages children to explore, investigate, question and discover the world around them.
From building early communication and mathematical understanding to encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and emotional development, our curriculum makes learning engaging, purposeful, and, most importantly, enjoyable.
We believe children learn best when they are actively involved, curious and having fun.
4. What Makes Your Nursery Different?
Every nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), but how it brings that framework to life can vary significantly.
Ask what makes the nursery’s approach special and what experiences children enjoy beyond their everyday activities.
At Safari Childcare, we believe in creating an enriching childhood filled with opportunities to discover new interests, develop confidence and experience the world in exciting ways.
Our curriculum is complemented by signature sessions and experiences that introduce children to different areas of learning.
These include our TastEd food education sessions, where children explore foods with their senses, and our Plant to Plate experiences, which help children discover where food comes from and build an understanding of nature, sustainability, and healthy eating.
We want children to leave Safari not only ready for their next adventure, but with wonderful memories, new skills and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.
5. What Food Will My Child Eat at Nursery?
Nutrition plays a vital role in children’s growth, development and wellbeing, so it is worth exploring how a nursery approaches food and mealtimes.
Ask whether meals are freshly prepared, how menus are planned, how allergies and dietary requirements are managed and what happens if your child is reluctant to try something new.
At Safari Childcare, food and nutrition are an important part of our nursery experience.
Our Head Chef, Kerry, and our catering team work hard to provide nutritious, balanced and delicious meals that children can enjoy.
We work with Katie’s Life Kitchen to develop our menus, focusing on nutritional quality and variety, and introducing children to a wide range of foods and flavours.
Through our involvement in Nourishing Our Futures (NOF) and our signature TastEd sessions, we also encourage children to become confident food explorers.
We believe in encouraging, never forcing, children to try new foods, helping them develop positive relationships with eating from an early age.
6. How Much Time Will My Child Spend Outdoors?
Outdoor learning is essential to early childhood development.
Ask how often children access outdoor spaces, whether they play outside year-round, and how the environment encourages physical activity, exploration, and discovery.
At Safari Childcare, we recognise the enormous benefits of spending time outdoors.
From building physical confidence and coordination to exploring nature, investigating the changing seasons, and discovering the natural world, outdoor experiences offer learning opportunities that simply cannot be replicated indoors.
Our Plant to Plate approach also helps children understand how things grow, where food comes from, and why caring for our environment matters.
7. How Will You Support My Child’s Emotions and Behaviour?
Learning to understand and manage emotions is an important part of growing up.
Young children are still developing the language and skills to communicate how they feel, so they may need extra support as they navigate big emotions, friendships, and new experiences.
Ask how practitioners respond when children become upset, how they support positive behaviour and how they help children develop emotional confidence.
At Safari Childcare, we believe behaviour is a form of communication.
Our approach focuses on building secure relationships, understanding children’s individual needs and helping them develop the skills to recognise and manage their emotions.
We encourage kindness, independence, confidence and positive relationships, celebrating children’s efforts and achievements along the way.
8. How Will I Know What My Child Has Been Doing?
Strong communication between nursery and home is essential.
Ask how you will receive updates about your child’s day, including meals, sleep, activities, achievements and developmental progress.
At Safari Childcare, we value our relationships with families and believe parents should feel involved in their child’s nursery journey.
Through regular communication, conversations with our Pride, and updates on children’s learning and experiences, we aim to build a genuine partnership between home and nursery.
We also encourage families to share their own observations, experiences and achievements from home, helping us build a complete picture of each child’s development.
9. How Do You Keep Children Safe?
Feeling confident your child is safe and well cared for is understandably one of a parent’s biggest priorities.
During your tour, ask about safeguarding procedures, staff training, security arrangements, accident reporting, and how the nursery supports individual medical or additional needs.
You can also ask about the nursery’s most recent Ofsted inspection and how the team continually reviews and improves its practice.
At Safari Childcare, children’s safety, wellbeing and happiness underpin everything we do.
We believe that children learn and thrive when they feel secure, supported and valued.
10. What Is Included in the Nursery Fees?
Understanding the financial arrangements is an important part of choosing a nursery.
Ask for a clear explanation of the fees, available sessions, what is included and any additional charges.
It is also worth discussing government-funded childcare entitlements, Tax-Free Childcare, availability and waiting lists.
At Safari Childcare, our team is happy to explain our fees and funding arrangements, help families understand their options, and plan for their child’s nursery journey.
Sometimes the most important question is: How does the Nursery Make You Feel?
While asking questions is important, don’t forget to trust what you see and experience during your visit.
Look beyond the displays and beautifully prepared activities.
Watch how children interact with their practitioners. Notice whether they appear happy, engaged and confident. Listen to the conversations taking place and consider whether the environment feels warm, welcoming and full of opportunities to explore.
A great nursery is not simply about impressive facilities or a long list of activities.
It is about the relationships, experiences and sense of belonging that children develop every single day.
Ready to Begin Your Safari Adventure?
At Safari Childcare, we know choosing a nursery means finding somewhere that feels right for your child and your family.
We are incredibly proud of our Safari Curriculum, our passionate Pride, our commitment to nutrition and wellbeing, and the exciting learning experiences we provide.
Instead of simply telling you what makes Safari special, we would love for you to come and experience it for yourself.
Meet our Pride, explore our environments, discover our curriculum and see our little explorers in action.
Your child’s next big adventure could be just around the corner!
Book a Nursery Tour at Safari Childcare
We look forward to welcoming you and your little explorer to our Safari family.