Nurseries

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » 11 Oct 2004, 21:56

I was wondering what people thought of nurseries in the area.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Are some better for babies? Which are best for toddlers?

I had heard one was opening on at the garden centre siteÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ any news on this?

Ta

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 11 Oct 2004, 22:46

Sorry Charlie, can't help. My kids at are Primary now and I am a little out of touch.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 11 Oct 2004, 22:59

I can't help either but will be keeping a close eye on the answers - magnoliette no.2 seems to be missing her old place of incarceration and is certainly miffed that magnoliette no.1 is at 'school'

so, this'll be the 'can't help' thread, then?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 11 Oct 2004, 23:02

Little Acorns at Duddingston Park is very good. Very well run, great staff, good facilites and accomodation and a nice big garden for the kids to play in.
It's 3 years or so since I had anything to do with the place personally but I have friends and colleagues whose children attend now and it seems to be as good as it ever was from what I hear from them.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 12 Oct 2004, 00:03

Charlie, I don't know if they have space at the moment but the Brighton Nursery is exceptional. Excellent inspection reports, owned and managed by wonderful lady; Jenny Allison . I think it only takes about 20 children and it has a very nice ambience. I have no personal or financial interest in BN but I have only heard good things about it. 0131 669 1185.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 12 Oct 2004, 00:10

Charlie, the nursery you refer to is Brighton Nursery. They are currently in West Brighton Crescent and our daughter has been going there for the last 3 years. We are very happy with it. It's a small, family-type affair rather than the kiddy-factory busineses that have sprung up in the last few years.

Forget the prospectus and ask how long the current staff have been employed. Chances are that if the staff are happy and have been there for some time that it's a well run establishment. There is big money to be made in this market and, like nursing homes, it is starting to attract people whose prime motive is in turning a profit.

Beach Babe · Post by **Beach Babe** » 12 Oct 2004, 09:22

Charlie

can't quite help atm as Neo-Dadaist hasn't actually started at her nursery yet. I've heard good things about almost all of the nurseries in the area though. The best thing to do imo is to visit them all - they should give you a tour that includes all the rooms (not just the one relevant for your child atm) and you can speak to staff and see how happy or otherwise the children are and what sort of activites they do as there should be a planner you can look at. Also ask whether they do meals and if they will take your child to the local school nursery (if these things are a concern)

the larger nurseries tend to be the ones that have vacancies more often, especially if it's an odd time of year that you want your kid to start (most have vacancies for after summer when the older kids are leaving to go to school).

I was keen on the Brighton nursery too as I'd heard such good things about it. However, when I was enquiring, it just so happened that they didn't have any other babies there and I was keen that our one had a couple of other ones similar to her own age. That said, they do have a baby area and would have been happy to take her.

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 12 Oct 2004, 11:51

I've known people say good things about all the nurseries in the area. I know quite a few people who use Highland Fling, some who use Seabeach, some Little Acorns, some who use the big one on the prom by Brunstane Road. The Brighton Nursery has a brilliant reputation. Don't know anyone who uses Blossom on Bath Street but it's always quite busy.
One of the staff at Highland Fling (who also do school runs as far as Parsons Green school) is Evelyn who runs the creche at the swim centre and she is one excellent child care professional. she knows what she's talking about, she loves the kids, and the kids all love her. I have always entrusted my boys to her at the pool and feel lucky to have had the opportunity to do so.
BB

cornerboy · Post by **cornerboy** » 12 Oct 2004, 12:00

Sea Beach down on the prom is great - a little bit cramped maybe, but the staff are brilliant, and the atmosphere is very warm and secure. Being right on the beach, they like to get the bairns out as much as possible. Depending on the age of your wee yin, I would also put in a word for the Toddler Hut, just behind Towerbank. This is a Portobello institution (for 2-3 year olds) which has been going since the 1920s. Parents have a big say in the running of the place, and do a lot to help with fund-raising and so on. Avoid like the plague anywhere that has gruesome 'graduation' ceremonies, complete with gowns and mortar boards. If it looks like marketing is more important than child development, give a wide berth.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 12 Oct 2004, 14:14

Charlie, you should just have made this thread about unsuitable nurseries in the area. Saved everyone a lot of bother. You must be better informed but just as confused as when you asked the question.

stubetts · Post by **stubetts** » 12 Oct 2004, 21:54

My 2 year old son goes to Little Acorns 3 mornings a week, and he loves it.....we have reserved our new baby (due at christmas!) a place there for next July.

Highly recommended!

Cheers
Stu

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 13 Oct 2004, 19:23

stubetts wrote:.....we have reserved our new baby (due at christmas!) a place there for next July.

Another forum baby and a Christmas one too - not long to go now, stubetts.

Two lots of fees come next summer - bummer!

It was like paying a second mortgage for 4 years as I remember!

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » 13 Oct 2004, 19:50

Thanks for all the replies. Little Acorns and Brighton Nursery came recommended from others too.

Further questions about BN - I had heard from someone that they didn't have a baby room cos they didn't have babies there... Beach Babe - is the baby room you refer to a new addition? (you'll notice I haven't quite sussed the quote thing yet).

Also, Bob - you said it was BN moving to the High Street. Any idea when? Stopping a car to pick up on the High Street may be a problem...

Ta

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 13 Oct 2004, 20:06

BN does have a baby room and its not new. Its not moving to the high street its moving to a site behind the high street. There is a thread on POL about it. All the socialists were up in arms, cos that's what they do.

Building hasn't started yet and anticpated build time is about 6 to 8 months. In case you were wondering? I can see BN ou tof my window.

Little Acorns sounds good also.

Beach Babe · Post by **Beach Babe** » 13 Oct 2004, 20:18

Charlie

in the end I didn't actually visit BN as they told me that, as it was at that time, there were no babies there or expected although that could have now changed. Also, they couldn't guarantee me a place for when I needed one - even though it was 7 months in advance ( they were uncertain as they were unsure when they would be moving and so didn't know when their numbers would increase) and I didn't want to take the risk of uncertainty. So, I haven't seen their baby room/corner

back then in May, they thought that work would begin on the new site in Dec/Jan but beyond that I don't know any more

Post by **wangi** » 13 Oct 2004, 20:27

Porty wrote:All the socialists were up in arms, cos that's what they do.

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » 13 Oct 2004, 20:29

Mrs Charlie's favourite is BN... but the lack of other babies is making us swing in favour of Little Acorns....

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 13 Oct 2004, 21:25

I'm biased, because my daughter goes to BN and Jenny is a friend but I like the family atmosphere at BN, down to the extent that one of Jenny's daughters helps out. The babies aren't kept entirely seperate from the rest of the kids, there's interaction with the older ones which I think is good. When Emily started, she was one of the babies. Now she is one of the older ones and she loves helping to 'look after' the babies.

In the end we can only speak for our own experiences. We had a very careful look at what was available at the time and we don't regret the decision we took. It's a big step to entrust your child to the care of others and those of us who are parents appreciate how difficult that decision is.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 03 Nov 2004, 01:01

Did you make a decision Charlie?

If this is your first foray into the ritual of incarcerating your children at great cost to you then I can probably not help you by saying that I still get a lump in my throat

when I see the photo of the eldest magnolian, aged 6 mnths, taken just before I lugged her off to her first day of gentle care at her nursery...

But on the bright side, she went there for 3.5 years, and her sister went too until we moved across here and they both loved it.

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » 03 Nov 2004, 23:33

No. I favour procrastination. You should see how long it took me to join the forum

.

I'll post back when things have progressed. It's pretty certain we'll choose one outside Portobello for the first 6-9(12!) months of nursery going.

Until we know what the plans are for BN (building) and if there will be any more babies going at the same time, I'm not 100% convinced. LA is booked up for a while ... and Mrs Charlie is not 100% convinced (it's big).

More procrastination due I think.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 04 Nov 2004, 00:00

They'll grow up though, if you procrastinate too long!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 04 Nov 2004, 00:36

mr magnolia wrote:They'll grow up though, if you procrastinate too long!

Not if they are Boys. Procrastination is no more effective than anything else.

CatzVP · Post by **CatzVP** » 04 Nov 2004, 07:59

I know this is probably so out of date....but what became of the Toddlers Hut on Beach Lane next to Towerbank..?? has it been turned into flats??? lol

Beach Babe · Post by **Beach Babe** » 04 Nov 2004, 21:11

mr magnolia wrote:
If this is your first foray into the ritual of incarcerating your children at great cost to you then I can probably not help you by saying that I still get a lump in my throat when I see the photo of the eldest magnolian, aged 6 mnths, taken just before I lugged her off to her first day of gentle care at her nursery...

had to discuss neo-dadaist's settling in period today

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 04 Nov 2004, 21:55

Courage, mes petites.

You will always worry; and they will always be alright; and it will always be nicer all round on days when you dont have to work....

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 04 Nov 2004, 22:34

I must say the magnoliettes don't seem to have suffered at all from thier nursery days! They are wonderful, confident, lovely wee bairns. Is there a third one yet?! You must be biting your nails by now!

AS for the toddler hut, catz, it's still going strong - i have lots of friends whose children go there each morning and love it.

Beach babe...sympathies. She'll be fine but that doesn't make it any easier for you, does it?

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 05 Nov 2004, 11:14

Due date 12.11, so er, yes we are. I'm having to lay off the Scotmid special deals just in case of events!

Littlest magnoliette still missing her nursery actually, so (much to my surprise, compared to my 'fear and loathing' view of them 4 years ago) will probably be seeking a high class establishment for her at some point once No.3 is established and life has taken on its new rhythm. (rhythm? - just kidding myself, I think)

and heres a sign off for Porty:

Who's pinched Santa from the smilies?