Nursery Hunt

[Helen & Fidge Feet]

Hello everyone

I was so happy to discover this website today :D, there is so much helpful information here.

I am expecting my first baby beginning of June and have been advised to start looking at nurseries ASAP, even though he/she won't start until April or June 2011! I am hoping my employer will allow me to change from full time to 3 days a week. My mum has helpfully offered to commute from Harrogate to look after baby 1 day a week which means I will be needing to find a nursery place for at least 2 days a week for my little one.

I have lived in Ilkley now for just over a year but I'm clueless about the childcare provison available in the area (I haven't needed to think about it until now!). Am I right in thinking that the only two nurseries in Ilkley are Kangaroo Club and Abacus? I would love to hear of anyone whose little one attends either of these nurseries and associated fees. I am hoping to visit them both in the next couple of weeks. I work in Leeds so I was also wondering about recommendations in Burley too as I could drive there, drop little one off and then jump on the train.

Any help/thoughts would be very much appreciated. Also, if there is any other mum to be close by who is looking to meet a new friend/baby buddy I would love to here from you. I would very much like to meet new friends in and around Ilkley.

Helen

[Amy&Fred]

Hi Helen,
There is also Hickory House in Ilkley, my little one (Freddie 8mths) is due to start there next month, its a lovely place and well worth a visit if your doing the rounds. You can contact them on 01943 609199. There is a bit of a shortage of childcare in Ilkley and your right to start looking early I had a bit of a panic when I started looking and found that both Abacus and Hickory House had only certain days available!

Best of luck with the pregnancy/birth.
Amy

[Baby Signing Vicki]

Hi Helen

I can't comment on the Ilkley ones sorry but I teach signing sessions in a lot of nurseries and pre schools and believe me I see it as it is when in there! I went regularly to Cliffe House in Burley and another teacher does now and I must say it's lovely. The staff are very nice and kind to the children. They are interested and take part (all of them, unlike some places which see it as a baby sitting service and disappear while I'm teaching!) worth a look. Maybe a bit more reasonable in price than Ilkley, not sure though. I did notice at the school on the roundabout at Burley a big sign for a new nursery opening there too.

Good luck and good luck with your pregnancy

Vicki
www.babiescansign.co.uk

[Helen & Fidge Feet]

Thank you Amy and Vicki, your help is much appreciated! :)

[Matt]

For Nurseries in the Leeds area (- as far out as Guiseley), look on the Family Hub Leeds (Google it), which is the children's information service for Leeds.
For Bradford google Children's Information Service, which will have a list of all nurseries and all details.
Cheers Matt - Children's Centre Manager Guiseley

[Hedgehog Childminding]

Do think about Childminders too, I've worked as a childminder now for 13 years, and these days a great deal of time and effort goes into the planning for the children we have to ensure they have educational learning in very small groups, which means almost 1:1 care, for painting, baking, crafting and also enabling your child to go on outings. The children I care for learn a lot from visiting the farm, park, Yeadon Tarn etc as well as stay and plays, and we can also claim Nursery Education Funding, if you choose a Quality Assured and Accredited Childminder like myself, enabling you to get your free sessions for children aged 3+....I got ' Outstanding in my Ofsted Report showing that I'm offering excellent quality childcare, and the children I have love coming, which means a lot to me, and keeps their mums and dads happy too !