Choosing childcare and early education is a big step for you and your child. Francesca Craggs discovers the benefits of nurseries.
 We all want the best start for our children and a stimulating environment is vital to early development. There are lots of quality nurseries across the region which provide a safe haven in which to play and learn. Many independent schools also offer early education and pre-school services, giving your child the best start to their journey through education. Early education and pre-school services can differ, as can individual childminders, nurseries, nursery classes or out-of-school clubs. Try to give yourself enough time to visit several options in your area to get a good idea of what could suit your child. You are the expert on your child - trust your feelings. Ask about opening hours, price, the age of children provided for and if there is a space for your child. It can be a good idea to take your child with you when you visit a setting to see how staff talk to him or her. Try to visit when children are there so you can see if they are calm, happy and busy. Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association, (NDNA), the representative body for day nurseries in the UK, said: "Day nurseries provide an ideal environment for children aged from 0-5 years and are the favourite choice of childcare for parents in the UK. "Children benefit from early years care and education through play and interaction with other children. "When choosing a nursery look at its Ofsted report and check if it is a member of an organisation such as National Day Nurseries Association. It is also important to check if the nursery is part of a Quality Assurance scheme. "Most important of all, though, is to shortlist a selection of nurseries, visit them, talk to the staff and make sure that you feel comfortable with the atmosphere in the nursery." --------------------------------------------------------- Case Study "Word-of-mouth" is the best recommendation you can have for choosing your child's nursery, according to Christine Byrne. Christine, who works full time as a special advisor for One NorthEast, chose to send her 15-month-old daughter Lucy to Places For Children nursery in Newburn, following recommendations from colleagues. Location and Ofsted results were also important factors in her choice. She said: "I was looking for a good nursery close to where I work. First of all, I went on the internet and looked at Ofsted reports. "Although Places For Children is a relatively new nursery, it had a really good Ofsted report. Many of my colleagues have children there and were very happy with their progress. "The fact other mums recommended this nursery was a huge factor for me. I went to have a look around and Lucy went to orientation days to get her used to the environment. She came out all smiles which was great." She also found the internet useful: "I looked on Government websites to find out what I should be looking for. Places For Children gears activities around the Birth to Three framework, a Government paper which highlights the need to develop a child's relationships and skills" Lucy joined full-time in February. Christine, 42, feared she would not settle: "After being with her every day for eight months, I was afraid she'd miss me. In fact, she hasn't cried once!" Christine's advice to others looking to place their child in nursery would be to ask colleagues and friends for recommendations, to talk to and visit as many nurseries as possible, and to read Ofsted reports. --------------------------------------------------------- Prep schools With small classes and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, prep schools provide a unique place in which your child can start to develop into a confident adult. Not only do prep schools aim to build and prepare your child for entry into senior independent education but they also provide his or her first insight into a learning environment and social integration. The first years of a child's life are vital to their development in both social and educational terms. Almost all prep-school pupils who took Key Stage 2 tests last year achieved the expected level 4 - 20% better than the national figure - with more than half reaching level 5. Nearly three-quarters achieved Level 5 in science and over half in English. There are about 130,000 pupils in more than 500 schools of all types, which are members of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS). These are schools for children up to the ages of 11 to 13, either as day or boarding pupils. There is a variety of schools; some are the junior departments of senior schools; others are unattached. For the three-to-eight age year range, there are several day schools, called pre-preparatory, kindergarten or nursery, and mostly linked to a junior school or to a joint junior/secondary. At the entry age of eight to nine, there's a big choice of preparatory and junior schools, either day or boarding, for boys and girls. At this age a child is expected to be able to read and write with reasonable fluency and to have mastered some simple arithmetic. There may be an entrance test, designed to ensure the child has the ability to benefit from the curriculum of the school and to help in planning the work. Some schools have facilities for remedial tuition for children who need it. Children may be accepted at a later age, though usually not beyond 11, particularly at schools which have children aged up to 13, provided there is a vacancy. The aim of these schools is to help all children reach the highest standard of which they're capable. With their small classes and wide curricula, they offer a lot of individual attention both in and out of school hours. Intelligent use of leisure, development from an early age of self-respect and of responsibility, acceptance of challenges and an enthusiastic approach to music and creative arts are all important parts of the tradition of these schools. | 
Northumberland
