12 Questions to Ask on a Nursery Tour

A nursery tour goes better when you've thought about your questions in advance. Asking the right ones doesn't just give you the information you need — the way the manager answers tells you a lot about the setting. Here's a practical list of twelve, with notes on what to listen for.

1. What are your staff-to-child ratios for each age group?

Scotland's Care Inspectorate minimums are:

Strong settings often operate above the minimum, particularly at busy times of day. Ask specifically: "Are those ratios maintained at all times, including drop-off, pick-up and staff breaks?" Watch how confidently the manager answers.

2. What's your staff turnover been like over the past year?

A direct question, and one of the most useful. Low turnover (one or two leavers a year in a small nursery) is healthy. High turnover suggests problems with management, pay or culture, all of which affect children. You're not expecting zero — people move, retire, have babies — but a pattern of three or four leavers a year from a small team is a warning sign.

3. What qualifications does the room leader have, and who is my child's key person?

In Scotland, the room leader in a funded setting normally holds at least an SCQF Level 7 qualification (HNC in Childhood Practice or equivalent). Many lead practitioners hold Level 9 (BA Childhood Practice). The key person system — one named member of staff who builds a relationship with your child — is required practice. Ask who it will be and how key person assignments work.

4. How does settling-in work?

The standard pattern is a series of short visits over a week or two, gradually extending as the child becomes comfortable. Look for:

• Is settling-in flexible to your child's pace?
• Are parents allowed to stay initially?
• What's the plan if your child struggles after the formal settling period?

A setting that says "drop them off Monday, they'll be fine" is taking a shortcut that often backfires.

5. What does a typical day look like?

You want a clear answer with structure — roughly when children arrive, how the morning flows between free play and group times, when they eat, when they sleep, when they go outside. Vague answers ("it depends on the children") sometimes mean genuine responsiveness, sometimes mean no routine at all. Ask for specifics.

6. How much outdoor time do children get each day?

Best practice in Scottish early years is at least 1-2 hours outside daily, in almost any weather. Settings with free-flow indoor-outdoor access often have children outside considerably more. A nursery that only goes outside "when it's nice" isn't using one of Scotland's best resources.

7. How do you handle behaviour, biting and conflict between children?

Listen for positive, age-appropriate approaches: redirection, modelling, helping children name their feelings. Avoid settings that use exclusion ("naughty step"), shame, or food as a reward/punishment. Ask specifically about biting — every nursery deals with it; the question is whether they handle it calmly and communicate clearly with parents.

8. What's on the menu, and how do you handle allergies?

Ask to see the weekly menu. You're looking for real, varied food and clear allergy procedures. Most settings include lunch and snacks; a few don't, or charge extra. Ask whether staff sit and eat with the children — this is widely considered best practice.

9. What do you do if my child is unwell at nursery?

Listen for a clear illness policy: when they'll call you, when you must collect, when the child can return. Specific 48-hour exclusion periods for sickness and diarrhoea are standard. A wishy-washy answer here often means the policy isn't followed consistently.

10. How do you communicate with parents day to day?

Options range from paper daily diaries, to apps like Famly or Kinderly, to brief verbal handovers at pick-up. There's no single right answer, but the communication should be:

• Regular — at least daily for younger children
• Substantive — what your child ate, slept, did, enjoyed
• Two-way — you can share things from home

Ask how they would tell you about something that worried them.

11. What's the full cost structure, including extras?

Get clarity on:

• Headline fees per session or per day
• What's included (meals, nappies, sun cream, trips)
• What's extra
• Deposit required, and whether it's refundable
• Notice period to deregister (typically 4 weeks)
• How fee increases are communicated

For funded places, ask what's covered by the funded hours and what's charged separately. Some settings charge for meals on funded sessions; others include them.

12. When was your last Care Inspectorate visit, and what was the outcome?

Even if you've already read the report, asking opens up conversation. A confident manager will summarise both the strengths and the areas for improvement, mention specific actions taken since, and show you the report. Defensiveness or vagueness is a flag.

Bonus: questions for funded places

If you're using your 1,140 funded hours at this setting:

• Are you a council-approved funded provider?
• How are funded hours scheduled across the week?
• What's the policy during your closure weeks?
• Can I use the same provider for term-time stretched delivery?

How to use the answers

You're not scoring on each question — you're building a picture. One slightly wobbly answer is fine; a pattern of vague, defensive or contradictory answers is not. Trust the gut as much as the words, and don't be afraid to ask follow-ups. A serious decision deserves serious questions.