10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Nursery

Most nursery visits follow a predictable script: a tour of clean, bright rooms, some cheerful wall displays, a talk about the "project" or methodology, and a price list. What you rarely get is the information that actually matters.

These 10 questions cut through the standard pitch and reveal what the school is really like.

1. Who will be my child's key person, and what is their experience?

Every quality nursery practice assigns each child a key person (pessoa de referência) — an educator who has primary responsibility for that child's emotional wellbeing and development.

What a good answer sounds like: A specific name, a description of their experience, and an explanation of how the key person system works day-to-day.

What to watch for: Vague answers about "the whole team" being there for your child. This can mean the key person system isn't actually implemented.

2. What is the current staff turnover rate?

Staff turnover is one of the strongest predictors of nursery quality. Children build attachment relationships with specific people — high turnover means instability.

What a good answer sounds like: "Most of our staff have been here 3+ years. We had two departures last year." Transparent and specific.

What to watch for: Defensiveness, vague answers, or an inability to give you numbers.

3. What's the actual educator-to-child ratio today, not the legal minimum?

Legal minimums in Portugal: 1 educator per 4–5 children in the infant room, 1 per 5–6 in creche. But what matters is what actually happens when someone is sick.

What a good answer sounds like: "Our ratio is 1:4 and we have a full-time auxiliary who covers when an educator is absent."

What to watch for: Schools that cite the legal minimum as if it were a goal rather than a floor.

4. How do you communicate with parents day-to-day?

This question reveals whether the school treats parents as partners or as occasional visitors.

What a good answer sounds like: A specific system — an app, a daily report, a brief conversation at pickup — and a clear policy on when to call parents.

What to watch for: "We have an open-door policy" without specifics. Find out if you can visit unannounced.

5. What's included in the monthly fee — and what isn't?

Covered above in the pricing guide, but worth asking directly during a visit because the answer clarifies the school's culture around transparency.

What a good answer sounds like: A complete breakdown. Included: meals, activities, basic materials. Not included: annual insurance (€X), extra-curriculars (€X/month), August supplement (€X).

What to watch for: Reluctance to give specifics. "We'll send you a document" that never arrives.

6. What happens when my child cries at drop-off?

This question reveals the school's actual approach to emotional regulation, regardless of what their brochure says about their methodology.

What a good answer sounds like: A clear process: the key person meets at the door, parents are updated after 10 minutes, a comfort object is allowed, etc.

What to watch for: Dismissive answers ("they all cry, they'll get over it") or overly reassuring non-answers.

7. How do you handle illness and medication?

Practical but crucial. Children get sick constantly in nursery. You need to know the policy before it becomes a problem.

What a good answer sounds like: Clear temperature/symptom thresholds for exclusion, a written protocol for medication administration, and a named person responsible.

What to watch for: Ambiguity about exclusion criteria. Policies that seem designed to keep children in school when they shouldn't be.

8. What's your outdoor time policy, and what does it look like in winter?

Quality nurseries prioritise outdoor play year-round. A school that keeps children inside whenever it's cold or slightly rainy is telling you something about how they think about children's development.

What a good answer sounds like: "We go outside every day, rain or shine, with appropriate clothing. We have a covered outdoor area for wet days."

What to watch for: "We go outside when the weather is nice."

9. Can I visit during a normal day before we commit?

The real test. A confident school will say yes. What you're looking for: children who are engaged, educators who are calm and attentive, transitions that are smooth, and a physical environment that feels organised without being sterile.

What a good answer sounds like: "Yes, we encourage visits. Can you come on a Tuesday or Thursday morning?"

What to watch for: Scheduling visits only during shows, events or "special days."

10. What do you find most challenging about this job?

This question to the lead educator is the most revealing of all. It invites honesty and shows you whether the people in charge have genuine professional reflection.

What a good answer sounds like: Something real — managing the range of developmental needs in a group, communicating with parents during difficult moments, supporting children through transitions. Specifics that show engagement with the work.

What to watch for: "Nothing, it's very rewarding!" or an immediate pivot to a scripted answer about their passion for early childhood.

What to Observe Without Asking

Beyond the questions, pay attention to:

• Children's faces. Are they engaged? Anxious? Bored?
• How educators respond to crying. Patient? Efficient but cold? Warm and consistent?
• The physical space. At child height? Organised but not sterile? Natural materials?
• Your own feeling. Do you feel welcomed? Respected? Or processed?

Trust the last one. It's surprisingly accurate.