What You Don’t Always See on a Nursery Tour

Expert advice from Think Nursery to help you choose the right nursery for your child in the UAE

Nursery tours should be full of smiling faces and displays filled with children’s work but how do you know what’s really happening behind the scenes?

At Think Nursery, we’ve audited dozens of nurseries across the UAE. The truth is, what you don’t see at first glance often matters most. Here’s how to dig a little deeper and what confident, professional responses from staff should sound like.

1. Safety Should Be Part of Everyday Life

It’s not just about locked gates, safety is in the small details, routines and staff awareness.

✅ You could ask:
“How do you keep children safe during nap time or emergencies?”
“What kind of safety checks or drills do you do regularly?”

🗣 What you want to hear:

“We carry out monthly/quarterly fire drills with the children and review our evacuation plan each term. During naps, a staff member is always present and we do sleep checks and log it every 10 minutes. As you can see, each child has their own labelled bedding and we keep the sleep area clutter-free.”

2. The People Matter Just as Much as the Place

A clean environment is great, but it’s the people your child will trust and learn from every day.

✅ You could ask:
“How long have the teachers been here?”
“What happens if my child’s main teacher is off sick?”

🗣 What you want to hear:

“Most of our team have been with us for a minimum of 3 years. We also have consistent float staff, so the children always see familiar faces even if someone is absent.”

3. Communication Should Feel Genuine

Nurseries often use apps, but real communication is two-way and personal.

✅ You could ask:
“If something happens during the day, how will I be informed?”
“Can I check in or speak to my child’s teacher if I have a concern?”

🗣 What you want to hear:

“Absolutely. We update parents through our app, but we’re always happy to arrange a call or chat face-to-face if you have concerns or anything needs explaining. We believe in open communication and welcome parent questions at any time.”

4. Real Learning Happens Through Play

Children don’t need formal lessons — they need meaningful, hands-on play.

✅ You could ask:
“What kind of activities do you offer during the day?”
“How do you help children learn numbers and language through play?”

🗣 What you want to hear:

“We use open-ended resources like blocks, role play and messy play to support learning. For example, children might ‘buy’ items from our pretend shop to practise counting and taking turns. We also introduce language during story time and snack time where encourage small group chats.”

5. Outdoor Spaces Should Be Used, Not Just There

An outdoor area is valuable — if it’s used well.

✅ You could ask:
“How often do the children play outside?”
“What kinds of things do they do outdoors?”

🗣 What you want to hear:

“We go outside twice a day, unless it’s unsafe. Outside we offer trikes, a mud kitchen, and sensory trays. We also set up things like letter hunts or obstacle courses, the same way we plan indoors.”

6. You Should Feel Part of the Journey

A good nursery works with parents, not just for them.

✅ You could ask:
“How do you involve parents in nursery life?”
“Do you collect parent feedback or hold meetings?”

🗣 What you want to hear:

“We hold regular parent meetings and share progress reports each term. We also welcome parent input through our suggestion box and community events. If anything changes with your child, we let you know straight away.”

Final Thoughts

The best nurseries are proud to show you how they work. They’ll answer your questions with honesty and detail, not vague reassurances.

At Think Nursery, we support nurseries by offering honest, independent insights into their nursery offering through our Pro Insight Audits.  Whilst spending time in the nursery we focus on these four key areas that matter most to your child:

• Leadership & Management – how well the overall nursery is being run

• Health & Safety – the systems and policies in place to keep children safe and protected

• Teaching & Learning – how play is used to develop your child’s skills and confidence

• Parent Partnerships – how involved and informed you are as a parent

We believe every child deserves a nursery that is safe, inspiring and considers their unique needs.

Explore nurseries, book a nursery visit or ask us for advice at thinknursery.com