What to Look For in a Nursery.
A Real-Play Checklist.

What Quality Looks Like in Early Years Settings

The EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) framework in England explicitly identifies "playing and exploring," "active learning," and "creating and thinking critically" as the three Characteristics of Effective Learning. These characteristics are built through real, child-led play, not structured activities, not screens, and not the passive reproduction of adult-determined outcomes.

Research on nursery quality consistently identifies the same predictors of good developmental outcomes: warm, responsive practitioners; a language-rich environment; child-led activity with practitioner scaffolding; outdoor access daily; and a low ratio of electronic toys and devices to open-ended, real-material resources.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Nursery

• "What is the ratio of child-led to adult-directed activity?" Child-led activity should dominate in settings for under-5s.
• "How much time do children spend outdoors each day?" Look for daily outdoor access in all weathers.
• "What is your screen-time policy?" Look for clear, minimal-screen policies with rationale.
• "Can I see the continuous provision?" The everyday play environment, not the special activities, reveals real quality.
• "How do practitioners join in with play?" Watch for practitioners who get down to child level, follow the child's lead, and ask open questions.