A couple want to visit three nurseries before choosing. They request a visit from each. One nursery replies the same day with three possible times. Another asks them to call to arrange it. The third replies a week later. The couple visit the first two, and register with the one that made the process easy and followed up afterwards.
Nursery show rounds are where parents decide. Making them easy to book, and following up well, turns visits into registrations.
Step 1: make visits easy to request
A clear "book a visit" option on the website, with an explanation of what happens during a visit, removes the first barrier. Schools use the same approach for tours, as described in campus tours and visit requests captured properly.
Step 2: capture the right details
Capture the parents' names and contact details, the child's age or due date, the intended start date, the days and sessions needed and preferred visit times. With these, the nursery can offer a visit time and prepare.
SpideyChat for nurseries and childcare providers captures visit requests with these details at any hour. More on nurseries using it is in AI receptionist for childcare nurseries.
Parent: Could we come and look round? Assistant: Of course. Visits take about 30 minutes and you'll see each room and meet the team. Could you share your child's age or due date, when you'd like them to start and two or three times that suit you?
Step 3: confirm quickly
Offer a time the same day if you can. Parents visiting several nurseries in a week will remember the one that responded first.
Step 4: prepare for the visit
Use the captured details to tailor the visit. A family with a baby will want to see the baby room first. Parents interested in funded hours will want to talk fees, as described in funding and fees questions childcare providers hear daily.
Step 5: make the visit welcoming
Introduce the key person for the child's age group. Show the outdoor space. Answer questions openly.
Step 6: follow up within a day
A short follow-up message thanking the parents, with registration details and answers to any questions raised, helps them decide. Many nurseries skip this step.
Step 7: keep in touch with undecided parents
Some parents need time. A friendly message a week later, and news about places, keeps the nursery in mind. Planning parents are covered in nursery place enquiries from parents planning ahead.
Virtual visits
Some parents cannot visit during working hours, or are relocating from another area. Offering a video tour or a virtual call with the manager helps them take the first step. Capturing their availability and time zone, where relevant, makes these easier to arrange.
Settling-in sessions
Parents often ask what happens after registration. Explaining settling-in sessions, how long they last and how the key person helps the child adjust reassures parents who are nervous about the first days apart.
Step 8: track conversion
Count how many visits become registrations. If the number is low, look at the visit itself and the follow-up.
Siblings and returning families
Families with an older child already at the nursery rarely need a full show round for a younger sibling. Offering a short catch-up instead is quicker.
Setting it up
Add a clear visit option to your website and set the assistant to capture visit requests. The guides to installing the widget and training your bot explain how.