Prospectus
The following information has been compiled to enable new parents to have an insight into the nursery. While most aspects of the running of the nursery and your child’s particular needs will be discussed with you personally, we are sure you will find these notes helpful. We believe in a flexible approach and will attempt to accommodate your personal requirements for your child’s attendance at the nursery.
First Steps Kindergarten is a purpose built nursery catering for children from birth to five years of age.
It is a single storey building with rooms dedicated to each age group. The nursery has suitable disabled access and a large outdoor play area. A safe, happy and stimulating environment has been created to give your child the best possible start in life. Without being prejudice to other faiths and beliefs, we acknowledge and embrace Christian principles and encourage the children to do so.
The nursery is open 8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, 51 weeks of the year.
Staffing
The nursery is staffed with a qualified and experienced Manager, Deputy Manager and Health Visitor and in our pre school room we employ a graduate with a degree in Childhood Studies and Education who also has Early Years Professional Status. Two staff have a Foundation Degree in Education and Care and two hold a level four qualification in Childcare, Learning and Development. The remaining staff hold an NNEB, BTec or equivalent qualification. All members of staff are required to attend first aid, child protection, food hygiene, and all other relevant courses to update skills and knowledge and to help maintain a professional and sensitive attitude to the needs of all children.
All members of staff are approved to work in our childcare setting through enhanced CRB checks, and references from two referees.
Staff Ratios
At First Steps Kindergarten we achieve a high level of supervision and care, we maintain at least the minimum staff to child ratios as set out in The Children Act 2006
0-2 years : 1 Staff member to 3 children
2-3 years : 1 Staff member to 4 children
3-5 years : 1 Staff member to 8 children
Education and Development
All of our staff are sensitive to the individual needs of each child in their care. They understand that a child’s first five years are the most crucial, and believe the environment they are in must be full of broad, first hand experiences in order for them to grow and develop.
The nursery is equipped with a wide range of toys and educational equipment which will provide the children with a variety of developmental and stimulating activities appropriate to their age. All of the activities carried out within the nursery are under constant supervision.
Staff in all rooms plan for daily activities and new topics to ensure that all children have the opportunity to develop their learning and understanding in all areas. To meet the individual needs of each child, staff aim to deliver personalised learning appropriate to the child’s development.
Early Years Foundation Stage
For all children in our care we are committed to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
The four themes are:
- A Unique Child – every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self assured.
- Positive Relationships – children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.
- Enabling Environments – the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning.
- Learning and Development – children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. All areas of Learning and Development are equally important and interconnected.
These four themes work together to underpin our effective practice to support your child’s individual development, learning and welfare.
Meeting the individual needs of all children lies at the heart of our work. We aim to deliver personalised learning, development and care to help each child get the best possible start in their life.
We will promote positive attitudes to diversity and differences within all children, helping them to learn to value different aspects of their own and other people’s lives. This includes ensuring all children and families feel included, safe and valued; that all children and adults are treated as individuals and are not discriminated against, and that all children are listened to and respected.
To inform parents we will provide written daily information regarding activities undertaken supported with developmental records, photographs, children’s work and wall displays.
Play underpins all development and learning for young children. Most children play spontaneously, although some may need adult support, it is through play that they develop intellectually, creatively, physically, socially and emotionally.
We aim to provide well- planned experiences based on children’s spontaneous play, both indoors and outdoors, ensuring a balance of child-initiated and adult-led play based activities.
Our role is to observe and reflect on children’s spontaneous play and build on this by planning and resourcing a challenging environment, which extends and supports specific areas of a child’s learning and extends and develops language and communication in their play.
A high quality early years experience provides a firm foundation on which a child builds their future learning, social and emotional success.
Outings
To enable us to support learning it is sometimes necessary to take the children on local visits. This is an educational opportunity, which will enhance their learning. For safety reasons when taken on an outing, there would be no more than two children per adult for younger children and three children per adult for pre-school children. In such instances parental permission will be required.
Keyworker
Each child will be allocated a member of staff to be their keyworker. The keyworker is responsible for the child’s development and well being, they observe the child and mark their achievements against particular milestones. Parents are welcome to discuss their child’s progress at any convenient time.
All children are provided with daily reports outlining the child’s day. Our staff understand how important it is to be approachable and inform parents of the events of the day.
Parents Evening
We have an open-door policy at First Steps Kindergarten in that your child’s keyworker is willing to discuss any concerns or aspects of your child’s care at anytime convenient to yourself. However we do hold parents evenings annually to discuss in greater detail your child’s progress. Our staff understand how important it is to be available at anytime to discuss your child’s care and development.
Babies
Parents are asked to provide nappies, wipes and creams, bottles/formula and foods until you wish them to have meals from the nursery menu.
Meals
Meals are provided for the children who require them. The menus are constantly reviewed to ensure that a balanced nutritional diet is available. We can cater for special diets where required and this should be discussed with the nursery manager on registration. Menus are displayed on the notice boards in the nursery each week.
Special Educational Needs
Children with special educational needs are welcome to attend the nursery. Staff attend regular training courses to ensure we can provide the best possible care and education for these children. We understand that it is important to discuss with parents how we aim to promote their child’s development and well being.
If a special educational need is recognised in a child, it will be reported to the Nursery Manager and our appointed Special Needs Co-ordinator. Parents will then be invited to the nursery to discuss concerns and future options. If parents agree it is sometimes necessary to place the child on the special needs register as detailed in the Special Education Needs Code of Practice. This will ensure that the child is receiving the best possible care and education from the nursery, as well as receiving support and advice from outside agencies.
Toileting
Older children are encouraged to be independent throughout this activity and are reminded regularly to use the toilet. Obviously younger children do need assistance. We discourage parents from dressing children in ‘difficult’ clothing e.g. dungarees, braces and belts, in order to assist their independence.
We acknowledge that accidents do occur and it is advisable to bring spare sets of labelled clothing.
Discipline
We have strong beliefs in the promotion of good behaviour and we ensure that children are acknowledged by praising positive attitudes and actions. It is of utmost importance that children should be given respect and know they are valued.
No child will at any time be smacked, shaken or treated roughly.
When children show inappropriate behaviour their actions are discussed with them and they are encouraged to apologise to the child or adult they have upset. If the inappropriate behaviour persists they are removed from the particular area they have chosen to play in for a short period of time (time out) while they think about what they have done.
We want to ensure that the children understand that it is particular behaviour that is unacceptable and that they themselves are not ‘naughty’ therefore it is not our policy to use the word ‘naughty’.
It is our policy to report to parents if their child is continually behaving in an unacceptable manner, however all cases are dealt with at the time of the incident and no further reference will be made to the child.
We talk to parents to enable us to overcome any difficult problems together using the same approaches, which the child understands.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome children from all backgrounds and encourage active involvement and ideas from parents and carers. Children’s race, gender, family background, language, culture and religion will be valued for them to feel accepted and develop their own self-esteem.
Our staff have knowledge of multi-cultural issues and a positive attitude to people of different racial origin, gender or disability.
Racism and discrimination, from whatever source, will be dealt with appropriately. Where children are the victims of discriminatory abuse, they will be supported, and the perpetrators challenged.
Health and Safety
Your child’s safety is paramount and we have taken every step to ensure they are safe and secure while in our care, and a member of staff is designated as Health and Safety Officer.
Twenty-four hour external security cameras monitor the building and the nursery has its own internal security systems.
For the good of all, sick children should not attend the nursery. Prescribed medication can only be given with permission from the parent. A child suffering from sickness, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis/sticky eyes or infectious diseases must stay at home until the symptoms have disappeared. Infectious diseases should be reported to the Nursery Manager.
Permission will be required from parents for trips and outings made from the nursery.
Should any accidents occur within the nursery they will be recorded and parents will be notified when they collect their child. Parents will be asked to sign the accident book.
Children are encouraged to develop and practise their own personal hygiene including toileting, hand washing and teeth cleaning.
To ensure children are accounted for at all times a signing in and out register is completed each session in every room.
Regular fire drills are carried out to ensure all members of staff and children are able to evacuate the building within a reasonable time.
Safeguarding Children
It is our duty as professional care workers to report any concerns regarding child protection to our local Safeguarding Children Board and it is also our duty to inform parents that we are in a position to do so.
Policies and Procedures
A full set of policies and procedures can be viewed at the nursery. We meet all requirements laid down by OfSTED, who can inspect the premises at any time. Reports are available to be viewed by parents at the nursery.
