Rooms & Routines

The Nursery building was part of the Newtown School, the rooms are therefore spacious light and airy and undergo continuous improvement. Staff have created a freindly homely feel to the Nursery and there are plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces to explore.

The Nursery will essentially be a place where children will have friendship and fun, where they will be involved with discovery, and creative and imaginative play, both of a structural and open ended nature. Children will have opportunities for free play enabling them to make their own decisions and develop independence.Children will be given the utmost care and individual attention where good relationships with regular staff can develop. All children are encouraged to co-operate in small groups so that social skills, personal relationships and confidence can be developed.

From the earliest age children will be encouraged to explore and investigate a wide range of opportunities using a variety of toys, materials and media. These are chosen to reflect good design and quality and to be educationally stimulating.Activities will vary according to individual needs and those of the age group, and will cover many aspects of learning( see the page for curriculum).

Ducklings

Ducklings is the name of our baby room.The babies space is accessed through the other rooms and has its own verandah and kitchen area. Brenda, the room leader has worked with the babies, at the Nursery, since it opened in 2004. She is very experienced and has a team of three - Lucie, level 3 qualified, Kelly and Becky who are working towards their qualifications.Our Deputy Manager Judith is also based in this room.

The children are aged between 3months – 2years, we can take a maximum of 9 children per day. The babies’ room is a very homely environment with lots of equipment to help them develop, grow and meet all their individual needs. There routine is very flexible, and can follow the routine from home. The staff write diaries for children under the age of 1 yrs for parents, this includes information on their child’s day what they have eaten, slept and how they have been the diaries can be taken home for the parents also to write information in for the staff. The nursery provides milk and bottles but we do ask parents to provide nappies, wipes and creams.

The nursery has a few large silver cross prams that our babies sleep in outside this gives the babies plenty of fresh air and a peaceful sleep, we also provide blankets and winter sleep bags so they are still able to enjoy the fresh air in all seasons. We also supply sleep mats and blankets for the older children in the room .

Our babies also enjoy play in our outdoor space where they are often joined by the older children.

We will soon have one full time space and some part time sessions available in this room, please ask to speak to Brenda if you would like more information.

Dragonflies

The older age groups share the same space,we have a maximum of 33 children aged from 2-5 years. There are two rooms arranged as an interconnected space with free flow access to an undercover verandah and the playground which also has a large undercover area.The rooms are divided into areas of learning and are well equipped. Jayne is the room senior, she is currently working towards a BA in Early Years and hopes to gain Early Years Proffeessional status during the next year. She is supported by a team of 8 staff members-Chloe,Kimberley, Lucie,Shelley and Zoe are all level 3 qualified. Katrina and Paula are working towards a level 3 qualification and Maureen also supports the children. We also have a couple of volunteers who are planning to work in childcare.

We are proud of the high ratio of adults to children in our group. This ensures individual attention to the needs and development of each child. Our key worker system gives each member of staff particular responsibility for just a few children. Each child in the group has one special adult to relate to, which can make settling into the group very much easier.

In addition, the Key worker is in a position to tailor the group’s curriculum to the unique needs of each individual child. The Key worker maintains links with the child’s home, working with parents through shared record keeping to ensure that the children are supported in reaching their full potential.

The Nursery routine is flexible, we also adapt our routine to the seasons.

Routine

Dragonflies

AM - 8:00 to 13:00

Breakfast and free play

Group time( age appropriate)

Snack

Planned indoor and outdoor activities including free play

Lunch

Sleep or quiet time

PM - 13:00-18:00

Sleep or quiet play

Planned indoor and outdoor activities including free play

Light tea

Story time/watch a DVD

Group time(age appropriate)

Free play inside and outside

For children aged between 2 years – 3 years, staffing ratios are 1 staff member to every 4 children. The children at this age are a very active group and love to explore. Some of the children sleep after lunch on sleep mats that we supply, we ask parents to supply nappies, wipes and cream.We also support and encourage potty training once the child has been introduced to it at home and the parents have informed the staff, we then ask the parents to supply plenty of clothes and underwear for the child’s training.

The children aged between 3years – 5years require a ratio of 1 staff member for 8 children.

Our Nursery philosophy is learning through play, and we plan our curriculum with a view to meeting the six areas of learning within the Foundation Stage (Early Learning Goals – ELGS) that are seen as being a foundation for National Curriculum Level 1, for when your child enters compulsory education.

There are 6 areas covered by the early leaning goals and educational programmes and it is these which guide our activity planning.

We develop activities which allow us to observe, monitor and guide children in their development. None of the areas of Leaning and Development can be delivered in isolation from the others. They are equally important and depend on each other to support a rounded approach to child development. We deliver them through carefully planned, purposeful play with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities.

We adapt the curriculum, when appropriate, to meet the needs of children with special needs.

We have some part time sessions available in this room, please ask to speak to Jayne if you would like more information.