Inspirational Day Care for Children
from 3 Months to 5 Years
Inspirational Day Care for Children from 3 Months to 5 Years
Welcome
We are pleased to present this information on how our nursery is organised and a taste
of the beliefs and philosophy that underlie how we care for children. We hope the information
is a useful introduction to our nursery and would be delighted to tell you more.
Sue McBrearty
Nursery Manager
Contents
Philosophy, Aims, Registration Body
Location, Staffing
Food, Facilities
Curriculum,
Fees & Sessions, Settling in
How can I get help with my childcare costs?
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Inspirational Day Care for Children from 3 Months to 5 Years
Philosophy
At the Ringwood Day Nursery we believe in:
Care for all
Fun for all
Learning for all
Aims
Our primary focus is to provide day care of the highest quality for both local families and those from a wider area;
we intend to do this by:
Creating a happy, secure environment that is child centred, stimulating and safe.
Establishing a partnership with parents, supporting them and acknowledging them as the primary
carers and educators of their children.
Planning experiences in the day nursery that are fun, dynamic and appropriate to the individual children.
Offering flexible care routines that consider the needs of the individual child and a play based curriculum
that is beneficial to their development.
Employing adults who have a professional attitude and are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about children
and who facilitate enlightening and enriching play.
Registration Body
We are registered with Ofsted who inspect us against the 1989 Children Act and Early Years Foundation Stage 2012.
Ringwood Day Nursery is a member of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA).
Safeguarding Children
To ensure all children are protected from abuse and harm, and to promote their right to be strong, resilient and
listened to, Ringwood Day Nursery is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns
of abuse and to work with the statutory agencies. We follow the Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards flowchart for
referrals, these will be recorded in accordance with our Child Protection Procedures.
Our Safeguarding and Child Protection policies are on our Parents Notice Board, in our Visitors signing in book and
are freely available on request in the nursery.
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Inspirational Day Care for Children from 3 Months to 5 Years
Location
“Conveniently located in in Ringwood just two minutes from the A31 and A338”
The nursery is in Ringwood, which is on the edge of the New Forest, and midway between the main conurbations of
Southampton and Bournemouth. Located on a quiet street and easily accessible from the main commuter routes of
the A31 and the A338 Salisbury to Ringwood road, the nursery is in an ideal location for local families and those from
further afield. Please see our map on the back of this brochure.
Staff
“High calibre of professional, qualified, enthusiastic staff”
To offer the best care for your child we believe it is vital to employ the very best staff. We reward them well and
offer good working conditions and, because we want our staff to remain fresh and engaged with the children we limit
the average working week to only 37.5 hours. When we select staff we look carefully at our team as a whole to ensure
we maintain a good balance of skills, qualifications, experience and specialisms.
As a minimum we require our nursery nurses to be qualified in childcare and education to NVQ level III or an
equivalent such as BTEC National Diploma.
All our staff must hold current certificates in Paediatric First Aid, Food Hygiene and Safeguarding and will be
encouraged to take up training that is relevant to their development as nursery professionals.
We maintain a bank of staff to cover for staff holidays and sickness.
We adhere to the adult to child ratios laid down in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Under two years old 2 – 3years old 3 – 5 years old
1:3
1:4
1:8
Settling in Procedure
We attach huge importance to settling your child into nursery and once we receive the completed registration form,
we will send you a Welcome Pack. The Pack contains
Our parent Handbook with more information about the nursery
Our settling in paperwork
Information on our Home visit service which offers you an great opportunity for a pre-start visit in your home
to meet you and your child and begin filling in the settling paperwork together.
Settling in visits are one hour long and are a time when your child’s relationship with their key person begins to
develop, we recommend a minimum of two visits and can arrange as many more visits as are felt necessary.
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Inspirational Day Care for Children from 3 Months to 5 Years
Food
“Home cooked nutritious, delicious meals serving fresh fruit and vegetables daily”
We believe a good diet is essential for happy, well developed, healthy children therefore we offer well planned meals
that use fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. Our menus are varied and all the food is freshly prepared daily in our
kitchen by our resident Chef. The weekly menu is displayed in the nursery and under the Parents Section on
our website.
We can cater for most dietary needs. For older children and babies able to eat finger food we provide a nutritious
breakfast (up to 8:30am), fruit and milk or water as a snack mid morning, a two course cooked lunch and a two
course afternoon tea. Younger babies will be given whatever milk and weaning food you have provided, at times that
suit their individual needs. Drinking water is available for all children at all times. Lunchtime is important in the
Nursery, the children and staff have the same food and eat together at the tables in the playrooms. This is a great
opportunity to encourage the tasting of new flavours and enjoying the social side of mealtimes.
Facilities
“Safe and secure environment featuring light spacious rooms adjoined by two large outdoor play areas and
a separate outdoor baby play area”.
The nursery is housed in a bright attractive building with ample playrooms in which we are able to create a warm
friendly atmosphere. We take the safety and security of the children very seriously, and the building has been
remodelled with the needs and safety of the children in mind. Our outdoor areas are all fully enclosed and include
An all-weather play area for all kinds of play, but especially developing physical skills.
A soft all-weather play area dedicated to the babies, a place with room to crawl, walk and explore.
A grassed rear garden, in which we encourage discovery, imagination and investigation.
The nursery uses two floors of the building with the younger babies being accommodated on the first floor in their
own self-contained unit which has direct access to the babies outdoor play area. We have three large attractive
playrooms with access directly onto the garden for the two, three and four year old children. These rooms have
their own purpose built toilet area.
Entry into the nursery is controlled and no unauthorised person is admitted to the premises, all visitors are
accompanied at all times and we check carefully if you have arranged for an unfamiliar adult to collect your child.
Off road parking is available for dropping off and collecting your child.
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Inspirational Day Care for Children from 3 Months to 5 Years
Curriculum
“Following a vibrant curriculum in a creative and fun atmosphere”
Using the Early Years Foundation Stage we fully embrace the ethos that the curriculum should be child centred
and developmentally appropriate. We offer a range of experiences that focus on:
• Developing creative thinking
• Language skills
• Mathematical and scientific understanding
• Using imagination
• Extending physical skills
• Experiencing books, stories songs and music
• Practising decision making and problem solving
• Promoting care and concern for others
• Respect for the environment as well as opportunities for fun and friendship
Although individual attention from the adults is a priority, regular contact with other children in developing
skills of sharing, co-operation and friendship is vital.
For our youngest infants we offer sensitive baby care encouraging all stages of development through the close
attention of key adults and by stimulating their natural curiosity. We follow individual sleep and feeding
patterns to maintain consistency with home life and to foster a feeling of security. For toddlers and older children
we offer experience in a wide variety of play and learning activities building on their natural desire to make
relationships, explore and discover. We encourage their developing social awareness, and help their growing
self esteem, self-confidence and independence.
We use careful observation and regular assessment of each child’s development to plan for their play and
document all this in an individual Learning Journey.
Our outdoor play areas are a vital resource and the children use them every day.
The nursery has a wide range of carefully chosen toys, books, and equipment that provide children with the
stimulation they need for physical mental and emotional growth. We use computers in the three and four
year olds playroom as well as a wealth of other toys and equipment from jigsaws to footballs. The playrooms
for the younger children and babies have equipment appropriate to their needs, including manufactured toys,
natural and found resources.
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Inspirational Day Care for Children from 3 Months to 5 Years
Sessions and Fees
“Morning, afternoon and all day sessions available”
The nursery is open on weekdays from 7:30am to 6:00pm with the exception of English Bank Holidays and a period of
closure over the Christmas week (usually Christmas Day to 2nd January).
A minimum attendance of two sessions per week is required.
Our sessions are:
Full Day
Mornings
Afternoon
Full Time
5 full days
7:45 am to 6.00 pm
7.30 am to 6.00 pm
7:45 am to 12.45 pm
7.30 am to 12.45 pm
1.15 pm to 6.00 pm
7.45 am to 6.00 pm
7.30 am start available on request
Our daily fees are:
£48.00
£49.50
£30.50
£32.00
£24.50
£45.00
Fees are payable in advance and the first months fees are due on acceptance of an offered place.
Before your child starts with us you are required to complete a registration form and sign to agree with our Terms
and Conditions.
Elder sibling discount of 5% and Early starts are subject to specific Terms and Conditions.
Holiday discount
The nursery offers a 50% discount which each child become eligible to claim after 3 full months of attendance on a standard
51 weeks per year contract with the setting. This therefore does not apply to those on a term time contract or children
eligible for free funded hours.
The discount is allowed for the equivalent of two weeks each calendar year (January to December) and is calculated pro rate
(therefore if your child joins us in June the discount offered is one week at half fees). The relevant amount is then deducted
from your monthly invoice. To qualify for the holiday discount 6 week’s notice must be given in writing.
Some examples for you – (Based on a full year of entitlement)
•
•
A child that attends for 3 full days a week and has a 2 week holiday in August would receive £144.00 discount for that month.
A child that attends for 2 mornings a week and has 1 week’s holiday in September would receive £30.50 discount for that month.
Term Time
We are also able to offer term time attendance. This option means there is no attendances and no fees charged for:
• 1 week at Christmas • 2 weeks at Easter • 6 weeks at Summer
• Dates determined as per Hampshire School terms.
• Minimum attendance for Term time of Three days or any combination that equals three days
(i.e two full days and 2 half days).
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Inspirational Day Care for Children from 3 Months to 5 Years
Referral Reward
Refer a friend or colleague to the nursery and you could earn £100. Once your friend or colleagues child has
completed their initial 3 month period at the nursery you would receive a £100 credit of your child’s nursery
account. This referral reward is available when the booking is on a 51 weeks a year contract. To qualify the”
referred” by section on the nursery’s registration form must have been completed and signed. See our separate
T&C for full details.
How can I get help with my childcare costs?
Government Funding for two year olds
Funding is available for your 2 year old if you meet the criteria set out by DCC, BBC or HCC.
Please contact Hampshire County Council on 01962 847070 or [email protected]
Please contact Dorset County Council on 01305 221066 or [email protected]
Please contact Bournemouth Council on 01202 456222 or www.bournemouth.gov.uk
Government Funding for three and four year olds
Early Education Grant funding is provided by the government to ensure that all children are able to access good quality
free Early Years Education prior to starting school. A child becomes eligible in the term following their third birthday.
Flexibility
Ringwood Day Nursery endeavours to offer parents the greatest amount of flexibility in the way that Two year old and
Early Education Grant funding is accessed. We are able to either offer 15 hours per week over 38 weeks, which is
term time only or you can stretch the entitlement over 51 weeks.
We also offer flexible start and finish times (subject to availability) allowing you to access child care that fits your individual needs.
Please note:
If a child attends for more than the funded free Education 15 hours per week or uses the nursery’s additional services,
i.e meals. additional charges will be applied. As from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016 these additional charges are
dependent on sessions attended and range from £2.30 to £8.30 per session, but will not exceed the current nursery
session fees. This will be invoiced in advance and payable on the 1st of each month. Regretfully we are not able to
accept children’s food from home.
You can divide the hours claimed between more than nursery/pre-school, but the total hours claimed cannot be more
than the overall weekly entitlement.
Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit is paid in the bank account of the main person in your family who is responsible for looking after the
children. Child Tax Credit is available to families with an income up to £43,000 whether or not they are working.
Help is available for parents who work through the Working Tax Credit, part of which helps with the costs of
registered childcare.
If you would like more information on either Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit please contact the Inland Revenue
helpline on 0345 3003900 or online at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits
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Inspirational Day Care for Children from 3 Months to 5 Years
Childcare Vouchers
Employers can offer their employees childcare vouchers worth £243 per month, free of standard rate of tax and
National Insurance contributions.
Operated through a salary sacrifice scheme, the employer will also save on their National Insurance Contributions.
This initiative presents employers with a superb opportunity to help their employees meet the costs of childcare, whilst
at the same time enjoying significant savings themselves.
For more details go to: www.computershare.com
www.childcarevouchers.co.uk
www.care-4.co.uk
Or visit the Inland Revenue web site on www.hmrc.gov.uk/childcare
Notes:
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8 Broadshard Lane, Ringwood BH24 1RR
Telephone: 01425 470709
email: [email protected]
www.ringwooddaynursery.com