We aim to provide a warm, secure and stimulating environment to allow each child to achieve his/her full potential in all areas of development. We have a maximum number of sixteen children per session and we are able to provide one-to-one as well as small group learning opportunities. Children are grouped according to ability and play preferences rather than age.

The emphasis at the nursery is placed on ‘learning through play’. Play helps children to think, increase their understanding, improve their language, to be creative, to explore and investigate, to experiment, to draw conclusions and improve on basic skills. We aim to make the atmosphere at nursery one in which young children thrive and feel secure, happy, interested, curious, valued and successful. We trust that by providing such an environment as this, your child will want to come to nursery, be highly motivated to participate in activities and will want to tell you all about it when he/she comes home.

The nursery syllabus is designed to incorporate the government’s "Early Learning Goals" details of which are displayed on each notice board. Each day will include activities designed to develop your child’s personal and social skills, language and literacy, mathematical skills, knowledge and understanding of the world, creative abilities and physical skills.

We create a folder for each child with written descriptions of their achievements, photographs of them with their friends and samples of their creative play. This folder is our record of progress and is yours to keep when your child leaves the nursery, when we hope it will become a treasured souvenir of his/her time here.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY

The development of play, communication and speech and language skills are given a very high priority at the nursery as these skills are pre-requisites for all other learning that takes place at primary school. Mrs. K McDonnell is a qualified Speech and Language Therapist with over ten years experience in working with pre-school children and all the nursery nurses receive specialist training in the development of speech and language skills. The specialist knowledge and skills available at the nursery allow us to provide a stimulating and caring environment for all children regardless of whether they have speech or language difficulties or not.

We know how to make the most of play situations so that the children are not only having fun but also developing essential skills such as listening, attention, eye-contact, turn-taking etc. Should a speech or language difficulty be observed in the nursery, this will be discussed with parents to see whether they are concerned. Parents are made aware that they can attend their local clinic for a Speech and Language Therapy assessment. If your child has a Speech and Language Therapy programme we are happy to carry out activities during the nursery day.

SETTLING IN

We are happy for parents to stay with their child during settling in visits prior to the starting date. We do not set any limit on how many times you can stay, this depends entirely upon you and your child. Some children settle in fine from day one and others take a few weeks. We are also happy for you to leave your child for shorter sessions to begin with if you think this is best.

Our main concern is the happiness of both you and your child. Children can get upset when a parent or carer first leaves them but you can be completely reassured that we will alert you, if your child does not settle after a reasonable amount of time. Any child who is upset will be comforted and under no circumstances will any child be left to cry. We have found that the majority of children settle in very quickly.

We are able to provide all the individual attention that they need during the settling in period and to respond to their needs in a flexible way eg. if they don’t want to stay with the main group to begin with but would rather have a walk about to explore the different rooms, a member of staff will go with them.

PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS

We aim to provide consistency of staffing to allow both children and parents to build up a rapport with their Nursery Nurses. Daily feedback is provided on the children’s activities, how well they have eaten and their general wellbeing. This is in the form of a daily written sheet for you to take away and through chatting to the nursery nurses when you collect your child. We ask all our parents to sign the enclosed "partnership with parents" document when their child starts at the nursery. This document states clearly what we are aiming to offer at the nursery and the support we would like to receive from parents.

We provide a newsletter every other month to advise you of current topics and encourage you to take an active role in nursery life. Any parent who wishes to spend time at the Nursery to see what goes on, to help settle their child, or to help in any way, will be most welcome. Photographs of the children in action are displayed at all times. We have an informal parents evening once a year, usually with a video of the children at play, and the opportunity for you to talk to staff and look through your child’s folder. We ask you to complete a questionnaire to find out your views on how the nursery can develop.

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

At Bright Eyes we understand that children of this age are still learning about what is right and wrong and try to help them by operating a praise and encouragement system to reward kindness to others etc. We can not allow the children to behave in a manner which could cause harm/distress to either themselves or to another child. The consequences of such actions are explained and we do our best to distract the child with a new activity/toy. Smacking and/or shaking a child are completely forbidden and will lead to dismissal of the relevant member of staff should this occur. Staff are also aware that we do not regard shouting at a child as an acceptable means of discipline except in extreme circumstances when it is done in order to avoid an accident or to protect a child from danger.

Any parent who is not happy with the implementation of this policy or any other matter should feel free to discuss this with us at any time. Parents should also be aware that they are free to contact OFSTED (address can be supplied) should they feel this is necessary.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

The entrance to the nursery is always kept locked and will only be opened to persons known to members of staff. Only parents and authorised adults will be allowed to collect a child from the nursery. The rear garden and play area is completely enclosed by a high brick wall and locked gate so that it is impossible for a child to gain access to the front of the nursery without being escorted by a member of staff.

In addition to this we have fenced off the play area so that the children are in view at all times and the supervision outside is as close as inside the nursery. Smoking is completely forbidden, fire doors are fitted and we have a smoke alarm system. We have viewing windows into each of the playrooms and safety glass has been fitted to any low level windows and door panels.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Bright Eyes Day Nursery and Language Centre operates a policy of equal opportunity for all it’s children and their parents. We invite applications to join our nursery from anyone regardless of sex, colour, ethnic group or disablement. We will make positive efforts to put this policy into practice by the provision of facilities and equipment which prevent stereotyping and openly teach and encourage the acceptance of others. We will continually monitor this policy to ensure it’s effectiveness and it will be reviewed on an annual basis.

MEALS

The weekly menus are displayed on the notice board. We are able to provide for any alternative dietary requirements. We provide a main meal at lunch-time, an afternoon tea and morning and afternoon snacks. The mealtimes are relaxed, the children can choose where to sit and can chat to their friends. We encourage the children to help set the tables and to serve themselves/pour their own drinks etc.
 

BrightEyes Day Nursery