Parental Information

Lyndhurst Nursery has been registered with Kent County Council since 1970.  The present owner is Hythe House Support Ltd.

The Nursery meets all standards required by The Children Act 1989.  We are also registered for Free Early Education, and are regularly inspected by Ofsted.  A copy of the report is available upon request.

The Nursery holds a current Fire Certificate and is fully insured.  We are also a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance and have strong links with the local schools.

The Nursery is registered for 30 Children and operates between the hours of 8.30- 5.30. Children who are eligible for funding (some 2- year olds and 3- year olds the term after their third birthday) have the opportunity to access 15 hours of flexible free funding.

Admissions

The nursery is open to every family in the community.  The waiting list is operated fairly with a first come first served scheme.

Employment

The nursery will appoint the best person for each job and will treat all applicants fairly.

No applicant will be rejected on the grounds of age, gender, sexuality, class, means, family status, disability, colour, ethnic origin, culture, religion or belief.

Commitment to implementing the groups Equal Opportunities Policy will form part of the job description for all workers and volunteers.

The Curriculum

All children will be respected and their individuality and potential recognised, valued and nurtured.  Activities and the use of play equipment offer children opportunities to develop in an environment free from prejudice and discrimination.  Opportunities will be given to children to explore, acknowledge and value similarities and differences between themselves and others.

Language

Bilingual/multilingual children and adults will be valued and their languages recognised and respected in the nursery.

Families

The nursery offers  flexible payment for families with differing means.

Visitors to Nursery

We have an open policy at the nursery where parents/carers are welcome to come into the setting to discuss their child with either the manager or the child’s appointed Key Person.

There is a quiet room where we can discuss any matters that may arise or the use of an office at 59 Staplehurst Road, Sittingbourne.  

Other visitors which may attend the setting are therapists, Area SEND’s, Teachers, Ofsted officals, Kent County Council officals and prospective parents/carers.  All visitors must sign in and out of the visitor book.

Pre-school Session 9.00a.m. – 12.00 Noon

This session is for the older child, 3 -5 years. The nursery has three main rooms: large playroom with activity tables and free play area, room for all messy play e.g. painting, sand, water play and play-dough, and a room for small group and lT activities.  The nursery will also take 2 – year olds in this session if circumstances allow.

All equipment reflects our multi-cultural society and includes materials for art, craft,

music, manipulative and constructive activities.  Each child is encouraged to reach their full potential and have the confidence to explore the world around them and stimulate their Imagination.

Children have the opportunity to use a wide range of equipment to enable them to develop in the seven areas of learning.

1. Personal, social and emotional development.
2. Physical Development.
3. Communication and Language.
4. Literacy.
5. Mathematics.
6. Understanding of the World.
7. Expressive arts and design.

All children will be allocated a Key Person; it is the Key Person’s role to work closely with the child, carry out observations and liaise with parents/carers.

Playgroup Session l.00p.m.- 3.00p.m.

This session is aimed and adopted to suit the needs of the younger age group from 2 – 3  years. The children have access to the same variety of equipment as the older children. Again, they are encouraged to be creative and have the confidence to experiment with new materials and equipment;  also, to make new friends and learn to share.

Free Early Education Session 12.00p.m.- 3.00p.m.

This session consists of 3 hours of early years education.  The children have access to all the activities and teaching as the above and is free to all funded children.

All Day Session 8.30a.m. – 5.30p.m. (A healthy pack lunch to be provided by parents/carer’s. please avoid sweets and fizzy drinks and include a cool block to help keep children’s food cold and fresh).

This incorporates all the above and is convenient for working parents.

We like parents to take an active part in encouraging their child to talk about their experiences and bring with them to nursery anything connected with that subject e.g. their favourite book during book week.

We are open during all school term times and operate through the holidays, 8.30am – 5.30pm, on demand and six week summer holidays.  All children are welcome to attend these sessions. The nursery will be closed for 2 weeks over the Christmas period.

The nursery can claim up to 15 hours of free early education for your two – year – old.  A child is eligible if:

• The family meet the criteria for free school meals
• The family receive Working Tax Credits and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 per year.  Working Tax Credit is based on HMRC’s assessment of earnings under the previous tax year.
• The child has a statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education Health and Care Plan.
• The child is entitled to Disability Living Allowance.
• The child is looked after by the local authority.
• The child is no longer looked after by the local authority as a result of an adoption order, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order which specifies with whom the child lives.

Funding is available for up to 570 hours per year.  The nursery operates this up to 15 hours per week (if you exceed the 15 hours you will be charged the nursery rate for every hour after) and it can be shared between two settings.  Funding cannot be transferred halfway through a term.

You can gain more information if you need help from Kent Children and Families Information  Services (CFIS), call 03000 41 23 23 or email kentcfis@kent.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can also get help from a Children’s Centre.

You can also apply online at www.kent.gov.uk/lfreefor2 or with your childcare provider who can give you more information.  Confirmation will be sent in the form of an email and your chosen provider will ask you to fill in a parental declaration along with relevant documents in the prospectus.

Please ask Ester if you would like a copy of the information provided by KCC for a more detailed breakdown.

The EYPP is for children who meet the following criteria below between the ages of 3 to 4 with the aim of making a difference to the attainment of children. The provider will receive extra funding to make sure children are ready to succeed at school and have excellent foundations for learning.  Please ask Ester to discuss the EYPP with you and if you meet any of the criteria as listed below the setting will advise you of the full name and DFE unique reference number (URN) of the setting –

• In receipt of Income Support
• In receipt of Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Support under Part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit and have a gross income of no more than £16,190.00
• Working Tax Credit Run-on (this is paid for 4 weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• The child is no longer looked after by the local authority as a result of an adoption order, a special guardianship order, child arrangements order which specifies with whom the child lives or children who have been looked after by a local authority for 1 day or more in England or Wales.

Fees are payable weekly or monthly in advance.

Fees are payable in full for sickness unless your child is ill for two or more weeks, in which case half fees are due. Fees will be suspended whilst a child is in hospital. If annual holidays are taken during term time, half fees are payable. If any fees amount to more than three weeks in arrears and no explanation given, you will be asked to leave.  Confidentiality will be shown at all times. When your child reaches the age for Free Early Education the Nursery will claim this on your behalf.

There is a maximum of 4 children aged 2 to1 adult, and 8 children aged 3 to 1 adult.  All staff are qualified in all aspects of childcare.  We also liaise with teachers and Special Educational Needs Co-Coordinators (SENCO’s).

Lyndhurst Nursery operates an equal opportunities policy.  As we live in a multiracial, multicultural community, no family, child or member of staff will be discriminated against because of their race, religion, gender or ability. All will be treated as individuals.  We will comply with all policies that have been issued by social services and the Children’s Act 1989.

The first days

Occasionally a child who will not settle and is unhappy will not be able to play or learn properly, so it is important for parents and nursery staff to work together to help and encourage the child to feel confident and secure in the group.  This takes longer for some children than for others and parents should not feel worried if their child takes a while to settle.  Sometimes we will ask parents to delay their child’s entry and try again later.  A child pushed into a situation that causes them distress can suffer lasting mental anguish.

The nursery has a large rear garden which is fully enclosed and well equipped to offer children the opportunity to develop their physical coordination.

At nursery we celebrate a variety of festivals from different cultures, i.e. Christmas, Easter, Chinese New Year and Diwali, we also celebrate children’s Birthdays. However, alternative arrangements can be made for children whose religion does not allow them to take part.  Each parent may require personal and cultural variations in their child rearing values and practices.

It is this group’s aim to respect all cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Nursery staff will not use corporal punishment even if parents have given permission to do so. Children will never be sent out of the room by themselves. Techniques intended to single out and humiliate individual children such as the `naughty chair’ will not be used.

Occasionally there is a child whose behaviour is unacceptable.  Parents will be informed and hopefully between us a solution can be found.  Where appropriate this might be achieved by a period of `time out’ with an adult.

In cases of serious misbehaviour, such as racial or other abuse, the unacceptability of the behaviour and attitudes will be made clear immediately, but by means of explanations rather than personal blame.  Any behaviour problems will be handled in a developmentally appropriate fashion, respecting individual children’s level of understanding and maturity.

Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infection, and to inform the nursery as to the nature of the infection so that we can alert other parents and make careful observations of any child who seems unwell.

Parents are asked not to bring into nursery any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack.

If a child becomes unwell whilst at nursery, their parent or carer will be contacted and asked to collect them.  It is important that we have a completed information sheet for each child.

All staff are trained to provide basic first aid;  no ointments or medicines are administered.  Grazes and cuts will be cleaned with warm water, anything more serious parents will be informed, and the necessary action taken.  In specific circumstances, i.e. asthma attacks and allergic reactions, prescribed medication will be given at the request of a parent/carer.  All medication must be clearly labelled with the child’s name, dosage and any instructions and handed to a member of staff on arrival, the parent/carer will then be asked to fill out and sign the medical book before leaving the premises.

The nursery is designed to promote the welfare of the children and offer a secure environment in which to play and learn.  Staffing levels are high to ensure a high level of supervision, but accidents do still happen!  Children will run and occasionally fall, bikes will topple, we also get the child that bites!

All accidents however minor will be recorded in the accident book and you will be informed and required to sign the book on each occasion.  This is to acknowledge that you have been informed.

If a child arrives at nursery with an injury, parents are requested to inform a member of staff. The nursery has the right to share any information regarding child protection with other childcare professionals.  All information will be kept confidential.

Children with special needs are welcome to attend nursery.  Communications with parents and views expressed by parents will be dealt with confidentially.

Any special requirements and requests made by the parent/carer can be passed onto the necessary agencies, i.e. Health Visitor, G.P, Speech Therapist, etc.

We will aim to liaise closely with parents/carers and outside agencies, to ensure that our facilities and service meets with the child’s individual requirements.

A file is held by the Nursery which contains full Policies and Procedures.  If you would like to view this file please contact Ester, Nursery Supervisor or the Daily Supervisor.

In order to feel free to explore and experiment with all kinds of materials, including messy ones, it is best to send children dressed in clothes which are easily washable or not too new.

However, please be aware that whilst every care will be taken, any damage to children’s clothing or property will be at the parent’s/carer’s risk e.g. paint stains, glue, etc. The nursery cannot and will not accept responsibility.

All clothing should be clearly labelled with the name of the child.

It is good for children to practice the skills which will make them independent.  Simple clothing which they can handle themselves will enable them to go to the toilet when they want to and to put on and take off their outdoor clothes without being too dependent on other people’s help.

Please do not send your child to nursery with chains or loop earrings, for their own safety.

We have designated all the premises within the confines of the nursery a smoke free area.  No one is permitted to smoke at any time on nursery premises.

We believe children and parents/carers are entitled to expect courtesy and prompt, careful attention of their needs and wishes.  Our intention is to work in partnership with parents/carers and the community in general and we welcome suggestions on how to improve our group at any time.

Making Concerns Known

A parent/carer who is uneasy about any aspect of the group’s provision should first of all talk over any worries and anxieties with the pre-school leader.

If this does not have a satisfactory outcome within a couple of weeks, or if the problem recurs, the parent/carer should put the concerns or complaint in writing and request a meeting with the pre ­- school leader and the owner of the group.  Both parent’s/carer’s and the leader should have a friend or partner present if required and an agreed written record of the discussion should be made.

Most complaints should be resolved informally or at this initial stage.

If the matter is still not sorted out to the parent’s satisfaction, the parent should contact  Ofsted Complaints Department on 0300 1234666