Blossom Tree Nursery
Prospectus
2015
Dear Parents and Guardians, Thank you for your valued enquiry regarding Blossom Tree Nursery. We hope that this prospectus will provide you with all the information you need, and is presented in a way that is both interesting and informative. Although our nurseries are managed and operated to the same high standards each one has its own unique atmosphere
Here to help your children
grow
and surroundings, and we advise that you visit the nursery of your choice, where you will be encouraged to ask questions and talk to nursery staff. To make an appointment to view, please telephone the relevant nursery and we will be delighted to arrange this for you. This would also be an ideal time for us to discuss your child-care needs and any suitable vacancies. We feel confident that you will choose Little Angels to care for your child as although we offer
the highest standard of care, our fees compare favourably to all of our competitors. Unlike many other nurseries we also offer free settling-in sessions and do not charge a registration fee. We look forward to meeting you soon. Yours faithfully,
Karen Jenkins Karen Jenkins Proprietor and Head Mistress
An introduction to
Blossom Tree
At Blossom Tree, we aim to create a friendly homely environment for your child with lots of opportunity to learn through play, within the guidelines laid down by Ofsted. Our nursery cares for children from birth to 5 years, we are registered with Ofsted and are members of the pre-school learning alliance and National Day Nurseries association. We aim to give parents the chance to balance family and work responsibilities with the minimum of tension and the maximum stability.
Our experienced and qualified team of staff who are all CRB checked will give your child the highest quality of care throughout the day and will regularly record your child’s progress and development. We offer your child the scope to acquire skills, learn to communicate, gain confidence and most of all to have fun. We present a wide range of activities which promote your child’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social skills as well as language development. These skills will be developed through both organised and child initiated play which stimulates initiative and imagination.
Our Baby units each cater to the needs of babies under two years in small groups. Each child has their own cot or bed for rest periods within the comfortable, stimulating setting, offering the opportunity to explore and learn. As the babies approach their second birthday they are gently integrated with the older children to make the transition from the “baby room� less daunting. Our Breakfast and After School clubs provide care up to the age of 11 years. Snacks are provided for your children. Please speak to each individual manager for times and availability.
Where we stand with
Ofstead
Blossom Tree Nursery have been validated by the Department for Education and Skills and therefore we are subject to regular inspections by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED).
EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) All children from birth to 5 years follow a curriculum called Early Years Foundation Stage this covers all nursery ages and continues to the end of their first year of school. The EYFS looks at the key areas of learning and planned activities are provided to monitor and record individual achievements.
This is a very important stage as it helps your child get ready for school as well as preparing them for their future learning and successes. From when your child is born up until the age of 5, their early years experience should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure; and support their development, care and learning needs.
Nurseries, pre-schools, reception classes and childminders registered to deliver the EYFS must follow a legal doument called the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. Staff are fully aware of the importance of making learning fun and we endeavour to incorporate the children’s learning in a relaxed atmosphere, through stimulating and purposeful activities. When leaving for school a ‘transfer record’ is completed to share information, on each child’s learning and and achievements within the ‘foundation stage’. Each child’s progress is individually assessed through observations.
What is the EYFS Framework, and why do we have one? The EYFS Framework exists to support all professionals working in the EYFS to help your child, and was developed with a number of early years experts and parents. In 2012 the framework was revised to make it clearer and easier to use, with more focus on the things that matter most. This new framework also has a greater emphasis on your role in helping your child develop. Staff are fully supported by Thurrock Council early years consultants who provide guidance on the EYFS.
The three prime areas of
learning
The three Prime areas of learning are: • Personal, Social and Emotional Development • Communication and Language • Physical
The four specific areas of
learning
The three Prime areas of learning are: • Literacy • Mathematics • Understanding the World • Expressive Art and Design
EYFS Progress Check at Two Years The EYFS Progress check at Two involves a short written summary of your child’s development being compiled under the three prime areas, as well as an assessment of which age/stage band each aspect of their development currently fits within. Please be reassured that this does not involve testing your child or labeling them in anyway. This check will be completed in partnership with you as the Parent/Carer. The Progress Check at Two celebrates your child’s achievements and helps to identify at an early age any aspects of development with which your child may need
some more support to enable them to reach their full potential and make progress in their development. Please refer to our EYFS Progress Check at Two Policy and speak to a member of staff for further information. It is satisfying for us to see many children who come to us as babies, develop into happy confident children. We find the social skills they aquire mixing with other children from an early age, in a nursery environment, facilitate a smooth transition into full-time education.
Promoting
Healthy Eating
We will provide breakfast, lunch, tea, morning and afternoon snacks for your child depending on their attendance. Pre-School children are developing faster than at any other time in their lives, therefore their diets require the right kind of tasty nutritious foods to encourage healthy growth. This means they need good
carbohydrates to give them energy, protein to build their bodies and essential vitamins and minerals for healthy bones and teeth. So to embrace all these needs Little Angels have developed unique colour-coded menus to provide parents with the nutritional values of the meals provided in their nurseries. These menus are displayed on our notice boards. These fully
nutritional meals are prepared by catering staff who hold the relevant food Hygiene certificates. At meal times staff sit with the children to encourage quiet conversation which makes them a social and happy time and helps promote good eating habits.
What’s on the
Menu?
A typical daily menu is as follows:
Breakfast
Special diets can be catered for on request.
Weetabix or cornflakes, Wholemeal toast and fresh fruit. Milk or water.
After lunch the children have a quiet time and those who wish have the opportunity to sleep.
Lunch
A ‘snack table’ is available throughout the morning and afternoon to give children the opportunity to choose from a selection of fresh fruit or vegetables and drinks of milk or water.
Tea
Home made shepherds pie, cabbage and carrots, yoghurt and banana. Milk or water.
Pitta bread pockets with chicken and salad. Milk or water.
General
Information
Admissions When Blossom Tree Nursery has places free they will be offered to children whose names are on completed application forms, supplied by the nursery, and held on a waiting list. The nursery place will be offered to the parent/guardian informally by telephone then confirmed in writing. Parents are then invited to visit the nursery with their child before the start date, providing the opportunity for parents/ guardians and the child to
speak with staff, familiarise themselves with the nursery routine and get to know the other children. Parents are welcome to stay with their child until they feel ready to leave them. We always suggest the child is introduced gradually into the nursery environment. The staff will work with each parent and child to ensure a positive entry to the nursery.
Security The Security and Safety of all the children in our care is our main priority. Therefore, we ask that you comply with our policies to guarantee this. When registering your child at Blossom Tree you will be given an ‘authorisation to collect form’ you must return this as soon as possible with the necessary information and a photograph of any persons you authorise to collect your child from nursery. If we do not have this form on file, your child will not be allowed to leave nursery with anyone other than the main carer.
Inclusion Blossom Tree believes that no child, should be excluded from the nursery’s activities because the child has special needs or disabilities as defined by the Children Act 1989 and/or the Education Act 1993. Blossom Tree will support children with learning difficulties and disabilities and will work with outside agencies to meet the childs needs. We will aim to acquire the necessary information about the specific situation to further support the parents.
We will offer staff training where possible to increase their knowledge and skills to ensure that each child is offered equal opportunities within the nursery. Blossom Tree Nursery is committed to recognising and responding sensitively to the needs of any child or parent/ guardian regardless of age, gender, class, family status, ability, disability, race, colour, ethnic origin, culture, religion or belief. We will accept people’s differences and treat each person as an individual.
Safeguarding As part of the registration process we are duty bound to inform social care of any worries we may have regarding a child’s welfare and safety.
Children’s Act 1989 Blossom Tree Nursery is registered by Ofsted, who inspect us regularly to ensure we comply with the ‘Children’s Act 1989’. A copy of our inspection reports are available from the Nursery Manager.
Parent - Pack Once registered at Blossom Tree you will be issued with a ‘Parent Pack’ which contains all the information you will need regarding our polices and necessary guidelines. Unfortunately we do have to have some rules and regulations and we ask that you read this pack carefully to ensure the health and safety of all the children in our nursery.
Our Fees and
Funding
Blossom Tree are open 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year, excluding Bank Holidays, offering full day care, either on a full week, part week or sessional basis. Our normal opening times are from 8am to 6pm, but limited places are available from 7.30am to 6.00pm. Please speak to the ‘Nursery Manager’ regarding availability. To provide flexibility for parents a charge of £2.60
is charged for every 30 minutes required outside normal nursery hours - but must be pre-booked. Unlike other nurseries we do not charge a registration fee. However, we will require a non-returnable deposit on confirmation of a ‘start date’, for your child.
£100.00 full-time £50.00 part-time These deposits are deducted from your first month’s account.
Educational Nursery Funding Blossom Tree Nursery are registered by Ofsted and therefore accept Government nursery funding for children the term after their third birthday. There is limited funding available for 2 year olds, please ask the Nursery Manager for more details. These children are entitled to a maximum of 5, 3 hour sessions of free nursery education a week. If children access NEG funded places from another provider this will be taken into account. All children between 2 and 4 years old are entitled to just use their free entitlement.
The fees listed below apply from 1st January 2015, and are calculated annually. They are charged on a monthly basis in advance of attendance and are due on or before the first of the month.
Children 0-3 years Weekly Daily Half Daily
8am - 6pm 8am - 6pm am or pm
With entitlement, you could pay as little as: £210.00 £47.50 £27.30
£151.00 £35.33 £21.16
We request that parents provide formula milk, nappies and wipes.
Children 3-5 years With entitlement, you could pay as little as: Weekly Daily Half Daily
8am - 6pm 8am - 6pm am or pm
£188.50 £44.30 £23.70
£143.00 £35.00 £19.00
Additional Sessions 2 – 3yrs 0 – 3yrs 3 – 5yrs 3 - 5yrs
am or pm 9am - 3pm 9am - 3pm am or pm
With entitlement, you could pay as little as: £13.00 £30.50 £27.80 £12.40
Free Free Free Free
School day extensions can be arranged subject to availability (cost per hour £5.50) Breakfast Club (East Tilbury only) £5.15 Afterschool Club £13.40 Lunch Club (including hot dinner) £6.20 Early Start (7.30am - 8.00am) £3.10
Holiday Club Please check Holiday Club availability if required. Please speak to the nursery Manager regarding free trial sessions. NOTE: For late collection after 6pm - see terms and conditions
Terms and
Conditions
Parents are strongly advised to read the following terms and conditions thoroughly. You are reminded that having signed the application form to register your child with Blossom Tree Nursery you have agreed to be bound by these terms and conditions as stated.
1. All fees will be billed by “Blossom Tree Nursery”. Accounts are due on the first of each month in advance of attendance and must be paid on time to secure your child’s place. A charge of £25.00 will be made for any late payments.
5. Blossom Tree Nursery will not operate on Bank Holidays (fees are calculated to factor in Bank Holidays).
2. Failure to pay promptly will result in your child losing their place. Non-payment of fees will always
be taken seriously and court proceedings will be instigated.
3. Any unpaid or stopped cheques will incur a charge of £35.00. 4. Credit Card payments will incur a 2% charge.
6. There will be no refunds for sickness or holidays as your child’s place is secured throughout the year. It is not possible to arrange for a child to “make-up” time in the case of an absence from nursery.
7. A rate of £5.00 will be charged for every 5 minutes that any child is collected later than their prearranged time, as this can severely affect the staffing ratios, as laid down by Ofsted. These charges can increase to a maximum of £100.00. 8. Fee Increases will be notified in writing 6 weeks in advance. 9. If you intend to remove your child from “Blossom Tree Nursery” a minimum of one months written notice or one months fees in lieu of notice is required. 10. The Day Nursery retains the right to use their absolute discretion in deciding whether or not to
accept any child.
11. The Nursery retains the right to require the removal of any child from Nursery by giving 24 hours written notice. 12. The Nursery retains the right to refuse any child entry to nursery if they are deemed unwell and to ask parents to collect their child if they become ill whilst at nursery. 13. In an emergency the nursery reserves the right to call a Doctor or have the child taken to hospital should it be considered necessary.
Blossom Tree Nursery
Post Blossom Tree Nursery Ltd Princess Street Dewsbury West Yorkshire WF12 9YP
Phone 01924 989620
Fax 01924 989621
Email info@blossomtreenursery.com