We provide protective aprons for the children when they play with messy activities. However, parents are encouraged to dress your child in clothes that you are not concerned with getting messy and dirty. We encourage free flow exploration, therefor staff don’t always reach the children before they get messy. We encourage children to gain the skills that help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet and taking off – and putting on – outdoor clothes. Clothing that is easy for them to manage will help them to do this. All children are allocated their own peg to hang their coat on.
Please ensure your child has a couple of changes of appropriate clothing each day. This includes hats, wellies, rain suits & sun creams etc Please write the child’s name on them to avoid any confusion when multiple children are being toileted.

Children and parents are free to visit as many times as necessary until everyone is happy, please feel free to discuss any settling in worries, however small. Your child will be invited to attend 1 x ½ session, then 2 x 1hr sessions to support setting in. We will also arrange a home visit to discuss your child’s needs. We find this really useful to observe your child in their home environment as children behave so differently in the security of home. It also helps build a picture of your family to help us to support your child.

Please ensure your child has any nappies wipes etc that will support them with the toileting routine. We encourage toilet training as soon as both parents and the setting feel the child is ready. We encourage the situation as soon as the child turns two years old as possible. If we all feel the child is ready sooner or later, we will discuss this. You will be expected to support the nursery when the decision is made. To ensure success we must work as a team for your child.

All children are provided with milk, water or fresh fruit juice to drink freely throughout the day. The children will all sit together to eat and are encouraged to use good manners whilst eating such as not speaking with food in their mouths, using knives, forks, spoons correctly, sitting nicely at the table and not messing around whilst eating etc. We have high chairs for younger children We also encourage younger children to use appropriate beakers for their age/ability. Children will also be encouraged to help out at meal times like laying the table and food preparation. We do ensure that all mealtimes are a happy occasion, actively encourage conversation and tasting of new food.
Special diets

Any special dietary requirements, whether for reasons of health, allergy or religion, are catered for. If your child has a special diet, please talk to us and we can discuss what you want us to do. You are welcome to provide any food you feel you need to support us and your child.

We are qualified to give first aid in minor and more serious situations; we will deal with bumps, grazes, stings etc and only contact you if necessary or further medical help if required. Please keep all contact information up to date.
We will ask you to sign a form giving me permission to seek further medical assistance and treatment in an emergency. By law, we have to keep an accident book to record details of any accidents which occur whilst your child is in our care and we will ask you to sign to say we have informed you what has happened. Unfortunately, we can’t give non-prescription medication.
Information you give us regarding physical, medical or personal health matters will be treated in the strictest confidence except where it may place a child at risk or raise serious concerns about their safety.
In the event of any children whilst in our care falling ill our policy is that parents will be contacted, and arrangements made for the child/children to be collected. This is because as child carers we cannot be expected to look after a poorly child whilst taking care of other children in our care. A fee is still payable for that day.

If a child is poorly before a scheduled session then parents must make alternative arrangements for that child to be looked after, as again we cannot be expected to look after a poorly child whilst taking care of other children in our care. A fee is still payable for that day. If your child is unwell on arrival, unfortunately, we are unable to accept them, this is unfair on the other children, and this also applies to undiagnosed rashes and, the pain of parent’s lives, headlice!