The purpose of this booklet is to provide you with all the information you need to know about your child s day with us in the Ladybird unit. It contains some very important information, so please take time to read it carefully. Any information that you feel this booklet does not cover, please ask any of the staff and they will happily answer any of your questions. The Nursery Team Busy Bees Nursery Nurse Alex Maidment BA Early Years Education Busy Bees Nursery Nurse Kate Davies BA in Primary Education Busy Bees Senior Nursery Nurse, Unit Leader Jenna Jefferies CACHE Level 3 Cook and Cleaner Margaret Jefferies Manager Helen O Neill, N.N.E.B Nursery Helpers Volunteers from Trinity College, parent helpers and work-experience students Ladybirds Senior Nursery Nurse, Unit Leader Anna Slade Level 3 Ladybirds Nursery Nurse Helen Torrington, BTEC Dip. N.N. Key Person At Trinity College Day Nursery we operate a key person system for all the children. Your child will be allocated a member of staff as their key person. The key person s role is to assist your child (and you as the parent/carer) to settle into the routine at nursery. It is also the key person s responsibility to communicate observations and feedback to you at appropriate opportunities including formal parent s evenings. We are working to establish a close partnership between parents and staff. Please feel free to discuss with us at any time issues relating to your child. A time to meet can be arranged at any time to discuss anything in further detail. Starting Nursery We recommend that you visit the nursery with your child before they start. We suggest you leave your child for a short time at first and increase this time gradually. There are no set rules and each child s settling in will be planned individually.
Nursery Layout The nursery building is accessed via an intercom system at the front door (see the section Security for more information on this). The nursery office is downstairs on the right as you enter the building. The Ladybirds group is based upstairs and use the following rooms: Red Room Green Room - the room at the top of the stairs; this is the main room for the Ladybirds group. - the messy room for play with messy materials and where the children eat their meals. Changing Room - the toilet and changing facilities Sleep Room - a room with several cots where the children rest Notices and Pigeon Holes To keep you up to date with what is happening in nursery there are several display boards with information on them please do read regularly. Everyone has a space in the pigeon holes this is done alphabetically on your child s surname, this is used for personal information to be passed onto you. Coat Pegs and Pictures Coat pegs can be found upstairs outside the Red Room. Every child has a name and a picture above their peg. The pictures are to help the child to recognise their peg. It would be helpful if your child s coat has a name label on it. Please provide a non-plastic bag to leave at nursery on their coat peg. We have a shoe bag which is sometimes used if no other bag is available. As some of the shoes are of the same design please mark them with your child s initials if possible. Boxes Each child will have a box at nursery for their nappies (we can only use disposable nappies), wet wipes and a change of clothes. Please check regularly to make sure there is sufficient for your child s time at nursery. If your child requires creams or lotions please label them. Illness and Medication We are unable to care for sick children in nursery and we ask that children showing symptoms of illness not be brought to the nursery. If a child becomes ill during the nursery day, staff will care for them as required and parents or emergency contacts may be informed and asked to arrange collection. If a child has been absent through illness the nursery should be informed of the circumstances. Children who have been prescribed antibiotics will not be expected to return to the nursery until they are well and at least for 48 hours after they have started the medication.
Nursery staff may administer medicines as agreed with parents. Parents should complete an appropriate medical consent form and discuss the arrangements with the staff. We will not administer medication such as Calpol to control a child s temperature or anything containing Aspirin. Welfare Records/ Incident Records In nursery we hold a file on every child s welfare. This keeps a record of any information regarding the child s wellbeing. Health Issues Action plans - record of any medication administered at nursery. Any absence from nursery due to health/welfare. - if a child has an ongoing health issue an action plan is drawn up to outline the symptoms, the course of action and emergency contacts. Also noted are any changes in behaviour or circumstances at home and any marks, bruises or comments by the child that cause concern. Nursery also keeps a record of any incidents or accidents that occur during the time the child is at nursery (for example, falling over and cutting a knee). Parents will be informed of this and asked to sign a form. It would also be helpful if parents could inform nursery staff of any incidents or accidents which occur outside of nursery that may affect your child s wellbeing. Learning Diary Each child at nursery will have a learning diary. Staff will collect observations, photos and artwork as a record of their experiences at nursery. We welcome all parents contributions to these (for example, write a short note about what your child has been doing at home); photos can be included too. These are available for you to have a look at. There is also a WOW board in the hall where these experiences can be shared before being placed in the diary. Please take time to have a look at this. Parents Board (in red room) Our parents board gives you information about our plans/what s happening in nursery. This includes a provision plan which tells you some resources and activities which we aim to make available to the children during their free play time and small group time (small group time is an adult led activity to reflect the interests of the children or to offer a new experience). Birthdays and Celebrations We like to celebrate everyone s birthday at nursery children and staff. To celebrate some people like to bring in cakes to share with their friends. Home made cakes are very acceptable on these occasions but please be prepared to provide a list of ingredients to ensure a child does not have anything that may be excluded from their diet.
Garden We use the garden to extend the working space for the children. No matter what the weather, we may use the garden during their nursery session. Please provide suitable clothing for your child so they are able to fully take part in all activities. It is helpful to have a spare set of clothes at nursery as accidents may occur during their time with us. Lower Garden and Forest School At nursery we have the provision of Forest School sessions to support your child s learning. Forest School activities will teach the children about caring for, managing and understanding the woodland environment. Please ensure your child comes to nursery with appropriate clothing if they are taking part in a Forest School session. For health and safety in all weathers they should always wear a long sleeved top and long trousers, shoes or wellies - no opened-toed shoes. If the weather is cold please also remember hats and gloves as they could be outside for a prolonged period of time. Aims Some of our aims throughout your child s time in Ladybirds are: To be happy and confident To enjoy the company of others To explore and to have a curiosity of the world about them Useful information All policies and procedures are available on the college website (www.trinitycollegebristol.ac.uk/daynursery). It is important that you read these. Hard copies are available from the nursery office. In the event of a complaint not being resolved you may contact OFSTED. Applications, Regulatory and Contact (ARC) Team, OFSTED, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester, M1 2WD Tel: 0300 123 1231 Other useful contacts Think Family Project offers additional family support Contact Better Together 0117 3772615 Bilingual Family Project 07580 634085 Bristol Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 2000247 Homestart (family support) 0117 9501170 Children & Young Peoples Social Care First Response if you have any concerns about a child 01179036444 Ridingleaze House duty team (north) 0117 9038700 Emergency duty team 01454 615165
Citizen s Advice Bureau 08444994718 Relate (relationship counselling) 0117 9428444 NSPCC Helpline 0800 8005000 Bristol City Council 0117 9222000 Hope Place (counselling for women) 0117 329 0757 Security The security of the child is taken very seriously. Please take careful note of the following: Sign the child in and out using the signing-in book located in the hall Authority to collect additional info Ensure contact details are up to date Close all gates and doors behind you; don t let anyone through who you don t know. Fees Eight weeks notice is required to be eligible for discount of holidays. Please ensure payment is up to date. See the Nursery Manager if you are experiencing difficulty with payment. The Ladybirds Daily Routine 8:00-8:30am... Children arrive, breakfast is offered 8:30-9:45am... Free flow play/ planned activity/ outdoors 9:45-10:00am... Tidy up and Hello song 10:00-10:30am... Snack time in the Green Room 10:30-11:45am Free flow play/ planned activity. Check nappies 11:45-12:00pm Tidy up and story sack 12:00-12:30pm.. Lunch in the Green Room 12:30-3:00pm Children s sleep time and quiet play 3:00-3:10pm Snack and drink on the blanket 3:10-3:45pm Free flow play/ planned activity/ outdoors. Check nappies 3:45-4:00pm Tidy up and singing 4:00-4:30pm. Tea time in the Green Room 4:30-5:30pm.. Free flow play/ Home time