How We Work

Age of Admittance

We welcome children from the age of 6 weeks to 5 years old.

Registration

To register your child, an expression of interest form must be completed in full and signed.  Supporting documentation will be required at a later date.

Contact Details

It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure we have up to date contact details.  Any change of information must be made known to the office in writing, at your earliest convenience.  Your child’s safety is paramount to us, thus the need to have up to date information at all times.

Collection of Children

Please be punctual. If you are late collecting your child from nursery, a late collection charge of £5.00 will be required. £5 will be added to the start of each subsequent 15 minute period until the child is collected.

Under no circumstances will your child be allowed to leave the nursery with anyone unknown to nursery staff, unless the parent has previously arranged this. If the parent has made alternative arrangements by telephone, then nursery will require the name, address and telephone number of the person permitted to collect your child and a form of photo identity will be required upon arrival at the nursery, alongside the password set up during registration.

No child will be released to anyone under the age of sixteen.

Sickness and Illness

Any child who has, or develops, an infectious illness, must be kept at home. This includes conditions such as vomiting, diarrhoea, discharge from eyes, mouth or ears, conjunctivitis, sore throat and obvious rashes.

Any child suffering form vomiting or diarrhoea must be kept at home until clear of symptoms, for a minimum period of 48 hours.

If any such illness occurs at nursery, parents will be required to collect their child immediately.

The nursery reserves the right to send any child home if senior staff feel the child is not well enough to attend.

Health and Allergy Information

Parents are requested to inform the nursery of any food, medicine, activity or any other circumstances that may cause their child to have an allergic reaction or allergy.  Parents must provide details, in writing, of the severity of the reaction/allergy and must continue to inform the nursery of any changes/progress to the condition, again in writing, as and when they become aware. If medicine is required for either short or long term, you will be required to complete a medicine form.

Toilet and Potty Training

0-3 year olds – Parents are required to provide nappies, baby wipes and barrier cream.

3-5 year olds – We expect children aged between 3-5 years to be toilet trained, as this aids their personal management and independence. However children are treated as individuals and will be supported by our nursery team. Children with Special Educational Needs and children with disabilities may be exempt from this expectation.

Behaviour Management

Any parent who disrupts the co-operative stability, philosophy and principles of the nursery, may have his/her child excluded, without notice.

At all times, children are supervised and taught to share and care for nursery resources.   Where your child has willfully damaged nursery property, we will be seeking reimbursement from yourselves to cover the cost of replacement.

Personal Property and Belongings 

We cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to your child’s property.  Every reasonable effort will be made by the nursery staff to ensure your child’s belongings are not damaged or lost.

Practical, inexpensive clothing is strongly recommended for children attending nursery. It is the responsibility of all parents to clearly label all items of clothing with their child’s name.

We strongly suggest that all toys, books or other equipment be left at home.  When bringing special items in for “Show and Tell”, staff will endeavour to care for these.

Parents are asked to provide sun hats and adequate sun block during the summer months, and Wellington boots and suitable outdoor clothing during the winter, to ensure that your child can benefit from outdoor pursuits.  Please ensure mittens/gloves are on tapes/elastic and that they are threaded through the coat arms. Loose gloves/mittens will get lost!

Nursery Car Park & Parking 

The nursery car park is for staff, emergency services, service providers and tradesmen only. Please ensure you close the gate behind you and hold your child’s hand whilst walking through the car park, and keep to the pavement and yellow footprints.

When parking on Culverhouse Road, please do not park on the yellow zigzags outside the school, and be mindful of our neighbour’s drives.

Main Driveway Gate, Veranda Gate & Front Door

These must be closed after each person enters or leaves the premises.  This is added security to ensure all children are safe whilst on the premises.  Please adhere to this when dropping off and collecting your children, to ensure you do not breach these security measures.

Liability

We accept no responsibility for any loss suffered by parents, arising directly or indirectly, as a result of the nursery being temporarily closed or the non-admittance of your child for any reason.

This applies to absence due to sickness and holidays.  We accept no responsibility for children, whilst in their parent’s care, on nursery premises i.e. prior to arrival and after collection.

We will not be liable for any economic loss of any kind, for damage to the child’s or parent’s property, for any loss resulting from a claim made by any third party or for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind.

We will make reasonable endeavours to keep children’s property in good order.

Liability for damage of such property is excluded, except where caused by our negligence.

Agreement

These Terms and Conditions represent the entire agreement and understanding between the parents and the nursery.  Any other understandings, agreements, warranties, conditions, terms or representations, whether verbal or written, expressed or implied, are excluded to the fullest extent, permitted by law.

We reserve the right to update/amend these Terms and Conditions at any time.

Full Day Care (0-3 & 3-5 year olds)

Registration Fees and Deposits

Any new application will require a holding deposit of £100 per child at registration.  A nursery place will be kept open for 4 weeks after their agreed start date. If the nursery place is not accessed within this time, then a further holding deposit of £100 per child will be required.  Where a child does not subsequently take up the nursery place, the holding deposit will not be refunded.

You will receive a refund of your holding deposit on your child’s first invoice, subject to all Terms and Conditions being adhered to. If no invoice is chargeable i.e. the child only attends for funded hours, the holding deposit will be refunded upon producing a valid receipt, after ‘headcount day’ in the term their child starts nursery. This will be no more than 6 weeks after their start date

Fees, Invoices and Holidays

Nursery fees are payable in advance by cash, bank transfer or nursery vouchers, one month in advance.

Default of monthly payment will result in an additional fine of £50.00.

Nursery closure dates for the year ahead are posted in the main reception area on the Information Board, in the Annexe building and on our website: www.greensidenursery.co.uk.  We strongly advise you view these in advance as the dates are non-negotiable and we strongly recommend that alternative childcare arrangements are made during these times.

In the case of your child being absent or ill, there is no refund of fees. This includes lunch/snack fees as food is purchased in advance.

Greenside Nursery Ltd is open 48 weeks of the year. There is no charge for when the nursery is closed for holidays.

Should the nursery unexpectedly close due to severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances, no fees will be refunded.

Parents whose children attend term time only are required to pay a 50% retainer of your usual child fees during holiday periods, to keep your child’s place open. Parents whose children are in receipt of the Government’s 30 hour extended funding may opt to take their 30 hours term time only. For these children there is no charge during holiday periods.

For siblings, there is a reduction of 20% for the eldest child.

30 hour Government Funding

Parents need to apply online for the extended funding using the appropriate Government identified application system. Eligibility codes must be given to the nursery, along with a parent’s National Insurance number (NI) in the term before your child is eligible for funding.

Nursery will check the validity of these codes –  your child’s funding is not guaranteed until these have been verified. It is parent’s responsibility to reconfirm their eligibility when requested by the Government (usually every 3 months). Funding will not be granted if this is not done and parents remain liable for all nursery fees throughout their child’s placement at Greenside including arranging appropriate funding.

Parents falling out of eligibility during a term will have until the end of their ‘grace period’ to make arrangements to become eligible again, or to reduce their child’s hours to the 15 hour universal entitlement. This can only be done if the nursery has available spaces.

30 hour funding is term time only. For children attending 48 weeks, parents will be charged for the full hours during holiday periods.

At the discretion of the nursery management, full daycare parents may stretch their funding across all 48 weeks, however, children will still be required to attend the 30 hour minimum per week. Parents will be required to pay for hours over the funding entitlement each week.

Termination/Cancellation/Change

We require one months notice, in writing, should you wish to terminate your child’s nursery place for any reason.

Parents remain liable for fees throughout the notice period.  If a parent withdraws their child during this notice, the fees shall still remain payable. We reserve the right to terminate your child’s nursery place with immediate effect if any fees are not paid on time, or if a parent displays abusive, threatening or inappropriate behaviour. The parent remains responsible for all outstanding fees.

If the parent, for any reason postpones a start date, we reserve the right to charge from the original start date stated on the application form, or to withdraw your child’s place.

If a parent wishes to change their child’s hours, one months notice, in writing, must be given. The changed hours must be within the minimum requirements of full day care.

Settling In

0-3 year olds – Children are required to attend the nursery with a parent for a minimum of two weeks.  This starts as 1 hour sessions per day, gradually increasing to include lunch and rest periods.

3-5 year olds – Each settling session is for one and a half hours per day.  Children may be left as soon as they are settled, with staff approval.

Minimum Hours

0-3 year olds – Minimum requirement is 30 hours per week

3-5 year olds – Minimum requirement is 30 hours per week

Meals

We can provide breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and tea meals. All nursery meals are prepared on site, with consideration to provide a well balanced diet.

Vegetarian and special dietary requirements, such as Halal and Kosher, are all catered for. A copy of the weekly menu is available in our reception area, and online at www.greensidenursery.co.uk.

If you wish to provide your child with a packed lunch, please ensure it is healthy.  Please provide at least one piece of fruit. We will not accept crisps, chocolate, sweets or fizzy drinks in a child’s packed lunch.

If you require us to re-heat a “home made” meal that you wish your child to have, please ensure it is vegetarian.  In order to ensure no food contamination takes place, we will not re-heat foods which contain meat or fish.

Holding fee

Children’s names will be placed on the waiting list in order of registration. When a space becomes available it will be offered to the first child on the list (see admission policy). Upon accepting a place a £20 holding fee will be required. This is a refundable charge to hold a child’s space until the agreed start date. Parents will be given a receipt and confirmation of their agreed start date. The holding fee will be refunded to parents upon producing a valid receipt after ‘headcount day’ in the term their child starts nursery. This will be no more than 6 weeks after their start date. (Headcount day is set by the local authority and determines a child’s confirmed attendance at a setting) This date will be given to parents on request.

If your child fails to take up their place by the agreed start date this holding fee is non refundable.

At the managements discretion this fee may be refunded if the reason for not accessing the place is beyond parent’s control. Examples of this may include:

Moving away from the area due to unforeseen circumstances

Family breakdown or dispute that prevents the child from accessing any nursery space.

Settling

Parents participate in a settling programme which lasts for a minimum of 6 weeks.

Holidays

Term time only sessions are for 38 weeks of the year.

Nursery closure dates for the year ahead are posted in the main reception area on the Information Board, in the Annexe building and on our website: www.greensidenursery.co.uk.

We expect full attendance at nursery and ask that you book any holidays outside of term times where possible. If you need to make a trip please be aware that the maximum time allowed is 3 weeks. Holidays over 3 weeks will not be sanctioned and your child will risk losing their place.

A holiday form must be filled in with the dates your child will be absent and handed into the nursery office.

If holidays are taken without prior confirmation, or exceed the maximum time allowed, your child’s place may be withdrawn without notice.

Snacks & Cookery

Children attending Free Government Funding care (15 hours per week), parents will be asked to contribute to snack money, unless paying for lunches. The children will also take part in cookery sessions. These are savoury and sweet dishes (vegetarian only)

Notice period

If you wish to withdraw your child from their nursery place 4 weeks’ notice is needed. Please note that nursery funding is allocated in terms, so moving your child mid-term may affect your ability to take up a funded space at another setting.

Q: What are Greenside’s Safeguarding Procedures?

A: Greenside takes its responsibilities seriously to ensure the safety and well being of all our local children and families. We work closely with other professionals to identify and report any concerns.

Recruitment

All staff, whether paid, volunteers or students are rigorously vetted and monitored. All have DBS clearance and students are interviewed prior to commencing with us and are also checked by the Schools/Colleges prior to their initial placement request.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones are not allowed to be switched on whilst on the premises. This applies to staff as well as parents, service providers and trades persons. All mobile phone calls must be made off the premises.

Viewing Panels

We have viewing panels (one way mirrors) from the Manager’s office into the 0-3 year old room and the 3-5 year old room to ensure quality practice at all times.

The baby changing room has stable style doors to enable viewing of the adult who is attending to the child.

Security Cameras

We have CCTV cameras around the perimeter of our nursery, and inside the classrooms.

Security Fencing

All our fencing is covered with anti-climb paint.

Entry Buzzer

We have an entry buzzer system to ensure all those who enter the building have been acknowledged and checked in, where appropriate.

Children’s Attendance Register

This is checked on a daily basis and any unauthorised absences are recorded and a home visit is carried out to ensure the well being of the child.

Child Collection

No child would be released to any adult who is not on the named collection form. In some cases further identification may be needed, in which case photo ID is required for verification. Under no circumstances will we allow anyone aged under 16 to collect a child.

Children’s Wellbeing 

At Greenside Nursery we recognise that the welfare of all children is paramount. We believe every child has the right to feel safe and secure; our duty of care identifies children can reasonably expect a safe and caring environment in which to play and learn. We comply with procedures approved by the ‘Working together to safeguard children’ a Government document, and the operational plans of our setting are stringently adhered to protect families, staff and visitors. If you would like a copy of our safeguarding policy you can request one from reception.

In practice this means if your child arrives with a mark or injury we will ask you about it, if it is not visible please inform us something has happened when you drop them off. We may record the mark and how it happened. If we do you will be shown the record and asked to sign it. Please do not be upset by this, it is standard procedure and unless we are concerned it will put your child in immediate danger, we would discuss any actions with yourselves first. Young children often fall and get accidental injuries; this is a normal part of development and we recognise and take a sensible approach to this

For more information about Safeguarding children at Greenside please speak to a member of staff and ask to view our full policy.

For more information about Safeguarding in Luton please visit the ‘Luton safeguarding children’s board’: http://lutonlscb.org.uk/

At Greenside we recognise parents as first and continual educators of their child. Parents are usually the first to identify and raise concerns about their child’s development. Below is our Special Educational Needs Policy. Please contact the nursery to discuss your childs individual needs if you feel they may need additional support.

Supporting children with Special educational Needs (SEN)

We recognise that all children have the right to access a broad and balanced curriculum, allowing them to progress and learn at a pace and level reflective of their individual abilities. The nursery believes that all children have a right to gain experience and develop their knowledge and understanding alongside their peers no matter what their individual needs, and are committed to the inclusion of all children.

Greenside Nursery endeavours to be inclusive to all children; therefore as long as we can safely provide for the child’s specific needs, this nursery has a policy of no refusal.

Definition of Special Educational Needs

The nursery staff recognise the definition of special educational needs as detailed in the ‘Special Educational Needs Code of Practice’.

Children have Special Educational Needs if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special provision to be made for them.

Children have a learning difficulty if they:

1. A) Have significantly greater difficulty than the majority of children of the same age.
2. B) Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of the same age in schools within the local education authority
3. C) Are under compulsory school age and fall within the definition of (A) and (B) above or would do so if Special Educational Needs Provision was not made for them.

Children must not be regarded as having a learning difficulty solely because the language or form of language of their home is different from the language in which they will be taught.

We aim to:

• Identify any difficulties a child may have and to work with the child and their parents or carers to address those difficulties.
• Offer a secure and positive environment that will promote the development of the whole child.
• To provide a differentiated curriculum to meet the needs of all children.
• Ensure that every child is given full and equal access to a broad and balanced curriculum appropriate to individual need.
• To develop individual learning programmes to meet the specific requirements of children with special educational needs.

Policy Implementation

All staff are required to monitor each child’s development and learning through accurate observation and record keeping. Through this process, staff are required to identify any child who may be experiencing difficulties in specific areas and ensure the needs of such children, and any children who present to the nursery with individual needs already identified, are met.

Parents as Partners

Our partnership working: Only by working in effective partnership with parents will staff be placed to meet the needs of the individual children fully. When a child presents with specific needs already identified staff are required to gather from parents (and any other settings attended or previously attended by the child) all information available to support the inclusion of the child.

Ongoing dialogue and shared written information will ensure that an accurate assessment of the child’s abilities and needs is maintained. When a child is identified by staff as experiencing difficulties in specific areas which may require additional or alternative interventions, the staff are best placed to decide when to inform the parents that their child is likely to receive Special Educational Provision. However, this information must be shared at the earliest opportunity and be part of a natural process for regular communication between nursery and home. Referral to the Special Needs service will only happen upon parents completing the required consent forms. 

Staff should always provide support for parents, recognising that they may not previously have been aware of their child’s difficulties, whilst realising that information shared should be full and accurate. At all stages of Special Needs Provision, staff must maximise opportunities for parental involvement, ensuring that parents are encouraged to contribute their knowledge of their child’s development and learning, and help to set targets through Individual Education Plans

The Role of the SENCO

The named SENCO will have responsibility for:

• ensuring liaison with parents and other professionals in respect of children with special educational needs
• advising and supporting other practitioners in the setting
• ensuring that appropriate Individual Education Plans are in place
• ensuring that relevant background information about individual children with special educational needs is collected, recorded and updated.
• Ensuring that children are assessed through an age and stage appropriate method, this may include recording through the SEN toolkit or with a differentiated baseline.

The SENCO will take the lead in further assessment of the child’s particular strengths and areas for support; in planning future provision for the child in discussion with colleagues; and in monitoring and subsequently reviewing the action taken. The SENCO will also ensure that appropriate records are kept including a record of children with an IEP and Education and Health Care Plan. The child’s designated key worker will remain responsible for working with the child on a daily basis and for planning and delivering an individualised programme.

Individual Education Plans

Where a child is deemed to be in need of Early Years Action or Early Years Action plus, staff should record for him/her an Individual Education Plan (IEP). The IEP must state clearly the sort‐term targets for the child, the nature of the staff intervention, the use of any particular resources and home support. The IEP should detail when reviews are scheduled and identify any involvement of outside agencies. Copies of the IEP should be provided for the parents, as well as kept on record by the child’s Key person and nursery SENCO.

Staff at Greenside Nursery believe that children flourish best in an ordered environment, where everyone knows what is expected of them. Children should be free to develop their play and learning without fear of being hurt or hindered by anyone else. We aim to work towards a situation in which children can develop self-discipline and self-esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement.

Rewarding good behaviour

Reward for all good behaviour should be encouraged i.e. during activities a child has taken part in, with the use of play materials and sitting at group times. Social rewards is often all that is needed to create a positive response. Children are rewarded a marble in the jar at whole class group times i.e. for tidying up, listening well and following instructions. Individual rewards are also given and placed in the classroom for all to see. At the end of each term, all children will have been given a reward for good behaviour of some kind.

Responsibility

Children need to be given responsibilities within their capabilities from an early age to help develop social awareness.

• Encourage children to make free choices and develop responsible and responsive behaviour
• Follow and foster children’s interests
• Allow and encourage children to think and act for themselves
• Allow children to take responsibility for organisational activities such as tidying, wiping tables, pouring drinks
• Promote consideration and care for others
• Encourage children to respect and take care of their environment
• Allow children to learn from their mistakes as long as they do not endanger themselves or others

New experiences

Children’s development is enriched and their natural curiosity stimulated by new and varied experiences. Knowledge stems for experiences.

• Provide a stimulating and challenging environment
• Give opportunities for children to meet new people, experiment with new materials, visit places, learn about people who are different from themselves
• Match activities to child’s stage of development and capability
• Promote development by giving new challenges when concepts, knowledge. Values, attitudes and skills are mastered

We aim to:

• Provide a positive model for the children with regard to friendliness, care and courtesy and to offer strategies for handling any conflict
• Rules governing the conduct of the group and the behaviour of the children will be discussed and agreed within the setting and explained to all newcomers, both children and adults
• All staff will ensure that the rules are applied consistently so that children have the security of knowing what to expect and can build up useful habits of behaviour
• We will help the children to challenge bullying behaviour appropriately
• We will praise and endorse desirable behaviour such as kindness and willingness to share

Behaviour Management for Under Three’s

Age Group – Toddlers to Three’s

Our nursery understands the need each child has, however young, to be heard. Therefore, we give them a voice and expect them to exercise it for their own gratification and development.

Children of these tender years need the opportunity to exercise control in their lives, as everything is usually determined for them i.e. the clothes they wear, the food they eat etc. The timetable they follow is often governed by circumstances out of their control.

By giving toddlers the ability to make decisions, the growing language that is now becoming part of their being, helps them have a voice. By letting youngsters say NO! The adult empowers the young child which alleviates a sense of frustration of always having to go along with the wishes of others. By an adult offering sensible choices and questions that enable the child to feel heard and valued, the toddler feels less inclined to demand, and more inclined to participate.

Babies

Babies may often behave fretfully. There may be many causes for this:

• A new environment
• Strangers
• Boredom
• Strange smells
• Hunger
• Thirst
• Discomfort
• Need for sleep
• Pain

By establishing key worker roles, making time for one to one play, massage, sleep patterns and a range of regular outdoor stimulating trips, babies are aided in their transition and their acceptance of the new carer in their young lives.

A very young child only has the tool of crying to tell us their needs. As professional carers it is our duty to pre-empt their desires and help create a calm and caring environment, where; hugs, cuddles, warmth, own needs, signing and stimulating play all make a happy and secure baby.

Differentiation

Whatever the child’s methods of learning, it is the duty of the key worker, team leader and manager to create a curriculum that recognises differentiation.

Children learn best by doing; classrooms across all ages encourage learning through child initiated play and adult supported play. This alleviates boredom and frustration because children are free to investigate and explore, which enables them to build on their previous learning.

Individual planning and next step development linked to a child’s interest, aid recognition of talented and gifted children.