Welcome to Walmgate Day Nursery Ltd, we are a 42 place day nursery situated in the historic part of York known as Walmgate, which is a short walk from the City Centre.  The building is several hundred years old but has been converted to form a modern day care facility that meets all requirements, yet retains character and a nice homely feel.  As we are in a centre location we only have a small outdoor play area but this has been designed to maximise the use of space so each child will benefit from some outdoor play each day.  The nursery also has the use of five drop off and pick up parking spaces for use by our customers.

 

We have three separate rooms which accommodate three separate age ranges, a Baby Room for ages from 3 month to 2 years, a 2-3 years Tweenies Room and a Pre-School Room for children from 3-5 years.  The ratio of staff to children within the Nursery is in accordance with the 1989 Children Act and we employ qualified and experienced staff.

 

Our aim is to provide the best quality childcare in a stimulating environment with lots of learning opportunities.  We aim to achieve this by:

 

• Providing an informal yet stimulating environment enabling each child to develop skills and acquire knowledge at their own individual pace
• Offer opportunities to explore and develop
• Form good relationships between staff parents and other children
• Providing for emotional, social and physical needs.

 

 

Opening Times

 

The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday 51 weeks per year.

 

The Baby Room 3 months to 2 years

 

The nursery has a separate baby unit which accommodates 11 babies up to the age of 2 years.  They are able to transfer up to the 2-3 years (tweenies room) at any time from 18 months to 2 years and this will be judged on each childs individual needs and stage of development.

 

If your baby is having milk feeds, due to health and safety regulations parents are required to provide enough made up feeds for each day and adequately labelling each bottle.  We provide home cooked baby food until your child is old enough to eat a hot lunch, although if you prefer you can provide your own baby food which we will happily give to your child.  When your child reaches 12 months old you can either provide a cold packed lunch or choose to select from our hot menu.

All equipment is sterilised until babies reach 12 months.  Unless requested otherwise, we will provide your child with their own beaker, bib, bowl and labelled blanket/sheet to help prevent the spread of infection.  Nappies and wipes are included in the fees, if these are not suitable for your needs we ask you to provide your own.  We ask you to provide your own nappy cream due to the risk of allergy and infection to others; this will be kept labelled and used only on your child.

 

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in all three rooms, which is a framework for us to follow to encourage and monitor children’s development and starts from birth all the way through to 5 years plus.  The staff provides various activities for the babies to take part in if they wish and encourage lots of learning through play.  Children are observed regularly to monitor development.  Please ask any member of staff for further details about the EYFS.

 

The Tweenies Room 2-3 years

 

We have a well equipped 17 place Tweenie Room, with separate are to explore sand, water, painting and play dough.  The main room has a designated area for construction and small world toys and there is a quiet area for books and to have a well earned rest.  We aim to integrate your child into the Pre-school Room at 3 years 3 months or as soon after this as is practicably possible.  We provide nappies, wipes, a mid morning and mid afternoon nutritious snack and all drinks.   You may also choose to provide your child with a cold packed lunch or choose from our hot menu.  A bed and a sheet/blanket will be provided for your child’s nap.  Again we follow the EYFS Framework and encourage learning through play and free choice.  Activities are provided after observing children to see what their interests are and we then encourage them to learn through their areas of interest.

 

The Pre-school Room 3-5 years

 

We have 14 places in our well equipped pre-school room where planned learning activities are prepared.  The activities coincide with the six areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage which encourages children to achieve Early Learning Goals.  Preparing each child for entering their next transition (school).    As we are working towards these goals we are registered to take three and four year old funding from the Government.  Below you will find a breakdown of each of the six areas with a brief description.  Children are encouraged to learn through their free play and are observed regularly to monitor their development.  Activities are then planned to encourage their development further.  Children have free choice of what they wish to play with and we encourage them to become independent in their choices.  If you require further details on any of these matters please ask the Owner/Manager on your walk around the nursery.

 

 

Personal, social and emotional development

This learning area includes the establishment of positive attitudes to learning to help develop confidence, concentration and motivation.

 

Communication, Language and Literacy

Within this learning goal we cover reading, writing, listening communicating and how to use books correctly.  Developing pencil control by forming recognisable words, shapes and patterns.

 

Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy

Children will learn about shapes, size, capacity, quantity, volume and logical thinking through practical learning experiences.

 

Knowledge and understanding of the world

In this area children learn about their environments, early geographical concepts, history and introducing science and technology.

 

Physical development

In this area we concentrate on co-ordination, fine motor skills and spatial awareness.

 

Creative development

Their will be opportunities for your child to explore texture and shapes, expressing ideas and feelings in a personal and unique way through the medium of music, literacy or drama through role play.

 

In all rooms we record your child’s development in the form of Observation Records and Progress Reports which we send out to you at the end of each term.

 

Key Person System

 

The nursery operates a key person system where your child’s development will be progressed and monitored by the same member of staff as often as possible.  You will be informed who your child’s key person will be on admission to the nursery.

 

Outings

 

Parental consent is required for your child to participate in outings which will be requested in your registration pack.  We will take opportunities to visit the library, Museum Gardens, Playtime at the Early Years Learning Centre or maybe venture out to buy something from the Bakery, Greengrocers, etc.  We will observe the standard ratios of staff to children on all outings and wear high visibility and nursery uniform clothing.

 

Involving Parents

 

The key worker will be your main point of day to day contact, although the owner/manager will normally be at the nursery if you have anything you would like to discuss.  We will have a quarterly review with parents, for those who cannot make the meetings we will send out your child’s report.  We send out quarterly newsletters and have a parent’s notice board in the reception area.

 

Payment Terms

 

All fees are due monthly in advance, on the 1^st of each month.  The fees are calculated by multiplying the weekly total by 51 weeks and dividing by 12 months, to give a monthly average.  Payment can  be made by standing order, childcare vouchers, cheque or cash.

 

Meals

 

Packed lunches which are provided by you for all children over 1 years of age will be served at 11.50 am, and we will provide lunch time drinks.  All packed lunches should be left on kitchen counter in reception area, clearly labelled with your child’s name.  These will be taken to appropriate room by a staff member and placed in fridge until needed.

 

All children are provided with a snack in each morning or afternoon session which typically is along the lines of the table below but this will change from time to time.  If your child has any special dietary needs in relation to these snacks please let us know.

 

Day	Morning	Afternoon
Monday	Toast, Fruit or Cereal Milk	Sandwiches Fruit Juice or milk
Tuesday	Fruit and cereal Milk	Tuna salad Juice or milk
Wednesday	Biscuits, toast or cereal with fruit Milk	Grilled tomatoes on toast Juice or milk
Thursday	Fruit with yogurt or cereal Milk	Vegetable sticks and dip Juice or milk
Friday	Toast, Fruit or cereal Milk	Pasta/sauce Juice or milk

 

Dropping off and picking up your child

 

There are five drop off and pick up car spaces for your use, these are only to be used for this purpose and not for extended parking.  There are strict traffic regulations regarding the use of these spaces and there must be no parking on Walmgate itself when using the nursery.  The regulations also specify that you must re-enter Walmgate in a forward facing direction.  Following these rules will mean that the parking provision can continue to be available for the benefit of all our customers.  If you are walking to the nursery or using public transport then we have a buggy park at the front entrance, demand is always high and we ask they you fold your buggy so there is enough space for everyone.

 

When entering the building please take care of your children as Walmgate is a busy road at various time of the day.

 

If you would like another person to pick up your child you must inform the nursery in advance in writing before we can release your child to someone who is not familiar to us. (Unless we have this information already on the registration forms). In case of an emergency a telephone call with a good description of the person who will be collecting the child will be adequate.

 

When a parent fails to collect a child before the nursery closes, two members of staff will remain with that child, one of which will always be a senior member of staff.  Parents are expected to contact the nursery if they are going to be late, and all parents are aware that after 6pm the nursery is not insured to have children on the premises.  If the parents have not made contact, a senior member of staff will try to do so at 6pm.  If contact still has not been made, further numbers will be taken from the child’s registration forms and used.  Should further contact still not be made the social services will be informed and advice sought and followed accordingly.  Please be aware that payment charges will incurred for extra staff, hours, etc.

 

Clothing and personal belongings

 

Please could you provide your child with a change of clothing, especially when your child is Potting Training, 3 or 4 sets would be useful.  Please put the changes of clothes in your child’s labelled bag and place on child’s peg.

 

Please can you keep valuables (money, jewellery) and treasured possessions (i.e. favourite toys) at home as the nursery cannot be responsible for any loss, damage or injury resulting from such items.

 

 

 

 

 

Holidays

 

The nursery is open all year except for public holidays and the week between Christmas and the New Year.  Fees will  not be charged for the Christmas week but all other holidays, including bank holidays will be charged at the normal rate.

 

Extra Sessions

 

If you require an extra session please ask a member of staff who will provide you with a form to complete and you will then be required to pay by cheque or cash in advance.  In some cases it may not be possible for you to add the extra sessions to the following months invoice.  However, this will only be considered if regular payments of previous invoices had been received.

 

Illness/Absence

 

Please notify the nursery as soon as possible if your child will not be attending due to illness or other absence.  If you child is ill at any time they should not be brought to the nursery, if your child is brought to nursery with any infectious or contagious disease you will be asked to take them home again, this is for protection against infecting other children.

 

If you child is taken ill whilst at nursery we will contact you immediately, in an emergency the nursery has the right to seek medical attention or to have your child taken to hospital.

 

Behaviour

 

Children’s behaviour will be positively managed, no child will be humiliated, embarrassed, frightened or physically rebuked; aggressive behaviour will be strongly discouraged.

 

Admissions and Booking a Place                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

Once you have had a meeting with the manager/viewed the nursery and would like to reserve a place you will need to complete all registration forms enclosed in your parent pack.  On submission of your registration forms you will need a bond of £100 which will secure your place and will be deducted from your last months fees.  This is a non-refundable bond.  You will be invoiced monthly in advance and fees should be paid before the commencement of the first session.  It is also necessary for you to sign a declaration form agreeing to abide by all the policies and conditions of Walmgate Day Nursery Ltd.

 

Settling into the Nursery

 

We want to ensure that your child is eased into the nursery with as little unease as possible.  We will provide settling in sessions free of charge in the following way.  Firstly, a 1 hour session in which you are encouraged to stay, followed by a series of unaccompanied visits (totalling 2 hours if you require a part-time place or 5 hours if you require full-time).  These will help your child to feel familiar with the surroundings when their placement starts in full.  Dummies and comforters are welcome.