The Secret Garden Day Nursery and Pre School
Our aim is to provide a friendly and welcoming environment, which allows every child to flourish.
We want you to be happy leaving your child with us and we want you to be happy when you pick your child up. We are committed to providing the very best care and education for each child.
About Us
The Secret Garden Day Nursery and Pre-school is a private day nursery which is situated in a large friendly house with a dual entry security system.
It has been registered under its new ownership since September 2011. The owner of the nursery Tejaswini Earp has managed and owned nurseries in Early Years for over 18 years, with a specialisation in the Montessori Method of teaching.
Our staff team have years of experience between them and are highly qualified. They are always bettering themselves through various training courses and keep up to date with all current standards and legislation.
Safety and Security
Parents can have peace of mind in the knowledge that their children are in a safe and secure environment with a double entry security system on all entry and exit doors plus fire alarms incorporating emergency lighting throughout the building.
Meals
Food is very important to us and we cater for all your child’s dietary needs
Our daily menu of home cooked meals and snacks is prepared freshly in our kitchen by our own nursery cook. Our menus are on display in the entrance hall. A daily routine of meal times is displayed on the notice board in each room.
Settling Your Child into nursery
At the Secret Garden, we want to make leaving your child in our care the best possible experience for both of you.
Once you have enrolled your child and confirmed your place we will arrange for you to make settling in visits. Settling in sessions are arranged with the Manager and the key person to meet the individual needs of each child.
These visits are designed for you and your child to be able to get to know the staff and to ask any questions you may have about the nursery.
Our detailed policies and procedures are available at any time for your perusal. There is a parent’s notice board, which include menus, newsletters and information as well as policies and procedures.
Arrival and collection of children
When bringing your child to the nursery for settling in session’s staff will tell you about our dual entry security system. We ask parents to sign in on arrival for each session and take your child to their room. Please tell a member of staff any relevant information about your child. Record any medication or any requirements your child may need with a member of staff who will put it in the message book. If anyone other than yourself / or those on the collection list for your child is collecting or dropping in your child, you will be required to inform the setting who will then ask you to complete the collection form and inform you of the procedure. When entering and leaving the nursery please ensure the nursery key code door and front door are closed securely after you. Please do not allow anyone else to enter the building.
Sick Children
If your child is unwell and is not coming to nursery, please contact the nursery at your earliest convenience.
The children’s health, safety and well-being are paramount. We have all relevant policies and procedures inn place, while also following necessary guidance from Public Health England and the Department For Education. Your child’s condition is assessed by a senior member of staff, who will then contact you, or an emergency contact number you have agreed and given us to inform you of your child’s illness. Please keep us informed of any changes of address or emergency contact numbers.
Safeguarding
The setting’s safeguarding policy is in place to provide a secure framework in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who attend our setting. The policy aims to ensure that all our children are safe and protected from harm.
All children deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential. There are five outcomes that are key to children and young people’s well- being:
- be healthy
- stay safe
- enjoy and achieve
- make a positive contribution and
- achieve economic well being
Improving outcomes for all children and young people underpins all the development and work within the setting.
Safeguarding in the Secret Garden is considered everyone’s responsibility and as such our setting aims to create the safest environment within which every child has the opportunity to flourish.
Babies- 3 months – 2 years
Our baby room staff are experienced in the care of babies and offer security, warmth and affection. Our aim is to promote a happy, safe, caring environment that will nurture early development. Our baby rooms accommodate children up to two years of age.
We work with you to get to know your baby and to meet the basic needs of feeding, changing and sleeping. The staff put a high priority on talking to you about your baby at the beginning and end of each session to tell you about your baby’s day. We also keep a daily diary to keep you informed of your child’s routines in the baby room. The baby playroom is well equipped with a wide variety of toys to encourage the babies to explore their five senses whilst learning to co-ordinate their movements. We like to use Treasure Baskets and a range of stimulating activities and experiences, which allow the children to learn, explore and have fun!
We have a separate sleep room to ensure our babies have a cosy quiet peaceful area.
Each baby has an ‘All about Me’ folder to record special moments with photographs of their time spent at the Secret Garden. The folder follows the children as they move into the toddler room and Pre School and grows in to a wonderful keepsake of their time at nursery.
Toddlers (children aged 2 –3)
The transition from the baby room to the toddler room is planned for each child. The day is structured but flexible to meet the individual needs of toddlers. We value each child, as an individual .The routine encourages children to socialise with others and experience small groups exploring and investigating.
Every child participates in organised, physical and creative play at a level appropriate to their developmental needs.
A high priority is placed on the use of language to strengthen and to develop understanding of all that we do.
At the end of the session parents are given a daily record book which contains information on what their child has participated in throughout their day at nursery.
Pre School (aged 3 – 5 years)
We encourage children to acquire confidence, develop positive attitudes to learning and relate constructively and harmoniously to other children and adults.
We work together to build the foundations of future learning and to develop thinking skills and positive attitudes .We want children to be happy and learn to get on with others.
Our experience of early year’s education ensures that learning activities are planned appropriate for each child‘s stage of development. We believe that childhood is to be enjoyed and celebrated.
The activity board in the Pre School informs parents of the activities the children are offered on a daily basis.
We plan to include as much hands on experience as possible and to allow children’s natural curiosity to lead them into new areas of learning. We teach children how to listen, how to talk, how to engage with each other, how to express themselves and how to develop confidence.
We plan and provide opportunities for all children to succeed in an atmosphere of care and feeling valued.
The Early Years Foundation Stage
The EYFS was introduced from September 2008 and has been revised on several occasions since. It is a framework that sets the standards for learning, development and care for children. This framework includes the legal requirements that must be followed by all settings, as well as practice guidance for all those working with children.
The main principles of the EYFS are grouped into four main themes as follows:
A Unique Child recognises that every child is a competent learner from birth and focuses on development, inclusion, safety, health and well-being.
Positive Relationships shows how secure relationships with others help children learn to be strong and independent and focuses on respect, partnership with parents, supporting learning and relationships with nursery staff.
Enabling Environments focuses on the importance of the environment in supporting children’s learning and includes observation, assessment and planning, the learning environment and working with others.
Learning and Development shows how all children learn in different ways
and at different rates as well as how equally important and inter connected all areas of learning are. The educational programme is part of this theme, with Early Learning Goals in the six main areas.
- Personal, Social and emotional Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Expressive arts and design
- Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Communication and Language
The EYFS sets standards to enable early year’s providers to deliver individualised learning and care that enhances the development of all children.