Guidance & Support
Starting Your Child With Us
Introducing your child to nursery is a carefully managed process designed to ensure a smooth and comfortable transition. Through a series of structured "Stay and Play" sessions, children are gradually integrated into their new environment, allowing them to build relationships with staff and peers. The nursery's keyworker system provides personalised support, focusing on each child's individual development and maintaining open communication with parents through regular updates and parent evenings.
Learning Experiences
Famly serves as St Andrews Nursery's innovative digital learning journal and communication platform, offering parents real-time insights into their child's nursery experiences. Through this interactive tool, staff can share photos, videos, and learning observations, while parents are encouraged to contribute their own moments of childhood milestone achievements. The platform provides flexibility for digital or traditional documentation, ensuring every family can engage with their child's developmental journey in a way that suits their preferences.
Activities & Routines
St Andrews Nursery offers a dynamic and enriching learning environment that embraces children's natural curiosity through innovative educational approaches. The nursery provides a diverse range of experiences centred around the Early Years Foundation Stage, including exploration of festivals, seasons, creative play, and music. With an expansive outdoor provision that serves as an extended classroom, children engage in hands-on learning, developing motor skills, teamwork, and understanding of the natural world through activities like mud kitchen play and gardening.
What Do Ofsted Have To Say About Our Nursery?
St Andrews Day Nursery has achieved an outstanding Ofsted rating, demonstrating exceptional excellence in early years education. The comprehensive inspection highlights the nursery's remarkable approach to child development, with particular praise for its innovative communication strategies, exemplary support for children with special educational needs, and a nurturing environment that fosters independence and holistic growth. The nursery's commitment to creating a safe, stimulating, and inclusive space sets a new standard for high-quality childcare.
Safeguarding at St. Andrew’s
St Andrews Nursery is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare, and holistic development of every child in its care. Through robust safeguarding procedures, the nursery works collaboratively with children, parents, external agencies, and the community to protect children from potential harm. The Designated Safeguarding Leads play a crucial role in providing support, guidance, and protection, ensuring a safe environment that promotes respect, tolerance, and the fundamental right of children to thrive without experiencing abuse in any form.
Hazardous Weather Conditions
St Andrews Nursery recognises that extreme weather can occasionally necessitate temporary closure to ensure the safety of staff and children. In such rare circumstances, the nursery will make careful, considered decisions about closure, prioritising safe travel and maintaining appropriate staffing ratios. Parents will be promptly informed through multiple communication channels, including email, Famly, and the nursery's Facebook page, to ensure clear and timely updates during challenging weather conditions.
Early Years Funding at Our Nursery
St Andrews Nursery is committed to supporting families by offering comprehensive government early years funding entitlements. From 9 months old, eligible children can access 15 or 30 hours of free childcare, with additional support through Early Years Pupil Premium and Disability Access Fund. The nursery streamlines the funding process using user-friendly platforms like Famly and Funding Loop, making it convenient for parents to manage invoices, declarations, and payments while ensuring every child receives the necessary support to flourish.
Special Educational Needs and Learning Difficulties (SEND)
At St Andrews Day Nursery, we are committed to individualised support for children with special educational needs and learning differences. Our dedicated SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) works collaboratively with practitioners, parents, and external professionals to ensure each child receives tailored support that promotes their unique developmental journey. By focusing on personalised strategies and maintaining close communication with families, we strive to create an inclusive environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.