Other Information
Medical
If your child is unable to come to nursery please telephone in the morning. In cases of sickness/diarrhoea we ask you to keep your child away for 48 hours from the last time they were ill. In the nursery environment bugs tend to spread very easily and quickly. So we would ask you to please keep your child at home if they are not well. We are aware that this can be difficult, especially if your child wants to come to nursery, but it helps to prevent passing on the germs to other children, and then back to your child!
If your child has any condition that requires medication, i.e. asthma, or special treatments, e.g. allergies, please talk to the nursery staff. When we are required to administer medication we have a specifically designed medication book that we ask you to fill in and we always have a witness when we administer medicines. All medicines are kept out of reach at all times.
Cleaning and clearing Policy
Any spills of blood, vomit or excrement wiped up and flushed away down the toilet. Rubber gloves always used when cleaning up spills of body fluids. Floors and other affected surfaces disinfected using chlorine or iodine bleach according to the manufacturer's instructions. Fabrics contaminated with body fluids thoroughly washed in hot water. Spare laundered pants, and other clothing, available in case of accidents and polythene bags available in which to wrap soiled garments. All surfaces are cleaned daily with an appropriate cleaner.
Illness
Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infection, and to inform the nursery as to the nature of the infection so that the nursery can alert other parents, and make careful observations of any child whom seems unwell.
Parents are asked not to bring into the nursery any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 24 hours has elapsed since the last attack.
If the children of the nursery staff are unwell, the children will not accompany their parents/carers to work in the nursery.
Cuts or open sores, whether on adults or children, will be covered with a sticking plaster or other dressing.
If a child is on prescribed medication the following procedures will be followed:
If possible, the child’s parents will administer the medicine. If not, then medication must be clearly labelled with the child’s name, dosage, and any instructions.
Information sources
Parents will have the opportunity to discuss health issues with the nursery staff and will have access to information available to the nursery. The nursery will maintain links with health visitors and gather health information and advice from the local health authority information services and/or other agencies. To prevent the spread of all infection, adults in the group will ensure that the following good practices are observed:
Personal hygiene
Hands washed after using the toilet
Tooth brushes are not shared
Tissues will be available for children to blow and wipe their noses when necessary. Soiled tissues will be disposed of hygienically.
Children are encouraged to shield their mouths when coughing.
Children with pierced ears are not allowed to try on or share each other’s earrings.
Our cloakroom
Every child has their own named peg, on which we ask you to keep their possessions. We would also appreciate it if you could provide your child with either slippers or slipper socks to be worn whilst they are inside. Due to the unpredictability of our weather, we ask you to bring in a sun hat and sun cream every day during the summer.
Often in the summer we set up activities outside, and whilst we try to keep the children in the shade, this can be difficult and children without sun hats are limited to playing inside. We are happy to apply sun cream that you bring in. Obviously the opposite applies for the other 11 months of the year when the children need to bring in a coat!
Sun Protection policy
Child protection is the responsibility of all those who work with children and all staff are aware of this responsibility. All our staff are aware of the action to be taken in the summer months. Our Carers will apply sun cream provided by the parents to the children regularly whilst they are outdoors, shaded areas will be provided. Sun hats shall be worn at all times.
NOTE: Sun cream is to be provided by the parent.
Spare clothes
As some three-year-olds may not yet be confident with their toilet training, accidents do happen. If you are aware that child is likely to have an accident during their stay with us we ask that you provide them with a good supply of fresh clothing.
We do have a limited supply of spare clothing that we can lend to you if needed, however, to ensure that we do not lose our clothes, we ask that they be returned within one week otherwise an excess charge of £5 will be incurred.
Lost property
All of your child’s possessions are left in nursery at your own risk, as many items are not taken home and subsequently clutter the nursery; we have a lost property box. This box is emptied at the end of every month and any items left unclaimed are sent to charity shops, so please make sure that you collect all of your child’s possessions each day.
School collections
These take place from 13 schools around the Chester area. Schools are provided with all the necessary information about Overleigh and details of the member of staff responsible for collecting your child. All escort staff carry either a pager or mobile phone in case of emergencies.
We encourage parents to bring children into the Out of School Club prior to their first collection. This allows the club to introduce the member of staff to your child. and this provides assurance for the child that they are being collected and kept safe, prior to parental collection.
After arriving back at the club, children are free to choose a light tea snack which consists of assorted sandwiches, toast, cake, biscuits, crisps, fresh fruit and a drink. They are then free to take advantage of the many activities we have to offer.
Meetings
The time, place, and conduct of meetings will ensure that all families have an equal opportunity to be involved in offering ideas for the running of the nursery.
Outdoor play
Children will have the opportunity to play in the fresh air throughout the year (either in the nursery’s own outside play area or on outings to parks or other play spaces).
The Curriculum
All children will be respected and their individuality and potential recognised, valued and nurtured. Activities and the use of play equipment offer children opportunities to develop in an environment free from prejudice and discrimination. Appropriate opportunities will be given for children to explore, acknowledge and value similarities and differences between themselves and others.
Activities and the use of play equipment will be chosen to give children a balanced view of the world and an appreciation of the rich diversity of our multi-racial society. All Materials will be selected to help children to develop their self-respect and to respect other people by avoiding stereotypes and derogation, pictures or messages about any group of people.
Discriminatory behaviour/remarks
These are unacceptable in the nursery. Our response will aim to be sensitive to the feelings of the victim(s) and to help those responsible to understand and overcome their prejudices.
Language
Bilingual/multilingual children and adults are an asset. They will be valued and their languages recognised and respected in the nursery.
Parental involvement
Parents are the first educators of their young children. The aim of the Overleigh Nursery group is to support their essential work, not to supplement them. We will:
Consult with families about the times of meetings to avoid excluding anyone
Hold meetings in the nursery, at a time, which is appropriate for all.
Welcome the contribution of parents, whatever forms these may take.
Make known to all parents the system for registering queries, complaints, or suggestions.
Provide opportunities for parents to learn about the nursery’s curriculum and about young children’s learning, in the nursery and at home.
Make all new parents aware of the groups systems and policies.
Ensure that parents are informed on a regular basis about their child’s progress.
Involve parents in shared record keeping about their own child, either formally or informally.
Ensure that all parents are fully informed about meetings and any training workshops.
Special Needs
Overleigh nursery recognises the wide range of special needs of children and families in the community, and will consider what part it can play in meeting these needs. Planning for nursery meetings and events will take into account the needs of people with special educational needs. Overleigh Private Day Nursery has regard to the DFEE code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs, and to provide a welcome and appropriate learning opportunities for all children.
Children with special needs, like all other children, are admitted to the Nursery after consultation between parents, supervisor and keyworker.
Our system of observation and record keeping, which operates in conjunction with parents, enables us to monitor the child’s needs and progress on an individual basis.
Our keyworker system ensures that each adult is especially responsible for, and close to a limited number, so each child receives plenty of adult time and attention.
If it is felt that a child needs cannot be met in the club without the support of a one to one worker, funding will be sort to employ one.
We work in liaison with staff outside the Nursery, including Therapists Health Visitors, Psychologists, Social workers, Paediatricians to meet the children’s needs.
Overleigh Private Day Nursery is fully equipped with a lift and disabled changing and toilet facilities.
Security
As part of our security, when dropping your child off and collecting them we provide a signing in/out book. It is extremely important that you SIGN YOUR CHILD IN AND OUT as these are valuable records in the event of a fire.
We also ask that parents take care to ensure that they always CLOSE DOORS behind them and NEVER let anybody into the nursery that they do not know. Leaving doors OPEN and letting STRANGERS in are obvious safety RISKS, so we ask all Parents to take great care when entering or leaving the Nursery.
Festivals
Our aim is to show respectful awareness of all the major events in the lives of the children and families in the nursery, and in our society as a whole, and to welcome the diversity of backgrounds from which they come. In order to achieve this, we aim to acknowledge all the festivals, which are celebrated in our area and/or by the families involved in the nursery:
Without indoctrination in any specific faith, children will be made aware of the festivals, which are being celebrated by their own families or others, and will be introduced where appropriate to the stories behind the festivals.
Before introducing a festival with which the adults in the nursery are not themselves familiar, appropriate advice will be sought from people to whom that festival is a familiar one.
Children and families who celebrate at home, festivals with which the rest of the nursery is not familiar will be invited to share their festival with the rest of the group, if they themselves wish to do so.
Children will be encouraged to welcome a range of different festivals, together with stories, celebrations and special foe and clothing they involve, as part of the diversity of life.
Things to do before your child starts nursery
Explain to your child that they will be starting nursery, mention the names of the staff.
Discuss the kinds of activities Nursery has to offer—sand, water, painting, Lego, bikes, toys etc.
Help them to feel positive about coming to nursery, mention how much fun it can be.
Encourage your child to talk to staff about any worries that they may have.
Accustom your child to being away from you for short periods of time—playing with other children, being looked after by other adults etc.
If possible, visit the nursery with your child. This gives them a good idea of what to expect and an opportunity to meet the staff.
Things to bring with you on/before your first day
Registration form and fee
Slippers or slipper socks
Spare clothes, if needed
Medication, if needed
Coat/hat/sunscreen etc. depending on time of year
A brief outline of how they spend their day sleep/feeds/times and amounts/comforters i.e. dummy /soft toy etc
Complaints Procedure
We aim to provide the highest quality care and education for all our children. We aim to offer a welcome to each individual child and family and to provide a warm and caring environment within which all children can learn and develop as they play.
We believe children and parents are entitled to expect courtesy and prompt, careful attention to their needs and wishes. Our intention is to work in partnership with parents and we welcome suggestions on how to improve our group at any time.
Making concerns known
A parent who is uneasy about any aspect of the group’s provision should first of all talk over any worries and anxieties with the nursery supervisor without hesitation. If this does not have a satisfactory outcome within a couple of weeks, or if the problem recurs, the parent should put the concerns or complaint in writing and request a meeting with the nursery supervisor and the proprietor.
Both parents and the supervisor should have a friend or partner present if required and an agreed written record of the discussion should be made. Most complaints should be resolved informally at this initial stage. If the matter is still not resolved the parents should again contact the proprietor.
If parent and nursery cannot reach an agreement, it might be helpful to invite an external mediator, one who is acceptable to both parties, to listen to both sides and offer advice. A mediator has no legal powers but can help to clarify the situation. Staff or volunteers within the nursery will be available to act as mediator if both parties wish it.
The mediator will help define the problem, review the action so far and suggest further ways in which it might be resolved. The mediator will keep all discussion confidential. she/he will meet with the nursery if requested and will keep an agreed written record of any meetings that are held and of any advice that she/he has given.
The role of the registering authority
In some circumstances, it will be necessary to bring in Ofsted, who have a duty to ensure laid down requirements are adhered to and with whom the nursery works in partnership to encourage high standards.
The registering authority would be involved if a child appeared to be at risk or where there seemed to be a possible breach of registration requirements. In these cases both parent and nursery would be informed and the Early years OFSTED (OFSTED Early Years, 3rd Floor North, Royal Exchange Buildings, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7LA, Tel: 0845 601 4772.) to ensure a proper investigation of the complaint followed by appropriate action.
We believe that most complaints are made constructively and can be sorted out at an early stage. We also believe that it is in the best interests of the nursery and the parents that complaints should be taken seriously and dealt with fairly and in a way which respects confidentiality.
Booking Conditions & Payment of fees
To enrol your child in either the out of school club or the holiday club please complete our Nursery Contract and return it to us with a £30 non refundable registration fee. Please read this carefully as it constitutes a legal binding contract between yourselves and the nursery. Fees are due and payable ONE MONTH IN ADVANCE and you are required to provide the nursery with ONE MONTHS NOTICE to change or terminate your contract with us.
For the out of school club fees are charged for 38 weeks term time. Please Note we do not refund any fees. Payments may be made by cash, cheque, debit card or standing order. (payments made by Visa or MasterCard incur additional charges at 2.6% or 2.9% of the account total) Accounts paid late will incur a 5% surcharge. Fees are to be paid prior to Your child’s attendance to the nursery, Cheques should be made payable to: "Overleigh Nursery Ltd" - Thank you.
WELCOME