Nursery Charter
Rockbourne Day Nursery is a large family run nursery in Woolton, Liverpool. It is the second of three to open due to the success of our sister nursery Woolton Village Day nursery. Our third is Childwall Valley Neighbourhood nursery.
The nursery has been purposefully adapted to accommodate children from birth to five years the children are divided into four groups, 0 – 1, 1 – 2, 2 – 3 and 3 – 5 years.
Each age having a separate room especially designed to cater for all of their needs.
Safety and Security of the children within Rockbourne Day Nursery is high on our list of priorities and therefore our nursery conforms to and exceeds the legal requirements set out in the statutory framework for early years foundation stage. The nursery has CCTV installed both at the front and the rear of the building.
Highly qualified staff and students supervise all of the children at the nursery. Qualifications include:
NNEB, Btec, NVQ level 2 and 3 and students working towards their NVQ level 2. We have an art and craft teacher and a dance teacher who visits the nursery on a weekly basis. All staff regularly attend relevant courses ensuring the well being of the children this includes First Aid, food hygiene and active play training
We also have the following designated co-ordinators: Special Educational Needs (S.E.N.C.O), Equal opportunities, Behaviour management, and Child protection.
The nursery is regularly inspected by OFSTED and has received excellent reports of which we are proud, the reports can be viewed on the OFSTED website www.ofsted.gov.uk
We aim to offer your child
At Rockbourne Day Nursery we pride ourselves on experienced staff and ensuring a happy, stimulating and secure environment for all the children in our care. We follow the government guide lines and early years foundation stage (EYFS), to provide the best care and education for each individual child.
We also recognize the importance of working in partnership with parents to meeting the needs of the children we do this by consulting parents on a regular basis through daily diaries and EYFS files.
Visits
Before your child starts the nursery they are invited to attend two introductory visits from 10.00am – 12.00pm or 2.00pm – 4.00pm. This is so we can exchange information with you regarding your child’s routine.
It is also an opportunity to introduce them to the staff and their new friends.
There is no charge for the introductory visits. Parents will not stay with their child during the visit.
Food and Drink
We provide three meals per day for the children who are with us for a full day.
Children who attend the morning session will receive breakfast, served at 9.00am and lunch served between 11.00am and 11.45am. Children who attend the afternoon session will receive an afternoon snack served at 3.00pm.
The meals are prepared on the premises in our kitchen that is regularly checked by the environmental health. The food prepared is nutritious and complies with dietary and religious requirements, we also provide 2 puddings a week to the children. Fresh drinking water is available for all the children at all times throughout the day. Each child has their own water bottle that they can access at any time throughout the day.
We often celebrate children’s birthdays at nursery and parents are welcome to bring in a birthday cake. We ask parents to bring fresh fruit as an alternative to sweets to have at the birthday party.
Milk feeds
The nursery provides milk formula but parents must provide their own bottles.
SEF File
Parents are also invited to read the nursery’s operational plan. This is a full detailed document on how the nursery is managed and contains lots of information. The plan is updated regularly in line with OFSTED’s regulation changes. It is kept in the reception area at all times for you to peruse at your leisure.
The Early Years Foundation stage
Since September 2008 the nursery complies with the early year’s foundation stage framework.
The EYFS sets out the standards to enable early year’s providers to reflect the rich personalised experience that many parents give to their child at home.
Like parents we will deliver an individualised learning plan that enhances the development of the children in our care and gives the children the best possible start in life.
Every child will be supported individually to make progress at their own pace and children who need extra support to fulfil their potential will receive special consideration.
All children are competent learners from birth and develop and learn in a wide variety of ways, we as practitioners will look carefully at the children in our care, consider there needs and interests, and stages of development and use all this information to help plan a challenging and enjoyable experience across learning and development
Safety and security
Children will only be allowed to leave the premises with those persons authorised to pick up the child as designated by the parent. When someone other than the parent who is duly authorised to pick up the child arrives at the nursery, that person must show ID such as a photo card driver’s licence.
Parents must inform the office ahead of time if someone different will be collecting the child.
If one of the parents is not authorised to pick up their child, a copy of a court order confirming this must be on file at the nursery.
Please make sure that you arrive at the nursery no later than 5.50pm, so that the staff can exchange information with you in plenty of time before the nursery closes at 6.00pm. Late collection will incur a £10.00 late charge.
Parental Responsibility
In a childcare setting, situations can sometimes arise where it is helpful to know about ‘parental responsibility’ – what it is and who usually has it. We have compiled the following information which you may find useful. However, please note that this is only a guide and you should seek advice in any unusual individual case.
What is it?
Parental Responsibility is a term used in the Children Act to define the rights and responsibilities a person has in relation to a child. If a person has ‘Parental Responsibility’ then they have the right to take decisions concerning the care and welfare of a child.
Who usually has it?
A natural mother has automatic ‘parental responsibility’. Married parents have joint parental responsibility.
If parents are not married, only the mother has parental responsibility.
However, an unmarried father can acquire parental responsibility in any one of six ways:
- By being registered as the father on the child’s birth certificate with the
Consent of the mother (this is for children born after 1 December 2003);
- By entering into a ‘parental responsibility agreement’ with the mother. However, this must be in a prescribed form;
- By applying to the court for a parental responsibility order (if no agreement is in place);
- By being appointed as a guardian either by the mother or by the court, although in these cases he will assume parental responsibility only on the mother’s death;
- By obtaining a residence order from the court (this is an order settling the arrangements to be made as to the person) with whom the child is to live;
- By marrying the mother.
If any of the above has occurred, the father will have Parental Responsibility.
How is it used?
Where both parents have Parental Responsibility they are equally able to make decisions and one parent cannot overrule the other without a court order. There is no limit to the
Number of people who can have parental responsibility at any one time, and no one will lose parental responsibility just because another person acquires it.
Safeguarding
The nursery has an extensive safeguarding policy and also a safeguarding co-ordinator. The child protection co-ordinator has attended training in this field and the information is shared amongst the nursery staff.
All safeguarding issues are completely confidential.
Equality of opportunities
The nursery operates an equality of opportunity policy, which is monitored and evaluated by the named co-ordinator, ensuring it is a two way document.
The nursery S.E.N.C.O undertakes the requirements of the special need code of practice and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2002. There is a clear and extensive policy stating how the needs of the child are met. This policy is reviewed and updated on a six monthly basis.
The nursery can gain support from the Area S.E.N.C.O and the local Neighbourhood Early Years (NEYS) team who regularly visit the nursery to support the staff. Information regarding the Area S.E.N.C.O and NEYS is available from the office.
Behaviour management
The nursery has a positive discipline approach. We talk at lengths to problem solve and teach positive behaviour throughout the day. No physical punishment, harsh words or verbal abuse is permitted at any time.
Care learning and development co-ordinator
The nursery assign a key worker to each child, there role o is to carry out regular observations on the child and planning for their individual interest, while monitoring their area of development. To ensure this is always maintained we have a care learning development co-ordinate.
Illness
Children who are mildly ill such as those who have a cold will be allowed into the nursery.
If your child is showing signs of a serious illness, they will not be permitted to stay at the nursery. Symptoms that would exclude the child include a fever of 101 accompanied by flu signs such as sore throat, rash, vomiting, diarrhoea, irritability or convulsions, vomiting two or more times in a 24 hour period, body rash with fever, sever cough and eye discharge such as conjunctivitis.
If symptoms develop during the day, parents will be notified and asked to come and pick up the child. If the child is irritable, continuously crying or requires more attention than can be provided and is effecting the health and safety of other children, we will ask that you come and collect the child.
Medication
The management team at the nursery can administer medication that has been prescribed by a doctor. You will be required to sign a medication form before and after administration.
Calpol and any other medication will not be given unless a covering letter is provided and only as an emergency in the event of a high temperature.
Accidents
Every minor and major accident is recorded in an accident book. Parents will be notified of all accidents and are required to sign the accident book parents will receive a copy of the accident if the injury is to the head
Confidentiality
All information given to staff will be treated as strictly confidential and children’s information is stored away privately in the office.
Liverpool Education Grant
When your child is 3 we will inform you of when they are eligible to receive the nursery grant.
Parents will pay a reduced fee to the nursery for the duration of the terms. The terms run from January, April, and September. Full fee is payable when the terms end.
The nursery grant is paid to the nursery not to the parents.
Toys
We ask that no other toys or items are brought in from home. We cannot be responsible for such items and they usually create problems amongst the children. All toys and equipment are bought from a wide range of suppliers. They are suitable to the child’s age and a risk assessment is filled out regarding this.
Clothing
The nursery advises that parents bring a change of clothes for your child in the event of any spills or accidents.
The nursery cannot be held responsible for loss or damage of items.
When your child is potty training we advise that parents bring in plenty of spare underwear and clothing. We also advise that parents do not dress their child in vests that fasten underneath or dungarees. These make it very difficult for the child to undress quickly.
If your child is potty training they must arrive at nursery in underwear not nappies as it can become very confusing for the child.
Nappies
We ask that parents provide sufficient nappies each day and replenish them as and when required. The staff will inform you when more nappies are needed. If parents continue to not bring in nappies for their child, a staff member will contact you to come and collect them to be changed.
Awards
In 2005 our pre-school worker Daniel Callister was awarded Liverpool’s Child Care worker of the year, he was nominated by the parents of the nursery for his excellent work with the children, care and dedication.
In 2010 the nursery received an award for its outstanding training, guidance and help offered to the staff training at the nursery, the nursery was nominated by a large training company situated in Liverpool who said ”nothing is too much trouble”. The nursery attended the All Star Merseyside Award ceremony in January 2010.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Opening Times
We open from 7.30 am to 6.00pm all year round, except bank holidays and the closing of the nursery between Christmas and New Year; fees are payable 52 weeks of the year.
Smoking
The nursery has a No Smoking policy, and parents are asked not to smoke around the building.
Mobile phones
No Mobile phones are to be used on nursery premises by parents or visitors.
Registration
A registration fee of one weeks fee is payable to the nursery when you book your nursery place. The fee is refundable when your child leaves if four weeks notice is given. It is not refundable if you do not to take your nursery place.
Car parking
The nursery has a car park at the rear of the nursery that you are asked to use at all times.
Policies
Our policies are available for viewing at any time by parents. The policies are kept in the operational plan. All our policies are designed to offer the best possible experience for the children and families in the group
Payment
All fees are to be paid one week in advance. Please note that fees must be paid each week your child is enrolled even when he/she does not attend nursery.
Fees are also payable for bank holidays which include Good Friday and the closing of the nursery between Christmas and New Year. Fees are also payable if your child is sick or on holiday. Therefore fees are payable 52 weeks of the year. In the unlikely event that the nursery should close to due to adverse weather conditions fees are still payable.
If fees are not paid on the first day of the week your child attends nursery a weekly five pound charge will be added until your fee is paid.
Paying by child care vouchers
The nursery accepts payment in the form of child care vouchers. Child care vouchers are a way of helping employees save money on their child care costs and are set up through your own work place, for more information on child care vouchers please see the management team.
Cancellation
Four weeks cancellation must be given in writing, or four weeks fees must be paid to the nursery if your child does not attend. Failure to do so may result in court action.
CHILD TAX CREDITS
We accept children who are eligible for child tax credits. You can come into the office for advice at any time.
MATTERS OF CONCERN
In the unlikely event that a complaint against the nursery should arise, it should be expressed personally to the Nursery Manager, or put in writing and directed to Mr S Dimelow or Mr P Robinson at the nursery address.
If a satisfactory outcome cannot be reached, you will be entitled to take your complaint to OFSTED EARLY YEARS where the nursery is registered.
Telephone
0300 123 1231
Address
Royal Exchange Buildings
St Ann’s Square
Manchester
M2 7LA
These are also provided in the reception area.