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Working with Parents and Carers

At Toad Hall we believe that children benefit most from early year’s care and education when parents/carers and practitioners work together in partnership.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (2012) states “A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.” (EYFS P.2).

Methods

  • We are committed to an on-going dialogue with the child’s family to share information about their current needs and interests; we will aim to provide opportunities within the nursery to meet these.
  • We inform all parents/carers about upcoming events and activities within the nursery by letters, posters and newsletters. Parents/carers have the option to have the newsletters sent via e-mail.
  • We inform parents/carers on a regular basis about their children’s progress and development, informally and formally.
  • We involve parents/carers in the shared record keeping about their child. We ensure parents/carers have access to their children’s written development records when asked. A slip will be completed showing who viewed the folder and when.
  • We send out a children’s interest letter three times a year for parents/ carers to share with the child’s key person their current interests and other relevant information.
  • We hold two parents’ evenings a year where parents/carers can come and look at their child’s folder and discuss with the child’s key person their learning and development. This is also a valuable time for parents/carers and staff to build upon relationships.
  • We provide opportunities for parents/carers to contribute their own skills, knowledge and interests by inviting them into the nursery.
  • Every six months parents/carers are given a parent questionnaire form to complete asking for their views on the childcare and education the nursery provides.
  • We provide opportunities for parents/carers to be involved within the nursery where English is an additional language; please see the nursery’s equality and diversity policy.
  • We value the contributions of parents/carers.

Health, Safety and Security

Toad Hall Day Nursery is registered under The Children Act 1989, 2004 and the Childcare Act 2006. There is no compromise in the health, welfare, safety and security of our children.

With the safety and security of your child in mind, the nursery doors will be locked at all times and direct doors to the children’s rooms are secure with a coded lock. Parents/carers will be required to ring the appropriate doorbell and wait for a member of staff to welcome them in. The nursery and its grounds are completely secure and inaccessible to passers by.

For reasons of security, your child will not be released to any unauthorised adult without prior consent of the parent/carer.

Safeguarding children

Our nursery will work with children, parents/carers and the community to ensure the safety of children and to give them the very best start to life. We have a duty to inform the local authority of any significant concerns regarding the children in our care.

Equality and Diversity

We promote equality of opportunity anti-discriminatory practice and we ensure that every child is included and not disadvantaged because of their or their parent’s ethnicity, culture or religion, home language, family background, learning difficulties, sexuality, gender and ability.

Illness

The nursery has an infectious illnesses exclusion policy that must be adhered to by all parents/carers of children attending Toad Hall. This includes policies on antibiotics (oral and creams) Calpol, ibuprofen and sickness and diarrhoea. Staff reserve the right to assess your child/ren on entry into nursery premises, to ensure they are well enough for nursery sessions and can refuse entry in such cases.

It is the parents/carers responsibility to ensure the nursery is aware of any medical condition (either long or short term) that affects their child.

Children’s own belongings

Whilst we try to discourage children bringing toys from home, we welcome comforters that children have. We would appreciate it if parents/carers would ensure that their children have the following items brought and left at nursery if possible:

  • a full set of spare clothes (appropriate for the time of year)
  • wellington boots, gloves and woolly hat / sun hat and sun block
  • toothbrush and toothpaste