Equipment and Resources Policy

It is essential that children play with not only safe, clean toys but those that are appropriate for their age and stage of development. Each room leadre has a wish list of toys and equipment they would like the children to have access to whether it is for a topic or free play, staff add to this all year round and is referred to when buying new equipment.

We ensure that toys and equipment are:

• Cleaned on a regular basis
• Baby toys are sterilized on a regular basis
• Appropriate for the age and stage of the children
• Purchased from a reputable company
• Toys are made of a variety of stimulating materials including natural and organic items
• Toys can be made from every day items
• Checked regularly to ensure they are in good, safe working order.
• If any equipment is found to be faulty, unsafe or inappropriate staff will remove them from the setting.
• Children should be allowed to explore new toys and equipment to fully understand the purpose and limitations
• Dressing up clothes, home corner and role play equipment should represent a range of cultures and lifestyles
• Outdoor play equipment is well maintained
• Outdoor play equipment represents a range of challenges other than physical challenges
• Passed the appropriate standards set. (Lion mark)

Reviewed May 2008

Equal Opportunities, Race and Culture Policy

At Rum Tum Tugger’s Nurseries, we believe that good childcare is neither sexist nor racist nor discriminatory in any way. We believe that it is the right of every worker and every child attending nursery to be treated as an equal and with respect; no religion, sex or culture is perceived to be inherently superior to any other. The total elimination of racism and sexism can only be to the benefit of a child.

Every member of staff and every child attending a Rum Tum Tugger’s nursery is committed to the following protocol as a minimum

• To actively encourage positive role models, through the use of toys, imaginary play and all other learning methods that promote non-stereotypical images. All play equipment such as books and puzzles will be selected to promote images of men, women, boys and girls, different religions, races, able-bodied and disabled characters.
• To actively promote equality of opportunity
• To challenge individuals (both children and staff) who do not promote equality of opportunity
• To combat any racial abuse, reporting incidents to the nursery manager who will decide the appropriate course of action
• To encourage every child to participate in every activity including but not limited to, dressing up, home corner, messy play, construction, climbing on large apparatus, bikes and cars
• To recognise that preconceived ideas relating to gender and sexism are abundant within the English Language and to challenge such language where appropriate
• To acknowledge the diversity of religious practices, customs and festivals and to provide opportunities for all users to share in these whenever possible
• To demonstrate a respect for age and to prevent wherever possible,  the utilisation of age as a barrier to employment or activity

Recruiting staff for a Rum Tum Tugger’s Nursery will be done on the basis of skill and suitability not age, sex, race, creed, religion, physical ability, sexuality or marital status.

All potential staff candidates are issued with an Equal Opportunities Policy prior to interview for any post within the nursery team.

Reviewed May 2008

Early Years Funding and it’s Application to Fees

In the term after their third birthday, every child resident in the UK becomes entitled to a free nursery place. A nursery place is defined as a 2.5 hour session, 5 days a week for 38 weeks for annum in a registered facility. The government offers a set value against this and it is assessed each year against the market. If you child’s sessions are longer than 2.5 hours, which is typically the case in full day care, you can off set the financial equivalent against the cost of your childcare here at Rum Tum Tugger’s Nursery. If your child attends more than one setting, you can choose where to have the money spent. For example, you may use 2 of your five sessions at a pre-school and the remaining three against 3 comparative sessions of daycare. On the whole, it is better value for money to off set the funding against the more expensive setting.

At Rum Tum Tugger’s, to simplify invoices, we estimate your annual funding and off set it against 12 consecutive invoices. Funding is received three times a year and is spread as follows:

Funding is not refundable and is only offered on a pro rata basis. If your child leaves nursery before the end of a term, their new setting can apply directly to Rum Tum Tugger’s to transfer funding, if the setting is also in Essex County Councils jurisdiction.

If you choose to increase your child’s sessions mid term, the nursery cannot make a claim for additional funding until the beginning of the next term. Sessions will be charged at list price until the new phase of funding begins.

If you join the nursery mid way through a term and no previous claim has been made for that child in a setting in Essex County Council’s jurisdiction, a late claim can be made.

Where 2 funded sessions are paid in one day, the funded time slots are 9.00am to 11.30am and 12.30pm to 3pm.

Full details of how the government funding is calculated can be obtained from County Hall, 01245 512300 and will be shown with your claim form each term. Each setting will provide parents with a form to complete detailing unique information about your child and offering you the preference of how to split your sessions between settings. The form remains at nursery and authenticates the application for funding that the setting makes on your behalf. Funding is paid directly to the nominated setting. Wherever possible, invoices will show the deductions made for funding each month.

Reviewed April 2008 HMB