| At Rum Tum Tugger’s
Nursery, we recognise this from the very first time a family visits us. We take
time to learn about each child before they start a period of settling-in. By asking
parents about likes, dislikes, routines, favourite toys and comforters, their
children can be quickly welcomed into the nursery using a series of visits that
are planned with parental help and advice. Our Harlow nursery makes full
use of our identity to encourage children to feel included. The children wear
sweat shirts and polo shirts which display our friendly kitten and each child
is presented with their very own nursery bag to carry books and artwork to and
from the setting. Parents play a crucial role in nursery life too. We
ask for contributions of their ideas and skills to be included in the children’s
activities and outings. On a daily basis, each child has a diary entry made by
their key worker about the events of the day and every session finishes with an
opportunity for parents and children to choose a book together to take home and
share. Praise is the fuel for child development. We reward every effort,
every form of participation and examples of good behaviour with encouraging words,
stickers or the chance to be a “special helper”. We promote independence at meal
times, in the bathroom and in dressing and boost confidence with praise every
step of the way. Our nursery follows the learning frameworks developed
by the government, Birth to Three Matters for children up to the age of three
and the Foundation Stage from three until school age. By forming key relationships
and tracking each child’s progress, each session is filled with positive experiences
and play to challenge and engage your child. Preparations are well underway
to introduce the new Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, which all nurseries
will be required to adopt by September 2008. We are also pleased to announce that
we are one of the first nurseries in Essex to have a graduate level practitioner
on site. Hayley Martin-Burns was awarded the prestigious Early Years Professional
Status (EYPS) in the summer of 2007. |