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.