We provide top quality, professional, and affordable child care in our purpose designed facility with first class resources and highly qualified staff.
We offer year-round provision and a flexible schedule to meet you and your child’s needs. Our nursery has been OFSTED inspected, and it is registered for a maximum of 66 children (14 - under 2 years, 26 - 2 year old and 26 - 3 years+). We also operate a very busy and high quality After School Club where we pick up children from St John's Primary School from 3pm-6pm.
The underlying philosophy of our nursery is a commitment to the promotion of each child’s welfare and development. To this end, the principles of the nursery are that it is:
- Child Centred
The nursery will ensure that the children’s needs in all their diversity should come first. Each child’s individual needs will be met and all levels of capability will be supported and enhanced.
- Educational
The nursery will foster learning that takes into account the children’s ages and stages of development looking at all their needs holistically using the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework for guidance.
- Multi-Cultural
The nursery will reflect the plurality of the country as a whole and the particular community profiles of Gravesend and Dartford.
- Healthy
The nursery will promote good health for the children in a safe and secure environment.
Children have a right to grow and learn in an environment free from prejudice and without discrimination. Our nursery is committed to taking positive action to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of race, gender or disability.
All children attending the nursery will have equal access to all the activities and are made aware of the different cultures and disabilities of others.
Nursery Staff
We operate a ratio of one adult to three babies in the baby room, one adult to four children in the Toddler Room (2 year olds), and one adult to six children in the Pre-School Room (3-5 year olds).
We provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment in which your children can feel secure and valued.
Here are some of the learning activities/resources in which your child will have the opportunity to participate in and to experiment:
- Bikes, trikes and scooters
- Access to a personal computer
- Climbing, jumping and bouncing equipment
- Natural materials to explore such as sand, water, clay, earth etc
- Construction (large and small)
- Puzzles and games
- Pencils, crayons and chalks
- Paints - presented in different ways
- Other creative materials and junk modelling
- Settings for fantasy/role play
- Home corner, dolls, teddies and dressing up clothes
- Rhymes, music and movement
- Musical instruments and tapes
- Books, stories and puppets
- Cookery
- Items of interest to explore
The new Early Years Foundation Stage Framework will allow us to observe each child and plan for their individual development using the areas of development guidance.
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Communication, language and literacy
- Mathematical development
- Knowledge and understanding of the world
- Physical development
- Creative development
As language acquisition underpins all aspects of any early years programme, we will give priority will be given to extending spontaneous talk and facilitating good language development
(NB: We are committed to providing high quality work experience for our students and, from time to time, they may be required to carry out observations of the children following the guidelines laid down in our confidentiality policy).
Starting Nursery
We will arrange visits to help you and your child to develop relationships with the staff and to become familiar with the nursery routine and environment. We want your child to feel happy and secure, but this sometimes takes a little time, so be prepared to stay with your child as this will help her/him to feel more confident. All children are different and, therefore, some will take longer than others to settle but, by working together, we will ensure that your child has a smooth settling-in period and will be ready to take full advantage of our learning activities and feel safe and secure within the nursery environment.
Safeguarding
We are all aware that abuse occurs in our society and it is our responsibility at North West Kent College, Bright Beginnings to protect children in our care. If for any reason we are concerned or worried about a child attending our nursery, we will follow our concise procedures to ensure the child is fully protected at all times and a duty of care is upheld for all those concerned. (Full details of our policy is on the admissions pack.)
Clothing
It is best to send your child to nursery in simple clothing that he/she can handle themselves as this will encourage your child to become independent. Each child will be provided with an apron for painting, sticking, water play etc. However, clothes can still get dirty or wet, and we would suggest you send your child in clothes that are easily washable and not too new. All items of clothing should be labelled clearly with your child's name.
Please supply the following:
A change of clothes in a suitable bag. Soft shoes or trainers to wear in the nursery. Wellies for outside play if it had rained, together with coat, hat and gloves in the cold weather.
Meals and Snack Time
These are happy social occasions where the children sit down in small groups together with the nursery staff and are given the opportunity to talk and help serve their meal or snack. They will be encouraged to think of others and behave in a way that is socially acceptable. Meals and food provided will follow the National Guidelines for Healthy and Happy Eating and will take into account the children's ages and stages of development.
Menus will be displayed in the nursery for you to see.
(Please notify us on admission if your child is allergic to any food or requires a special diet.)
Health and Hygiene
A high standard of health and hygiene is practised throughout all aspects of the nursery.
Your child will be encouraged to:
- Wash their hands after going to the toilet and before eating.
- Wipe their nose when necessary.
- To Shield their mouths when coughing.
We aim to create a healthy environment for your child, by encouraging these routines.
Illness
If your child seems unwell, has a high temperature, stomach upset or a contagious illness, PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM TO NURSERY.
Any notifiable disease must be reported to the supervisor, and common infections such as Head Lice, Thread Worm etc should also be reported.
NB: The nursery will follow the guidelines laid down by the local authority regarding incubation and exclusion periods for common infectious diseases. (A copy can be obtained from the nursery office.)
Accidents
Accidents can happen, although every effort is made to make our nursery a safe, well supervised environment. All accidents are recorded, and you will be informed of any bumps or grazes and asked to sign the relevant accident report form.
Medication
We recognise that medication can be a regular and vital part of some children’s lives so, if your child requires prescribed medication, the following procedures will apply. Please provide the medicine for your child fit for use, labelled clearly with the childs name, dosage and instructions. Written consent must be provided by completing a medication slip and please inform the nursery staff of any medicine given earlier that day.
Going to the toilet
Your child can ask to go to the toilet at anytime, but just in case they forget to ask, they will be reminded at various times during the day. We appreciate that children may have the occasional accident, especially when they are having such fun!
When this happens, we will offer support and change your child’s clothes to make him/her comfortable.
Parental Involvement
We welcome parents into the nursery at any time, and we value your opinions, skills and ideas. You will have the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and care with the relevant member of staff, and, have access to your child’s records. You will be asked to share information about your child on admission as well as throughout the year when your child’s Unique Story documents are shared with you.
Nursery policies, procedures and guidelines can be seen in the parent’s files. We aim to keep you informed of forthcoming topics and events via our regular newsletters as well as our noticeboard.
Please be prompt when collecting your child as delay can sometimes cause distress. If you are delayed, a telephone call would be appreciated so that we can reassure your child. If someone different is to collect your child, let the manager know personally and provide a letter of authorisation or password.