Thomas Whitehead CE Academy
Angels Lane,
Houghton Regis,
Bedfordshire,
LU5 5HH
Tel: 01582 865466
Email: office@twa.dsamat.co.uk

Key Information for parents and carers

We would like to welcome you and your family to our nursery which is part of Thomas Whitehead CE Academy in Houghton Regis and provides the first steps in your child's education.
Our aim is to offer a warm and caring environment in which your child can easily make the change from home to school life. We aim to provide a varied and balanced curriculum, following Guidelines for the Revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
We know that these first stages in your child's school life can be more effective if we build a partnership with each other- all working together for the best interests of the children.
We want you to share in the experiences of watching and helping your child to develop and become independent learners.

The information provided below aims to answer some of your questions and to convey our commitment to the learning, development and well-being of the children in our care.

Our Vision

As a Church of England school we offer every pupil an education rooted in Christian values and strive to ensure that every child is supported to achieve their fullest potential.

• We believe that every child should be given the opportunity to be the very best they can possibly be.
• We will work together to deliver a high quality, values driven curriculum where children are happy, safe and engaged within a Christian Community.

Working together for your children
In our Nursery we maintain the ratio of adults to children in the setting that is set through the Welfare Requirements of the EYFS. This helps us to:

• Give time and attention to each child
• Talk with the children about their interests and activities
• Help children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide
• Allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety

The staff who work at our setting are:

• Mrs C Montgomery
• Mrs A Lemmon

Values Education

We are a values school and as part of Thomas Whitehead CE Academy, . Our core values are Respect, Hope & Perseverance. Values Education aims to:

• Raise Standards by promoting a school ethos which is underpinned by core values that support the development of the whole child as a reflective learner.
• Demonstrate the values of Christian life and promote the Christian ethos of the school.

Throughout the year we also focus on other Christian values.

Special Educational Needs and Disability

As part of the Nursery's policy to make sure that its provision meets the needs of each individual child, we take account of any special educational needs or disabilities a child may have. The Schools Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is: Mrs H Long. We aim to work in partnership with parents and carers in order to meet a child's individual needs.

Settling in to Nursery

We know that starting Nursery is a huge step for your child and a sign of growing up. Although it is an exciting time, for some parents and children it can also be an anxious and emotional time. We want your child to feel safe and happy and to recognise other adults as a source of help, friendship and authority.

Our settling-in procedures aim to help you both feel comfortable in the Nursery and to ensure that your child can benefit fully from what the setting has to offer. The staff have many years of experience between them, and will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle.. Any individual problems will be dealt with sympathetically and you will be kept informed of your child's progress.

​The Session

We organise our sessions so that the children can choose from, and work at, a range of activities and, in doing so, build up their ability to select and work through a task to it's completion. The children are also helped and encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities which introduce them to new experiences and help them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others.

Outdoor activities contribute to children's health, their physical development and their knowledge of the world around them. The children have the opportunity, and are encouraged, to take part in outdoor child-chosen and adult-led activities, as well as those provided indoors.
For children that stay with us all day, the sessions are organised so that children can take part in a variety of child-chosen and adult-led activities. These take account of children's changing energy levels throughout the day. The setting caters for children's individual needs for rest and quiet activities during the day.

Session times

• Monday-Friday (Term Time only)
• Morning Sessions run from 8:45am - 11:45am.
• Afternoon sessions run from 12:30pm - 3.30pm

There is also an option for 30 hours funded places.

It is very important that children arrive to Nursery on time so they are able to settle into the routines and activities planned for the day. At the end of each session children must be collected promptly as late collection can lead to undue stress and worry for young children. If you are unable to collect your child, please let us know. If something unexpected happens, telephone the school giving the alternative adult's name, authorising them to collect your child. We will NOT send children home with people we do not know.

30 hour places

Currently all children are entitled to 15 hours of education at a nursery or preschool setting from the term after they turn three until they go to Reception.

Since September 2017, the government offer funding for an additional 15 hours to support working parents with the cost of childcare and enable them to return to work. Your eligibility depends on:

• if you are working
• your income (and your partner's income, if you have one)
• your child's age and circumstances
• your immigration status

To find out if you are eligible please visit 30 hours free childcare-GOV.UK

If you are eligible and once your application has been approved, you will get an 11-digit code for 30 hours free childcare to give to our school office.

If you are not eligible for the full 30 hours, then you are still entitled to 15 hours free childcare which will be either the morning session (8:45am - 11:45am) or the afternoon session (11:45am - 3:30pm) depending on your child's age.

Please note:

The 30 hours government funding covers the 6 hours your child attends our setting daily. This does not include the 45-minute lunch break. However, if you wish your child to stay for lunch, there is small lunchtime supervision fee. This is payable a week/month in advance. The lunchtime supervision fee is different from the money you pay for your child's dinner. The lunchtime supervision fee covers the cost of qualified staff looking after your child during the non-funded 45-minute lunch break between 11:45am - 12:30pm. There is an option for your child to be picked up and taken home for lunch between 11:45am - 12:30pm, in which case the lunchtime supervision fee does not apply to you.

Accident or Illness

At least one member of staff is fully trained in First Aid will be on duty each session. Accidents, however small, are entered into the Accident Book and parents will be informed.

Please keep you child at home if he/she has an infection and inform the school as to the nature of the infection so that we can alert other parents/carers if necessary.
Parents/carers are asked not to bring a child to school who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack.

Snack and meals

Snacks and meals are a social time when children eat together. We provide morning and afternoon snacks. There is a choice of milk or water to drink and a choice of fruit to eat. At certain times other food will be available according to our themes and celebrations.

You can register your child for free school milk here:

Cool Milk - The UK's leading school and nursery milk supplier

Cool milk is the UK's leading school and nursery milk supplier, working in partnership with local authorities and early years groups to supply free and subsidised school milk to children in pre-schools, nurseries and primary schools.

Clothes

Children need to wear clothes that they can undo and do up themselves, as this encourages their independence. Therefore pull on clothes, simple jumpers and Velcro shoes are ideal. High heeled, open toed or strappy shoes are dangerous, especially for the many outdoor activities that we do. We will be encouraging the children to take part in lots of messy activities so please ensure they are not wearing their best clothes. The children will have access to the outside area daily, in all weathers, so please make sure your child has suitable clothing for the winter and summer months. It is strongly recommended that your children has a rain mac, warm coat, gloves, hat and Wellington boots in the Winter. During the summer months children should have their shoulders covered and bring a sun hat to stay safe in the sun. Please clearly name all clothing and footwear.

Nappies and Toilet Training

Children are accepted into the Nursery in nappies. We ask that you provide a few nappies, wipes and a change of clothes in a labelled bag which can be kept in the class. We work with parents towards toilet training, unless there are medical or other developmental reasons why this may not be appropriate at the time. As a child moves from nappies to being fully toilet trained, the parent or carer and key person will meet and agree how best they can work together to support and assist the child during these early stages.

​Safeguarding children

Our setting has a duty under the law to help safeguard children against suspected or actual 'significant harm'. We work to procedures which are set down in the 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' document.

Our Child Protection Officer is Miss D Mitra ( Deputy Headteacher) and in her absence, Mrs N Chiswell (Head Teacher), Mrs K Glastonbury (Early Years Lead) and Mrs H Long (SENCO).

We hope that you and your child enjoy being members of Nursery. Our setting recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. All of the staff aim to work in partnership with parents and carers to provide care and education for their child. The Nursery team are always ready and willing to talk with you about your ideas, views or questions. We look forward to working with you to ensure your child has the best possible start to their learning journey.