General information, and home to school links

General information

• Paper Copies

     If you would like a paper copy of any of our policies these are available on request.

• Security

While you are in the nursery, please do not open the front door to let anyone in, even if it is another parent. A member of staff must do this so we know who is on the premises. When you leave the nursery, please make sure the door is firmly closed behind you.

• Registration

Please make sure your child’s teacher knows they are present. To do this you must take your child into the room where his/her team is based. The teams swap their base rooms (the blue room and the yellow room) each week. After your child has said “hello”, she/he may choose to play in either of the rooms or the garden. In the entrance hall you will find a class list to remind you which room your child is that week. Please look at this each morning or afternoon with your child. This will also help them to recognise their name.

• Punctuality and attendance

Please arrive at school on time, sessions will start at 9.00 in the morning or 12.45 in the afternoon. The door will remain open for 15 minutes between the beginning and the end of each session. It is very hard for children to settle in when they arrive late and it can also disrupt teaching for other children, so please ensure you arrive on time.

If you want someone else to collect your child, you must tell us beforehand. We will not let a child leave school with someone we do not know.

If your child is too unwell to come to school, please phone us before 9.00 or 12.45 on 020 7186 0081.

Please avoid taking holidays in school term time. Frequent or prolonged absences might mean your child’s place will be withdrawn. If you want your child to be absent for the celebration of religious festivals, please make sure you talk to us about this in plenty of time.

• Illness and accidents at school

We can administer medicines if children have a chronic condition such as asthma or epilepsy. See the head teacher to make sure we understand how to give the medication correctly. We cannot give medicine e.g. antibiotics, prescribed for short term illnesses, so your child should be kept at home until they are better.

If your child becomes unwell at school we will phone you, so please make sure you tell us if your number changes. We will give simple First Aid if your child is hurt at school and we will tell you what has happened.

• Clothing

We don’t have a uniform but children must be dressed in suitable clothing to get the best from their time here:-

Clothes that are easily washed because we can’t guarantee that our aprons will keep all paint off.

Clothes that are easy for children to pull down themselves so they can manage the toilet independently – so no tight jeans with belts please.

Clothes in which children can be active – run, climb, dig, kick a ball – so track suit trousers and loose tops rather than tight trousers, tight skirts or long trailing dresses.

Shoes must be well fitted, support the whole foot, enclose the toes and have soles with good grip. These will enable the children to run, climb and kick safely. Children must not wear flip-flops, thin strappy sandals, high heels, slip-ons or shoes with no backs

Long hair must be tied back.

Dangling jewellery must not be worn and we cannot accept responsibility for any precious items so please leave them at home .

These clothing requirements apply to boys and girls – all children need to be active. Think practical working clothes rather than smart going out wear.

Most children will occasionally wet or soil themselves. Please don’t worry. We are happy to change their clothes and keep a supply of spare clothing for this purpose. When your child grows out of trousers, socks, knickers and pants, please pass them on to us if you haven’t got younger children who will grow into them.

We play outside throughout the year whatever the weather. We provide appropriate clothing for the children to wear whatever the weather. For winter we provide waterproof, padded, all- in- one suits which keep them warm and dry, as well as Wellington boots, fleece hats and waterproof, fleece-lined gloves. In the summer we have sun-hats and sun cream.

The nursery is probably not as warm as many homes because we have the doors to the garden open throughout the year. Please make sure your child has enough layers on in winter e.g. a vest, long-sleeved top and jumper.

• Sweets, toys and birthdays

Children are not allowed to bring sweets or snacks to school.

They may help themselves to a drink of  milk or water throughout the session, as well as apples, pears and carrots. We also cook with the children several times a week so no one goes hungry! We make hot chocolate in cold weather. Please tell us if your child has any allergies.

Children’s own toys are best left at home so they don’t get lost or broken. Some children are particularly attached to a teddy or comfort cloth; they may bring that to school during the settling-in period.

We celebrate children’s birthdays by lighting candles and singing Happy Birthday. Please don’t send cakes as we want each child to be treated the same.

• Mobile phones

Please switch your phone off before you come in to the nursery and keep it off the whole time you are here. You may not use it or any other device on these premises for any purpose, including taking photos, e-mails or connecting to the internet.

Home to School Links

• Borrowing books

Children are encouraged to borrow library books from the school. Your child’s key worker will explain how the system works during the settling-in period. We have bi-lingual book bags with a story and props in English and a variety of home languages which are also available to borrow. The key worker or support teacher for children with English as an Additional Language will show you these. Please try to return books and props undamaged but accidents do happen; let us know if something is lost or damaged so we can replace it. Please don’t be put off borrowing if this happens. We are always keen to make new stories in languages we don’t yet have. We will ask you if you would be free to come and help make them in your home languages for our collection.

• Library Friday 

Each child will be given their own book bag. This is to transport your child’s library book safely too and from school. In the bag is also a reading record where staff and parents can comment on your child’s reading. There is information and tips on how to read with your child at home. Please make sure you return your child’s book bag weekly to the library basket, and a member of staff will make sure your child has a new book to read at home. Please feel free to change your child’s library book as many times as you would like and do ask if there is a particular book you might like to borrow. We have books on lots of emotional situations such as; a new sibling, bereavement, separation, Autism, sharing etc. 

• Outings

We regularly take children out on visits in the local area and beyond. Favourite places are:

• Tate Britain
• Local shops
• Vauxhall City Farm
• Grosvenor Square

We go to other places in response to children’s particular interests. Children go out in small groups with one adult for every two children so everyone’s hand is held. We only go out with your permission. This will be discussed more fully with you when your child starts. We often invite parents to come with us on the bigger trips.

From time to time we have musicians, story tellers and artists to work in the nursery. You are also welcome to spend time in the nursery, once your child has settled, working with the children; some parents come in to cook or read stories. Let us know what your interests and talents are.

• Parties

Twice a year we have a party for parents, children, staff and governors. These are after school, usually between 4.00 and 5.30 p.m. We all bring a little food to share. These are lovely occasions when we can all meet informally and get to know each other a little better.

• Behaviour and discipline

Learning to behave appropriately in a group is a very important part of nursery education. Most children will sometimes find it hard to take turns and share; some children might take a while to learn how to solve disagreements through talk rather than hitting someone.

We help them to learn acceptable ways of expressing emotions and needs by:

• At all times acting with respect and courtesy ourselves
• Teaching children words they can use such as “ stop that. I don’t like it”
• Giving specific praise and attention to the behaviour we want
• Talking about each other’s feelings
• Helping them to make amends in meaningful ways if they have hurt someone else

 You may have different methods at home but we ask you to support what we do at school because we have to consider the care and development of all the children here.

 We are responsible for and watchful of the children during school hours. Please come to us if you have any concerns rather than tackling the parents of other children, or the children themselves. Please also see our Behaviour policy for more information.