- At Little Acorns we are dedicated to offering quality care, ensuring that children are free to develop as individuals whilst in a safe and secure environment. All rooms and gardens are arranged to develop the seven areas of learning as set out in the EYFS guidelines.
- Each child has their own clearly named Learning Journal into which is placed spontaneous and planned observations, and samples of the child’s ‘work’. Parents are encouraged to add to the observations as these form the basis for the child’s own Individual Plan. This Learning Journal travels through the nursery with the child and is given to the parents when the child moves on to Big School.
Room Overview
In our Term Time only Elms Room, children are welcomed into a caring atmosphere and will have visited with their parent/carer a few times before As most of these children are new to LADN , parents complete a My Routine sheet and are encouraged to stay and settle their child and to work with staff to form a settling-in plan for each individual child’s and parents’ needs
The learning environment continues to expand with the natural development of the stages of these older children with activities that provide a wide collection of opportunities for children to explore, investigate and learn in a safe, stimulating place to achieve the seven EYFS areas of learning.
There are two rooms side by side and they are different in that one is for more structured Key Group, adult led activities at tables or in group on the floor. The other is an open room with an indoor play area allows for child led physical and imaginative activities, under the supervision of their key worker
The children have access to six child height toilets Also in this room is an electric hand drier and 6 low level sinks for hand washing with sensor taps that encourage supported independence
A good hygiene routine is encouraged by modelling effective hand washing after nappy changing and toileting and an electric hand drier is fun for the children to use
Children take home a ‘homework’ bag once a week into which the child places a chosen story book and their daily diary. Parents are encouraged to make comments in the diary to be read out at circle time and this forms a useful link between home and nursery. This homework bag also aids in preparing the child for moving onto Big School where this will be a daily event for them
The children also have a scrap book that goes home once a week for children to complete creativity at home and bring in to share at circle time
From the moment children arrive, there will be a real choice of activities set out with materials that vary throughout the year with the staff promoting independent learning, social skills and personal development essential for all children
General Facilities
- Buggy Boxes and a covered entrance
- CCTV in each room
- A safe nappy changing area
- Direct access to child height toilets and sinks so they can confidently enjoy developing their personal skills
- Outside play area with a specially designed soft play surface and a risk taking area
- Indoor play area for physical and imaginative development
- Access to parent portal on our child database which allows parental access to their own child’s details only to check their progress and financial statement
The children have access to a well equipped partially covered outside play area. The children greatly enjoyed creating their own planting garden
Staffing
The ratio of staff to children is one to eight in this pre-school room for 3yr olds and one to four for the two year olds. We are delighted that our room supervisor is highly qualified to Level 6 and so during the appropriate hours she can accomodate 13 children over the age of 3yrs old.
The supervisor and team work closely together with the Manager, staff and with parents to care for the children’s individual needs
The staff are experienced, with a variety of skills and qualifications to meet the needs of the toddlers