Welcome to The Windmill Nursery, we trust that your child will be happy with us as each day is planned for your child’s enjoyment and development. The program each day is varied and includes creative activities, sand, water, painting, table games, construction, information technology, music, stories, outside play, play dough and weekly cooking activities.
As part of our commitment to all the children, our activities and plans are based around the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. We encourage parents/guardians to take an active role in their child’s learning and we therefore like to complete the “My Unique Story” document with you. More information will be given from your child’s key person. For information regarding our theme, plans, colour of the term please see our notice board for details.
Your child’s learning and development will be planned around the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), more information regarding this can be found on this website. If you have any problems, concerns, or your child seems unhappy, please do not hesitate to speak to the nursery Supervisor or in her absence a Deputy Supervisor. We are here to help you and ease your concerns.
One of the most important aspects of nursery life that your child will learn at nursery is to socialize with other children and to relate to other adults outside of the family unit. If your child does bring work home, please accept it with enthusiasm. However, if your child does not take any “work” home, it means that they have been busy learning through their play.
BREAK TIME:
At drink time the children are encouraged to drink milk. If your child has an allergy or a genuine dislike for milk, please tell the Supervisor. Orange is available at the parent’s request for a small charge. The children are given the option of fruit/biscuits at snack time.
BIRTHDAYS:
When your child’s birthday is approaching, please let us know, as we like to sing “Happy Birthday” together at drinks time.
SICKNESS:
Please keep your child at home if he/she has been suffering from sickness and/or diarrhoea. They cannot attend until well. If your child has any allergies, or has had any recent immunizations, please let the nursery Supervisor know, in case your child becomes unwell during the session. Within the registration form it requests contact details, please ensure that these details are completed and if these details change, please inform the nursery as soon as possible.
CLOTHING:
Soft shoes, i.e. plimsols are advisable for nursery play. We do play in the nursery garden every day (unless the weather is unsuitable even for the covered outside area). In the Summer time sun hats are requested. Please label your child’s coats and hats, thank you.
JEWELLERY:
Due to safety reasons it is recommended that children do not wear jewellery to nursery. However, if earrings are worn, stud type are preferred. Any valuables brought into the nursery come at your own risk; the staff cannot take responsibility for any loss or breakages.
STAY AND PLAY:
We welcome stay and play sessions. However, only one parent/carer per session and if it is viable for the children. All parents/carers/volunteers must have the parent/helper information guide BEFORE they are allowed to stay and play. It is upon the understanding that you have read all the setting’s policies, practices and procedures and will adhere to these during stay and play sessions. You will be required to sign a declaration to this fact.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
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- No dummies, sweets, drinks or other snacks.
- No toys.
- If your child needs his/her comforter they may bring it into nursery.
- The children come to nursery to learn and enjoy themselves. With some of the activities they may get messy, so please do not send your child to nursery in their best clothes.
- More information regarding The Windmill Nursery can be found in the prospectus pack.
- It is highly advised that all parents/carers read the setting’s policies and procedures to understand the role the nursery undertakes within the community and to the society as a whole. These are available within the setting’s lobby area and upon this website.
THE WINDMILL NURSERY STAFF:
All staff have been DBS checked and hold relevant first aid certificates.
| Staff Member | Job Role | Designated Role | Qualification |
| SUE MELVIN | SUPERVISOR | Safeguarding Officer | NVQ 3 |
| NORMA WHAPSHOTT | DEPUTY SUPERVISOR | Partnership with Parents and Safeguarding Officer | NVQ 3 |
| NIKKI REECE | NURSERY ASSISTANT | Equality Opportunities/Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator/Health and Safety | NVQ 2 |
| DENISE JONES | NURSERY ASSISTANT | Behaviour Management Co-ordinator/Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator | CACHE Diploma Level 3 |
| SHAHNAZ KADIR | BANK STAFF | NVQ 2 | |
| TARA WHEELER | NURSERY ASSISTANT | ||
| CLAIRE McCURRY | BANK STAFF | ||
| SAMINA BEGUM | BANK STAFF |
NURSERY FEES:
Payment fees are kept at a very reasonable rate and to help us maintain this we ask you to pay for your child’s nursery session/s on the day or the first session of the week your child is due to attend. Alternatively, payments may be paid fortnightly, every half term or every term, in advance. Please note that cheques are banked once a month. Fees must be paid even if your child does not attend, for whatever reason. Two weeks notice is required if you decide to give up your child’s nursery place. Any outstanding fees MUST BE PAID. ALL payments must be placed in an envelope with your child’s name, the date and the amount. Each session is £17.00. Children who are entitled to the government funded places will be notified accordingly.
When your child reaches the eligible voucher date (dependent upon their date of birth), nursery fees will be paid for by the DFEE. Which means your child will receive up to fifteen hours per week. We will inform you when you will be entitled to receive the Free Early Education. If you are, however, claiming these fifteen hours per week at another pre-school setting, then you will be required to pay us for each session your child attends the nursery at the rate the nursery would usually charge. For more information, please speak to the nursery Supervisor, thank you.
FREE FOR 2:
We do accept 2 year olds who are eligible for Free Early Education who meet the criteria, for information regarding 2 year old free early education please go to: www.kent.gov.uk/freefor2, or speak to a member of staff for details.
If a child is picked up late from nursery, a charge of £5.00 will have to be made for every ten minutes until your child has been collected, (unless we have been informed with a viable reason). If, however, this is a regular occurrence then the charge will automatically be made, even if we are informed of the late collection. If after the charges have been given on several occasions and your child is still being persistently collected late from nursery, then the Supervisor will refer the matter to the Lead Trustee for discussion. The decision of the Lead Trustee is final.
If, however, a child has not been collected after 45 minutes of the session ending the Local Children’s Safeguarding Board, LCSB (Social Services) will be contacted or if deemed appropriate the Police.
If you should have any queries, please do not hesitate to speak to the nursery Supervisor. Whilst your child attends the nursery there will be opportunities to order and/or purchase photographs, uniforms, books, etc. For any orders of purchases that are made all items will have to be paid for in advance. We are unable to place any orders for goods without payment. Please refrain from asking for goods without payment, thank you.