Little Owls Nursery

ProspectusLittle Owls Day Nursery and Pre-School

Welcome to Little Owls Day Nursery.

I am delighted to manage a wonderful team here at Little Owls who offer

an outstanding service to suit all of your childcare needs and very much

understand that when it comes to choosing childcare, it can be a very

stressful event for any parent.

Little Owls is committed to ensuring that your child’s individual needs are

fully catered for and believe that the period from birth to school age is

one of the most important and rapid stages in your child’s development.

We aim to deliver individualised learning and care that enhances the

development of the children within our care and gives these children the

best possible start in life.

We will work in partnership with you to ensure your child’s development

is encouraged in a safe, happy and secure environment and our staff are

fully trained to provide the care, education and development opportunities

that are so crucial to each individual child’s needs.

We very much hope you will join us and look forward

to meeting you and your family.

Sue Hallett,

Nursery Centre Manager

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Little Owls is a purpose built day nursery and pre-school located in the heart of the Danbury country-side and is less than 2 miles from the Chelmsford park and ride.

At Little Owls we are committed to ensuring that your child’s individual needs are fully catered for and believe that the period from birth to school age is one of the most important stages in your child’s development. We aim to deliver individualised learning and development opportunities that enhances the experiences of the children within our care and gives these children the best possible start in life.

Our enthusiastic and qualified staff promote enjoyable and purposeful play that encourages learning and development in an atmosphere which is safe, relaxed, healthy and fun whilst encouraging discovery, wonder, adventure, challenge and a strong sense of belonging.

Whether you are looking for childcare due to the necessity of returning to work or want your child to be given a range of exciting opportunities to develop, remember that here at Little Owls your child will be “safe under our wing”.

Little Owls offers so much, including:

The Nursery and Pre-school are ■

open 51 weeks of the yearWe are open from 7.30am until ■

7.00pm Monday to FridaySafe off road parking and drop off ■

areasLarge spacious base rooms for ■

each age groupLarge Outdoor Play Area ■

Sensory Room ■

Inclusive pricing with branded ■

products to suit every child’s needs (e.g., nappies, formula milks etc)On-site Chef providing nutritional ■

home cooked meals

3Call us on 01245 221333 to arrange a visit!

Early Years Foundation Stage

At Little Owls we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life and support them to fulfil their potential. A child’s experience in the early years has a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is vital and it provides the foundation for children to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up. We know that when parents choose to use early years services they want to know that the setting will keep their children safe and help them to thrive.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the framework that provides that assurance and we are committed to working towards these.

About the Themes and Principles

The EYFS is based around four themes:

A Unique Child ■

Positive Relationships ■

Enabling Environments ■

Learning and Development ■

Each theme is linked to an important Principle:

A Unique Child

Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.

Positive Relationships

Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.

Enabling Environments

The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning.

Learning and Development

Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and inter-connected.

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Healthy Eating

Little Owls Day Nursery and Pre-school boasts a large kitchen where our Chef prepares delicious meals tailored for younger taste buds.

We are able to cater for all dietary needs, including vegetarian options plus special diets to meet the requirements relevant to religious beliefs and for children suffering from allergies.

For our babies, a variety of freshly cooked seasonal fruit and vegetables are prepared and pureed to meet their individual needs,care and attention are paid to ensure as their requirements change their meals progress to reflect this.

Fresh meat, fruit and vegetables are sourced from local suppliers and menus are rotated and planned to offer a varied and healthy diet.

We positively avoid foods which contain large quantities of saturated fat, sugar, salt, artificial additives, preservatives and colourings.


A Day in the life…

At Little Owls our focus is on the individual needs and interests of every child that attends our setting. We focus activities in such a way that each child is able to develop at a rate which is suitable for them. The overall structure of the day here remains the same as we understand that a secure environment for every child is created when they know what to expect and how to behave and follow a simple but familiar rhythm during their day with us. Consistency and continuity for children is key.

With the age of the children in mind and ensuring each stage of development is met, we encourage and enable children to develop, explore, learn and create in a way that is right for them. Getting to know each child individually is key for our nursery

practitioners and playing with them ensures every child is fully engaged in an activity that interests that individual child. With the focus on fun we gently encourage them to extend their skills and expertise. Each child has a “Key Person” who ensures their individual needs are met.

We understand how important outdoor play is and wherever possible this is catered for. With a wealth of activities outside to access and water and sand play daily (regardless of the weather!) we ensure children benefit from these developmental activities at every stage.

Morning

Our morning starts with breakfast for children who are with us during the early part of the morning and finishes by approximately 8.30am. Carefully planned activities are chosen that meet EYFS criteria and different areas of play suited to age and developmental needs are on offer. Our children are encouraged to join in and select an area they particularly enjoy.

We always encourage information sharing between our nursery practitioners and parents/carers. We appreciate that dropping off time is a vital time for any additional information about our children to ensure we plan their day appropriately. Everything from how well a child has slept through the night to whether they are unsettled for any reason or have a new toy they are particularly excited about - we want to hear about it.

During the morning drinks and a healthy snack will be served and we make every effort to ensure this is a sociable time for the children, understanding how important this aspect of their social development at Nursery is. Water is available throughout the day and is both offered to our younger children as well as being freely available to our older children to help themselves to, thus encouraging independence.

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Lunch

Lunchtime varies in time from room to room but generally speaking is served between 11.30am and 12 noon. Here at Little Owls we feel it is important to eat in a sociable and enjoyable environment and our practitioners engage with the children and also eat with them when possible to ensure mealtimes are relaxed and fun. Parents often comment on how pleased they are not only with the range of healthy meals their child will eat whilst at our setting but also how enjoyable it is when enjoying lunch with their friends.

Sleep time

Sleep is a very important aspect of our children’s requirements and a lot of thought goes into ensuring children get the sleep they require, depending on their age. We work closely with our Parents/Carers to establish a sleep pattern that fits in, as much as possible, with how you manage your childs sleep at home. We have a designated cot area for our under 1s, providing the much needed dark and quiet space that younger babies need. As a general rule older children tend to sleep once during a day mostly after lunch but we will always be flexible dependant on your childs needs. Our rooms are set up so that children can sleep on rest beds within the room and a quiet space is designated for this very purpose. With their own rest beds and bedding children can sleep when they need to and remain supervised at all times. As each child is treated as an individual they are free to bring in a special blanket or cuddly toy that is available to comfort them at sleep time.

Snack Time

Mid-afternoon we serve a light healthy snack and refreshments to the children often consisting of seasonal fruit, water and home-made cakes.

Tea-time

We serve a light tea at approximately 3.30 - 4.00pm for children that are staying with us in the afternoon/evening. Our menu is displayed daily and just like lunch, tea changes daily. This could consist of something such as wholemeal sandwiches or pittas or, in the winter, a warming home-made soup with fresh bread.

Home-time

When parents/carers arrive to collect their children any information about the child’s day, important messages and art-work to take home will be passed on by our Nursery Practitioners.


Dormice and Hedgehogs staff are dedicated and passionate about their work; they enjoy getting messy with the children and encourage all children to take part in group dancing, singing and story time.

There is a flexible daily routine within the room and each day we ensure that a creative activity is implemented. This could be anything from colouring and chalking to flour, painting and corn flour play so please ensure that your child has a change of clothes as we do enjoy getting messy!

We encourage group activities with the children to aid the development of their social skills such as singing, stories and circle times.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and using weekly observations we all plan the activities to meet these areas, you will find our plans on display for your

information. All children have a record of their achievements where we keep any observations and photographs.

During meal times all children sit together at the table, lots of encouragement is given to the children that are starting to feed themselves and those that require it are given help.

After lunch we provide each child with their own bed and clean sheets. The room layout enables us to turn off the lights in one end so that those not sleeping can continue to play in the other end.

Please let us know if your child requires a different sleep pattern as we like to match your routine to aid a smooth transition between home and nursery.

We are always available to discuss any queries/concerns you may have.

Dormice & Hedgehogs

Welcome to Dormice (our baby room for our under 1s) and Hedgehogs (for our 1 – 2 year old children).

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Rabbits & Squirrels

In this room we encourage independence. We are pleased to offer low rise toilets and sinks at just the right height for your child where we encourage potty training and hand washing. We realise that each child is different and have their own requirements so with regards to toilet training we will follow your routine.

Your child will be exploring a range of areas and activities in our large room of which we feel are very important at this stage of their development, these include:

Free expression through a range of ■

creative activities.

Colour recognition and naming. ■

Counting and number recognition. ■

Developing fine motor skills and hand ■

eye co-ordination with activities such as pencil and scissor control.

Imaginative play and Role play ■

Group activities including dancing and ■

music and movement.

Forming friendships and understanding ■

the importance of sharing.

Learning about rules and boundaries. ■

Each member of the team is passionate about working with children and we want your child to feel safe, secure and most of all happy so that they can develop to their full potential.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and using weekly observations we all plan the activities to meet these areas. You will find our plans on display for your information.

If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to ask as we are always happy to help.

We are pleased to welcome you to Rabbits and Squirrels (our 2-3 year old room) where the fun never stops!


Sensory Room

In addition to our large base rooms we also have a “Sensory Room”. The main objectives of this room are to:

Provide an environment that ■

increases sensory stimulation

Provide an interesting atmosphere ■

that allows children the opportunity to explore their environment and encourage activity

Provide nondirective activities that ■

help communication

Provide a safe and secure ■

environment that allows children to relax physically and mentally

Provide an environment where ■

children feel free to enjoy themselves

Encourage social skills ■

Promote the learning and acquisition ■

of new skills

Encourage social interaction and ■

awareness of others

Encourage staff to link planned activities ■

within the six areas of the EYFS

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Outdoor Area

Here at Little Owls we boast a very large play area with many facilities: Including…

Climbing frame ■

Slides ■

Bikes, cars and scooters ■

Ball run ■

Number game ■

Play house ■

Garden for children to look ■

after and plant

Sand pit ■

Water trays ■

Also many activities are taken from the inside to the outside, throughout the day, as we believe that children should be in the fresh air as much as possible. A huge chunk of our planning is based on the outdoor area as the children love it!!!


Owls Pre-school

Owls is our pre-school room for our 3-5 year olds. It is a lovely large inviting room which contains a range of equipment designed to teach children through a multi-sensory approach. Emphasis is placed on the child developing a healthy lifestyle, being independent and taking responsibility for his/her own actions. A qualified teacher is based in this room along with highly experienced and professional staff.

Children are closely observed in their play so that their interests can be nurtured and developed. We encourage children to investigate and explore their surroundings and provide activities which enrich this important area of development. We believe that preparing children for further stages in their learning is key: this is encouraged through the use of technology, including computers and digital cameras, and being reflective learners by asking questions and finding out how and why things happen.

We also know that preparation for school is extremely important and ensuring that the transition between settings is made as easy as possible. With this in mind, as a child turns 4, we plan 1:1 time with their key worker to practice key skills such as counting and writing their name. This is all done whilst keeping in mind that each child is an individual and their readiness for such activities. These activities are an ‘add on’ to the already varied and challenging activities planned for each session.

We have close links with local schools. In the term before the child goes to school we welcome teachers to come and visit the children in our setting, where they are more comfortable. There is also transparency between professionals and information is shared sensitively.

All activities reflect the developmental ability of the child and are differentiated to meet all children’s needs. The activities are planned to meet the 6 areas of the EYFS curriculum and a child’s progress is tracked carefully to ensure progress is at an optimum.

At the end of your child’s time with us they will receive their Learning Journey which is a record of their time at Little Owls Nursery and Pre-school.

French Club

Every Wednesday we have a qualified French teacher who takes the pre-school children in small groups to teach them French through games, activities and simple work sheets.

At Little Owls we feel that another language can hugely benefit children’s knowledge and understanding of the world, confidence and self esteem.

Importantly, when children learn multiple languages at a young age, they develop a life-long love of communicating with others.

When young children learn about the structure of other languages, their ability in English is also enhanced.

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Project Room

Here at Little Owls we boast a large Project Room as an extension to our Pre-School base room were small groups of children are taken to perform various different developmental activities. This can include but is not limited to Art Activities, Cookery Activities, French Club, and Preparation for School Transition, Story Time, Role Play activities and many many more.

Soft Play Room

Another wonderful extension of our base rooms here at Little Owls is the cabin in our garden area that incorporates a soft-play room for our children. Physical activity is incredibly important on a daily basis for all of our children and this is a valuable area for encouraging physical development and dexterity whilst encouraging the children to “let off steam” in a safe and enjoyable environment. It also provides us with much needed access to the garden in times of inclement weather.

Settling In at Nursery

Starting at nursery can seem like a daunting experience for parents but our nursery nurses are very experienced at helping both you and your child feel comfortable and settled in their new surroundings.

Some tips on how to make this an enjoyable experience and an easy transition for you both are over-leaf but should you have any queries that remain uncovered, please do not hesitate to contact us as we are always happy to provide additional assistance and information.


Before the big day!

We offer two short visits to the nursery of ■

approximately an hour at a time. We will contact you to arrange these just prior to your child starting with us and encourage parents/carers to also spend time at our setting making sure they are confident when these visits end that their child is happy and settled.

Your child’s key person will often be ■

introduced at your settling in visit. This is the key individual for settling your child and they will guide you through the process, answering any questions you may have.

Even babies can pick up on positive ■

messages you give them about starting at nursery and what a fun experience it will be for them. Spend time if you can in the weeks and days prior to the ‘big day’ talking to them about the new experience they are about to embark on. Talk about all the fun activities they will be undertaking and how many new friends they will be making.

The nursery will already have provided ■

you with an information sheet regarding your childs requirements in terms of allergies, diet, sleep etc. As much information as possible is encouraged between your child’s key worker and yourself. This ensures that we are equipped with as much knowledge as possible to help settle your child well and ensure they feel comfortable and secure as quickly as possible. We encourage families to play an active part in Nursery life and very much encourage our parents to get involved. If you think you have a certain skill that the children may want to learn about let us know.

Little Owls have an open door policy and ■

should you wish to come and spend some time with us whilst your child is here are you are more than welcome to do so.

‘My First Day at Nursery’ by Becky Edwards ■

and Anthony Flintoff and ‘Maisy Goes to Playschool’ are two books that have been tried and tested by some of our parents.

On the day

We understand how important it is for ■

your child’s first day to be as relaxed as possible with opportunities for them to play freely whilst we get to know their likes and dislikes. Their key person will spend time getting to know them and their personality, in order to ensure the correct experiences, activities and opportunities are on offer for them. All children are unique and our aim is to cater for every child whilst focussing on the Early Years Foundation Framework.

It can be very difficult for parents/carers if ■

at the point you leave your child he or she is crying. We understand how upsetting this can be and our nursery nurses are experienced in dealing with these situations delicately. If you feel extra settling in visits may be beneficial to your child then this is something we can discuss further with you. The best advice is to smile clearly and give a set point in the day when you will return that is tangible to the child (i.e., “Mummy will see you after lunchtime” or “Daddy will be back later after Tea”.) Prolonging the goodbye can be more difficult for the child and as hard as it may be it is better to leave and allow them to focus on their day and get busy with the activities on offer.

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Testimonials

I was incredibly reluctant to send our 16 month daughter to nursery last October, since I have been very conventionally brought up by my mother at home and felt that this was the only right and proper thing to do. My work commitments have however increased and I have a successful career. Although I was happy with our family nanny the long term happiness of our child had to be considered. The social skills and the fact that she may be an only child meant mixing at an early age was an important consideration.

I viewed many nurseries with a rather nonchalant attitude delaying the viewings. I was, however impressed with Little Owls.

It’s warm and friendly atmosphere, its safe and loving attitude towards my precious baby have never faltered. She is totally happy, safe and loved and nurtured by everyone at Little Owls. I am impressed with the education side of the nursery, the activities are numerous and I am thrilled with the art, music and dancing. We have a much loved confident little girl who has been fantastically nurtured at Little Owls. I have no hesitation in recommending Little Owls.

Mrs Ursula Moore

Little Owls Day Nursery has given our son a

tremendous start and he has had a fantastic

time during his time there. An outstanding

nursery with super staff who actually have

the time to spend with the children. Little Owls

Day Nursery has given him a wonderful start

on the new and exciting journey to Primary

School. We will have many happy memories

for years to come of his time at Little Owls.

Many, many thanks.

The Cox family

Our daughter has attended Little Owls since she was eighteen months old. All staff at Little Owls have provided an extremely high standard of care over the last three years. Due to our daughter’s individual circumstances it was vital that we chose the right nursery for her and we have never been in any doubt that we have done just that. Little Owls has met or exceeded our expectations in every respect and we would not hesitate to recommend the facilities to other families with young children.

Mrs. S. Jones

I am very pleased with Little Owls Day Nursery. My twin boys are very happy there in the Pre-School room – Owls. Little Owls are very accommodating and helpful in offering extra hours of childcare at relatively short notice, which is a very useful resource to busy parents who want to ensure that children are, at the same time, well looked after and stimulated.

Mrs. J. Thompson


How to Find Us

Little Owls Nursery Ltd. Well Lane Danbury Chelmsford Essex CM3 4AB

Phone: 01245 221333 Email: [email protected]

www.littleowlsnursery.co.uk

Visit Little Owls NurseryWe hope that this prospectus has given you some useful information about the nursery. However we would love for you to experience our facilities first hand so please call and arrange a visit.

Simply call us on 01245 221333 to arrange a visit

Reg No: EY297422

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Little Owls Nursery