Prospectus

Welcome to Springfield Nursery an established Day Nursery situated
just 2 miles from Barnstaple in the beautiful Farmland surroundings.

The Nursery has a spacious outdoor playground with an undercover area for bikes, ball games etc, and orchard with a “pets corner” and a vegetable garden for the children.

We have a baby unit for Children aged 3 months to rising 2 years, a spacious rising 2- 3 years room and an Annexe for our Pre-School Children.

Choosing the Best Care.
With all the modern stresses of balancing a working life with your family commitments, we recognise the value in making sure that your child is in safe and caring hands.

Choosing the right place for your child is a difficult decision for any parent to make.  At Springfield Nursery we aim to create a secure, friendly and cosy environment that is stimulating for the child and gives parents confidence.

Our homely surroundings assist the transition between home and nursery.  Our priorities being the physical, emotional, intellectual and social wellbeing and development of the children in our care.

Our Aims
The principle aim of the Nursery is to provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment in a rural setting where children can learn and develop positively as individuals and benefit from the space the Nursery has to offer.

To provide children with confidence and ability to communicate effectively with each other and carers and therefore easing their passage into the education system.

Our Opening Hours
Nursery hours are 8am - 6pm, (before and after these times can be catered for by prior arrangement).

We are open 5 days a week all year round excluding Bank Holidays and a week at Christmas.

Admissions.
Anyone wishing their child to attend must complete a registration form and pay a non-refundable fee (currently £30.00) to request a place.  We request a deposit of one month’s fees in advance and fees are then payable monthly in arrears.

Places are snapped up quickly at Springfield so we advise booking your place as early as possible.

Children with Special Needs.
The Nursery is keen to integrate children with special needs, where it is clear that our facilities and resources can effectively meet the needs of the individual child.

Fees.
Our fees are reviewed periodically and we undertake to give not less than 8 weeks notice of any increase.  The charge from 1st September 2009 is £4.35 per hour for under 2's, £4.15 for 2-3 years and £3.80 for over 3 years.

There is an additional charge whenever a child is collected outside specified times without our prior arrangement (currently £10.00).

Full fees are payable during holiday and sickness absences.

Fees are payable monthly in advance. Late payment will give rise to a £10.00 administration charge and dishonoured cheques will incur a
£20.00 administration charge. Interest will be charged on unpaid fees outstanding for more than one month at the rate of 10% p.a. and the Nursery reserves the right to exclude children if fees remain unpaid for more than 7 days.

One month's notice should be given to withdraw a child from the Nursery or reduce the number of sessions to be attended and in default fees will be payable in lieu of notice.

Springfield Nursery is part of Devon County's Early Years Development and Childcare Plan and thus in a position to attract nursery education grant from DFEE to fund part time places for 3 & 4 year old children .

Nursery Staff
The Nursery Team comprises of a Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager, a Supervisor in each area, Nursery Nurses and Nursery Assistants.

The Staff have a variety of childcare qualifications including  Foundation Degree, NNEB, and NVQ’s and all fully approved by the relevant authorities.

Policies.
Springfield Nursery has a range of policies, and all parents are required to read these and agree to them in writing.

Activities and procedures.
Our main emphasis of learning will be through play but children will be taught to enjoy arts and crafts, early maths, science, language and physical development.

All children are offered equal opportunities in an atmosphere that reflects a balanced and coherent, progressive model of planned learning.

The Nursery works within the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.

Weekly planning documents, which outline scheduled activities and subject matter, are displayed on the Nursery's Notice Board.  The Nursery is subject to inspections  undertaken by OFSTED. 

Meals & Snacks
There is a scheduled snack time in the morning and afternoon.  Careful consideration is given to snacktime.

Children with allergies to specific foods or ingredients will be catered for.

Milk is the beverage served but water is always available to the children at snack time and throughout the day.  Bottles of formula milk for babies must be made up and labelled, these will be refrigerated.

We have a fruit and vegetable week at the start of every month where new fruit and vegetables are tried and we make lots of interesting snacks – for example fruit smoothies, fruit salad and soups.
Other snacks include:
Fresh/Seasonal cut up fruit or vegetables
Biscuits
Sandwiches
Rice Cakes.
Bread Sticks

Where a child is to remain at the Nursery during the lunch hour (12-1pm) parents must provide a packed lunch which should contain an ice pack.  We can also serve food at tea time for those that stay late.  Lunch boxes must be clearly marked with the child's name.  Packed lunch ideas are posted on the main notice board monthly.

Notifiable Diseases
The Nursery holds a policy on Notifiable Diseases and if your child contracts any infectious illness you must tell us without delay and we will advise you as to whether or not your child can attend the Nursery.

Administering of First Aid
All staff hold a Paediatric First Aid Certificate, and have received instruction specifically covering the administering of first aid to infants and children. On-going training is in place.  All accidents are entered on an Accident Report form and will be signed by both a member of staff and counter-signed by the person collecting the child.

Toileting/Nappies
Nappies and wipes must be provided for your child.  Any supplied by the Nursery will be charged for. A record is kept of changes.  Toilet training is so far as possible handled in accordance with your specific requests and according to the developmental needs of the individual child.

Administering of First Aid
Full details must be given in advance with a signed and dated request if Nursery is to administer any medication.  Details required will include name of medicine, time of last dose, dosage and times required with any special instructions.

Arrangements when your child is ill
If your child becomes ill or unduly distressed during Nursery hours, we will endeavour to contact a parent of the child so that arrangements can be made for early collection.
In the interests of other children and staff it will be necessary to exclude any child who has been diagnosed with certain contagious illnesses and diseases. We follow guidelines set out in our "Spotty Handbook" this is available for all to read.

Care & discipline
Each and every child is treated as an individual.  A keyworker is allocated to each child whose responsibility it is to closely monitor your child's progress and welfare.  In cases of 'anti social' behaviour, staff  endeavour to explain why such behaviour is unacceptable.  The staff  use only positive guidance, redirection and the setting of clear-cut boundaries that enable the child to become self-disciplined.  Our aim is to encourage the children to be fair, respect property, respect others and to be responsible for their own actions.

Discipline and guidance is consistent and based on an understanding of the individual needs and development of your child.

Aggressive physical behaviour towards staff or a child is unacceptable. Staff will intervene immediately when a child becomes physically aggressive to protect all children and encourage more acceptable behaviour.

Springfield Nursery reserves the right to exclude any child at any time if it is considered that this is in the best interests of the Nursery.  This is wholly at the discretion of the Nursery Manager

Procedure for Collection of Children
Children are released only to the adults listed on the Consent form previously provided by you. Release to any other adult may occur with a written authorisation signed and dated by you, or by direct communication with the Nursery Manager.  We have a password system in place for this. Identification may be requested at any time.

Health & Safety.
Health & Safety is of utmost importance and our Policy is available for inspection on the Nursery Notice Board together with our Fire Procedures.

How to Make a Complaint
We hope that you will not feel it is necessary but if you wish to make a complaint you must first discuss matters with your Child’s keyworker, the Supervisor or Deputy Manager.  If this does not resolve matters to your satisfaction then you are asked to put your complaint in writing to the Nursery Manager. There is a separate policy giving clear guidance on the procedure.

No Nursery
In case of bad weather or emergency, please listen to the local Radio Station between 6.30 and 7.30am.  Whenever possible families will be contacted by telephone if Nursery is cancelled.

Comments/Suggestions.
We value all comments and suggestions you may have.