How We Work

organisational plan

Activeplay Nursery is registered to look after up to 48 children at any one time, of whom 15 may be under the age of two years.

It is the policy of the nursery that we aim always to exceed staff:child ratios set in law.  In addition, our nursery manager is supernumary, as is the nursery owner who is on the premises for most of the day and both are available for childcare duties in the case of unexpected absence or staff illness.  All children are allocated a key person to be specially responsible for their care and as a point of contact for parents.

The aim of Activeplay Nursery is to provide a safe, happy, caring and homely setting for the children in our care, providing varied and high quality developmental and educational experiences for children and encouraging good relationships with parents and carers through partnership working and good reporting practice.   Children are encouraged to become independent in their self care, for example using the toilet or getting themselves a drink of water, and to have choices in the activities they undertake during the day.

Whilst 50% of staff are required to hold a suitable childcare qualification in law, it is the policy of this nursery that all staff should be suitably qualified, or working towards a recognised qualification.  All staff are CRB checked and during recruitment, references are always sought.  The company is committed to staff development, and staff are encouraged to attend training courses to develop their skills.  Time off for training is paid. The nursery takes students on work experience from local colleges from time to time.  These are always carefully supervised and are not counted towards our staffing ratios.   

The nursery has an open door policy for parents, reflecting the ideal that nursery care and education should be a true partnership between the provider and parents and guardians.  Parents are welcome to attend nursery at any time to spend time with their child, or to experience the care and activities in which their child is involved.  Parents' suggestions and comments are encouraged, and the nursery owner or manager can be accessed at any time.  Monthly newsletters keep parents in touch with nursery developments, and copies of nursery policies are provided to new parents, as well as loan copies always being available on the premises.  Nursery policies are reviewed regularly to ensure that they meet the needs of children, parents and staff as appropriate.  This organisational plan is informed by, and should be read in conjunction with, the portfolio of nursery policies.

The nursery is committed to equality of opportunity, and this includes care to children, involvement with parents, recruitment of staff and access to training, and admissions.  We have a policy to give precedence to the siblings of children already at the nursery, and to parents requesting extra days.  We also have a legal obligation to give priority to children entitled to receive subsidised early years education ('nursery grant').  All other applicants have equal weight in respect of admissions. 

We have a member of staff trained in, and responsible for, special needs, and we will work with any parent in making it possible for their child to attend Activeplay Nursery and receive quality care and educational experience here.  However, we must also recognise that this is an older building, not designed with accessibility in mind, and there may be some disabilities or special needs it would be difficult to accommodate safely.  Options will always be discussed with parents in the spirit of finding a safe and acceptable solution.

In the baby room, daily update books are prepared for parents, and for all age groups, development folders are maintained to record each child's progress.  We operate a system of observations on children, which are recorded in their books or folders.  Folders are kept in the child's 'base room' and can be accessed by parents at any time, or taken home overnight.

The rooms in the nursery are arranged so that children can spend time both with their peer group, but also spend time with children of other ages.  This is particularly helpful for children without siblings, but it is useful for all children to have an opportunity to learn from older children, and to learn to show care for younger children.  Children have the opportunity to move around the nursery and undertake different activities in different rooms, which is intended to replicate to a degree children's experience within their own homes and make the experience of nursery a more homely one, and each day more interesting and varied.

The main rooms within the nursery are as follows

A baby room, accommodating up to 6 babies under the age of one year.

The downstairs toddler suite comprising three interconnecting areas allowing children to engage in different activities with different members of staff.

The upstairs two - three year olds' room,  comprisinig two interconnecting rooms to allow children to divide into groups for different activities.

The 3/4 year olds' room, the largest room in the nursery, which allows lots of scope for free choice of activities.   

The outside play area, used both for free play and for more organised games and activities on a daily basis by all children, except in very poor weather.

The library, used by all children for reading, music activities and quieter times.  Every room in the nursery also has a book corner, reflecting the importance of books for enjoyment and learning.

The dining room, where children sit communally for breakfast, lunch, tea and a morning and afternoon snack.  Children are encouraged to use cutlery correctly, and to choose food for themselves, for example when fruit is served at snack time.  The dining room is also used by the older children for cooking projects, play doh and other hands-on activities.

There are children's toilets on both floors of the nursery.  

On the second floor of the nursery there is an office and a staff room, and this area of the nursery is not accessible to children.

The nursery's curriculum supports the Early Years Foundation Stage.