FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General Questions

Fees & Availability?

To request our current pricing and availability, please contact us.

What is included in your fees?

Breakfast if you attend at 8am, Morning and afternoon snacks, dinner and tea depending on the sessions you attend.

My child has additional needs. Are you able to support this?

Yes definitely, we have an ALNCo (Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator) and an experienced team able to support children with a wide variety of needs.

What are your ratios of staff to children?

Nursery

Under 2s 1:3

2 years 1:4

3-5 Years 1:8

Holiday club

5-7 years 1:8

8-12 years 1:10

What qualifications do your nursery staff hold?

All our staff are qualified to Level 3 and above in childcare. We also have six level 5 staff and a foundation phase teacher.

How do I register my child for a place at one of your nurseries?

To register your child at Myrtle House you will be asked to complete the relevant application forms and contract. We will also require a non- refundable registration fee of £30.00. We give all parents/carers a tour of the complete facility and are delighted to give you details of all the different activities we offer at Myrtle House. Our aim is to work together with you to help you and your child settle in the Nursery. Some children take longer than others to settle. The treatment of each child as an individual is our main concern and we are pleased to offer settling in visits prior to your child starting at Nursery.

What age can my child start nursery?

We look after children from babies, the youngest being 4months.

How far in advance should I enrol my child?

We would encourage you to get in touch with us as soon as possible. Spaces are allocated based on start dates, our current waitlists and availability of your chosen nursery.

Do you offer sessions or half days?

Yes we offer both sessional and half days.

Do I need to book an appointment to look around the nursery?

Yes, please contact us to arrange a suitable time.

Am I entitled to recieve funding for my child?

Yes, quite possibly, please check out our Childcare Funding page or ask a member of staff when visiting the nursery.

Do you accept childcare vouchers?

Yes we accept childcare vouchers from many providers.

Are you open for bank holidays and school holidays?

Our nurseries are open 51 weeks a year. On Bank Holidays and over the Christmas period we are closed.

What do I do if I have a concern/complaint to make?

Any parent who is uneasy about any aspect of the Group’s provision should talk over any worries or anxieties with the Nursery Leader. If there is no satisfactory outcome please contact the Nursery Director, Mrs Ellen Chapman on 01554 756051.

I would like to work for your nursery. Do you have any job vacancies?

Please email nursery@myrtlehouse.org.uk and attach a current CV.

Do you allow students to work in the nursery?

Yes we have a few students working with us at different stages through their careers but they are never responsible for the care of children.

Nursery Life

What is a typical daily routine in nursery?

Nursery Opening - free choice play

Breakfast time

Circle time/songs/stories

Continuous provision / independent choosing.
Some of the activities may be: Messy Play, painting, music, puppets, stories, play dough, cookery, role-playing, IT equipment, balls, scooters, bikes, hoops, building blocks and much more according to ages and stage of development.

Snack time and lunch

Individual development

Home time

Do you have a settling in period?

We feel that all children need to have a ‘Settling In” period before they start at Myrtle House Nursery to introduce you both to nursery life, and allow your child to feel safe and secure in the environment.

On your first and second visit you will stay with your child and you will be assigned a key worker who will be responsible for helping you and your child to settle into nursery life. They will also monitor your child’s progress and development, providing regular updates during the first few weeks of nursery life, whilst you both adapt to the new routine.

What is a 'key person'?

A key worker supports children effectively when they are away from their parents. One member of staff will look after a new child on their first day and help the child settle and help the child through their start at nursery. The key worker can communicate to parents on a daily basis.

What will my child eat at nursery?

Our menus have been specifically designed to provide a balanced diet rich in whole and raw foods. See more info on our Food & Nutrition page.

My child has an allergy. Can you cater for this?

Yes we cater for any special dietary requirements. Please speak to our nursery managers about your child's specific needs.

My child is starting potty training. Can you help with this?

We are happy to work with parents and continue to help train your child at nursery if they are at a stage where we feel they are ready. This would involve asking parents to provide plenty of spare clothes in addition to what they would normally bring and possibly some jelly sandals/shoes to save shoes getting wet.

If it becomes clear that a child is not ready we will encourage parents to put them back into a nappy and try again at a later date. Forcing the issue with children will often knock their confidence sometimes even causing a regression.

What if my child has an accident at nursery?

Accidents do happen at nursery but of course we try our best to prevent them. If your child has an accident we will let you know upon collection or beforehand depending on the severity of the accident. Incidents are recorded in the accident book, outlining the cause, treatment and outcome. We will provide any first aid as required and the manager and parent sign the accident form at the end of the session.

What happens if my child gets sick?

We do all we can to protect children from sickness. We therefore insist that if children are unwell they are kept at home.

If a child becomes unwell at the nursery and we feel it necessary to contact parents, we expect the child to be collected as soon as possible.

Please note that in ALL cases of diarrhoea, conjunctivitis and contagious diseases, children MUST be excluded from the nursery, until all symptoms have gone. Please speak to a member of staff who will explain our Sickness and Exclusion Policy.

What does the nursery do about medication?

We are able to administer medicines on completion of a Medication Permission Form and written letter of consent. A qualified member of staff will administer the dosage.
Some medication may require additional staff training and we are happy to accommodate this.

How will I know how my child is getting on in nursery?

Staff will communicate daily and we are in the process of setting up a parent app.

What if I need someone else to collect my child?

That is perfectly ok as long as the nursery are made aware in advance.

What does my child need to bring to nursery?

It would be very helpful if your child could bring a named bag containing the following...

• Nappies • Wipes • Nappy Cream • Calpol • Sun Cream* • Sunhat • Small bag with a change of clothes • Comforters for babies if required • Teething gel or rings (babies) • Beaker or Bottle (babies-made up bottles if baby is still on formula)

*You will be required to sign forms when you register your child to give consent to the staff to apply nappy creams and sun cream and a medication slip to allow Calpol to be given if necessary.

We advise parents to clearly label all their belongings with the child’s full name to ensure that things don’t get mixed up with other children’s or lost.

Do the children play outside all year around?

We believe in outside play all year round and are blessed to have amazing outdoor spaces at our locations. We ensure that both children and teachers are dressed appropriately to ensure we can enjoy the changing seasons. We use the outside area for many different activities including bikes, scooters, sand pit, physical challenges, bug hunts, themed activities, free play and water play.