Admissions Information

Choosing a nursery is an important decision for you and your family. Children are at the forefront of everything we do. We understand the importance of allowing children to learn through play and provide a learning environment that will support and nurture your child’s development.

The Nurserys

• Open Monday to Friday 7:00am – 6:00pm

• Open 50 weeks a year

• Work in partnership with parents

• Offer nutritious and balanced snacks

Security

A security entry system is placed at the entrance to ensure access by authorised persons only. We require notification of who is authorised to collect your child from nursery. Under no circumstances will a child be allowed to leave the premises unless with a previously identified, authorised person.

Introductory Sessions

Before your child begins full days or sessions at a Smallville Nursery we would recommend that you and your child visit on several occasions for short introductory sessions. You are encouraged to stay with your child until he or she settles after which time we would suggest that you leave for short periods until both you and your child are relaxed and comfortable in the nursery setting. No charge is made for the introductory sessions. We understand the importance of ensuring that your child is settled so that they enjoy coming to nursery and get the best experience. We will work with you and can adjust the settling in period to suit the needs of your child.

Additional Support Needs

If your child requires extra support for any reason, either on a temporary or permanent basis, we will make every effort to provide this support. Our staff are experienced at working closely with parents and other professionals such as Health Visitors, Speech and Language Therapists and Paediatricians to help your child reach their full potential. (Also see Inclusion Policy)

What Do I Bring?

Depending on our child’s age and stage of development you will need to provide: lunch, suitable outdoor clothing including wellies and a change of clothes.

Clothing and Personal Property

Your child will be involved in messy activities at nursery. Although the staff will encourage your child to wear an apron, we suggest wearing the nursery uniform of a Smallville t-shirt (complimentary) and comfortable dark bottoms for ease. Please clearly mark all your child’s belongings with their name as it can be difficult for our nursery staff to locate unnamed items.

Illness & Medications

For the health and well-being of all children attending Smallville Nursery, your child should not come to nursery if they are suffering from an infectious illness. Children should not return to nursery for 48 hours of last sickness. If your child suffers from a non-infectious illness or an allergy, we will endeavour to accommodate any special requirements they may have. Parental permission is required for all medications to be administered at Smallville Nursery. We cannot administer any medication without a medical form being completed by the child’s guardian.

Unforeseen Closure

In the event of closure of the nursery due to extreme weather conditions, flooding, loss of utility supplies, heating failure, or other causes beyond the reasonable control of the nursery, the nursery will close and the parent/carer accepts that no refund of fees will be made due to continued operational costs.

Behaviour for learning

Positive behaviour is promoted at Smallville Nursery through praise and encouragement from the nursery staff. We encourage our children to ask questions, take sensible risks and build their independence. We provide a tranquil and calm setting to support behaviour for learning.

Our staff will keep you fully informed if your child requires support in this area at any time. If a pattern of behaviour causing more concern develops, we will discuss this with you and agree steps to move forward in the best interests of your child and the nursery.

Planning

We understand the importance of learning through play, and responding to learning in the moment. The enhancements set up in the nursery are open ended to provoke curiosity and for our children to take ownership in their learning. We plan activities to meet the needs and interests of the children in our care and provide opportunities for learning inside and outdoors. We focus on the prime areas of learning which are personal, social and emotional development; communication and language; and physical development. We also ensure that we provide opportunities to develop literacy and numeracy skills within the child’s play.

Progress and Assessment

Each child at Smallville Nursery will have their own learning journal which staff complete regularly to record your child’s observations and achievements. The learning journals can be seen with parents at time and will be shared at focus child meetings. Links will be provided to our online platform where you can see photos of your child's daily activities. You will also receive two progress reports per year detailing your child’s progress and development. We adapt our planning to support the needs and interests of the children and develop the children’s understanding.

Parking

We encourage you where possible to walk your children to nursery, with all our settings being in the heart of the community. However, when car use is essential, free parking is available at our Snodland setting in the car park in High Street, Snodland, and at our West Malling setting in the private car park directly outside. All road markings should be observed and pavements are not to be parked on. All drivers should respect our neighbours and local residents by parking with consideration. There is strictly no parking outside or opposite the nursery or church in Snodland.

Public Transport

Snodland station is a 5 minute walk away. Malling Road, Snodland bus stop is a 2 minute walk away.