Welcome To Children’s Centre Welcome To Happy Days Children’s Centre

Happy Days Children’s Centre is Our Aims a purpose built, dedicated, high To satisfy the needs of each child by quality Children’s Centre set providing the best choice of childcare, within secure grounds. the best value, the best environment, a quality service that is second to The Centre was designed and none and childcare for any parents constructed in line with Ofsted who require it. To fulfil childcare and is situated on the Minsthorpe requirements and provide an Community College campus with easy environment that children will enjoy. access from the M62, M1, M18, and A1 To achieve this we will: (M). • Provide a welcoming, safe, caring and We know that your priority is to informal environment. find a setting that offers facilities that • Provide an extensive range of are right for you and your child, and activities to suit all ages and stages of understand the importance of earning development supported through the your trust and confidence. Early Years Foundation Stage. At Happy Days we devote our time • Provide flexibility to meet parents’ and energy to creating a fun and individual needs. loving environment, while at the same • Provide high quality, motivated and time delivering the best childcare and caring staff. learning. We want our children to feel • We provide nutritious, freshly safe, secure and happy right from the prepared meals catering for all start. children’s dietary needs. • Provide a facility that guarantees continuity of care.

1 Our Care Rooms

Baby Room Children aged 0 to 2 years Our Baby Room is very homely with comfy seating and cushions; it is well equipped to cater for all our babies Pre School Room needs. We hold a variety of activities Children aged 3 to 5 years. such as messy play, music time, heuristic and sensory play. Our Pre School Room provides activities, which are based around Our babies regularly go outside into individual children’s interests and the garden to play and explore. abilities, but are flexible in order to be The room is spacious and brightly inclusive to all. The children are able to decorated with displays and pictures. make their own choices and contribute to the room planned activities. The children also initiate their own Toddler Room activities which the practitioners Children aged 2 to 3 years. support and extend enabling the In our Toddler Room we offer many children to progress in their learning opportunities for their developmental to eventually reach the early learning needs. It provides a wide range goals (Early Years Foundation Stage). of opportunities for children to investigate, explore and learn, Holiday Club consisting of areas like a home corner, Children aged 3 – 9 years water, sand, play dough, construction, painting, and a movement area. Our holiday club operates throughout most school holidays. We provide It promotes independent learning, a high standard of interesting and social skills and personal development stimulating learning through play through using the indoor and outdoor activities for children. Our fully areas. supervised indoor and outdoor play activities are informally structured for individuals and groups of children. The programme includes a variety of I am very happy with the care activities such as, home corner, sand, given to my children. I feel the dressing up, imaginative cooking and staff have their best interests at art & craft. Children help staff to plan heart, they are a friend as well as a variety of creative activities such as, carer. I recommend your care clay modelling, mask making etc. A quiet facility to anybody. area is provided for the children to read and relax, should they wish to do so. 2 Opening Hours Fees & Pricing Structure Happy Day’s Children’s Centre is Our fees are calculated evenly open for 50 weeks per year. over a 50-week year and reflect an (Closed Bank Holidays and 2 adjustment for the period between weeks at Christmas). Christmas and New Year, when the Centre is not open. Opening Hours are: Monday to Friday Fees are reviewed periodically and 8am to 6pm we undertake to give not less than 8 weeks notice of any increase. Arrangements can be made for your child to attend from 7.45am Children - Under 2 years on Monday & Thursday (subject to Standard Day demand). An extra charge is made for 8.00am to 6.00pm £38.50 this service. Half Day 8.00am to 1.00pm £28.00 Admissions or 1.00pm to 6.00pm £28.00 Anyone wishing to reserve a place for their child to attend must complete a registration form and pay a fee of Children - 2-3 years £50. This is refunded from your first Standard Day month’s invoice upon take up of the 8.00am to 6.00pm £38.50 place. Should you not take up the Half Day place when the start date has been 8.00am to1.00pm £27.50 agreed the fee will be forfeit. or 1.00pm to 6.00pm £27.50

As there is usually a waiting list for places it is advisable to apply as early Children - 3 years and over as possible. Standard Day 8.00am to 6.00pm £37.50 Half Day 8.00am to1.00pm £27.00 or 1.00pm to 6.00pm £27.00

Holiday Care

Standard Day 8.00am to 6.00pm £37.50 Half Day 8.00am to 1.00pm £27.00 3 or 1.00pm to 6.00pm £27.00 Extra sessions can either be paid for on the day or collected with the following month’s invoice payment. Extras are for additional sessions or additional hours and subject to avail- ability.

Late collections will be charged at £10.00 for the first 10 minutes (or part there of) and a further £20 for each 10 minutes after that (or part there of). Holiday Absences On completion of a holiday form, Full fees are payable during sickness giving a minimum of 4 weeks notice absence. only half fees will be payable. When the Centre is closed for 2 weeks at One month’s notice is required to Christmas and Bank Holidays there withdraw your child from Happy Days will be no fees payable. or reduce the number of sessions to be attended. Nursery Education Grant Payment Of Fees Some 3 and 4 year olds may be eligible for nursery funding sessions, subject Full fees are payable monthly in to criteria. We will apply for these on advance by cash or card on the 1st your behalf as applicable and this will of every month or weekly by prior be deducted from your fees. arrangement. Late fees will incur a surcharge. Please feel free to discuss Assistance With Fees payment of fees with us. You may be entitled to assistance of Childcare Vouchers up to 70% of your childcare costs depending on your income. We can Childcare vouchers are non-taxable advise you on this or you can contact and exempt from National Insurance the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 Contributions for employees. All 3900. eligible working parents, with children aged under 16, are entitled to receive Childcare Vouchers regardless of tax All the staff are extremely status. You need to speak to your pleasant and welcoming and we employer to see if they participate in feel confident leaving our child at a voucher scheme. At Happy Days we the nursery as the ‘caring nature’ accept all vouchers. of all the staff is very apparent. we think the activities provided are very stimulating for our child. Thank you.

4 Registration & Staffing Our resident cook will organise and cook healthy, nutritious meals for Happy Days Children’s Centre is children in the Centre. registered with Ofsted in order to provide day care and education. Staff Training The Centre Manager is responsible Our staff are our most valuable for the day-to-day management of resource and it is through their the centre. The Manager and Team commitment and effort that good Leaders will always be available to talk quality provision can be both any matter or concerns through with established and maintained. We are you. therefore committed to providing good training and development The Team Leaders are highly qualified opportunities for staff, so that they and are responsible for the day-to-day are able to perform their roles both safety, security and well being of the efficiently and effectively. children in their room. They create a stimulating, attractive environment and Key Person oversee the children’s activities, which have been carefully planned with the A Key Person system is operated help of their team, they work closely within the Centre, and most of the with all staff and children. staff has a group of children for who they care for and build relationships. Childcare Practitioners are qualified The designated staff member will be childcare professionals. They organise your main point of contact for offering activities and work closely with the security, reassurance, continuity and children, and assist the Team Leaders receiving information about your in providing a safe, caring, stimulating child’s learning and development. environment for children in their care. However other staff members working within a room have extensive Our Assistant Childcare Practitioners knowledge about all children in their may be studying towards a childcare care and in the absence of your child’s qualification and are being supported key person will support your child’s by the more experienced staff in their individual needs. When your child is training and development. ready to move to the next room their key person will be there to help them and you develop a relationship with their new key person.

5 Children’s Learning & Development The Early Years Foundation Stage guides the children’s development and learning. Our provision reflects the four key themes and 16 commitments Our Approach to Learning, of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Development & Assessment The four key themes are: Play helps young children to learn and • A Unique Child develop through doing and talking, • Positive Relationships which research has shown to be the • Enabling Environments means by which young children learn • Learning and Development to think. Our setting uses the practice guidance Early Years Foundation Children start to learn about the Stage to help staff plan and provide a world around them from the moment range of play activities, opportunities they are born. The care and education and interactions, which help children offered by our setting helps children to progress in each of the areas of to continue to do this by providing all learning and development. We believe of the children with interesting and that careful planning is required if play exciting activities that are appropriate is to be high quality. In some of our for their age and stage of development. activities children decide how they will use the activity and, in others, an adult The areas of development are: takes the lead in helping children to Prime Areas take part in the activity. • Personal, Social and Emotional Development Our staff take time to observe and • Physical Development assess children’s developmental • Communication and Language needs and interests. We use the information we gain from observations Specific Areas to document children’s progress. • Literacy We believe that parents know their • Mathematics children best and we ask them to • Understanding the World contribute to assessment by sharing • Expressive Arts and Design information about what their children like to do at home and how they can For each of these areas the practice support their children’s development. guidance sets out the Early Learning Goal. These goals state what it is We make periodic assessment expected that children will know summaries of children’s achievements and be able to do by the end of the based on our ongoing development reception year of their education. records. 6 Environment Our Day We provide an environment, Our setting organises the day so that which is friendly and nurturing children are able to take part in self which promotes children’s chosen and adult led activities. These self esteem helping then on take account of children’s changing their learning journey. Our energy levels through the day. We environment is designed to be cater for children’s individual needs both cosy and stimulating. for rest and quiet activities during the day. Our outdoor area and activities The resources, furniture and contribute to children’s health, physical equipment are carefully chosen development and their knowledge of to ensure the highest quality. All the world around them. resources are attractive, accessible and displayed in ways that are inviting Meals & Snacks to children. We have clearly defined As part of our all-inclusive approach, areas of the setting including sand, we provide a full range of meals, snacks water, mark making, role play, to help and drinks for your child during their stimulate children’s creativity and day with us. independence. A typical day would include: Our environment is also designed Breakfast - Snack - Lunch - Snack -Tea to encourage physical development such as crawling, sitting, and standing, We believe that healthy eating walking, and running. We ensure print is extremely important in the is displayed all around them in the form development of young children, and of books, posters, labels, drawer labels recognise that children should be able and name pegs to encourage a positive to enjoy food. attitude to reading and writing. Quiet and rest areas are provided if your Meals are freshly prepared each day in child wishes to sleep or rest. our kitchen. Menus for the month are displayed on the Parent’s Notice Board and Dining Room door.

We acknowledge that sugary and fatty food or food-containing additives are almost unavoidable in the modern diet, but we have tried our best when planning our menus to minimise these and encourage enjoyment of a wide range of foods including multi-cultural meals. 7 All children are encouraged to brush their teeth after mealtimes and is part of the daily routine.

The kitchen in the Baby Room is responsible for storing and preparing all formula and expressed milk. We hold an annual Parent’s Evening giving you the opportunity to come Babies are encouraged to try different along and discuss your child’s learning foods, which are prepared in our and development with their key kitchen. person.

All dietary requirements are catered Children With Special Needs for here at Happy Days. Children with a Special Need will find themselves a valued member of Partnership With Parents Happy Days. They will follow the same We believe that children benefit curriculum along with any extra help most when we work together in they may need to learn at their own partnership with parents/carers. pace. Our environment and activities We will talk to you about their will be adapted allowing them to be as experiences and development, fully involved as possible and discuss our observations and plans for them both verbally and Policies & Procedures in your child’s Individual Learning Under Ofsted we follow a full range Records. of Policies and Procedures, which we will show you at your welcome visit This is an extremely useful and and are always available to view in valuable document for when your are reception area. Our policies are child moves on to school. Parents designed to offer the best possible are central to their child’s well being experiences for the children in our and development and because many care. Our policies are reviewed activities at nursery go unseen by you, regularly. your child’s individual records offer an insight into their time at nursery.

Your child’s individual records are Everything about Happy Days is unique to them. These enable us to calm, reassuring, friendly, a happy discuss our observations with you, environment and a great place to and offer you the opportunity to give bring your child us feedback on how your child is developing at home. 8 Security Policy The purpose of this policy is to ensure Staff members will ask the person the children’s safety at all times. We who they have come to collect and ask parents to adhere to our policy request the agreed password. We will and procedures. only ever release a child to someone if we are absolutely certain that it is the We encourage parents/carers to person they are authorised to leave talk with their children about the with. importance of remaining safe. Parents should not let anyone else • Main security doors should be kept into the nursery on arrival or when shut at all times. collecting their child. This is important • Parents/carers must sign their child for the safety of your child. in and out when bringing their child to nursery and collecting. This is so If You Have A Concern we have a record of who is in the Please do not hesitate to contact the nursery in case of an evacuation. Manager or Team Leader who will be • When the door bell rings and we only happy to address any issues. We are unsure of the person we will not anticipate that most concerns will allow access and will go to speak to be resolved quickly by an informal them. approach. If this does not achieve the desired result, we have a set of Collecting From The Centre procedures for dealing with concerns. When your child starts at the setting parents must provide information If We Have Concerns about who is collecting their child If we have any concerns over the from the setting, this is recorded, development of your child then on the child’s registration form. Any we will discuss these with you on parent who wishes for someone other an informal basis. We would hope than the authorised people to collect that together we could identify the their child must inform us prior to appropriate help that may be needed. that person arriving, giving us a brief description of what they look like and Comments, Suggestions & a password. Ideas We value all comments, suggestions and ideas that you may have and they will always be welcome. They can be placed in our suggestions box located in the entrance or talked over with any member of staff. If your 9 suggestion relates to the day-to-day care of your child, you can discuss any ideas with your child’s key person. The If we have to contact you because Manager will also be available to talk you child is unwell we ask that you to, should you wish to do so. respond immediately.

Starting At Our Setting • If your child has an infectious disease we ask that they are completely The First Days - We recommend that free of infection before they return. parents follow a settling in procedure If your child is prescribed anti- to make the transition from home biotics and is well enough to return to setting as smooth as possible. before the dose is complete, we will The settling of a parent and child administer the medication for you. into nursery life is a very important At least 48 hours of taking anti- process and we want your child to biotics must elapse before a child can feel happy and safe with us. Both the be allowed back into nursery. Please parent and child are given time to remember that if a child returns settle into the new environment. before they are fully fit they may infect other children. Clothing – we provide protective clothing for children for messy • If your child has an accident at home activities and outdoor play. However, we ask that you tell us so that we your child will still need an outdoor are aware. coat and outdoor shoes. They will also need a change of clothing and • At the end of your child’s day you a sun hat. We encourage children will receive their daily diary giving to gain the skills that help them to information about what your child become independent. These include has enjoyed doing, what they have putting on and taking off outdoor eaten, if they have had a sleep, nappy clothing, so clothing that is easy for changes, and any other general them to manage will help them to do comments. this. This is just a brief overview of the experience your child can enjoy here Things You Need To Know at Happy Days Children’s Centre. • We ask that you do not send your We would relish the opportunity to child to nursery if they are sick. provide the very best early years care and education for your child and hope to welcome you to our setting very soon. 10 For any further information please contact:

Happy Days Children’s Centre Minsthorpe Community College Minsthorpe Lane South Elmsall Pontefract WF9 2UJ

01977 658766