Your Child’s Journey
Your Child’s Journey at Little Elms Montessori Nursery starts here…
The setting’s policies and procedures are available for all to see at the setting. Our policies help us to make sure that the service provided by us is a high quality one and that being a member of the Little Elms Montessori Nursery is an enjoyable and beneficial experience for each child and their families. We have included some key policies in this information pack. The staff and parents of the setting work together to adopt the policies helping us to make sure that the policies are enabling the setting to provide a quality service for its members and the local community.
Transition & Settling in
We aim to make the setting a welcoming place where children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families during the settling in process..
Key persons
Each child joining the setting will have a key person appointed to them. It will be the key person’s responsibility to ensure that your child receives the best possible attention whilst in our care and to ensure that their records are kept up-to date. Your child’s key person may change as your child progresses through the setting. You will be notified of these changes. Your child’s key person is your first point of contact for anything you wish to discuss about your child. The setting will agree a process with the parents/carers.
Children’s Development and Learning
We assess how young children are learning and developing by observing them frequently. We use information that we gain from observations, documenting their progress and where this may be leading them. We believe that parents know their children best and we ask them to contribute to assessment by sharing information about what their children like to do at home and how they, as parents, are supporting development.
Learning Journey
The key person is responsible for completing the check using information from ongoing observational assessments carried out as part of our everyday practice, taking account of the views and contributions of parents and other professionals. The setting keeps a Learning Journal and art book for each child, this helps us to celebrate together her/his achievements and to work together to provide what your child needs for her/his well-being and to make progress. It will also enable the key person to identify your child’s stage of progress. You and the Key person will then decide on how to help your child to move to the next stage.
Packed lunch and snack
Little Elms Montessori Nursery regards snack and meal times as an important part of our day, a social time at which children and the adults eat together. We plan the snack rota so that parents can provide the children with healthy nutritious food. Please tell us about your child’s dietary needs and we will make sure these are met.
Parent Partnership and involvement
Our setting recognizes parents as the first and most important educators of their children. Parents are valued, respected, kept informed, consulted and included. All of the staff sees themselves as partners with parents in providing care and education for their children. There are many ways in which parents take part in making the setting a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents. We have an open door policy which welcomes parents to drop into the setting, to see the children’s learning journals and to speak with the staff. The setting has a parent support group who are part of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). In our setting we share with this group, some of the tasks involved in event planning and fund raising. Our PTA depends on the good will of parents and their involvement to keep going, parents help to share the services we offer. This is an important link between the families and the nursery and building friendships with other parents in the setting.
Toileting and Nappy Changing
No child is excluded from participating in our setting, we work with parents towards toilet training, unless there are medical or other developmental reasons why this may not be appropriate at the time. We see toilet training as a self-care skill that children have the opportunity to learn with the full support and non-judgemental concern of adults, encouraging independence. Children are encouraged to wipe, flush and wash their hands, we work with parents to promote good effective personal hygiene.