Our nursery has been located in the grounds of Ditton Lodge Community Primary School for over 40 years. We operate independently from the school as we are a Registered Charity run by a Volunteer Committee of Parents. We can have a maximum of 24 children per session aged from 2 to 4 years. We have our own enclosed outdoor area, which has a vast array of equipment and resources.
Staffing
We have a professionally qualified, experienced and enthusiastic team of 6 staff. As a minimum all staff have (or are working towards) a recognised early years qualification along with Paediatric First Aid, Child Protection training and Basic Food Hygiene.
Our Aims and Objectives:
- to provide high quality care and education for children of pre-school age;
- to work in partnership with parents and carers to help children to learn and develop;
- to offer the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential
- to add to the life and well-being of the local community; and
- to offer children and their parents a service that promotes equality and values diversity.
We further aim to:
- ensure that each child is in a safe, secure and stimulating environment and is given a high level of care and attention because of our ratio of qualified staff to children,
- ensure that each child has the opportunity to join in with other children and adults to live, play work and learn together; and that each individual child has fun and forms friendships with the other children within the setting;
- ensure that each child is helped to move forward with their learning and development by building on what they already know and can do, they are supported by a key person to ensure they make progress;
- work in partnership with each parent to help every child with their learning and development to help them reach their full potential.
We provide a broad and balanced learning experience through challenging and purposeful play in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage, ensuring that each and every child is offered the same opportunities in order to encourage their all round development.
Special needs
As part of our policy to make sure that our provision meets the needs of each individual child, we take account of any special educational needs a child may have. The setting works to the requirements of the Education Act (1993; 2002) and The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice 2015). We have a designated Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) who will be happy to discuss any questions you may have.
Key persons and your child
Our nursery uses a key person approach. Each member of staff is responsible for a small group of children and will work with you as parents* to ensure that we provide for your child’s individual needs and interests. When your child joins us, their Key Person will help them to settle and will continue to liaise with you to ensure that we support your child and to ultimately assist them to reach their full potential.
(*We use the term ‘parent’ as the child’s main carer.)
Online Learning Journeys
Each child has an online learning journey record through Tapestry which shows their experiences whilst with us. Parents can contribute and work together with staff on their child’s Learning Journey which helps us provide for your child’s needs and well-being, and enables us to celebrate together their progress and achievements.
How parents take part in nursery
We arrange a ‘Stay and Play’ session for the children joining our nursery in September, so that parents can meet with their child’s key person, become familiar with the setting and answer any queries they may have. We also use stay and play sessions to encourage parents to visit nursery during sessions, these are available each month on various days and at various times. This enables parents to see how a session runs and the type of activities their children take part in. We welcome parents and family members in for special celebrations, such as Mothers Day and Fathers Day. We have Mystery Readers each week from the second term, this gives parents or family members the opportunity to share a story or book with the children at Together Time.
Safeguarding children
The welfare and safety of children and adults are of paramount importance to us. All staff have a responsibility and a duty under the law to help safeguard and promote the welfare of the children within our care, ensuring that they are protected from harm.
All staff have regular child protection training and familiarise themselves with policies and procedures concerning this. We have three Designated Safeguarding Leads who can support children, families and staff should there be a need to. Our nursery practice and procedures ensure children are protected against the likelihood of abuse in our settings and we have a procedure for managing complaints or allegations against a member of staff. There are rigorous procedures in place for safe recruitment of staff, including a DBS disclosure, which ensures that every member of staff is suitable to work with children.
Our way of working with children and their parents ensures we can offer support if problems emerge, including referral to appropriate agencies when necessary, to help families in difficulty.
Policies
Ditton Lodge Community Nursery has an extensive number of policies and procedures in place. Below are two of our main policies (Safeguarding and Complaints). All other policies and procedures are available for your information and these can be requested from the Nursery Manager.
*All our policy and procedure documents are reviewed and updated on a yearly basis. If you have any further queries, please contact a member of our office.
Ditton Lodge Community Nursery, Newmarket 