Georgie
Porgie
Nursery and Pre-school
Ofsted no EY292583
Providing excellent child-care for ages 6 weeks to 5 years
Proprietors: Mrs Gillian Jolliffe
Mrs Melanie Loakman
699 London Road
Hadleigh
Essex
SS7 2EE
Email:
Website: www.georgieporgienursery.co.uk
MISSION STATEMENT
Georgie Porgie Day Nursery, in partnership with parents, staff and children is committed to providing high quality childcare in a family orientated and friendly environment. We encourage children to be imaginative and independent and nurture all children in our care to unlock their full potential. We have created an environment staffed by people with a genuine love of children and a desire to continually keep ahead of changes in the industry through training and research.
Our mission statement is backed and helped by our values.
VALUES
Ø We behave ethically
Ø We are family orientated
Ø We show regard for the needs of people and the environment
Ø We take pride in our business
Ø We constantly look to improve on what we do
Ø We value the contribution of employees and parents
Ø We ensure ‘Every Child Matters’
Ø We create a good working environment
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
At Georgie Porgie Day Nursery we endeavour to make children feel safe and secure in a ‘home from home’ environment. We do this by making the premises very much a bright, welcoming and child orientated environment to which the children enjoy and look forward to coming. We promote their self-esteem and celebrate their individuality.
We aim for all children, regardless of gender, ethnicity, culture, ability or disability and socio-economic background to reach their full potential in all areas of learning and development. We do this with guidance from Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS).
We aim to treat all children equally and ensure they grow to be confident, resilient children and above all have fun during their time at nursery.
STAFF
All our staff members are chosen for their qualifications and experience but essentially for their caring and professional natures. All our staff members are thoroughly vetted and have current Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.
PROPRIETORS: Gillian Jolliffe – Mother of three,
CEYP level 4
Mel Loakman – Mother of two
MANAGER: Emma Cadman – Early Years Professional Status. Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Studies from Anglia Ruskin University. Mother of two. Has been working in childcare since 1990
Also undertakes role of SENCo & Safeguarding Children Officer
DEPUTY MANAGER: Laura Pewsey – NVQ level 4 in Children’s Care, Learning & Development
OUR GROUPS
All staff members in each room receive guidance from the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS, initiated by the government, highlighting the importance of children’s early experiences and how adults play a big part in supporting this) to ensure that children from 0-5 get the experiences and close relationships needed to gain life long skills. Information on the EYFS will be explained upon joining the nursery, but you can find out more on the Department for Education’s website, available at http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/a0068102/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs
Every child in the nursery has a key person. This will be a carer who is with your child for the majority of the time they are at nursery. Although your child’s care requirements will not be the sole responsibility of the key person, they will be responsible for ensuring that your child is happy and thriving whilst in nursery, writing regular progress reports and contributing to your child’s learning Journey and is a person who you can speak to in confidence at any time.
When the time approaches for your child to move to the next group, they will have short visits with their key person to ensure the transition is as easy and happy as possible.
Little Bunnies 0 – 18 MONTHS APPROX
Staff Ratio 1: 3
We have two rooms for our Little Bunnies in order to keep group sizes small. Both rooms provide a warm, loving and stimulating environment in which your baby can develop their earliest skills and stimulate their senses. It is well equipped with relevant resources, equipment and materials for your baby’s age and stage of development. Your baby will engage in activities from musical instruments and looking at books to finger painting and physical activity. Our ‘Black and White Corner’ provides an area for the youngest of babies in which to captivate and hold their attention as they focus on these high contrasting colours and shades.
A book corner is provided, as in all groups, that allows your baby to access different types of books throughout the day. They can look at these independently or listen to stories and rhymes with a carer and their peers.
Daily record books are provided to detail what your baby has had to eat and drink, nappy changes and sleep times and a brief outline of your baby’s day. You, as parents are encouraged to record any information you feel is relevant in the book. Cots are provided in a separate area for your baby’s sleep times. We ask you to provide nappies, formula / expressed milk and a change of clothes.
Little Hedgehogs 18 MONTHS – 2 ½ YEARS APRROX
Staff ratio 1 : 3 (under 2) & 1 : 4 (over 2)
Your toddler, growing fast will be encouraged to experiment in a variety of new experiences on offer to them that are designed to enhance their awareness of mathematical concepts, sounds, the world around them and creative arts, etc. Their imagination and understanding of different roles will be supported through the use of a large role play/home area. They will be able to choose their own equipment and resources to play with as they are accessible at all times throughout the day. Regardless of what they choose to play with we know that it will support their learning in many different ways. Adult – led activities are planned, taking individual children’s next steps into consideration.
Your toddler’s emerging self-help skills and independence are developed as they are encouraged to tidy away, wash hands, sit on a chair at mealtimes and access their own drinking water when needed. Your child will become actively involved in activities that develop their social skills such as games involving turn taking, group activity requiring sharing and circle time that necessitates speaking and listening.
Progress on toilet training is recorded in the daily record books and mattresses are provided should your child require a short nap after lunch.
Little Squirrels 2 ½ - 3+ YEARS APPROX
Staff Ratio 1 : 4 (under 3) & 1 : 8 (over 3)
There are 3 separate rooms for your child to access in this group, each of which provides varying activities.
Our front room provides a large role play/home corner in which your child can act out familiar roles from home and the community, quiet table top activities which will promote your child’s fine motor skills and a cosy area ideal for rest or just getting away from things and having a quiet chat with a friend.
Our messy room allows children to develop their imagination with regards to artistic and creative expression and your child will be able to access a range of media and materials and sensory experiences.
Our back room offers a discovery area, ICT station and a large carpeted area for engaging in imaginative small world play.
Circle time in this group enables your child to develop an awareness of the needs and feelings of others, develop mathematical concepts such as counting and communication skills through fun group games. Throughout their time at nursery, your child will be able to access a full range of resources, carefully selected to promote their learning and development through self-led play.
Adult-led activities are implemented that take into account your child’s next steps to help them progress in their learning and development.
Your child will be encouraged to explore and take risks in activities and tasks that will build their confidence, self-esteem and resilience. .
Record sheets are provided for under 3’s to inform you of your child’s day and mattresses are still provided should your child require a sleep.
Little Badgers 3+ - 5 YEARS APPROX
Staff Ratio 1 : 8
We class this group as our pre-school. It is a large space with different areas that promote various aspects of learning. These are;
Role play area – our role play area encourages imaginative play; recreating roles such as superheroes, creating storylines as well as acting out familiar roles in the home corner.
Discovery area – we provide activities that link to the world around us; nature science, etc.
Mathematics area – resources are available for children that allow them to begin to problem solve, use numbers for different purposes and engage in activities to do with shapes and measures, etc.
Cosy corner/book corner – children are able to rest when they need to or look at books alone or with their peers. Children are supported in recognising when they may need to take time away from their peers.
Carpet area – here, the children participate in circle time that involves registration, stories, songs and games.
As well as these specific areas we provide many other exciting opportunities for your child to make discoveries, expand on their knowledge and further their learning. These can include literacy, arts, communication and ICT amongst others.
We encourage independence with regards to toileting, dressing, interacting with peers and adults and problem solving, selecting and carrying out activities, all in order to prepare your child for school.
We work in partnership with local schools to ensure smooth, happy transitions when the time comes for your child to leave nursery and start their journey through school.
THE EYFS PRIME AREAS OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
The prime areas of learning and development are crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Throughout their time at nursery your child will access a curriculum that will enable them to:
· Develop self-confidence and self-awareness
· Manage their feelings and behaviour
· Make relationships
Communication and Language
Your child’s communication and language will be supported by a sensitive staff team that model appropriate language, use a range of communication techniques, such as makaton (used throughout the nursery) and encourage speaking and listening skills during everyday situations and carefully planned activities. All this will develop your child’s:
· Listening and attention
· Understanding
· Speaking
Physical Development
Many activities are provided and resources available for your child to access that will help to develop your child’s gross motor and fine motor skills such as building, threading, cutting, climbing and balancing and also to develop bodily awareness such as the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices. Such activities and resources will involve:
· Moving and handling
· Health and self-care
THE EYFS SPECIFIC AREAS OF LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
The prime areas are strengthened and applied through support children in the specific areas.
Literacy
Through story time, access to a range of books at all times, access to mark making and reading materials such as pencils, pens, paper, envelopes, forms, maps and leaflets at all times and through participating in activities that encourage your child to link sounds and letters such as listening walks, rhyming activities and sound recognition games, will develop skills necessary for eventual:
· Reading
· Writing
Mathematics
Practitioners, through effective interaction, talk to your child and ask questions about their play, encouraging them to subconsciously draw mathematics into their play. We aim to give your child an understanding of mathematical language to describe shapes, counting, matching, size and quantities. Activities are provided that develop simple problem solving with regards to:
· Numbers
· Shape, space and measure
Understanding of the world
We provide activities that enable your child to learn about the world around them, including nature, culture and technology. Their interest and curiosity to learn will be developed through activities relating to:
· People and communities
· The world
· Technology
Expressive Arts and Design
We allow your child to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas through different media such as art and design, music and movement, and role play. As many natural materials as possible are used to enrich creative play – such activities include treasure baskets for the younger child and heuristic play. Such activities encourage your child to be interested in:
· Exploring and using media and materials
· Being imaginative
When your child is 2
At some point after your child turns 2, the professionals working with your child must give you a written summary of how your child is progressing against the 3 prime areas of learning:
· communication and language;
· physical development; and
· personal, social and emotional development.
This is called The EYFS progress check at age 2.
This check will highlight areas where your child is progressing well and any where they might need some extra help or support – and how mums and dads and other family members or carers can work with the key person to help. You might find it useful to share the information from the check with other professionals such as health visitors (who can use it as part of the health and development review).
At Georgie Porgies, we carry out this check when your child is approximately 2 ½ years old, when they are due to move from Little Hedgehogs to the Little Squirrels group. We hold a short meeting with you to chat about the progress check and to discuss anything you may wish to talk about.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Weekly dance lessons are held in our pre-school group, run by a qualified teacher from Pure Dance. She engages the children in music and movement sessions. This is charged separately.
Southend United FC Community Trust holds football coaching sessions outside for children over 2 ½ years old every fortnight. These sessions teach the children to move with control and co-ordination, teaching them football skills and keeping them active in a fun environment.
We have a varied calendar of events throughout each year including Parents Open Evening, Teddy Bears Picnics, Easter Bonnet Parades and our Annual Christmas Nativity performed by the oldest children.