Phoenix Montessori Nursery
27 Stamford hill
London N16 5TU
Tel: 0208 880 2550
Mob: 07977209777
Email:
NURSERY MANAGER Web site: www.phoenix-nursery.com
Kelly Murphy
Welcome to Red class
Red class is situated in an upstairs room at the Nursery. It is the base room for up to 9 children aged from 10 months.
Staffing
The ratio of staff to toddler is 1:3.
Red class
The room itself is very large and well resourced; it is heated by radiators and has five windows, which allow the room to be illuminated by as much natural light as possible. The walls are covered with bright colourful displays, which the children enjoy helping to create.
The sleep room and play room is fully carpeted apart from one room which is an area specifically designed for water, sand and messy activities. We have a comfortable reading corner which has cushions where the children are able to snuggle up and look at a books or where staff are able to sit and read or sing to the children. On the carpeted area there is a sensory area which the children find fascinating to look in the different shaped mirrors. We have a home corner which provides fancy dress materials and cooking utensils, this helps the children to develop good social skills.
We provide boards where information about the day’s activities & monthly themes are recorded.
Hints to help the transition period
As your child turns 2, your child will move into Yellow class, an induction process will follow to ease the transition process.
There are a few ways in which parents & staff together can make the transition as smooth as possible.
It would be beneficial to implement the following measures in the weeks leading up to moving:
· To encourage independence skills, such as putting on their own slippers and taking their shoes off.
· To begin to walk to nursery.
· To discuss the move with your child and book a meeting to talk to the room leader.
Daily Routine
A rough guide to the routine is as follows:-
We have a daily routine, however this is subject to variation, depending the child’s individual needs.
· 8.15 – 8.55 Breakfast
· 8.00 – 9.00 Free Play
· 9.10 – 10:00 Altogether time ( Physical Play, outdoor play, singing and action games)
· 10.00 – 10.10 Registration (Daily Record of children and snack)
· 10:10 – 10:50 Free Play
The room is divided into four areas:
1. Book Corner
2. Messy play, Sand and Water
3. Arts & Crafts
4. Construction and Treasure basket or Heuristic play.
· 10:50 – 11:00 Tidy up time. This encourages the children’s self help skills and respect for their equipment and each other.
· 11.00 – 11.15 Story & Rhyme time
· 11.15– 12.00 Lunch
· 12:00 - 2:00 Sleep time
· 2:00-6:00 Altogether time ( Physical Play, outdoor play, singing and action games)
Free Play
Over the course of the session the children have their nappies checked and changed and they are encouraged to brush their teeth.
The afternoon session mirrors that of the morning, but the children are offered a different variety of activities and resources. The children who attend all day or a full afternoon have tea which is a light snack.
Sleeping
The children sleep on floor beds, in a carpeted room. Each child sleeps on a mat and has two sets of named sheets and blankets provided by the Nursery.
The bedding is laundered on a weekly basis at the Nursery. The children keep their clothing on according to the weather but slippers and socks are always removed.
The children have one period of sleep in the afternoon between 12.00 and 2.00.p.m.
The children are checked at 15-minute intervals. When each child wakes up their nappy is changed, they are dressed and their sleeping time is recorded on the daily diary.
Babies one years of age; will placed on a beaker for milk time; please ensure you provide the staff with an additional beaker
Eating
The Nursery provides your child with food and drink for the day. All food is prepared and cooked on the premises by our cook/caterer.
At meal times, all the Red class children join together around tables in the ‘hard floor’ area of the room. Staff members serve up the meals to the children from the kitchen area and each child is encouraged to try a small portion of the meal. There is often enough left for ‘seconds’ for the healthier appetites! Red class children each have a beaker or a cup of water and eat using a knife and fork.
Plastic bibs are provided to protect their clothing. At the end of the meal the children’s hands and faces are cleaned with disposable face wipes.
If your child has any special dietary needs due to medical or religious reasons the cook will provide a supplementary meal.
During snack and mealtimes the children’s manners are encouraged by reminding them to say ‘please’ & ‘thank you’.
Milk
Babies are fed their milk when they are hungry. With the majority of babies this tends to be morning, lunchtime and afternoon, but we will adapt to your babies needs. The options for formula milk are as follows:
Option one
· You provide the first bottle made up
· That for any further feeds you bring in bottles with the correct amount of water and a container for the powdered milk formula, which is measured out.
Option two
· Alternatively you can provide bottles (on a daily basis) along with cartons of formula milk
Babies one years of age; will placed on a beaker for milk time; please ensure you provide the staff with an additional beaker.
Clothing
Please dress your baby in comfortable, easily removable, clothing, please do not place your child in Dungrees. You will need to provide at least three complete changes of clothes in case of leakages one way or other! ALL CLOTHING MUST BE CLEARLY NAMED and the best way to do this is with embroidered name tapes. (Available from ‘Name mark’).
In the winter your baby will need a coat/jacket, hat, gloves and an extra thick pair of socks/shoes for outdoor wear. In the summer your baby will need light cotton clothing, a sun hat and a named bottle/tube of sun block. Each child has their own peg to hang their belongings on or a box outside the room for spare clothing.
Nappies
You will need to bring a supply of nappies and wipes; the Nursery Nurses will inform you when they are running low.
A form will need to be completed for any creams you require staff to apply.
Comforts
If your baby has a special comfort, i.e. cuddly toy, blanket or dummy please bring it to Nursery. If baby does have a dummy please provide a dummy clip and a protective cover.
Teething
Babies suffer with teething in different ways, but they usually always dribble! Please can you provide two named "dribble bibs" when teething starts. If you wish you may leave some teething gel or powder for the Nursery Nurses to administer. A form will need to be completed.
Illness
If your baby is unwell enough not be able to cope with the normal Nursery day, then please keep them at home. If your child has an infectious disease then it is very important that you inform the Nursery and that the baby is excluded according to Nursery policy. Babies will only be re-admitted to the Nursery after an illness at the discretion of the Nursery Manager. If your baby becomes unwell during the day, one of the Parents/Carers will be contacted to arrange collection of the child as soon as possible. Gastroenteritis (sickness and/or diarrhoea) requires a full 48 hours clear of either sickness or diarrhoea before being accepted back into the nursery.
Medication
The Nursery is willing to administer medicine when necessary. You must complete a medicine authorisation form. These are available from Blue class staff members. Medication must be prescribed by a doctor. Calpol or parocetomol will not be administrated at the setting.
Accidents
Nursery records all accidents on an accident form. If your baby is hurt or injured in any way during the day an entry will be made on an Accident form and you will be asked to sign this form as a parent/carer acknowledging that you have been told about the accident.
If your baby has an accident at home we ask that you let the Nursery Nurses know. They will ask you to complete a home accident/injury form.
General information
Throughout the year the Nursery organises various social events and fundraising activities for all the children & their families to attend and participate in. These include a Christmas play, sports day, barbecue and a Summer fete.
You will be kept informed of any forthcoming events in the Nursery newsletter.
A photographer takes individual and group photographs every year. The individual photos are taken in March / April time. There is no obligation to order these photos.
All fundraising monies go towards purchasing extra toys & equipment for the children.
For the safety of the children we encourage all parents to enter the class room, which ensures the safety for all the children to be continuously monitored, this will also give you the opportunity to speak to your child’s key worker in a relaxed environment and to also have a look at our displayed work.
For the daily exchange of information, it is encouraged that parents/carers arrive BEFORE CLOSING TIME if they want to hear about their child’s day. As you can appreciate, it is a long day for the Nursery Nurses and they like to leave promptly.
The Nursery closes at 6.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. A fine system operates for the collection of children outside these hours. The initial fine is £5.00 per a minute. Please note the Nursery clocks are radio controlled so are extremely precise!
Check List of Items Needed for Red class
Change of Clothes (x 3) ......
Comfort (i.e. dummy) ......
Coat, Gloves and hat ......
Shoes & slippers ......
Sun hat and sun cream ......
Nappies ......
Cream (if needed) ......
4 photographs of your baby ......
Bottles of milk ......
Beaker ......
Plastic bib for meal times ......
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