Skip to main content

Highways at Hamstreet Kindergarten


Highways is a non-profit charity offering outstanding quality childcare and early years learning opportunities to children between the ages of 2 and 4 years.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Vicky Long
Contact Position
Manager
Telephone
01233 732915
E-mail
highwaysnursery@btinternet.com

Where to go

Address
Ham street Primary Academy
Hamstreet
Ashford
Kent
Postcode
TN26 2EA
Notes

We are located in a small rural community on the outskirts of Ashford, within the grounds of the village school. We have strong links with the school and the local community.

When is it on?

When is childcare available
Term Time Only
Carescheme Age Range:
2 year(s), month(s) to 4 year(s), 0 month(s)
Opening Times
Opening Times
DayOpening TimeClosing Time
Monday 08:30 15:30
Tuesday 08:30 15:30
Wednesday 08:30 15:30
Thursday 08:30 15:30
Friday 08:30 15:30

Other Details

Table of costs
Table of costs
AmountCost Type
£6.50 Per hour
ECD Type
Day Nursery
Offers pickups
No
Cost(s)
Cost details
Contact provider for details
3-4 Year Old Funding?
Yes
2 Year Old Funding?
Yes
Total vacancies
0
Immediate vacancies?
No
Contact Provider for Vacancy Details?
Yes
Vacancy Information Last updated Date
08/12/2023
Facilities
Music, Computers / It, Messy Play Area, Cookery, Toys/dolls, Dressing Up, Nursery, Outdoor Activities, Trike, Play House, Water Play, Quiet Room, Visits and Outings, Garden, Walks, Sandpit, Arts And Crafts, Reading, Refreshments, Books, Sign Language / Makaton, Sensory Room, Bike, Songs, Slide, Climbing Frame, Stories, Sports
Languages Spoken:
English
Wheelchair Access
Yes

Ofsted Information

Ofsted URN
127250
Link to latest ofsted inspection report 

30 Hours Extended Entitlement

Registered to provide up to 30 hours entitlement
Yes
30 Hours Partner Details (These are details of any other childcare provider(s) that this provider will work with to offer the 30 hours entitlement)

15 hours universal funded pattern of delivery

Full Day 8.30am – 3.30pm                                 

6 hours funded + a fee of £ 2.40 for Hot Meal & £6.50 for lunch hour

Morning Session -  8.30am – 11.30am

3 hours funded

Morning Session Plus Hot Lunch – 8.30am – 12.30pm

3 hours funded + a fee of £2.40 for Hot Meal & £6.50 for lunch hour

Afternoon Session –

 12.30pm – 3.30pm

3 Hours funded

Afternoon Session Plus Hot Lunch – 11.30am to 3.30pm

3 Hours funded + a fee of £2.40 for Hot Meal & £6.50 for lunch hour

 

For all 2, 3 and 4 year old children accessing their FEE hours only, the following pattern is: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 11.30am or Monday to Friday 12.30pm – 3.30pm.

 

 30 hours funding pattern

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

8.30 AM TO 11.30 AM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

8.30 AM TO 11.30 AM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

8.30 AM TO 11.30 AM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

8.30 AM TO 11.30 AM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

8.30 AM TO 11.30 AM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

12.30 AM TO 3.30 PM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

12.30 AM TO 3.30 PM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

12.30 AM TO 3.30 PM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

12.30 AM TO 3.30 PM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

12.30 AM TO 3.30 PM

3 HOURS FUNDED CHILDCARE

HOT MEAL £2.40

LUNCH HOUR NON FUNDED CHILDCARE £6.50

TOTAL DAILY COST £8.90

If you wish to access the funding without incurring any costs you will be required to collect your child at 11.30 and bring them back to nursery at 12.30.

Service status

Status
Open

Local Offer

Special Needs Support

When a child starts with us at nursery they are given an ‘All about me’ booklet which enables parents to share information about their child’s development before they start and gives us an idea of the needs of the child. Every child is assigned a key teacher who develops a relationship with the child and their family. The key teacher is responsible for regular observations that link to the EYFS curriculum. We monitor children’s progress using Development matters and if children join when they are two, we carry out a 2 year old progress check which reviews progress and development and is completed with parents. Parents are encouraged to discuss any concerns with their child’s key teacher and likewise the key teacher will always discuss concerns with the parent.

Your child will be allocated a key teacher who will liaise with you throughout your time at nursery. You will be informed through informal conversations with the key teacher or other staff members, after each session about your child’s day. Our learning journeys are documented on an app called ‘Tapestry’ which you can look at in your own time however often you wish. These contain observations about what your child has been doing and are linked to the curriculum. You are also invited to upload what you have been doing at home. We have parents evening twice a year when we feedback how they are doing and if any extra support is needed. We also provide written reports that give information on the child’s progress and next steps. We will discuss targeted plans with you should we need to do one and involve you in any additional help, that we feel is needed.

We treat each child as an individual and their key teacher will support the child’s needs and encourage their interests using the EYFS curriculum’s three prime areas and four specific areas. The environment is adapted to accommodate the different children’s needs and abilities and activities are available to ensure all children access a broad and balanced curriculum. We have a quiet, sensory room which provides an ideal area for individual and small group activities as well as providing a sensory area for children with additional needs. We provide a language rich environment and our staff are experienced in working with children with speech and language delay. When a child needs additional support in this area we will use Makaton signing, visual timetables, now and next boards and small group activities. Our SENCO regularly attends specialist information sessions and forums and disseminates any new strategies and advice to staff members.

We use an individual targeted approach, Makaton, visual timetables, labelling, now and next boards, visual prompts, activity choice cards and small group work.        We also have a quiet room and a sensory room, which we use for quiet activities or one to one supported activities. We liaise closely with relevant outside agencies such as S&L or STS for advice and support.

The nursery offers a graduated approach to supporting children with SEND and this is set out in our Special Educational needs policy. The nursery staff will make observations and set targets in relation to the child and from here we will make an assessment to see if further intervention is required. This may be from outside agencies including speech and language therapists, the equality and inclusion team or advice from the local Early Years LIFT team. We will obtain consent from parents/carers before taking a child to LIFT, thus enabling us to seek advice and support from outside agencies. If outside agencies become involved, targets will be set in the form of a personalised plan. Personalised plans are reviewed regularly and new targets will be set if progress is being made. Regular meetings will be arranged with parents to review progress and set new targets.                                                                                                                                                   

If a child has additional needs that requires the staff to have specific training, this would be discussed prior to the child starting at the nursery.

Children who are receiving additional support will have a targeted or personalised plan in place that outlines the additional strategies staff will use to support the child’ progress. Meetings are held with parents every term to discuss what is working well, evaluate the progress that has been made and set new targets for the coming term.

We value diversity and promote equality so that all children can be included in all parts of our nursery. Activities are adapted to meet a child’s needs and we will make the necessary adjustments to enable this to happen. This could include having a member of staff supporting your child during small group activities to help them to remain focused or providing equipment that your child may need. Risk assessments are undertaken for any trips off site to the woods at the back of the school or to the school play equipment.

The nursery would make arrangements for the application of funding such as SEN Inclusion Fund (SENIF) or Disability Access Fund (DAF), which would be used to ensure children with additional needs are supported and have any resources or equipment they need.

The nursery building is totally accessible for children with mobility issues or wheelchair users.

We enjoy a close working relationship with the primary school on whose site we are based and use the school hall each day to enjoy a cooked dinner. In the summer months before the children start primary school, the Foundation Stage teachers visit our setting to meet the children and we visit them each week to listen to a story or play in their classroom. At the end of term 6 when children are about to leave nursery to join school, we complete a transition form which describes each child’s strengths and abilities and highlights where support may be needed and this is discussed with the parents before being given to the primary school. If a child has SEN we will work closely with the reception class teachers to ensure support is in place when your child starts school.

We hold a staff meeting every half term and always have a 5-10 minute debrief every morning and afternoon before and after the session starts. All policies and procedures are reviewed annually and amended throughout the year as the need arises. Parents are invited to fill in a questionnaire every year which helps us to review our practice and service. 

Regular meetings take place between the key teacher, SENCO and parents to review plans and allow feedback on children's progress. Our SENCO attends LIFT meetings and SENCO forums so that she is up to date with the latest SEN information. Staff who attend any training are asked to feedback at staff meetings, sharing any new knowledge that they have gained.

All initial enquiries should be directed to Vicky Long by telephone or email. Our nursery has an inclusive policy and should additional requirements be needed to support a child, these would be discussed with the family and the manager and SENCO.

We ask parents to complete a questionnaire annually but welcome feedback at all times as we value the opinions of the families we work with. We pride ourselves on the good level of communication we have with our parents and adapt to be as accommodating as possible. Regular staff meetings focus on issues parents may have raised and are acted on accordingly. We have a complaints policy which can be found in our parent information booklet and on the notice board in the setting.

Hard copies of all our policies are available to view on the nursery notice board.

Reviews

Sign in to write a review

Disclaimer:

This directory has been set up to help you find local services and events available in your area. We make reasonable efforts to make sure that all information provided in the directory is accurate and up to date, but we do not accept any responsibility or liability for any errors in information. It is the responsibility of each individual service to update their information. For more information read our disclaimer.

Give website feedback

green smiley (good) orange smiley (average) red smiley (poor)