Pebbles Nursery is an exciting and inspirational place to work and learn, where children are at the heart of everything. Embracing our diversity and interests, we work hard, behave well, and care for one another. We treasure the unique contributions made by all members of our Pebbles Family and strive for excellence in all things.
Pebbles Nursery moved into a brand new purpose built venue in April 2017, which includes a bike track and covered outside area. We are proud to be owned by the Dover Federation for the Arts Multi Academy Trust (DFAMAT)
| Day | Opening Time | Closing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9.00am | 15.30pm |
| Tuesday | 9.00am | 15.30pm |
| Wednesday | 9.00am | 15.30pm |
| Thursday | 9.00am | 15.30pm |
| Friday | 9.00am | 15.30pm |
| Amount | Cost Type |
|---|---|
| £14.00 | Per session am |
| £14.00 | Per session pm |
| £2.50 | Per lunch |
| Start Age | End Age | Places |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 5 | 26 |
| 5 | 8 | 26 |
| Start Age | End Age | Places |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | 5 | 12 |
| Inspection Date | Inspection type | Inspection Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 19/09/2013 | Inspection (Early Years Register) | Outstanding |
| 10/02/2020 | Inspection (Early Years Register) | Outstanding |
We are delighted to offer 30 hours of Extended Childcare. Please see the link below for further information under our Local Offer.
30 hours of Childcare is offered over 5 days uninterrupted from 9am-3pm.
Should you wish for your child to remain with Pebbles until 3.30pm, there is a charge of £2.50.
Your Pebbles journey begins once we have received your admission forms. This will enable us to build up a picture of your child.
As a space becomes available, you and your child will be invited to attend a meeting with our Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager. This will give you the opportunity to discuss your child in an informal and confidential way.
Once your child has started in Pebbles, we will assess them using the Early Years Document Development Matters
2 years olds will also complete the statutory Progress Check at 2.
If the assessment highlights any areas of delay either the Nursery SENCo or your child's Keyworker will arrange to meet with and share these findings. Following this meeting it may be necessary to provide your child with additional opportunities. These would be shared with you and discussed, then written in a targeted plan.
In Pebbles our ethos of Parents as Partners is a fundamental part of improving outcomes for children. Your child will have a Key Worker, to help build a strong relationship between yourselves and Pebbles. There are many ways you as family members can feel supported:
Daily Contact with staff, opportunities for meetings at your request throughout the year, detailed Learning Journeys including an instant online journal with detailed observations of your child's development, Parent Partnership meetings with our Teacher and Nursery Manager 3 times a year and consistent collaboration with any additional interventions or plans put into place.
The EYFS celebrates the fact that every child is unique. The 3 prime areas are:
Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, Social and Communication Development
We plan, observe and assess continually in Pebbles to ensure the needs of every individual is met. Our Nursery is a language rich environment which encourages independent creativity and learning. We have a wonderful outside area which enriches the experiences of the children through the extensive range of resources on offer.
Targeted Interventions include Speech and Language, Gross & Fine Motor, Listening & Attention Activities take place in small groups or 1:1 with one of our highly skilled and experienced team promoting wellbeing and resilience.
Pebbles have links with local Specialist Provisions, Nurseries, specialist therapists, advisors and Health Visitors which offer ongoing advice and support.
Parents / Carers are informed every step of the way and are offered ideas and resources to use at home, to reinforce strategies used in Pebbles to facilitate learning and development.
Environment: We plan for the environment to ensure children are able to attend, listen, explore and achieve. Lots of natural lighting and neutral paint ensures a sense of calm to the setting. Soft furnishings, bean bags and rugs minimise noise and promote a sense of wellbeing. Moveable furniture enables areas to be created accordingly.
Resources: Children's development is supported at all levels through effective teaching and resources. Should a child need extra support, through funding and liaising with outside agencies, this can enhance what we offer the children. For example, specialised chairs from Occupational Therapy proved successful last year in Pebbles, and the use of a Picture Exchange board from the specialist offsite pre-school provision enabled a child to specifically express his needs and wants. We have purchased resources such as talking tubes, emotion cushion and sensory bark, mirrors and pebbles to scaffold communication and language
Teaching strategies: Our highly trained staff have expertise in all areas from Makaton, Occupational Health, Speech and Language and Sensory processing. The Best Practice Guidance supports our Teaching and measures the impact upon the children we support. The SEND code of practice identifies the areas of need as: Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction, Physical/Sensory difficulties/ and Social, Emotional and Mental Health. Our SENco will work with you and your child to target these areas at Universal, targeted and (where necessary) personal levels.
If your child is not making sufficient progress through the targeted plan, we will discuss with you other avenues such as referrals to other services such as Speech and Language. If your child receives this support, a Personalised Plan would then be put into place.
With your consent, we can refer to the Specialist Teaching & Learning service through the Local Inclusion Forum Team (LIFT) who can visit and offer additional guidance or signpost you child to other agencies. You are consulted every step of the way.
Staff regularly attend training in the interest of the needs of the children and we are constantly updating, reviewing and researching ideas to better our practice. For example, this year staff attended Positive Handling training, Makaton and The Prime Importance of Communication and Language.
Our key person approach is fundamental when monitoring your child, especially if they have additional needs. Your child's data and progress is shared with you at regularly meetings and on request. Pupil Progress consultations between the Teacher and Director of Foundation stage monitor the impact closely of any targeted interventions put into place by the SENco.
At Pebbles we pride ourselves on the amazing relationship we hold with Families and the communication between us, Families are often signposted also to Children Centre workshops or coffe mornings should these be beneficial and informative to your child's need.
Along with the statutory Progress Check at 2, an overall assessment of your child is made Termly, 6 times a year and measured accordingly under the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
In Pebbles we are inclusive for all children and are committed to providing our children with hands on, valuable experiences to enrich their learning. We undertake risk assessments for our end of year Trips, which have included The Rare Breeds Centre and Wingham Wildlife Park. Parents and Carers are encouraged to join us on these outings, which have proven to be an enjoyable and profound experience for families.
Our Christmas Nativities incorporate Makaton for all the children, and last year our SEND children took lead roles, carrying our star to Bethlehem. Likewise our sports day was thoroughly supported and enjoyed by our children with SEND where we introduced a sensory water throwing activity for this purpose.
Within the setting, where children require more support for play and learning we use differentiation. For example, small group work and lots of tactile / visual resources or toys of interest to facilitate their language and understanding,
In April 2017 Pebbles moved into a brand new purpose built setting within White Cliffs Primary College for the Arts. The ground floor provision ensures ease of movement and comprises a disabled toilet facility and lift to access other areas of the School or the playing field for Sports day. The access to Pebbles is sloped with ample Parking, and Pebbles can be reached via the outer gate. Please let a member of the Team know should you or your child have any problems with accessibility.
Children have a robust and efficient transition programme here in Pebbles. Activities for School starters include stories, playing / dressing up in uniform, Teddy Bears picnics, power point presentations or short films on beginning school and with integrated visits to their new School or setting. New Teachers / Practitioners also visit us in Pebbles to see your child explore in a familiar learning environment.
The local Children's Centre also visits, providing invaluable support and activities for the transition to School.
For children transferring to another setting, communication is paramount between the two and any Learning Journey Folder's or transition reports are shared accordingly.
All staff attend weekly staff meetings to discuss the provision and needs of the child. Any training events are shared within the team to enhance our practice. Policies and procedures are reviewed and updated as necessary.
SENco forums and briefings are attended, forging good SEN links to share outstanding practice amongst settings. LIFT meetings also provide opportunities to assess effectiveness of SEN provision and support available.
Parent voice is invaluable for monitoring our SEN provision, we have opportunities for daily conversation, parent questionnaires are sent out twice a year, along with parents evenings three times a year.
Please telephone or email Pebbles should you wish to register with us. From there, Parents/Carers will have a tour of Pebbles with a member of the Team and complete an application form. Following this an induction meeting will be arranged with the Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager to discuss your child and his/her needs in greater depth. Settling in sessions will also be arranged.
During this meeting, you will receive information for applying for any funding such as Free Early Education, Free for Two year olds, the Early Years Pupil Premium, and SEN Inclusion Fund (SENIF) which supports children with SEN, and information on applying for the Disability Access fund (DAF), and how we would use this to support your child.
We welcome constructive feedback in Pebbles and Parent view is important to us. Copies of all our policies are available on the website and upon request. Feedback from Parents this year has enabled us to positively review our ˜going home™ procedure and 12.30pm handover, resulting in children feeling more settled within a busy transition time. Parent/Carer surveys are also on our website, with positive comments regarding SEN children including "Pebbles brings out the best", "I have noticed speech improving so much since starting in September" and "great support from Pebbles staff with toilet training".