The Nursery at East Kent College opened in October 2017 and we are here to cater for the needs of children from 3 months to 4 years. We open all year round apart from Bank Holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year.
We are a setting that believes in giving every child that comes into our care a home away from home experience every single day they come to us. The Nursery is based in Folkestone College.
| Day | Opening Time | Closing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 | 18:00 |
| Start Age | End Age | Places |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 5 | 16 |
| Inspection Date | Inspection type | Inspection Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 04/12/2019 | Inspection (Early Years Register) | Good |
Every child is unique and we treat them as such. Before starting nursery the parent are given a form known as the "Starting Points" form to complete so we can get to know the child before they start. We use the knowledge of the child's interests to aid a smooth transition into Nursery. The setting uses development matters which is a guideline to development from birth to five. This information is then tracked and used to help identify areas of additional needs. This information is available to parents on tapestry (online learning journal) at all times.
Our Special Education Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) is Louise Ashdown and she ensures all families have the support and resources to help your child have the best start in life.
Every parent has access to Tapestry (online learning journal) where they can view observations and development tracking at any time. Your child's key person will answer any question that might arise. We offer parents' evenings 3 times a year where your child's development and progress can be discussed. W also do children's progress check at 2 and this helps us to determine any extra support needed which can then be put in place using a targeted plan if necessary. A meeting with your child key person can be arranged at any time should you wish to discuss your childs progress.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is a statutory framework that settings have to follow which aids tracking children's development from birth to age 5. Our practitioners are highly qualified with minimum of a level 3 qualification and many years experience. They are able to adapt all areas of the EYFS by first building a comprehensive baseline of your child's development and tailoring it to your childs individual needs.
Once your child's needs have been identified the setting will invite you in for a meeting with the key person and our SENCO to agree a personalised or targetted plan. This will be reviewed every term or as and when needed. All strategies will be agreed on and referrals to external agencies made where necessary.
We also ensure that activities are planned in a way to include every child and adapt various activities to meet individual needs of all our children.
The setting provides additional support through observing the child and monitoring their needs. The child is given a key person and a buddy system is in place.
Children that have been identified as SEND, will be given a targeted and personalised plan suited to the child’s individual needs in conjunction with the parents/carers knowledge and support. The child will be added to the SEN register; the SENCO will liaise with all staff to inform them of the child’s specific needs, to ensure that their individual needs and targets are being met. This is reviewed every term with the SENCO or sooner if the child is reaching the targets that have been set.
As a nursery we encourage the use of Makaton with all the children, to support multilingual families, non-verbal children or children with a hearing impairment.
We are a nursery that will refer and seek support from other agencies to meet the individual’s needs, because every child matters.
We provide a home from home stimulating and enriched environment for children to learn and develop.
We as a nursery understand that the parents are the child’s first educator and their voice must be heard and as such we have a day to day approach.
We will regularly meet with the parents and the SENCO to establish how progress is being monitored to ensure that their next steps are being planned. During these meetings we will share and discuss strategies and routines that have impacted positively on their child’s needs.
We plan activities around the children’s individual abilities, this is achieved by providing adaptable resources for example left handed scissors for left handed children. Trips out of the nursery are risk assessed before the outing. All children are included; however if the nursery feels that there is a greater risk then the parents will be invited to join their child on the trip. We also provide prams, high visible jackets and weather suitable clothing.
How accessible is the building for children with mobility difficulties/wheelchair users
As the nursery is cited within the grounds of Folkestone College (previously known as East Kent College), the college is fully accessible in all areas. The nursery has a ramp cited at the back of the nursery for prams and wheelchairs on the ground level and there is a lift for the upper level.
The main entrance fairly accessible to children with mobility access as we have a small stair leading to our reception over which parents can easily manoeuvre their buggies which means it will be accessible to wheelchair users. We have also have a ramp through which children with mobility difficulties can access our nursery via our back entrance.
The nursery is on two floors with our babies (Budding Learners) on the ground floor while our toddlers (Blossoming Learners) and Preschool (Fruiting Learners) are on the first floor. We however have a lift in the nursery that can give ease of access to the first floor for children with mobility difficulties.
We will provide opportunities to meet and support your child/children, meeting new teachers, teaching assistant or new keyperson. We will speak to the new settings with regards to any relevant additional information that makes your child individual.
We will provide all relevant paperwork, such as 2 year check and unique progress form.
We will role play schools, read books about new schools and make up a photo book of the new school with your child including information about the school, routine and what to expect from the new setting.
We would like your child's transition to be as smooth and easy as possible and as such will work alongside you to do all we can to make this a reality.
By regular conversation with parents/carers we are able to take any concerns and work together to put in place an individual targeted plan to help progress your childs learning.
We can also use the assistance of outside agencies that work with us and parents/carers to support, and help your child achieve his/her potential.
We will regularly review and update your child's progress and ask parents/carers to complete annual questionnaires.
We will help parents/carers to understand the system , how and why we need to complete the paperwork and evaluation to get the best results for your child.
We will liase with the senco for extra support and learning opportunities.
We will ensure our training and policies are regularly update.
We ask parents/carers to contact our manager - Toyin Aina or the deputy manager Julie Delieu to arrange a meeting to view the setting and talk through any funding that may be available.
We can arrange for the parents/carers to speak to the Senco to talk over any concern they may have and what their childs needs are.
We can provide home visits if required.
We hold parents' evening every term and this gives parents opportunity to feedback to us. They are given parental feedbcak form where information about what they feel about our services can be written in.
We also have a complaint box which is checked at regular intervals.