First steps Nursery Margate is ofsted registered for 100 children from the age of 18 months until 5 years old
Opening hours are 07:30 until 16.00 monday to Friday 38 weeks per year Term Time Only
The nursery has 12 staff who are fully qualified to a minimum of level 3 and hold a DBS check and are first aid & safegurading trained
The nursery also has a Qualified Teacher and SENCO
The nursery has two outdoor play areas one at the front of the building and one at the rear
Full CCTV is installed within the nursery
A finger print recognition door system for staff and parents is also fitted
The nursery is air conditioned throughout the building
| Day | Opening Time | Closing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 07.30 | 16.00 |
| Tuesday | 07.30 | 16.00 |
| Wednesday | 07.30 | 16.00 |
| Thursday | 07.30 | 16.00 |
| Friday | 07.30 | 16.00 |
| Amount | Cost Type |
|---|---|
| £7.50 | Per hour |
| Start Age | End Age | Places |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 10 |
The nursery provides care for all children within the thanet area postcodes.
30 hours entitlement delivery can be taken over three - five days between the hours of 07:30 - 16.00
First Steps has a qualified full time SENCO who supports children with additional needs as well as a SEND policy covering inclusion equality and diversity.
The SENCO liaises with outside agencies for eg Speech & Language, Specialist Teachers and SENIF Practitioner
Staff use Makaton signing, as well as visual que cards, communication boards and pecs to support childrens language, understanding and communication needs
Partnership with parents is paramount to ensure that the needs of each child are constantly met, parents are welcomed to speak to the managers or SENCO at any opportunity, alongside their childs keyperson who will relay any information as required.
Targeted and personalised plans are completed for each individual child and are monitored on a daily basis and reviewed at regular intervals throughout their placement.
Child height toilets sinks and handrails are installed within the nursery
On enrolling each child within the setting, parents/carers will complete a registration form and an 'All about me' document which will give us a chance to get to know your child and their particular strengths or areas where they may need some extra support. We also ask you to provide us with detail about your child's interests at home so that this can inform us with our planning.
When planning, we follow the guidelines of the EYFS and use these to asses each child's starting point. We will complete a progress check at two which is a statutory assessment that may identify any delay in development, this will then be discussed and appropriate next steps planned for by the key-person. The SENCO may also write and share with you a targeted plan which will be monitored appropriately by both your childs keyperson and the SENCO. If your childs develop continues to plateau after careful monitoring, our SENCO will share this information with you along with any possible concerns and discuss the route of involving other outside agencies to support your childs needs.
The settings SENCO is Monique and she ensures that families receive the best support to help with the development of your child, this may also include managing behaviour.
Each child is allocated a key-person who will be involved from their first day so that strong and positive relationships are made with them and their parents. Daily communication with the key person is important so that all information can be shared.
Termly assesments are completed and each child has a learning journal which includes photos and observations that are available to view at any time with parents input.
Parents evenings are held twice a year so that we can inform you about your child's progress and any additional support they may need.
Parents are invited to be involved in any extra planning that may need to be put in place e.g completing a targeted plan.
Planning for each individual child is carried out by their designated Key Person.
Regular changes to the nursery environment are made to ensure we meet every childs needs.
Targeted and personalised plans are put into place, monitored and adjusted to give each child the most appropriate foundation to progress.
Makaton Signing
Pecs Cards
Visual Support/communication boards
Senco liaises with outside agencies
TEACCH workstation tailored to individual needs and developed accordingly to progress
Individual and small group activities
Availability of quiet spaces and area's
Planning for each individual child including the characteristics of effective learning.
The key-person and SENCO will have daily verbal conversations and will share monitoring reports with parents so that we can keep you informed of progress made, their day and any other information that needs to be passed on.
If your child is not making sufficient progress through a targeted plan, the key-person and SENCO will then discuss the next step with you that may involve referring to other services which may include speech and language therapy or with your consent a specialist teacher. If your child begins to receive support from any outside agencies, the targeted plan would be changed to a personalised plan and will be reviewed by both SENCO and specialist teacher every 5 -6 weeks.
When reports are provided by outside agencies, support strategies and changes are implemented immediately to provide your child with and environment that will help support their need and development.
Managers will support the SENCO and provide appropriate training opportunities to ensure all of the child's needs are met.
Your child's key-person will guide, monitor and support them during their time in our setting and they will be responsible for completing overall assessments of their progress, which are made three times a year. The statutory Progress check at two will also be completed prior to the health visitor health development check, and if your child is delayed in any area of development we will discuss this with you so that you can discuss it with your health visitor.
If your Child in in receipt of a targeted plan or a personalised plan these will be monitored on a daily basis and be accessible within their area. These will be monitored every 5-6 weeks and information shared with parents, to ensure they are successfully meeting their targets. If their targets are not being met, further discussions will take place to see how we can support your child further.
We pride ourselves on our partnership with parents so we are always available to discuss any issues or concerns that you may have and we will keep you updated with information regarding your child's progress.
We take regular trips to the local park, library and beach. Research and risk assessments are completed in advance of any outings and we ensure that all children can be included in these. Children wear high visible jackets and staff take a nursery mobile phone and first aid bag. Parents will be informed prior to any outing and we will provide a one to one staff member.
Children with additional needs are provided with visual time-lines, visual photo ques and now and next boards to prepare them for transition. No child will be taken on a trip without parental permission and parents are inform with adequate notice as to when a community visit is to take place. Every member of staff has visuals on them at all time to support all children within the setting.
Stairs and height of handrails
Toilets and sinks child size
The child's key-person and SENCO will complete A Unique Story/Transition and progress tracker document to pass on at an arranged transition meeting and relevant paperwork, such as the progress check at 2 will be passed on with consent.
We will arrange a visit to the new school and invite the teacher into the nursery to see the child in this environment.
Photo books and displays will be made for the child to look at and activities such as dressing up in the new school uniform will be available to take part in.
Our settings SENCO attends regular LIFT forum meetings and we have termly supervisions/staff meeetings where we discuss any concerns/issues, development and access any relevant training that may be available.
We constantly review our policies and procedures that are in place.
The setting managers will discuss and book viewing appointments with parents. Taster sessions will then be arranged with the SENCO and new key-person and a home visit will also be made.
Our setting has an open door policy for parents and we have a complaints procedure and policy in place. Parents are given the option to complete an annual questionaire which we welcome any constructive feedback.