Nursery FAQs

You can read it on Ofsted’s website

Each age group is different, we work on 1:3 for under twos, 1:5 for our 2 and 3-year-olds, 1:8 for our older nursery education children or 1:13 for the Early Years Teachers. However, we also have many students and trainees within the building, who are not counted in our staff team. This means we usually have extra adults available.

We aim to be as flexible as possible to meet your needs. We have two types of bookings: a permanent booking (includes any rota bookings) which offers parents the reassurance that their child has a place booked every week a non-permanent booking of a minimum of 6 hours per week, which allows a degree of flexibility for those parents who need it. For non-permanent bookings, we ask that you request your bookings by Wednesday morning for the following week (place permitting)

If you have a permanent booking, then the hours are permanent and you will not be allowed to swap your hours, although you are able to either book in extra sessions/different times/days (place permitting) and/or request a holiday (if you have days) If you have a non-permanent booking, once you have made your booking the staff will be assigned to the booking and therefore the booking cannot be swapped

Yes, we accept a variety of different childcare vouchers, please ask for details

Yes, please ask office staff for details

We are registered to deliver: 2-year-old funding. To see if you are eligible, and to apply, you need complete the on-line application form at www.cumbria.gov.uk/childcare 3 and 4-year-old grant funding. Your child will be eligible the term after their third birthday. You will need to complete our nursery education application. Please ask a member of nursery staff or ring the nursery office for more information.

Invoices are created at the end of each calendar month. They are then emailed out to parents at the beginning of each new month. You are requested to pay cash/card/bank transfer/tax-free childcare via the office, or by setting up a direct payment within 7 working days. More details can be found on our Parents’ Information page.

We ask for a month’s notice to cancel your booking

Yes, please let nursery know as soon as possible. Your child’s key person may be planning individual activities for your child. Also, if your child has any communicable disease, it is important the nursery knows.

Please let the office staff know as soon as possible, it is very important that your child’s details are current at all times.

We ask that your child does not attend nursery for 48 hours following any vomiting and/or diarrhoea. For other childhood illnesses, please refer to our policy and Health Protection England guidelines.

Yes, although we need you to complete a medication form. Please speak to the team about this.

Your child’s key person will work with you and a transition plan will be implemented to ensure your child experiences a positive transition without tears.

Our healthy eating snacks are provided at 10.00am and 2.00pm. Our lunch menu is carefully thought out and planned in advance, and we follow the guidance for providing meals for the under 5’s. Meals are all homemade from fresh local ingredients. These need to be booked and paid for in advance. We are able to accommodate a variety of special dietary requirements- please ask if needed.

Yes, you will receive a diary account of your child’s time in nursery on a day-to-day basis. Also, three times during the year you will receive a more formal progress report. You are also welcome to speak to staff regarding your child’s progress at any time.

Yes, we hold parents evening twice a year, where you are able to speak with your child’s key person and discuss their learning and development. However, we urge you to have regular conversations with our staff who will are able to answer all your questions.