Child Care Services Busy Bees Room 2013-2014

1. Child Care Services Busy Bees Room 2013-2014

2. What you can expect from the Busy Bees Room The Busy Bees room is a warm friendly, caring, homely environment which enables the children to feel secure in themselves to develop to their full potential. The staff work on a ratio of 1member of staff to 3 children to give your children the caring attention they deserve. The Busy Bee room staff fulfil this by providing a range of experiences for your child to enjoy, such as construction toys, imaginative play, outside play with balls and bikes and inside play on slides and soft play, also books and rhymes. We also have use of an additional activity room for keyworker activities. This in turn will encourage your child’s :- Social & Emotional Development Cognitive & Language Development Physical Development The Busy Bees room welcomes and encourages all parents to contribute to the planning of the children’s day or drop in at anytime during the day, to spend time playing with your child or conversing with staff. We plan our themes termly and break our ideas down intomonthly and then weekly plans. Each Keyworker plans individually for their group which will be displayed on the Busy Bees room wall. The nursery is following the Birth to Three Matters which is a framework of learning specifically designed for the under three’s. It is a split into the four areas these are:- A Strong Child, A Healthy Child, A Competent Learner & A Skilful Communicator the children’s activities will be chosen to ensure that all areas of the framework are covered to enhance your child’s overall development. If you would like to know more about this please feel free to speak to your child’s keyworker or the Team Leader who can provide you with more information. We aim to teach the children basic welsh language through songs, rhymes and play. If you would like to contribute to the termly activities please give your suggestions to your child’s keyworker or pop it in the suggestion box. .

3. The Busy Bees Room Staff 2012-2013 Vicky Jones (Team Leader) Clare Acock NNEB Nursery Nurse Btec Nursery Nurse NVQ Level 4 Patricia Hudson Bethan Jones Cache Nursery Nurse Cache Nursery Nurse

4. Aims and Objectives Aims- our aims are: To offer security, warmth, love and affection, Where your child can feel valued and equal To use praise and encouragement to promote Your child’s language, independence and creativity To provide a range of stimulating situations and Activities. To ensure we encourage parental involvement. Objectives- our objectives are met by: Working as a strong team to ensure a high Standards of child care at all times Operating a Keyworker system, to encourage stimulation, language And social development. Spending individual time with your child to allow for adaption to small interesting group times such as singing, craft activities etc . Ensuring the environment is comfortable, bright, spacious and safe Via regular risk assessments. Keeping up to date on each child’s developmental achievements And receiving input from parents. Also ensuring parents are at ease and receive daily feedback via conversation and written sheet.

5. Keyworker System At the Playcentre we have found that the Keyworker system has proved to be a very valuable way of ensuring a high quality of care for the children who attend our nursery. The keyworker system operates in the Busy Bees room by each member of staff having three to four toddlers in her group throughout the week. Each keyworker provides care and stimulating activities and also monitor your child’s development. She is able to complete each child’s profile and checklist books also daily slips accurately because she genuinely knows your child through close interaction throughout the day. The Busy Bees room staff encourage the parents to look at their child’s records regularly and appreciate parental input. Liaising with the parents of her Keyworker group children aids the Keyworker a great deal in the individual understanding of each child. We have a positive play booklet and board which can be found on the back of the door that the staff use to reinforce positive body language and a calm gentle voice. The Busy Bees room work as an excellent team ensuring they liaise with each other to feedback important information about their individual keyworker children . . Your child’s Keyworker personal information can be found as part of this booklet on a loose leaf page. Childcare students in the Busy Bees room We train BTEC and CACHE Nursery Nurse students from local colleges at the Playcentre. The students are very helpful and trustworthy. However they are never allowed to be left on their own with the children as they are not qualified and not part of our staffing ratios.

6. Keyworker Activities The Keyworkers within the Busy Bees room are committed to ensuring that your child is content and flourishes by receiving love and stimulation. The following activities are provided to help promote your child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development. , Musical Instruments & Dancing Messy Play with Pasta, Jelly etc. Singing& Nursery Rhymes Imaginary & Constructional Play Painting, Water & Sand Play Outdoor Activities When the children are emotionally secure within our environment the messy activities operate within the activity room for small group play. This ensures the children are provided with various settings and experiences throughout the day. The setting is enrolled in the Healthy and Sustainable Pre School Scheme, as part of the scheme the children will enjoy various initiatives such as Busy feet Adventures in Foodland & Food Fun and Active play for Tiny Tots. The keyworkers also follow the Birth to Three Matters framework which will encourage your child’s development in every area. During the summer period observations will continue to take place and to be transferred to your child’s observational record when the beginning of term commences. .

7. Designed to Smile “improving children’s dental health” Once a day we will encourage the children to brush their teeth within a supervised environment. Each child will have their own brush at Playcentre. The brushes will be housed in our special tooth brush bus. All staff at the Playcentre have been trained by the Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust, Designed to Smile Health Improvement Practitioner. Once a month the Designed to Smile Dental Health Support Worker (Katrina the Tooth Fairy) visits the Playcentre to ensure quality practices ensue. If you would like your child to take part in the supervised tooth brushing on a daily basis you are required to complete the consent form.

8. Outdoor Policy We have an all weather policy in which we feel it is imperative for the children to experience quality outdoor play and fresh air at some time during the day. Therefore, parents are encouraged to provide appropriate clothing for the weather, hats, gloves, coats or jackets & wellies for cold, rainy days. Also, sun lotion, towels and swimming equipment on sunny days as fun is a high priority with the children’s favorite being the swimming pool. We have a special pod area, these are used to extend the classroom environment, access to sand, water, play dough and painting will be available daily. (Our outside area is designed to lessen the risk of a serious injury, however when this becomes wet it can stain clothes and shoes, so please ensure suitable clothing/footwear is provided.) Bilton 2004 states “if outside consists of a few bikes, a climbing frame and uninterested adults then it is likely that the children will argue about a few toys, not learn very much and feel dissatisfied when they go inside, if you provide quality outdoor play, children will become confident , independent and learn a great deal” Forest fun Situated behind the Playcentre we have a woodland area that has been designed for the children to see nature at first hand. Which the children will also be able to experience when on outings. Fun, fit and healthy Music, dance and exercise is extremely important to encourage creativity in young children. At the Playcentre the daily routines encourage creativity, music & movement. During term time our dance teacher visits the Playcentre on a weekly basis and provides each age group with fun music & movement routines.

9. When your child attends the Playcentre Please regularly check your child’s pocket for any belongings and collect daily information at the end of the day. Please provide nappies, wipes or cotton wool and ensure they are regularly replenished in your child’s basket in the bathroom. Can you please provide a small bag if you need to store anything, plastic bags are not permitted. Please provide indoor shoes & spare clothes for your baby on a daily basis . If your child requires bottles of formula please label them. Any foods needs to be sealed manufactured foods only. Children have juice ,water and milk with meals. These are given in beakers provided by us . We discourage the use of bottles from 6 months of age. If you bring healthy snacks for your child they can only be given at mealtimes. Due to health & safety rules at the Playcentre . The Busy Bees room staff want to encourage your family to be fully involved at the Playcentre Please talk to your child’s keyworker if you have any questions or suggestions. We would like you to be safe in the knowledge that “We will love, while your child learns” Children with siblings or friends in another room, have the opportunity To socialise with them when they wish. To ensure we carry out our outdoor policy please can you provide a sun hat & sun cream for the summer months. Jacket, hat, gloves & wellies for the winter. When you arrive at the nursery please take your child out of the pushchair & place it in the pushchair park at the front of the building. Please help staff by gathering your child’s belongings before collecting him / her from the room We are working towards the HSPSS also we take part in the initiative Healthy Body, Happy me, and we have all been trained with the Cardiff and vale NHS trust “Design to smile”. In the busy Bees room we discourage the use of dummies throughout the day, unless it is absolutely essential. Please send your child in suitable clothes and shoes, as they may be damaged during messy activities or during outside play. Please can you also label clothing and write your child’s name on the inside of their shoes. And their coat. .

10. Daily routine 7.45 Welcome children/free play/ sensory play /friendship time 9.00 Breakfast time (Key worker time is ongoing ) 10.45 Tidy up time 11.00 Outside play 11.40 Lunchtime 12.15 Sleep time 1.15 Friendship time/ sensory play 2.30 Outside play 3.00 Teatime 4.00 Tooth brushing 4.30 Outside play 5.00 Quiet time 5.15 Tidy up time 5.30 Snack time 5.45 Musical t. v time/book fun