We always advise you to come and visit us before registering, to have a feel for our nursery, see the children in action and meet our team. Once you have visited La Petite Nursery, our managers will give you a registration pack and explain the steps you need to follow. Please note that in order to secure your child space, together with filling up the registration documents, we will require a deposit equivalent to one month’s fee

My family would like to come to the nursery, can we visit the nursery together?

We are always happy to have grandparents or any other relatives in the nursery. We celebrate family as a core value. Hence, please let us know in advance, in order for us to arrange for your child to be Ima or Abba Shabbat for that week, celebrate their birthday in the nursery or arrange for your relative to read a story, cook with the children or engage in any other activity.

Please note that we do not encourage these visits during the settling-in period, as separation from them can be very difficult for the child.

 How can I change my child’s sessions?

At La Petite Nursery, we understand that arranging childcare on short notice is sometimes difficult. That is why we are here to support you. You are able to add some extra sessions if needed; please contact us if you need to.

For contract changes, we require at least one month notice as we want to ensure we have the appropriate space and staff ratios in order to offer the best education for your child. Please inform the nursery manager, and she will be more than happy to help you.

If you require one-off extra days/hours, please email our nursery manager at [email protected] We will try our best to accommodate your request, but this will be subject to availability.

You can send your request on the day and, if we have space available, we will be more than happy to help. However, we appreciate as much notice as possible so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Please note that we reserve the right to decline your request when too little notice is given, if space is not available, or if we cannot ensure we have the appropriate staff ratio.

How do you recruit your staff?

La Petite Nursery is dedicated to provide the best possible care and learning environment. The safety and safeguarding of our children are of paramount importance. We are vigilant in our recruitment procedures, and aim to ensure that all people working with children are qualified and suitable to do so. We recognise that passionate people support the well-being of our children; therefore, it is important for us to attract, recruit and retain staff who will share our commitment. In recruiting our staff, we use childcare agencies and referrals. All new members of staff will undergo a four-week induction process given by a member of the management team. During the induction period, all new members of our team will receive awareness training on safeguarding, health and safety and all the nursery policies. The new member of staff also takes part in our Employee Mentoring Program. There will be regular meetings with the manager and the mentor to track their personal progress.

Are all your staff DBS checked?

All our members of staff, volunteers, students, extracurricular activity teachers, agency teachers, contracted personnel (security guards, chef, cleaner, etc.) or any other person who will be on the premises on a regular basis are DBS-checked. Prior to their start in the nursery, all new members of staff are DBS-checked and their references followed. We ask all our members of staff to sign with the Update Service and regularly check for any updates on their criminal record.

Do you have qualified first aiders?

At La Petite Nursery, members of staff are able to take immediate action to apply paediatric first-aid treatment in the event of an accident. The qualification includes first-aid training for infants and young children. Every two years, all members of staff participate in first-aid training, held on our premises. This training is approved by the relevant authorities. To keep us updated, and in order to refresh our first-aid skills, we discuss different scenarios and answer first-aid questions during our monthly in-house trainings.

Is your staff qualified?

The majority of our staff is qualified to work in childcare or education (NVQ level 2 and 3). All members of staff have Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding, Food Hygiene and Health and Safety training. The staff also receives specific-ages courses to help them with the day-to-day care of the children. In addition, we run in-house training once a month, and have two full inset days twice a year.

A mixture of mentoring and coaching is offered to support the staff’s personal growth.

Please visit our team page to find out more about the qualifications and hobbies of our members of staff.

What is a key person?

At La Petite Nursery, we implement a key person system. The key person is the point of contact for your child. She will give you feedback about your child’s day, how much he/she eats, sleeps, and what activities he/she is specifically engaged in. The key person is here to comfort your child when he/she is distressed or upset, but also to keep you updated with his/her progress.

What is the ratio in my child class?

The number of staff working with La Petite Nursery depends also on how many children are attending on that particular day. Following the Ofsted ratios, we always ensure that we have a minimum of:

• 1:3 ratio for children under 2 years
• 1:4 ratio for children between 2 and 3 years
• 1:8 ratio for children between 3 and 5 years

How do you keep the nursery safe?

La Petite Nursery aims to ensure that all premises, indoor and outdoor activities, outings, materials and equipment are safe for children to use. We do daily walks to check the building grounds and equipment before children arrive and after they leave. We ensure that any hazard is identified and removed, or minimised. We check all our appliances, toys and equipment. We also have CCTV in and around our premises and security guards constantly checking the surroundings.

Can my friend pick up my child?

If you are unable to collect your child, please let your key person know. She will give you a permission slip to fill out. In case this is an emergency and you did not fill out a permission slip, then please call the nursery and send a photo of your friend. One of the nursery staff will provide you with a password for your friend to use upon their arrival.

How can visitors access the nursery premises?

Visitors must book their visit in advance. On the day of the visit, they must have a valid ID that will be verified by our security guard. All visitors are greeted by a management team member. Visitors are required to sign in and out, and are accompanied at all times. If you would like to visit our nursery, you can book a visit here.

What happens if my child had an accident at nursery?

The safety of your child is of paramount importance and every measure we take is to protect your child from hurting him/herself. However, on occasion, accidents might happen. If such a situation occurs, we will comfort and reassure your child, assess the extent of the injury and decide if we need to apply first aid and complete an accident report. Once the child is settled, we will contact you and share the details of the accident.

What do I do if my child has an accident at home?

If the child comes from home with a scratch or a bruise, we will kindly ask you to inform the key person about it. She will fill out a home accident form and will monitor your child throughout the day.

What happens if my child gets sick at nursery?

If your child begins to show signs that he/she is unwell, a member of our team, preferably the key person, will comfort him/her, but also start monitoring their state. If it is deemed to be in the best interest of the child to go home, a member of staff will inform you immediately. They will explain the signs and symptoms of your child’s sickness and ask you to come and collect them.

What happens if my child gets sick at home?

We reserve the right not to accept any child feeling unwell on a given day. We have a duty of care for all children we look after. If you are unsure whether your child can attend the nursery, please call your GP or the nursery management team.

Do you administrate medication to children?

While it is not our policy to care for sick children – who should be at home until they are well enough to return to the nursery – we will administer medication in order to maintain their health and well-being, or when they are recovering from an illness. To ensure the safety of all children, we kindly ask that you make sure your child is well enough to attend the nursery. If you are unsure, please check with your GP.

Prior to administering medication, we will require written permission for the administration of the medication, together with the details of how the medication is to be administered and when. You can print and fill out this document before you arrive, or you can get it from your key person and can fill it out together.

For children who have a long-term medical condition and may require ongoing medication, a healthcare plan is drawn up together with the parent prior to the child joining the nursery. Please speak with your key person or the nursery manager if your child requires ongoing medication in order for us to best support your child.

How do I find out what my child did during the day?

Teachers at La Petite Nursery will update you daily about your child’s day. We have several ways of communication (face-to-face, phone/Whatsapp, text, Famly app, etc.). You can let your key person know what your preferred way is, and we will do our best to accommodate.

What system do you have in place for sharing information about my child’s development?

We are constantly monitoring your child’s development. We record all our observations using an online system, called Famly. Using the EYFS and our observations, we generate reports. We give you feedback about our findings and, together with you, define the next steps for your child.

What is Famly?

Famly is an online platform meant to support parents in tracking their child’s development and staying in touch with their day at the nursery. It is also a platform where teachers make notes and observations, track where the children stand and what their next steps will be.

How will my child settle in the nursery?

At La Petite Nursery, our mission is to keep children safe, secure, loved and happy. We have a settling-in procedure in place, but it is important for us to follow your child’s pace. The key person will be responsible for helping you and your child to feel at ease. Before your child starts nursery, we will ask you to fill a document that will help us familiarise ourselves with your child’s favourite things, routine, etc. We will make sure that if he/she enjoys playing in the home corner, we will set an activity there. We might ask you to bring his/her favourite comforter to make his/her accommodation easier. Following your child’s pace, we will ask you to leave for a small period of time, with the understanding that if your child is upset, we will contact you soon after to let you know how he/she is. During the settling-in period, we will keep you updated constantly, so you can know how your child is.

Can my child take a comforter into the nursery?

During the settling-in or transition periods, we actually advise parents to allow children to use their comforter. Most of the time, children are engaged in activities, playing and having fun, and don’t need a comforter, as our members of staff are trained and know how to reassure children and make them feel at ease. However, there might be moments such as separation from parents, just before lunch time, transition between activities, nap time, etc. when children need extra reassurance, and a familiar object (like a comforter, mum’s scarf or a photo, etc.) might help. After the transition period, we encourage children not to use their comforter at all times and teach them how to distract themselves and engage in an activity with the support of a teacher. In this way, we prevent shy children from hiding behind their comforter. Our key person system, observations and constant communication with parents help us decide, always having in mind the child’s best interest.

When is my child going to move to the next classroom?

At La Petite Nursery, we run our academic year from September to August. Children tend to stay one academic year in their classroom and then move to the next in September. In some cases, we might decide that your child is ready to change class in the middle of the academic year, but this will always be discussed with you first, and will also be subject to availability. When possible, we try to have your child transitioning along with other children in his/her class to help ease the process.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the management team.

How do you support transition to school or other settings?

Transition to school is a big step for children and their families. We are constantly building relationships with schools, and do our best to ease the children’s transition to school or other settings. La Petite Nursery, prior to the children’s departure for school, will provide a variety of activities and resources for children to explore and play with. Children will play dress-up using uniforms or take different roles in the game (being the teacher, being the student), and have circle-time discussions about their new school, for instance, using photographs of the school. Slowly, they will become familiar with the concept of school. If requested, we send a report to the school with the child’s progress in the nursery. Before the children leave nursery, we do a small ceremony and give out “graduation certificates”.

What type of curriculum do you use?

La Petite Nursery’s curriculum combines elements of Maria Montessori, Steiner-Waldorf and Reggio Emilia with the latest research in the childcare field. The educational programs were created with our children in mind — to help them grow, develop and prepare for life in a safe, yet stimulating and fun environment. Although we set a few of our own principles when planning for the children’s education, we also follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which sets the learning standards from birth to five years old in the UK. There are seven areas of learning and development, of which three are prime areas (personal, social and emotional development, communication and language and physical development) which are really important, as they set the foundation for the remaining secondary/specific areas.

Please find more information about the EYFS here : https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2015/03/4children_parentsguide_2015_WEB.pdf

Do you offer extracurricular activities?

In addition to daily activities, we have outside teachers coming into our premises to enrich the children’s curriculum and learning.

We provide weekly extracurricular activities like movement and drama, Hebrew music lessons, French music lessons and yoga. These activities might change from term to term to expose children to more than one activity.

Please note that all extracurricular activities are included in the nursery fees.

Will my child sleep in the nursery?

At La Petite Nursery, each classroom has a designated area for sleep. During nap time, the classroom becomes dark, and children go to sleep on cosy beds and mattresses, with peaceful music in the background.

Children who attend for the full day will have the opportunity to take a nap or rest at least once a day, after lunch time. In our Explorers’ room (baby room) we follow the child’s routine and offer more than one nap a day if required. The needs and patterns of sleep will be discussed with you prior to your child attending La Petite Nursery.

If you wish for your child not to sleep at the nursery, please speak to your key person.

Will my child get the opportunity to play outdoor?

Children are offered multiple opportunities to engage in outdoor experiences, and we are making it our mission that children, no matter their age or the hours they attend, will go out at least once a day.

 Do you provide lunch and snack?

At La Petite Nursery, we believe that nutrition combined with physical activity is of paramount importance for a healthy body and mind. Our passion for healthy and delicious food led us to build a menu that provides a wide range of tasty healthy meals. Our chef cooks all of our meals on-site. We serve a breakfast, a warm cooked lunch and a tea meal. Throughout the day, we serve fruit and vegetables for children who might be hungry between meals.

Where your meals come from?

We have weekly deliveries for fresh vegetables, fruit, and any other ingredients needed for our chef to cook on-site, in addition to a fortnightly delivery from the kosher shop.

What is happening at meal time?

Meal times represent a social moment for children and adults, offering us opportunities to teach children table manners, encourage communication skills and talk about where different food/ingredients come from, while encouraging healthy eating.

Can you provide for special dietary needs?

We dedicated a lot of time and energy to ensure that each meal fuels the little minds and bodies of our children. An explosion of flavours and tastes provides energy for children to run, explore and enjoy their day at the nursery. Every day, children are served fresh, nutritious, vegetarian kosher meals cooked on-site by our own chef. Vegan, lactose-free, gluten-free, and other options are available upon request. If your child has severe allergies, please let us know. We will immediately inform all our staff and put in place a healthcare plan ensuring that your child does not come into contact with the allergen.

Do you support with potty training?

Yes, we strive to help in all areas of your child’s development, and follow your child’s pace. We follow your routine from home as closely as possible and keep in touch with you at every step.

Do you provide nappies and wipes?

Each family is unique and have a preference regarding nappies and wipes. Therefore, we ask our parents to provide what they prefer be used.

What happened if my child needs nappy changing?

At la Petite Nursery, we are very proud of our washrooms facilities. Our changing areas are warm, cosy and specifically designed for children. We play music for children while changing them, to smooth their changing experience. Throughout the day, changing nappy/toileting is part of the children’s routine, and we change them/take them to the toilets, every two to three hours. In between, teachers will ensure that your child has a fresh, clean nappy.

What are your fees?

Fees might vary depending on the days and sessions you choose for your child. Please contact us in order to receive our fee schedule.

Do you receive any type of government funding?

We accept two and three-year-old funding. We ask for proof of eligibility for two-year-olds. All three-year-olds will gain funding automatically. We will print off a form each term and ask you to complete and return it to us. Please contact the nursery manager for more information.

Do you accept Childcare Vouchers?

Yes. Please contact the nursery manager for more information.

Do offer tax free childcare?

Yes. Please contact the nursery manager for more information.

What happens if I am late to collect my child?

In case you are late collecting your child, please inform the nursery teacher or manager immediately. If you are unable to collect your child, please ensure that you provide the nursery with full details of who will be collecting your child. If we are unable to contact you or the designated collection person, we will call your emergency contact (friend, grandparents, etc.).

While we appreciate that delays can sometimes be unavoidable, we reserve the right to charge £10 for every 15 minutes you are late for lunch-time collection and £15 for every 10 minutes for 6pm collection. These fees will go towards the extra childcare provided, but also towards compensating the teacher and security guards who will need to stay longer to ensure your child is safe.

What should I do if I am unhappy with one aspect of the nursery?

We are confident that you and your child will enjoy your time with us, but if you are unhappy for any reason, please make an appointment to discuss the matter with your child’s key person as soon as possible. Every effort is made to resolve the situation at this stage. However, if this is not possible, please ask to speak directly with the nursery manager or nursery director. They will be happy to explain our full complaints procedure and advise you on what happens next.