New Nursery Update!📣
Hi All
I wanted to give you all an update on our plans with opening new nursery over the next few months.
Drop Off and Collection Changes
From Tuesday 29th August 2023, we will be changing our drop off arrangements. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays we will open at nursery from 7am so all children will need to be dropped off at the scout hut . If anyone will need to drop their child(ren) off earlier than their current start time, please let Grace know as soon as possible so we can ensure correct staff:child ratios are in place. For collections, we will leave the scout hut at 5pm and return to Holloways Lane by 5.10pm at the latest. Any children currently booked to finish after 5pm can be collected from our childminding address. If anyone would prefer to collect from nursery by 5pm, please let Grace know.
Our current plan is to open the nursery full time from January 2024. We will operate from the scout hut from 7am-5pm, Monday - Friday. Any children currently booked to finish after 5pm will be taken back to Holloways Lane and can be collected from there as normal.
We will chat with you all about your drop off arrangements so that everyone feels comfortable with the plan.
For those of you who get the train, you are welcome to leave your cars in the public car park next to nursery. There are no parking restrictions and there is a shortcut to Potters Bar train station where you could catch a fast train into London etc. We are only suggesting this to current parents so as not to overwhelm the car park so please keep this information private!
FAQs
I have had a few questions over the last couple of months and thought it would be helpful to answer them here in case anyone is thinking the same!
Will you still go out?
Once we are a nursery, our ratios will change. Nursery ratios are slightly less flexible than childminding ratios but we are still able to leave the premises for educational trips. Obviously, car space will be limited as we expand but we are lucky to have local amenities such as 2 parks, a soft play, a huge field, woodland area and some shops. We will still aim to get out and about in our local area but these trips will usually be places that we can reach on foot. Whilst we are still at Holloways Lane on Mondays and Fridays, we will continue with our usual outings.
Will you still provide food?
Yes! Our all inclusive service will remain as normal and all food, nappies, wipes, formula, sun hats, puddle suits and trips will continue to be included in our price.
How will staffing work?
As we expand we will, of course, need new staff. Grace and Mia aren’t going anywhere! Grace will become Nursery Manager and Mia will become Deputy Manager. According to the EYFS, in the absence of the Manager, there must be a suitable Deputy Manager who is able to take charge. This means that if Grace or Mia are unwell or on training, the other will still be working.
How quickly will you expand?
Our plan is to take on a member of staff at a time, with new children starting within our setting ratios. We want to keep the expansion at a steady pace so as not to overwhelm ourselves or our current children. We certainly won’t be taking on 30 new children overnight! We do have a few new children due to start in the Autumn term - in fact in anyone may need to change or up their days in the next 6 months please do let Grace know as soon as possible so we can ensure spaces are saved for current children.
Can we come and see the nursery?
Of course! We are planning to hold a summer party in August and we would love for all our parents to come and see the new space. Unfortunately, the scout hut is in use during evenings and weekends so it is difficult to arrange an open evening. If anyone is unable to make the summer party, we can arrange ‘stay and plays’ for another time.
We are having a little ‘summer holiday’ from new nursery from 24th July, we will return on 15th August. We will be making the most of the (hopefully sunny) summer weather with lots of outings.
If anyone has any other questions, please feel free to ask us!
