At Montessori on the Park, we know that choosing a Nursery for your child is a huge decision.
We also know that this may be a completely new experience for you and as such some of the terminology such as ‘The EYFS’ and ‘Early Years Funding’ may be unfamiliar to you. We have therefore created a collection of Guides for Parents, which explain what we do at Nursery in more detail. We have also provided some information on other topics which we hope you will find useful as your child develops and grows.
Good nutrition is essential during childhood, as it is a time of rapid growth, development and activity. This is also a vital time for healthy tooth development and prevention of decay. General eating habits and patterns are formed in the first few years of life. A nutritious diet, together with good hydration, provides your child with good eating habits for life, healthy skin, a healthy weight, secure emotional well-being, and improved behaviour.
The nursery staff have a key role in introducing young children to a wide variety of foods and establishing a pattern of regular meals and healthy snacks. Eating is about more than food, it is a social event too, and nursery staff join your child’s mealtimes. Staff encourage interaction between the children, good table manners and the development of social skills. Staff are also on hand to support and assist, if needed.
Your child’s transition to solid foods can be challenging. We will work with you during the weaning period to ensure you are fully leading the next stage of your child’s development with their meals. The arrangements for children’s meals and snacks will, of course, be dependent on your child’s sessions whilst attending the nursery. The Nursery Manager will discuss this information with you before your child starts at the nursery.
To give every parent peace of mind, our seasonal menus are nutritionally well balanced. They rotate on a four-week cycle and are prepared by our qualified chefs to ensure we meet all children’s dietary and cultural needs, as well as exploring different tastes at mealtimes.
Meal and snack times are an important part of our daily routine across all age groups. Children take an active role in the preparation of snacks, and, with adult support, serve themselves at lunch time. In our older age rooms, children take it in turns to set tables and then work together to clear away at the end of a meal. This enhances the development of social skills by helping to increase children’s confidence, self- esteem, independence and decision making skills, and is the next step for school readiness.
We believe in serving food that is fresh, local and honest. Our dedication to providing tasty meals prepared with farm assured meat, sustainable fish and local vegetables has been accredited by the Soil Association through a Food for Life Served Here Silver award. We achieved our Bronze award in 2019 and have achieved our Silver award in August 2020. The award also recognises that we champion freshly prepared meals by trained chefs who are passionate about the ingredients they work with.
We know that food is a vital part of education, and understand that fresh, healthy food is what children need to grow and develop. That’s why our varied menus include a range of options to make healthy eating easier for everyone.
Find out more about our award at www.foodforlife.org.uk/catering
A maximum of 30 hours funded childcare is available for all children from working families +9 months.
15 hours universal funding is available for all 3- and 4-year-olds.
Some two-year-olds are also eligible for additional funded hours too if you are in receipt of extra support. Please contact your early years team or Family Information Service at your local council if you think you might be entitled.
All funding is ‘Term Time Only’ for 38 weeks of the year –
We stretch our funding over 48 weeks, giving 11.87 / 23.75 hours per week, 47.5 / 95.0 hours per month.
Our non-funded nursery billing is calculated over 48 weeks, with the cost spread equally over 12 monthly bills.
Visit Gov.UK to apply for your childcare account. You will need information about yourself, your partner if you live together, are married or are in a civil partnership, as well as about your child.
If successful you will be given a code to pass on to your childcare provider.
The code will need renewing every three months to remain valid.
| A child born on or between: | Eligibility Codes obtained by | Earliest +9 months working family start | Return to work by | Earliest 2-year-old (additional government support) and 3/4-year-old (universal) start |
| 1 January and 31 March | 31 December | 1 January following year from birth | 31 January following year from birth | Summer term once 3 |
| 1 April and 30 June | 31 March following year from birth | 1 April following year from birth | 30 April following year from birth | Autumn term once 3 |
| 1 July and 30 November | 31 August following year from birth | 1 September following year from birth | 30 September following year from birth | Autumn term once 3 |
| 1 December and 31 December | 31 December following year from birth | 1 January two years following birth | 31 January two years following birth | Spring term once 3 |
The Government only funds the delivery of EYFS in the funded hours attended, except for 2-year-olds who receive extra support.
All food and snacks as well as other consumables such as nappies, wipes, protective clothing, protective creams, Calpol etc.
Any additional activities the nursery provides over and above the delivery of EYFS – full details of our current term’s offerings are available from your nursery manager as they can vary each term.
Any additional hours and sessions required over and above the funded hours.
These excluded items are voluntary and only provided at your request.
We deliver our funded hours in specific funded sessions, two sessions every day 10.05-14.02 and 14.02-18.00. Six sessions over three days will ensure you receive 22.35 funded hours per week, 48 weeks of the year or 95 hours per month.
Please discuss with your nursery manager who will talk you through the nursery’s terms and conditions as well as our fee and funding policy or alternatively visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk to answer any generic questions you may have about funded childcare.