FAQ - 0-2 Years

What will you do if my baby is crying inconsolably?

The settling in time is very important to get to know your child and what might be normal for them. Generally children might cry if they are hungry or tired or another child takes a toy. This is to be partly expected but apart from this children do not normally cry for long periods/inconsolably unless there is something wrong in which case we would contact you and let you know if we were unable to console/comfort her. It would be likely we would then ask you to collect your child. The information you give us each morning when you come to nursery is very important so we are best able to plan their care needs each day. Each child has their own individual care plan which we establish with you at the induction visit shortly before your child is due to start at the nursery. No child is left to cry unattended.

At the moment, my baby will only sleep in the day if she is carried in a sling. We are hoping she will grow out of this! But if she doesn't, how will your staff deal with this?

I would recommend you try to encourage sleep in a cot - away from you - during the day as soon as possible. It is not possible for a staff member to carry a child for the entire period of their sleep. When your child starts at the nursery he/she will be amongst children of a similar age. Each September/October we begin with a new group of the younger 0-2 year children as older children progress through the nursery with older children starting at school.

Having similar ages their needs are also similar and although children will sometimes commence with not much of a routine at home usually within the first two months of starting we find children will usually settle into a similar sleep pattern. This comes naturally through the experience of being at the nursery with other children. The two most common sleep times are mid-morning and mid–afternoon being either both or one of these. Usually as children approach 18 months this progresses to one sleep after lunch. We work to accommodate this sleep pattern. Children sleep here happily in their room in a cot. Some children need to be asleep before being placed in a cot whilst others will happily go straight into a cot. Some will cry for a short time and then happily sleep. It is all about what happens at home and the information each parent gives us to help us draw up the care plan. From this information we are able to know what is normal for your child and acts as a guide for us to follow at the nursery. As a last resort - for a child who will not sleep but is tired - there is always a walk in a buggy.

We're planning to start weaning our baby at 6 months, using mainly finger foods. How can we ensure that the weaning process is not disrupted when she joins the nursery?

Food will be given only as instructed by you. You may bring in your own food if you wish.

We use cloth nappies on our baby. Is the nursery willing to use these?

We do have provision for cloth nappies. We have space to accommodate five children in cloth nappies on any day. It is the safe storage of the dirty nappies that restricts the numbers we can provide for. Again this will be looked at when we are nearer to the time of starting to see how many children are in cloth nappies and if space is available - if all the space is allocated you will be placed on a waiting list for the next availability for this.

Is it okay to drop off our baby at 9.15 and collect her at 5.00, rather than at the nursery's opening and closing hours?

You can come and go as you please throughout the day. There is no restriction on when and how often you may wish to come to the nursery during the day.

Is it okay for her grandparents, who live just round the corner, to collect her occasionally?

On the registration form you will see there is a part which asks you to enter who is able to collect your child. You must tell us if a person not known to us will be collecting your child and this can only be a person named on this form. On the day we will also ask for a password of your choice and a description of the person collecting or alternatively you may bring in a photo of the person you are authorising to collect which will be kept on file. You may also bring them to the nursery with you so we are able to meet them.

What are the ages of the majority of the children who start in the baby room in September?

9 - 12 months

Would you expect most of them to be on 1 or 2 sleeps?

Two sleeps is considered normal for children of this age and is recommended. At around 14 months this will usually change to one sleep a day. This sleeping requirement is the same for all children whether they attend nursery or are at home.

When the younger 0-2 years room is in use by children (maybe just one) sleeping, does this mean that other areas of the nursery get crowded?

No, we don't put awake children in with the other groups. When we have children needing a sleep separately to the usual sleep times for children of this age the curtained area in the bay is used whilst the remainder of the room remains in use for children not sleeping. We also have the garden area solely for the 0-2 year’s children being additional space for those not sleeping if needed.

Do you aim to fit all children into the same sleep routine?

No we don't fit children in to a routine and we do not work rigidly to a sleep time for children. Effective management of all groups is achieved by grouping children of similar ages and therefore having similar needs so we are able to provide for their needs both as individuals and as a group without compromising care. The sleep needs of the children merge as they slowly develop and become settled in the nursery environment. From this a routine is established for the group.

What would happen if my child was asleep and you needed the room for feeding others?

Your child would be able to sleep in the bay area.

What happens if older children want a sleep?

Sleep time for children from other groups is after lunch at about 12.45 – 2.00pm to meet their sleep requirement. During this time the older 0-2 year group sleep in their room along with some 2 year olds from the 2–5 year group. This gives us the opportunity to have the sole use of a 2–5 year room for a short period for the younger children if needed. This works well and is a good experience for the younger children giving awareness of other parts of the nursery. It is recognised good practice for all children to experience some integration with children of different ages both younger and older.

Is there anywhere for children to have quiet time/sleep?

In the bay area for the sole use of the younger 0-2 year group for children needing a sleep separately to the usual sleep times for children of this age. Garden times are opportunities for quiet time as children are divided into smaller groups with some children remaining in the room for quiet/sleep/rest time whilst others can be in the garden. Children have this opportunity throughout the day.

At what point do nappy changes happen throughout the day?

Nappy changes are 9.30am, 12.30pm and 3.30pm and when needed.

Are there any child protection procedures in place such as 2 staff members being present?

Our practice is to work to the required Safe Recruitment practice guidelines as stated by OFSTED/Local Safeguarding Children’s Bureau (LSCB) being a requirement of our registration. All staff are vetted at the point of recruitment and given a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Every single staff member and those who provide services to us are given a CRB check and do not work unsupervised until clearance of the check is confirmed. This usually takes 3 to 4 weeks. Only staff members who have CRB clearance are able to change nappies and be left unsupervised with a child at any time. All staff work within a team and any prolonged or unusual absence would be reported immediately. We have a webcam system in the nursery and all rooms are visible and monitored by a Nursery Manager. Monitors are also located in the hallway and staff room giving all staff members and visitors to the nursery a clear view of activities in the rooms throughout the entire day.

The children’s toilet is shared by all the groups and is in constant use throughout the day. It is in a central location in the main hallway and not hidden away. All information on safeguarding children is made available to all staff members and parents as a priority and is carefully recorded and monitored by us. At the nursery the Safeguarding Children policy is thoroughly, and rigorously, implemented through monthly keyteam meetings, staff and parent inductions, ongoing training, and the day to day management of the groups. Information about this is provided to parents in the Parent Information Pack.