Nurseries Leading Edge Nursery Learning begins at birth. These four simple words embody the guiding philosophy that underpins everything at Kingsley School Bideford’s Leading Edge Nursery. The Leading Edge’s Principal Mrs Andi Fletcher-Cullum, explains “Play is the serious business of life for a child, so while the Early Years Foundation Stage and the three prime areas of learning and development lie at the heart of the children’s achievements.
Is all well when I’m not there? Some nurseries have webcams which allow parents to see live images of their child at play from their desk at work. But while some parents welcome this idea, others are sceptical they say they want their child’s nursery to know they trust its workers, and worry that they’ll be seen as a way of spying on care workers. Others say they like the idea of watching their child at play so much that they’d spend too much time doing it - and wouldn’t ever get any work done!
The daily routines of the children are naturally play centred. Much of that play is outdoors, either within The Leading Edge’s enclosed grassed play area with its own summerhouse, or in the safe, healthy environment of Kingsley’s 25 acres of woodland and playing fields. The Nursery has its own kitchen, washing, nappy-changing and toilet facilities, every detail designed specifically for babies and toddlers. There are two large sleep rooms, with cots for babies and safety beds for toddlers. The children have enormous fun in the wet indoor playroom and create mini- masterpieces in the Iggle Piggle Island creative room. Every playroom offers tranquillity and space. The professional expertise and experience of The Leading Edge team makes the transition from home to nursery as smooth as possible for parent and child alike. The caring, stable and secure environment enables each and every child to develop self-confidence through play and learning to share. They are given the freedom to explore and discover through play, within an unobtrusively structured and prepared setting.
As your child is settling into nursery, trust your instincts about how well it’s going. You know your child better than anyone else, so if your hunch is that your child is happy and contented , that’s almost certainly the case. Remember that in the early days, he or she will probably get more tired than usual -nursery is a big change, emotionally as well as physically. Both your child and you need time to adjust to the new set-up. Try not to drag out your goodbyes: leaving your child will be difficult, especially at first, but keeping it brief will help you both. Remember that your child may cry every day when you drop them off (and so might you!) for quite a while; this is a normal part of getting used to this big change in your lives. Cope with it by emphasising the positives: think about why you’re working (to make money and provide a better standard of living; to ensure you have an interesting life, and income, in the longer term) and how much your child will benefit from a wider social network.
The Leading Edge is open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, throughout the year, which makes it ideal for working parents. “We’re always happy to welcome visitors,” says Mrs Andi [as Mrs Fletcher-Cullum is universally known]. “Just give me a call on 01237 426224 and we’ll arrange a date and time that suits.” You can read all about The Leading Edge on the Kingsley School website www.kingsleyschoolbideford.co.uk
How to reduce nursery costs The government is currently considering cutting staff-to-child ratios in nurseries as a way of reducing what many see as unsustainable prices - but the move is controversial, and organisations such as the Preschool Learning Alliance is warning such a change could risk children’s safety and well-being. Under current regulations, there must be one staff member for every three under-twos, and one for every four children aged two and three. Most nurseries provide funded places for three and four year olds under the government Free Early Education scheme, which will start from the beginning of the term (1 September, 1 January or 1 April) after your child’s third birthday. If your child is younger, check whether your employer can offer help towards your nursery costs through the childcare voucher scheme. Under this, money is taken out of your pay packet before deductions, giving you savings on tax and National Insurance - in return, you are given a voucher or e-voucher that you forward to your nursery, and the amount is deducted from your bill. So it’s a way of getting more childcare for your money - though it requires your employer’s co-operation.
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