Is an appointment needed to visit the nursery?
We are delighted to show prospective parents around our nursery. The visit will enable you to meet with staff and explore the surroundings of the nursery. The manager will inform you about all aspects of nursery life, and will answer any questions you may have.
How do I register my child to start at Little Learners?
To register for a place, a one-off, non-refundable £25 administration fee and a deposit of £200 per child is payable with a completed information form.
The £200 deposit secures a nursery place on the waiting list. Places are allocated according to availability.
Children registered for funded-only sessions do not pay the administration fee and deposit. The administration fee and deposit are payable for children registered to attend a mix of funded and paid sessions.
Is there a waiting list for places?
Nursery places are subject to availability.
You will be given the opportunity to join the waiting list if there are no places available.
Priority will be given to children requiring:
- an immediate start.
- five days a week, then to those requiring four, three and two days a week, particularly those who can be successfully matched with another child’s requirements to make a full-time place.
- siblings of children currently attending will also take priority for places.
What settling sessions do you offer?
Before your child starts, we arrange with you a number of free ‘settling-in’ visits. These are short visits when we invite you and your child to spend some time in the nursery. This enables your child to become familiar with the nursery and some of the staff and children with the security of having you present.
The exact number and timing of these visits will vary according to the individual needs of each child. The details of these will be discussed and worked out with you. We welcome telephone calls during settling-in visits to reduce worries and answer any questions you may have.
If like the nursery, what's the next step?
Once we have a suitable place for your child, we will contact you to confirm the start date. We will send you a place offer letter to confirm the arrangements.
The £200 deposit will not be refunded if you withdraw from the waiting list before your requested start date, or if your child fails to start on the agreed start date.
We will need to see a copy of your child’s birth certificate and immunisation card as part of the registration process.
Children are required to be registered for a minimum of two days a week. However, we do have some flexibility on this. For example, if we only have space for one day, your child may start on one day a week, and as space becomes available, move to two days a week.
We do not offer half-day places or term-time only.
What if I'm late to collect my child?
Late collection of children fees are:
- Funded only children: at the effective hourly rate.
- All other children: £1 per minute.
Do you offer funded places for 3-4 year olds?
We offer early years funding on a stretched basis only. This means a total of either:
- 570 hours over 51 weeks (11 hours a week over a minimum of 2 full days)
- or 1,140 hours over 51 weeks (22.25 hours a week over a minimum of 3 full days)
What days are the nursery closed for staff inset?
Little Learners will be closed three days a year for staff training/inset days—New Year, Easter and Summer. Fees are payable for these days.
The scheduled dates for 2023 are:
- 2nd January 2024
- 28th March 2024
- Summer 2024, date to be confirmed.
Are the nursery rooms monitored by CCTV?
All areas covered by CCTV are signposted with notifications so that individuals are advised before entering such areas.
Cameras are located at nursery entry and exit points, nursery corridors, and other external areas such as gardens and garden boundaries. Cameras are not situated inside nursery rooms, changing rooms, toilets, or any other sensitive areas.
What is your policy regarding mobile phones?
Mobile phones, cameras and other personal devices such as tablets, smart watches, e-readers, electronic dictionaries, digital cameras and laptops are considered to be everyday items in today’s society. Even children in early years settings may own and use online personal devices regularly. We take steps to ensure that there are effective procedures in place to protect children in our care from the unacceptable use of mobile phones, cameras and other personal devices, in particular the taking of unauthorised photographs and videos. Images stored on these devices are treated as personal data under the General Data Protection Act (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). This policy also links with our Safeguarding and Child Protection policy.
We request that you do not use your mobile phone or other personal devices such as tablets, smart watches, e-readers, or digital cameras when collecting your child from nursery.
Should you need to stay at the nursery for any period of time, for example during settling-in visits, we can provide a secure area to store personal devices and bags.
Taking photographs in the nursery is not allowed.
Does my child need to wear a uniform?
We will supply your child with a free Little Learners t-shirt upon joining our nursery.
Your child is not required to wear a uniform, but we do sell Little Learners branded items for your child if you require:
- T-shirt: £5.00
- Jumper: £9.00
- Summer cap
