Nursery Routine
The children at Bentham Under 5s Centre are offered a wide range of play and learning activities interrupted only by meals and snack time. We have a safe and fully equipped outdoor area which is used every day, weather permitting. After lunch, younger children sleep (see Sleep Procedure below) and the older children enjoy quiet activities. Play and learning activities then continue until the nursery closes.
Meal Times
Bentham regards meal times as an important part of your child’s day. It provides:
- A social opportunity for children and adults
- Enables children to develop an understanding of healthy eating.
- The Centre provides children with a multi-cultural; nutritionally balanced diet and all meals are cooked fresh on the premises by our cook, who has been qualified for over fifteen years.
- The Nursery meets the dietary requirements of all children in our care and the menu is differentiated on a weekly basis. For the full five week menu please click here. Please note that the menu is subject to change.
- A social opportunity for children and adults
- Enables children to develop an understanding of healthy eating.
- The Centre provides children with a multi-cultural; nutritionally balanced diet and all meals are cooked fresh on the premises by our cook, who has been qualified for over fifteen years.
- The Nursery meets the dietary requirements of all children in our care and the menu is differentiated on a weekly basis. For the full five week menu please click here. Please note that the menu is subject to change.
Sleep Procedure
At Bentham the child’s welfare is paramount and sleep is one way f ensuring the child’s welfare is maintained. Sometimes it is unavoidable to stop a child from falling asleep due to the child feeling unwell in which case the parents will be contacted immediately.
If the child had a late night before and as a result falls asleep during the course of the day, it is our policy to allow the child to sleep for at least 20-30 minutes before waking them up. Parents will be informed immediately.
It is not our policy to prevent a child from falling asleep or deprive a child sleep as this is not in the best interest of the child.
Sleep Routine
- Nap time is 12.30 pm to 2 pm every day.
- No less than two practitioners are there to ensure that the sleeping routine runs smoothly and to gently
encourage children to settle down before falling asleep.
- Once asleep the time is written down on the 'Daily Feedback Sheet'.
- One practitioner is responsible to check on the children every 15 minutes and record the time on a ‘Sleep Schedule’ available in the sleep area.
- Please be reassured that the children are not left alone at any time as there is always a practitioner in the hall tidying up or carry out a particular task and is able to check on them as stated above.
- Those children who are not awake at 2pm will be gently woken up and encouraged to sit quietly, if necessary, until they are ready to join the children who are awake.
- Each child has a mat to sleep on in addition to his or her own sleep bag with their bed linens enclosed.
- Bed linens are washed on a weekly basis or as and when necessary.
If your child has an allergy to any particular soap we would advise you to take home your child’s bed linens and wash them and bring them back on your return.
For detailed information on Sleep Policy please ask a member of staff.
If the child had a late night before and as a result falls asleep during the course of the day, it is our policy to allow the child to sleep for at least 20-30 minutes before waking them up. Parents will be informed immediately.
It is not our policy to prevent a child from falling asleep or deprive a child sleep as this is not in the best interest of the child.
Sleep Routine
- Nap time is 12.30 pm to 2 pm every day.
- No less than two practitioners are there to ensure that the sleeping routine runs smoothly and to gently
encourage children to settle down before falling asleep.
- Once asleep the time is written down on the 'Daily Feedback Sheet'.
- One practitioner is responsible to check on the children every 15 minutes and record the time on a ‘Sleep Schedule’ available in the sleep area.
- Please be reassured that the children are not left alone at any time as there is always a practitioner in the hall tidying up or carry out a particular task and is able to check on them as stated above.
- Those children who are not awake at 2pm will be gently woken up and encouraged to sit quietly, if necessary, until they are ready to join the children who are awake.
- Each child has a mat to sleep on in addition to his or her own sleep bag with their bed linens enclosed.
- Bed linens are washed on a weekly basis or as and when necessary.
If your child has an allergy to any particular soap we would advise you to take home your child’s bed linens and wash them and bring them back on your return.
For detailed information on Sleep Policy please ask a member of staff.
Safety and Security
In order to protect your child/children and in addition to our security system you, as users, of the nursery are also responsible for making sure that the door is shut behind you and that you do not let in anyone that you do not recognise even if they have a child with them. Please inform a member of staff immediately that someone else has entered with you. On accepting a place you will be asked to inform the nursery of people who are ‘most likely’ to be responsible for collecting your child/children in your absence by recording it in the ‘Parents Signing in Book’ in the far right hand column. This could be Grandma, Uncle or family friend for example and a password must be agreed between parent, the person collecting the child and the nursery. The nursery staffs are instructed not to release your child to anybody without your permission or to anyone under 16 years of age.
In the event of an emergency please inform the nursery if someone different is coming to collect your child. The nursery will take a brief description and we can inform your child of the change. i.e ‘Uncle Mark is coming to collect you tonight’ and a password is also required. This also saves any embarrassment for the person collecting in the event that we have to check with you before releasing your child into that person’s care.
In the event of an emergency please inform the nursery if someone different is coming to collect your child. The nursery will take a brief description and we can inform your child of the change. i.e ‘Uncle Mark is coming to collect you tonight’ and a password is also required. This also saves any embarrassment for the person collecting in the event that we have to check with you before releasing your child into that person’s care.
Sickness and Medication
In the event that your child becomes unwell at nursery you will be called to either collect your child straight away or to be informed of a situation for example ‘they are running a high temperature, or have a loose stool’. The nursery has a sickness policy that is available at any time. Please do not bring your child to nursery if they are not well. It is not fair on your child on the other children or the staff as we work hard to reduce the spread of illness and infection.
We are able to administer medication that is prescribed by a doctor with the child’s name printed on it but if your child is on antibiotics we will only administer the remaining few days, due to the fact that if your child is ill enough to be on antibiotics then they are not well enough to attend nursery. Your child should be on antibiotics for 48 hours before returning to nursery.
If bringing medicine into the nursery for your child you will be asked to fill out a medicine consent form. We do not administer ‘Calpol’ or other non-prescribed medication. However, on parental request we do use any nappy creams at changing time i.e. ‘Sudocrem’.
We are able to administer medication that is prescribed by a doctor with the child’s name printed on it but if your child is on antibiotics we will only administer the remaining few days, due to the fact that if your child is ill enough to be on antibiotics then they are not well enough to attend nursery. Your child should be on antibiotics for 48 hours before returning to nursery.
If bringing medicine into the nursery for your child you will be asked to fill out a medicine consent form. We do not administer ‘Calpol’ or other non-prescribed medication. However, on parental request we do use any nappy creams at changing time i.e. ‘Sudocrem’.
Accident Procedure
If your child has a bump or a knock at nursery it will be entered into the accident book. On collection of your child or before, if we deem it potentially serious, you will be informed of this accident and asked to sign the accident book as acknowledgement that you have been informed. In the unlikely event that your child had a serious accident you will be required to come and meet the nursery staff and your child at the relevant Hospital.
If your child has any bruises or had an accident outside of the Centre you are required to fill out an 'Existing Injuries' form on arrival.
If your child has any bruises or had an accident outside of the Centre you are required to fill out an 'Existing Injuries' form on arrival.
Outings
As part of the extended curriculum, we aim to expand your child’s knowledge of the environment and places of interest; therefore we try to take the children on outings as much as possible. If you are happy to, you will be asked to sign an outings consent form when your child joins the nursery. Please feel welcome to come with us whenever you can.
Special Needs
We welcome all children at Bentham and so if your child does have a special need please come and discuss how your child’s needs can be met by us. The nursery is built to cater for disabilities and the staffs have a wealth of experience and knowledge in dealing with special needs.