Happy At Blue Giraffe Nursery, we operate an open door policy. This means parents are able to come and see their child, or telephone to check on their progress at any time during the day. It is important both parent and child are happy with the nursery at all times.
All activities at the nursery are carefully planned and prepared according to the age group your child is attending. Blue Giraffe Nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage Principle and the Six Areas of Learning. At the end of each day, you will receive a written report detailing the progress your child has made, plus other essential information on what they have eaten and how/when they slept. Healthy All our menus are created to follow the fundamental principles of healthy eating. We feel it is very important the right portions of each of the five food groups are included in our daily meal plans, rotating menus weekly, for five weeks. All menus change according to season and cover breakfast, lunch and tea.
Alongside meal times, healthy eating is also discussed through play in the Baby Room, Toddler Room and the Pre-school Room.
Our kitchen has recently been awarded 4 stars by the local Environmental Health Department and we are very proud of the food our qualifed chef Annette cooks for the children. We offer a diverse range of foods and menus are on display in our entrance area for parents to view at any time.
Social skills Children aged 6 months to 5 years has breakfast together in the Toddler room, teaching them vital social skills. It is a group occasion where all children will be seated before lunch and tea is served within their own rooms. Older children are able to serve themselves and pour their own water, to help promote independence at mealtimes.
Baby and you Blue Giraffe Nursery has a milk kitchen situated within the Baby Room. We are able to store breast milk and even offer mothers a quiet, comfortable area should they wish to visit to feed their child. Please discuss this further with the Senior Nursery Nurse working in the Baby Room. Parents who wish to give their child formula may use one of our Avent bottles, or supply their own. A list of formulas supplied can be found here.
Guided by you and your baby, we will help the transition from breast or bottle to solid foods by introducing a wide range of healthy, nutritious purees prepared on the premises.
Fussy eater? Young children can be very particular when it comes to food. We aim to help introduce children to a range of healthy foods and allow them to experiment with different flavours, textures and combinations. If your child is only interested in one or two favourite foods – this is fine too. We always aim to sit down with the parents and discuss what is best for the child, what alternatives we can provide and how to address such issues.
Snacks Sometimes lunchtime seems ages away and tea time is a long way off for a tiny tum. Blue Giraffe Nursery likes to offer all our children a range of snacks suitable for their age group – from fresh fruit, bread sticks or rice cakes.
Food intolerances and allergies Eggs, cow’s milk, wheat, shellfish, peanuts and strawberries are all foods which are often linked to allergies. Please make staff aware of any concerns during registration, as allergies and intolerances will be catered for accordingly. Notices will also be placed in the kitchen and child’s room, warning staff.
Safe and sound Blue Giraffe Nursery uses an access control system, so you can always be reassured your child is in a safe and secure environment. Parents are supplied with two proximity cards or key fobs and only these can be used to enter the building. Upon full registration, parents will be asked to choose between a card and key fob operating device.
Finger protection devices have been installed on all doors and the outdoor play areas have also been resurfaced with softer flooring, reducing the risk of injury. Most edges around the nursery, inside and out, have been protected with saftey cushioning to prevent bumps. We want your children to happily hop, skip and jump as safely as possible whilst in our care.
