When children join us at Leonard Stanley Early Years, they are beginning their journey of loving learning for life. We will support your child and you as a family as we travel this exciting journey together.

Forms

When starting early years, there are a variety of forms that need to be completed; it is important that we have all this information from the beginning. During your child’s time with us, please inform us of any changes that occur in contact details, pickup authorisation, medical information, etc. so that records are always kept up to date.

Key Person

Your child will be assigned a 'key person'; this is the member of staff that will be your point of contact and the one that will maintain the assessment on your child. However, this does not mean that you cannot approach other members of staff if you have a worry or a concern. All staff work as a team together, caring for all the children.

Settling in

Our settle-in procedure is different for every individual child. We treat all children as individuals throughout their time with us, and how we help them settle is no exception. The procedure is one that is worked out between the parent and staff together. All situations are different; for some, it is best for the parent/carer to stay with the children to start with; for others, it is not. We all have the same aim: happy, content children.

Objects & Toys

Objects or toys from home can make a child feel safe in a new environment. Transitional objects (blanket, favourite toy, etc.) are welcome in the setting, although children are encouraged to leave them in their personal tray and fetch them when they feel the need to. Hopefully, within a few weeks the child will not need to do this any more, and the object will be left at home.

Clothing & Personal Belongings

Personal belongings should all be clearly named, as many children have the same coats and shoes, all in the same size! In hot weather, please ensure your child has a sun hat, and please ensure sun cream has been applied before coming into session. In cold weather, a warm coat, hat, and gloves are needed as we are outside every day. 

We encourage the children to experience and experiment with new ideas, and as such, it is best for them to wear old clothes. Although all paint and playdough are washable, experience tells us that occasionally they can stain. We do have optional uniforms available for purchase.

Please also send your child to their session with a change of clothes in a bag, just in case!

Nappies

If your child is still in nappies, this is not a reason for them not to start with us. We all appreciate that children develop at different times, and we are able to accommodate this. If your child is still in nappies, we do ask that you provide your child with a bag, which includes nappies, wipes, nappy bags, and a change of clothing. We do have nappy changing facilities and a nappy bin.

Typical Session

During a typical session, we will provide free-flow indoor and outdoor play consisting of creative activities, construction, malleable activities, mathematical activities, role play, and the opportunity for lots of free choice for all individuals. We are totally flexible and will be led by the interests of the children. 

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

As with all registered settings, we have to adhere to the Early Years Foundation Stage. This incorporates the care and education of all children aged 0–5. It provides a framework for assessing child development from birth right up to and including a child’s reception year at school.

The Early Years Foundation Stage focuses on playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically to support children’s learning across all areas. These areas consist of 3 prime areas and 4 specific areas. These are as follows: - the prime areas consist of personal, social, and emotional development; communication and language; and physical development. The specific areas consist of literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.