1) How do I book my child in to the nursery?

Click here for our booking form for the nursery. If you would like to book a visit, please just give us a call on 0208 760 0007 or email us on info@leapfrodaynursery.com and we can arrange a suitable time for you to come and visit the nursery.

2) When is the Nursery open?

We are open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day. We operate 51 weeks per year with the exception of bank holidays, we close for one week over Xmas and 3 staff training days annually.

Our standard sessions are: 8am – 1pm, 1pm – 6pm, 8am – 6pm

3) What happens if I am delayed collecting my child?

Sometimes parents are unavoidably delayed. Please let us know as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary concerns. Arrangements will be made to look after your child until you arrive. In the event that you are more than 10 minutes late, we will have to make an additional charge to cover staff costs. If you are a flexible member, you have an additional 30mins window to collect your child.

4) What activities will my child do at Nursery?

Children are offered a mixture of different activities throughout the day, which will include creative play, activities to help with numeracy and literacy, construction and problem-solving, story time, dance and movement, rest and relaxation. There is also plenty of opportunity for free play to allow children to be inventive and use their imaginations.

5) Will my child sleep during the day?

All children vary in their need for rest or sleep. We will speak with you about whether your child should be encouraged to sleep or not, and if so, when and for how long. Lunch is followed by quiet time in the nursery. During this time, your child may have a sleep or rest, or instead engage in quiet activities in a small group.

6) How will I be informed of my child’s progress and development?

The practitioners will carry out observations on children to ensure each child is making progress and also to identify any area of need. We are required to provide ongoing feedback at the age between 2 and 3 years old, providing a progress developmental check.

Parents are invited to regular “Working in Partnership“ meetings to discuss your child’s development at which you will be asked to contribute your thoughts, ideas and needs. These will be agreed with your child’s Key Person who can then put them into practice. These meetings will be initiated regularly by your child’s Key Person to ensure you are kept abreast of your child’s progress and/or on other occasions such as when your child is moving rooms or changing Key Person, or for more developmental matters like potty training, weaning, teething, supporting behaviour, etc. You may also request meetings at any time.

We always strive to ensure your child experiences consistency in nursery and your contribution is vital towards achieving this. Therefore we record all our meetings in your child’s learning journey, creating memories for you to look back on in years to come.

7) How do you manage children’s behaviour?

We follow our behaviour policy by focusing on positive strategies; it encourages caring attitudes for everybody towards each other and our environment. We hope that children will learn through the example we set. Methods are used such as distraction, visual aids and verbal reminders of positive behaviour in order to support their personal, social and emotional development. Praise is the best motivator. Children will grow in confidence if given praise as a reward.

8) What happens when my child starts nursery?

We want to find out as much as possible about your child and their routine and we’ll ask you to fill out a form, called ‘All About Me’, that will give us lots of information about their home life, routine and what they do and don’t like. We’ll ask about things like allergies, when they sleep and what their development is like if they are a baby and what kind of things they love to do. We’ll also ask if there are any activities or celebrations that you would not want your child to do whilst at nursery such as Halloween or Christmas etc.

To ensure your child is happy when they start at Leapfrog you’ll be asked to bring your child to nursery for some settling in sessions. This usually consists of two lots of 2 hour sessions prior to your child starting with us. We do encourage you to leave your child with us rather than staying at nursery to allow your child to become accustomed to this. We are very happy to call you to let you know how they are getting on if you are worried. When you come to collect your child we will let you know how they got on and we will also go through the information you have provided to us about your child to ensure we are fully up to speed with your child’s routine, likes/dislikes and any allergies or dietary requirements.

9) Will my child be required to bring anything with them when starting nursery?

Yes – generally parents send their child to nursery with a bag each day with the relevant items listed below. However, we can store nappies, wet wipes, nappy cream and a spare change of clothes in their individual box or bag at nursery. Please consider weather conditions when providing your child with clothes for the day to ensure your child can join in with outside play even in the winter months. In hot weather children will need a suitable sun hat and we ensure children are protected with suncream.

10) Do I have to provide nappies?

Standard Members - Yes please. We are happy to use both disposable and cotton nappies. If you use cotton nappies we ask that parents provide enough clean nappies daily in a small bag. The nappies will not be washed at nursery and returned home at the end of each day with your child. Nappies, wet wipes, nappy cream and a spare change of clothes can be stored at nursery in their individual box or bag.

Flexible Members – No we will provide nappies, wipes etc.

11) What will my child be given to eat and drink?

We ensure we offer the children a varied and healthy diet made from fresh produce and where possible organic by using our in house cooks for lunchtimes and by our staff for teatime and snacks.

12) How many staff will there be at Nursery?

The number of staff working at the Nursery depends on how many children are attending that particular day. We ensure we adhere to the staff to children ratio’s, which are: 1:3 for children under 2 years old. 1:4 for children aged between 2 and 3 years old. 1:8 for children aged 3 years and older.

13) What qualifications do the staff have?

All our staff are level 2 or above Early Years Practitioners or are studying to becoe qualified. All staff currently undergo a 3-month Induction period and attend Paediatric First Aid training, Food & Hygiene, and Safeguarding Children. We ensure this training is continually updated and refreshed. As an organisation we are committed to the continuous development of our staff and we ensure they also attend other courses relevant to their work such as Creative play and Being a Key Person.

14) How do I find out more about the staff working at Nursery?

When your child starts we will provide information about the staff working with your child. We have noticeboards with photographs and information or you can ask the manager at each location who will be happy to answer any query you have.

15) Do I still need to pay fees when my child is sick or on holiday?

Standard Member - Yes, you still need to pay fees as normal if your child is sick or on holiday.

Flexible members- No you do not need to pay when they are sick and you also have 2 weeks a year of holiday entitlement that you will not be charged for.

16) What if my child is ill and cannot attend Nursery?

If your child has a case of sickness or diarrhoea they must not attend nursery until 48hrs after the last symptom has occurred. In the interest of the other children, it is important that your child is well before returning them to the Nursery. If your child is prescribed a course of antibiotics we ask that your child stay at home for the first day of the course in case of any allergic reaction from the medication.

17) What are your fees?

We offer two options to provide the maximum flexibility possible. Standard Member : £70.00 per day. All meals included. Flexible Member: £80.00 per day. All meals included, nappies and wipes included, no late fees, 2 weeks holiday entitlement.

18) Do you offer a discount to parents placing more than one child at Nursery?

Yes, we offer a 10% discount on fees for the oldest child attending nursery.

19) Can I book extra sessions?

We are very happy to accommodate a request for extra sessions if we have the places available and are within our ratios. Please speak to a member of staff for availability.

20) Do you accept childcare vouchers?

Yes, we accept all childcare vouchers from employer schemes. Check with your employer if they offer childcare vouchers.

21) My child is 3 years old – how do I get the funding from the government?

All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours (up to five 3hr sessions in a week) of free nursery education in the term following their 3rd birthday, for 38 weeks of the year. This applies until they reach compulsory school age (the term following their fifth birthday). We will apply for your funding from the local authority for the term after your child reaches three years old and the funding will be deducted from your nursery fees.

22) What notice period do I have to give you to cancel or permanently reduce my child’s attendance?

Because we have to plan staffing levels in advance and cannot necessarily find a replacement for your booking immediately, we require the full next months notice of such changes. Failure to provide such notice will result in you being billed for the booking even though your child does not attend.

23) How do you communicate with parents?

As well as daily contact between staff and parents we also send out a newsletter every month which gives you the latest news about the nursery. We also hold parents evening termly. Parents can also book an appointment to speak to a member of staff, or the manager, at any time.

24) What is a key person?

Every child attending Leapfrog Day Nursery is assigned a key person. The role of a key person is to assist in the learning of each child to help them reach their full potential and works closely with the child and their parents/guardians. Your child’s key person is responsible for compiling your child's Learning Diary. A Learning Diary is done digitally via Foosteps and parents are able to access this at any time. It contains a collection of written and photographic evidence relating to your child's development and progress whilst they are at Leapfrog. It is important to remember that whilst the Key Person has responsibility for their child’s Learning Diary, all members of staff undertake observations on all children. If you need to discuss anything about your child's development, please speak to their key person or the manager who will be happy to advise you.

25) Where will I find essential information about nursery policies?

Along with our Parents Handbook, which you will receive before your child arrives on their first day, full copies of all our policies and procedures are available on request at any time. Simply ask your nursery manager.

26) If I have a complaint, what should I do?

We always want to hear if you or your child are unhappy with any aspect of the nursery. Please raise any concerns you have initially with the nursery manager who will endeavour to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction if possible, which can then be escalated to Amina Bryant, the owner of Leapfrog Day Nursery. Should you still be unhappy, you can take your complaint further by contacting OFSTED directly.

27) Safety How do I know my child will be safe and secure?

All our staff undergo enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks before they are allowed to be with the children. In addition, references are taken up prior to starting work with Leapfrog Day Nursery.

All the toys and equipment in the Nursery are of a high quality and regular risk assessments on equipment and procedures are carried out to ensure everything is maintained to the highest standard.

We carry out regular Fire Drills with the children, so that they become familiar with the routine, and should we have an emergency, we will be able to clear the building quickly and safely.

We operate a password system to unknown people picking children up – parents confirm their password with staff when they drop off the child at the beginning of the session. When the unknown person comes to collect the child they will be asked for the password before being allowed entry and to pick up the child. On no circumstances will any child be allowed to leave the nursery premises with an adult the staff do not know and does not have the correct password.

We carry out risk assessments both of the indoors and outdoors space whenever children are taken on an outing. We are also required to record any accidents or incidents and any medication that is given.

We have CCTV on premises so no one is able to enter without authorisation and monitored throughout the day.

28) What happens if my child has an accident?

Our team on duty will always include staff with a Paediatric First Aid certificate and up to date training. A First Aid box is kept in the nursery and we need your consent for staff to apply simple first aid (e.g. cold compress, plaster). If your child has an accident in the nursery, details will be recorded in the accident book and you will be asked to sign it once you arrive. If your child has a more serious accident and needs to go to hospital, we will ring for an ambulance and ask you to meet us there. Please let us know if your child has had an accident at home.

29) What does Safeguarding mean?

We have an official policy to help us deal with situations where a child may be suspected of being neglected or abused. We have a duty to ask about potential safeguarding issues and we take our responsibility to protect the whole family seriously. The Children Act 2004 states that the welfare of a child is paramount and makes it clear that staff have a professional duty to take action if they are concerned a child may be at risk of physical or sexual abuse or in danger of harm. Parents will be contacted by the relevant authorities if this policy is implemented.

30) What records will you keep on my child?

We take our responsibilities for data protection very seriously and keep the limited information we hold on you and your child secure at all times including: your original application and other consent forms; your child’s Learning Journey (which they take with them when they leave nursery); medical records, details of allergies and so on.