Once Upon a Time Day Nurseries - Hayes, Hillingdon  

The Nursery

Once Upon a Time Day Nursery at Hayes takes children from 18 months through to 5 years. We have one main playroom that is bright, colourful and spatial where the children can enjoy a wide range of activities and play. All our equipment and toys are age related and appropriate to the children's learning needs. The Church Reverend visits us from time to time and gives the children a guided tour of the Church and its grounds. We also have visits from the local community; people who can help our children understand about their local community and how we can all help each other.  Such visitors include the Community Police, Fire & Rescue Crews, Ambulance Crews and Traffic Theatre Groups who help the children understand how to use the pavements and cross roads safely.

The Garden

We have a fantastic outside area, which has been newly resurfaced and boasts a fine range of apparatus to promote gross motor and physical skills.  We are right beside a large park and the local library which we regularly visit with the children.

Diet

All our meals are prepared daily on the premises and cooked using fresh and local ingredients.  We believe it is very important that children have a properly balanced diet including five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables per day.  We cater for all dietary requirements.  At mealtimes, the children serve their own meals and pour their own drinks with the support and help of the staff.

Educational Philosophy

We are a High/Scope Nursery and we promote independence throughout our routine.  We plan activities with the children and each activity is child lead.  The staff are always there to support, guide and encourage the children to become confident and independent.  We follow topics throughout the year and ask parents to contribute where they can i.e. bringing in items from home to celebrate festivals or special days.  Each child is placed in an aged related key group, which each member of staff plan for, using the Early Years Curriculum, Birth to Three or Foundation Stage.  All our equipment is clearly labelled so the children can help to look after things properly and store them carefully away when finished with.  All the equipment is kept at the child's level for easy access.

The Nursery use Phonics to help children recognise letter names and sounds; this will help them when they move into school reception.  We hold consultation evenings with parents twice a year to talk about how well the children are progressing.  Parents can have informal chats with the staff at any time about their child or any other relevant issues.  We provide Home Link Books which are given to parents at the end of each week, so they can see, from their child's point of view, what they have been doing that week.  Parents are also encouraged to write about the weekends activities in these books.

Services

• Pick ups from Belmore School and Yeading Infants School
• Music and Movement
• Computer exercises
• Fund-raising afternoons
• Professional Photography services
• Discounted Books