Our Ethos & Approach
We are unique in the way we operate, no other nursery in our area offers houses totally dedicated to our children’s age range. All the facilities, activities and games are age and stage related; with the outdoor areas having climbing apparatus, swings, tunnels, balancing equipment, bouncy castles, cars, scooters and much more.
Our highly trained practitioners build bonds with our children and understand their needs and personalities. Through the comfort of routine and continuity of care our children feel loved and cherished.
Research has confirmed that the first 2 years of a baby’s life lay the foundations for all their future learning. Frequent high-quality interactions between adults and children are critical from birth.
Shannon ChildCare pride themselves on a ‘communication-rich environment’ whereby we actively promote and support children’s communication and language development, both within the physical setting and our practitioner’s interactions. We create spaces designed to stimulate language acquisition, encourage exploration, and foster social interaction.
We follow The Department for Education Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covering the learning, development, safeguarding and welfare of children from birth to five. Our curriculum has integrated the ‘7 Areas of Learning’ with ‘Birth to 5 Matters’ to create our own unique programme. Additionally, we incorporate ‘Montessori Initiated Ideas’ into our activities to provide an all-round quality learning provision.
We promote our children’s linguistic, personal, social, emotional and cognitive skills alongside their physical development through a variety of pursuits and ‘Life Skills’, enabling our children to explore their individual proficiencies and extend their learning. Modelling and guiding children to give them the skilfulness to do things themselves.
Keeping Parents Informed
“Staff develop exemplary partnerships with parents. They work closely with parents to ensure children settle in exceedingly well”
Ofsted
2019
We pride ourselves on our interaction with parents. We ensure that your child settles into nursery slowly, so that they feel like it is their second home. During the first month we will be in constant contact to reassure the continuity of care. We offer ‘Getting your child ready for nursery’ information for new parents.
Twice a year we hold Parent Meetings and provide detailed reports on your child’s learning and development, according to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidelines. Moreover, we share our ‘Next Steps’ with you to ensure we are working together as a team. Parents love these meetings as we reveal intimate knowledge of your child and impart a very thorough report on your child’s well-being, learning, knowledge and development.
We provide other innovative ways of sharing your child’s time at Shannon ChildCare, all of which will delight you.
Free of Charge Workshops
Parenting Techniques
Fussy Eating
Tummy Time
Physical Development
*The above are only a few of the workshops we run, contact us for more information.
Safety & Security
"Highly robust, thorough recruitment procedures and extremely lengthy initial training help to ensure staff are eminently suitable to carry out their responsibilities"
Ofsted
2019
At Shannon ChildCare safety and security are of paramount importance.
How we achieve this:
- We are proud to say that the majority of our colleagues have been working together for 12 years or more, we have a small turnaround of staff
- We adhere to our Safer Recruitment Policy
- All staff members have an enhanced DBS certificate confirming they are suitable to work with children
- All practitioners have a Paediatric First Aid certificate
- All staff have a trial period prior to being employed by us
- All staff have an induction session
- Our staff are trained in Safeguarding & Child Protection procedures, on a regular basis. Food Safety in Catering Level 2 for handling food at nursery. Behaviour Management and Risk Assessment
- We conduct daily risk assessments for indoor and outdoor facilities and activities
- We operate a high staff to child ratio
- We use an App called ‘Famly’ where parents can obtain information on their child’s arrival/departure including other personal information such as sleep, toileting and food consumption
- Visitors/contractors must sign in and are accompanied at all times on the premises
- CCTV in our settings for safety and security purposes, due to the number of rooms within the premises
- Staff members use walkie talkies to ensure practitioners can communicate easily with each other