Inverness College Nursery

• Provide children with a varied balance of high quality experiences according to their individual needs

• Be responsive to their needs and interests and ensure progression in children’s learning and development.

• Provide a safe, secure, hygienic, pleasant and stimulating environment.

• Ensure that resources are well matched to the needs and interests of the children and provide appropriate support and challenge.

• Promote staff training and development with College training and the use of outside professionals.
  
•  The College and all staff are committed to complying with the Scottish Social Services Commission (SSSC) registration requirements.
  
  

6. Ensure Government Guidelines are met

•  We will work with Government guidelines on the provision of childcare, continually monitoring and evaluating practice through Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland, Pre-Birth to Three Positive Outcomes for Scotland’s Children and Families, Child at the Centre, Curriculum for Excellence and any Local Authority guidance.

• To ensure that we regularly review and update our development and planning for continued improvement.

The Nursery Accommodation
During the Easter, summer and October holidays the number of children attending the Nurseries fall, therefore we consolidate and some children may be moved between campuses.

Longman Nursery is situated in the ground floor at the Longman campus and is a bright open plan Nursery with access out to a large garden area.  The Nursery at Longman caters for children from 3-5 years old.   A door security and signing in system is in operation for the safety of all our children. 

Midmills Nursery is situated on the grounds at Midmills campus in the Crown district of the city.   Midmills is a larger building than Longman and has 3 different rooms for Babies, Tweenies and Toddler children.  A door security and signing in system is in operation for the safety of all our children.  During the Easter, summer and October holidays some of the rooms at Midmills Nursery become a club for the older school children.

Longman Nursery offers excellent childcare facilities for children from 3-5 years, whereas Midmills Nursery offers quality childcare facilities for children from birth to 3 years.

At this time the older nursery children move to one campus where both Longman and Midmills staff are on hand to care for the children.  

Students who wish childcare in the holidays will need to ensure that they pick the correct option on the contract as during this time there are not normally places for student’s children.

Opening Hours
Both nurseries are open from 8.15am – 5.15pm, Monday to Friday 49 weeks of the year.  The closure periods are noted below under holiday entitlement. 

Holiday Entitlement
If you are booking a permanent place then you are entitled to 1 week of holiday over and above College closure days.  Holiday entitlement will be at no charge provided we receive notification at least 1 calendar month in advance in writing.  A holiday form needs to be completed for all holidays that are not College closure days. 

College closure days are as follows:

2 weeks at Christmas
4 Days at Easter including Good Friday & Easter Monday
May Day (first Monday in May)

Holiday dates when the nursery will be closed for 11/12 are as follows:

Christmas Holiday - Friday 23 December 2011 return on Monday 9 January 2012
Easter Holidays - Wednesday 4 April 2012 return on Tuesday 10 April 2012
May Day -  Monday 7 May 2012   

Staffing
Our staff are qualified and experienced, they are chosen for their patience, enthusiasm, sense of humour, positive approach and above all their ability to interact appropriately with the children.  

Staff qualifications are varied and include:

• SVQ Level 111 Early Years Care and Education
• HNC Childcare and Education
• Advanced PDA Childcare and Education
• BA in Child and Youth Studies

 All staff are registered with (SSSC).  This is our governing body which regulates staff and qualifications.  

Students
Throughout the year both Nurseries will have childcare students on placement.  You can appreciate that this is necessary for the childcare workforce to grow and develop, therefore we would like to take this opportunity to ask you to allow all the students on placement to fulfil their course work which may include asking for permission to observe your child within the nursery environment.  Thank you in advance for your co-operation.

Addresses:
Longman Nursery                                                          Midmills Nursery
Inverness College                                                          Inverness College
3 Longman Road                                                           Crown Avenue
INVERNESS                                                                 INVERNESS
IV1 1SA                                                                        IV2 3NG

If you are a student and you need help to pay your fees it is your responsibility to ensure that you apply and supply all evidence requested.  Forms must be completed and returned no later than your child’s first day at nursery.  You will be required to pay any balance not covered by Childcare Funds.  

Any outstanding fees from the previous year must be cleared before the child can return for a new session.

If appropriate payments are not made as stated in the contract, this service will no longer be available for your child and you will remain liable for any charges made.

Currently your child is entitled to a funded pre-school place in the term after their 3^rd birthday.   Children receiving a funded place are entitled to 12.5 hours per week over 38 weeks.  However please make it clear how many of the pre-school funded sessions you wish to use.

Share a Session
Throughout the year we offer times when you can come and Share a Session with your child.   This gives you the opportunity to play, take part with your child in their favourite activities and have some fun.   We encourage you to come in at anytime to visit and if you have a special interest, are musical or would like to come and share your favourite story you will be very welcome.

Parent/staff meetings
We have parent/staff meetings once a term, these meetings are to keep you up to date with the happenings within the nursery and it is an opportunity for you to meet other parents and discuss any issues which you feel you would like to air.

This group has taken on many roles throughout the years and has been mainly fundraising.  

We value your opinions, ideas and would welcome your involvement however small or large.

Medical and Health Care
It is very important that full details of your child’s medical history are provided when completing the registration form.   This ensures that staff are as prepared as possible should a health emergency arise.   If a child becomes ill or has an accident while attending the nursery every attempt will be made to inform the parents immediately.   If the illness or accident is of a serious nature, the child will be taken to hospital and the parents will be contacted and advised to join the child there.   Parents must inform nursery staff of any changes to the information held within the registration form and consent form.

Child Illness
A sick or infectious child may not attend the nursery.   If a child becomes sick during his/her time at the nursery, parents or the emergency contact will be informed and asked to take the child home.   A child who has been sent home will be excluded from nursery as per the table below.  

The nursery is unable to look after children who are ill or who have contagious illnesses.   If your child has a contagious illness please notify us as soon as possible as it has implications for other service users.

The following guidelines are in place for minimum periods of exclusions.

Medication in the Nursery
Staff are unable to give medication without written permission from a parent/carer.   Medication forms must be completed with a member of staff.

Two members of staff will administer the medication.   Any side effects of any medication must be written on the medication form.  A receipt will be given to confirm that your child has had the requested medication and the time the medication was administered.  A recent document has been published by the British Medical Council which states that certain cough mixtures are unsuitable for children under 6.   Following this information the nursery will only administer the recommended cough mixture to the children which is as follows:-

Glycerin, Lemon and Honey with Glucose

Policies
The nursery has a number of welfare policies and procedures in place and information about those that are key is summarised below.  All policies will be displayed on the notice board or in the Reception area within the nursery.   If you would like a copy to take home please ask a member of staff. 

Absence Management Procedure
The nursery in accordance with local and national guidelines has introduced an absence management policy.  

If a child does not appear for a booked session by 9.30 and 1.30, the registration times for both sessions, then staff will take action to contact parents/carers.  However if staff are unsuccessful in contacting you, emergency contacts will then be phoned to ensure the wellbeing of the child and family.

If the staff at the nursery require to telephone parents/carers of a child on more than 5 separate occasions in any 2 week period due to a child not arriving for a booked session, then the nursery will review whether to continue to hold the child’s place at the nursery.

The nursery require children to be in nursery for any booked session by 11 a.m. and by 2 pm.  This is due to the nursery keeping to the staffing ratios and to allow children to participate in activities which will enhance their development and learning.

Admissions Policy
Inverness Childcare Services are open to children from birth to 5 years.   The College nursery is open to applications for places from college students, staff and the general public.  Both Nurseries are registered with the SCSWIS – Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland to provide a care service to a maximum of 24 children at Longman Nursery and 33 children at Midmills Nursery.

The nursery’s aim is to ensure that the admission of children is fair,

equitable and responsive to the needs and preferences of individual children and their parents or carers.  The nursery believes that no child should be excluded or disadvantaged because of ethnicity, culture, religious beliefs, language, family background, special educational needs, disability, gender or

ability.  The nursery recognise due care and attention must be given to the parents, carers and the child’s need for time to settle into the nursery.  The nursery aims to work in partnership with parents to settle the child into the nursery environment by introducing settling in sessions.

Registration and Consent Forms
For the safety of your child and the smooth operation of the nursery it is essential that a registration and consent form is completed by the parent/guardian before a child can be accepted in the nursery.   

Should parents/carers be non contactable please identify 2 persons (a family member or friend/neighbour) who will be willing to collect your child, if he/she has to be returned home during a session, due to illness or sudden closure of the nursery.

Behaviour Management
To ensure that the nursery is a happy place for each child it is important that everyone abides by a standard of appropriate behaviour.  We have a simple nursery code for children to follow.  The code is reinforced through encouragement and praise by the staff who will act consistently and fairly in dealing with children.

Physical punishment is never used in the nursery.

 The staff will at all times be calm and controlled and never use physical punishment in the nursery.

Child Protection Policy
A child protection policy operates in the nursery.   We follow the local Child Protection Guidelines, the full policy is available on the Parents notice board.   For further information please contact the Childcare Services Manager.  

Complaints Policy
The nursery operates under the College Complaints Procedure.  This policy is displayed on the notice board in the nursery.

In the first instance bring the matter to the attention of the Childcare Services Manager.   If you do not receive a satisfactory outcome from this course of action, then write to the:

Quality Unit
Inverness College
3 Longman Road
INVERNESS
IV1 1SA

All correspondence received will be formally acknowledged and followed by a detailed written response within 15 working days.

You may also write directly to the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) at anytime.   Complaints should be addressed to:

The Manager
SCSWIS
First Floor
Castle House
Fairways Business Park
Inverness
IV2 6AA

Emergency Policy
Notice of the nursery closure will be on Moray Firth Radio in emergency situations.   There is also a number to call which is 0870 0546999 followed by pin number 043270.   This will give up to date information regarding the status of the college and nursery.   In the event of the Principal closing the College a credit for nursery fees will be issued in the next months invoice.   Any other planned closures, four weeks notice will be given.

Settling-in period
There is a settling-in period when we encourage parents to stay for as long as you wish with your child.   You may wish to go away and leave your child for a short spell and have a coffee, remaining within the campus, in case your child is upset.   We do encourage parents to take a break but totally at your own discretion.   You are then offered 3 trial sessions before you need to start classes/work.   These settling-in periods, 2 of which will be for 2 hours and if your child will normally be staying during lunch then the last one should be over a lunch time and for a whole session.   This gives staff the opportunity to get to know your child and your child to become familiar with staff and their new environment.   If you or the nursery feel that your child has not settled within these periods then alternative times will be arranged in accordance with your child’s needs.  

All children will have their own peg, bag and tray for all those little necessities.   All staff understand that it may be extremely upsetting for you as parents to leave your child for the first time but we are always on the other end of the phone so please do not hesitate to contact us if you are at all worried.

Meals Times
The Nursery has a Healthy Eating Policy.   Our own staff, along with the children, will prepare healthy snacks of various fruits along with water or milk to drink.   We use this time to encourage independence, social skills, healthy eating and cultural awareness.   The children are introduced to a wide variety of tastes and types of foods, both familiar and new.   The children are encouraged to try these foods in a relaxed setting but are never made to eat anything which they do not like.   The older children are fully involved in the preparation of snack and are encouraged to be as independent as possible while eating e.g. cutting, spreading, pouring for themselves.   The weekly snack and lunch menu are on the Parent’s notice board.

If children are not to be given cakes or sweets it is important that you inform the child’s key carer at the beginning of the year.

The College kitchens, which are run by Sodexo, provide lunch for the children and a four week menu plan is available to view on the Parent’s Notice Board.

Sodexo’s policy is not to knowingly use genetically modified food.   Sodexo’s staff conform to procedures intended to eliminate GM ingredients in meals.   All children’s food is oven cooked and not deep fried.

Younger children’s feeding patterns will follow parental instructions.

Juice may be offered on special occasions e.g. Christmas Party.

If your child has to avoid particular foods due to medical, cultural, ethnic or religious reasons, please remember to inform the nursery staff.

Bottle/Breast fed children
For children still being bottle/breast fed, formula milk should be brought to nursery made up and supplied by the parents.   These bottles will be named and stored in the fridge prior to use.

Sleeps/Naps
Sleeping facilities are available for children who need this during the day.  There are cots/buggies/mattresses depending on the needs of the child.   Each child will have his/her own bedding which is supplied by the nursery and washed in the college laundry department.   The nursery use baby monitors in the sleep rooms and record 5 minute checks on the children, this also includes recording the room temperature.

Children’s Clothing
Please ensure your child attends nursery in clothes suitable for playing, preferably a few thin layers so they can be comfortable both inside and out.   We encourage the older children to be as independent as possible so please dress them in clothes and shoes which are easy to do up and in which they can move freely when involved in energetic play.   Some of the activities can be quite messy and although we wear aprons, accidents do happen, so old clothes are best!!  

Please also provide one change of clothes for your child to be kept at nursery and a pair of named gym shoes/slippers to change into for inside play.  

For children who are being potty/toilet trained several extra pairs of pants should be supplied.   For children in nappies, a supply should be provided; this may be in bulk and left in the nursery or brought in every day in the child’s bag.   Indoor shoes are requested for your child and wellies for wet weather play outside.   Clothing labels are also advisable.

Photographs
We use photographs to record evidence of participation in activities and progress of your child’s development.   We also use the video to record children at play in the nursery.   Occasionally we use photographs for promotional publications and there may be occasions when these photographs appear in the local media.

Birthdays
We acknowledge the importance of Birthdays and celebrate by making a cake, writing cards and talking about gifts.   We urge you to discuss a forth-coming birthday with the child’s key carer so that we can work together for this important day.  

Festivals
A variety of multicultural festivals are celebrated in the nursery.   We value any help or ideas that you are able to provide as this will widen the children’s opportunities for learning.

Outings
We frequently visit places of interest and attend events in the wider community; we would appreciate your assistance by giving permission for your child to take part in these events to enhance the children’s environment and learning.

Arrival and Departure/Collection of Children
Please sign your child in and out when you arrive and depart from nursery also please state who will be collecting your child.  If someone not known to the nursery staff will be collecting your child please inform/contact staff so that arrangements can be made for identification of the person when they arrive at nursery.   Also inform staff if someone is not allowed to collect your child.   Please return to collect your child promptly at the end of the nursery session.   If your child is not collected promptly at the end of each session then a £10.00 surcharge will be levied for every 15 minutes you are late.

Security
CCTV is in operation within the College building and there is a camera within the nursery at Longman.   Should you have any concerns regarding security or the use of CCTV within the nursery, please contact the Childcare Services Manager.   The college is also manned with security guards.   Please do not hesitate to report any suspicious incidents to either the guards or nursery staff.

Absences
If your child is going to be late, or not going to attend nursery, please telephone no later than 9.30 a.m. or 1.30 p.m.

Longman Nursery - 01463 273549
Midmills Nursery - 01463 273337

This is important especially if we have an outing.   All absences will be charged except in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Childcare Services Manager.

Notice Boards
We maintain an information notice board for parents and would ask that you regularly review this for important information.    We also publish a newsletter once a month giving you information of up and coming events and dates.  In each entrance area there is a white board stating what is happening that day, for example, snacks, lunches, activities and staff on duty that day.

We encourage your participation in all aspects of children’s learning and nursery life.   

In the entrances to the nurseries there are opportunities for you to become involved so please provide feedback and ideas to help us enhance and develop your children’s learning and our provision.   Please speak to any member of staff if you need help or assistance.

Finally….
We hope that this has given you the information you require about the Inverness College Childcare Services.   Should you have any suggestions regarding the content or any matter relating to the nursery, please use the suggestion box in the reception area of the nursery or speak to any member of staff.

Additional information for parents/guardians detailing the rationale of the Nursery is available in the Nursery Reception area.  Should you wish a copy to take away, please contact a member of staff who will be happy to assist.

Childcare Services Manager
Telephone: 01463 273549