Full and Part Time Care for Children

At Little Footsteps our aim is to provide a flexible childcare service that meets the needs of all families and children. We feel that it is vital for all children to develop positively; this is achieved through our Key-worker system and individual planning. The environment will be free from discrimination and prejudice in order for all children to grow and flourish. All rooms and outside areas are maintained to the highest safety levels and designed to give a warm and friendly atmosphere; enabling children to grow in all areas of development. We pride ourselves on high levels of communication with families as they know their children best, ensuring that we are delivering a positive service for all. This two-way communication will ensure that families and staff are fully informed of the child’s development and progress enabling us to support each child.

The building that Little Footsteps operates from was previously a Day Nursery. However it has undergone extensive refurbishment ensuring the full safety of all children. 

 

We have increased the security level of the premises and gardens. We have installed an electronic door security system with phone links to all rooms and office areas. The building has been designed so that no exterior doors will directly enter a room occupied by children. This ensures that only authorised people can access the building and children’s areas, maintaining high levels of safety at all times.

The nursery will be open between 7.30am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday 52 weeks a year including Bank Holidays only closing Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Little Footsteps consists of a team of two enthusiastic individuals who manage the nurseries as well as several staff who have many years experience of working with children and families. 

 

We feel that all our years of experience will enable us to develop and run a specialist service for all families and children and achieve our aims to a high standard. To enable us to develop an excellent working relationship with all children, parents/carers and staff, we will take an active role within the nursery rooms, this will create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all.

The nursery is managed by a team of highly qualified and experienced staff. We adhere to Ofsted ratio regulation, with one Senior Room Leader in each room and the required amount of Room Assistants. 

Seedlings running a ratio of 1 staff member to every 3 babies, 

Shoots a ratio of 1 staff member to every 4 children, only reverting to the new 1:5 ratio at a last resort.

Buds a ratio of 1 staff member to every 8 children

Orchard a ratio of 1 staff member to every 10 children. 

The staff to child ratio for some activities may increase in order to support the children fully to gain the most from their learning experience.

Little Footsteps is divided into four separate rooms that are set up age appropriately. The ages below are a guideline depending on the child’s individual needs and development.

Seedlings - 6 Weeks to 2 Years 6 months

Shoots - 2 Years 6 months to 3 Years 6 months

Buds - 3 years to school age

Orchard - School Aged Children up to 11 Years

Free flow play between the inside and outside area is supported at all times as each room has its own access to the outside play areas (this includes babies). The outside play area is divided into three separate areas designed specifically for each age range.

 

To find out more about each individual room and the fees that apply please click on the links above.

Parents/carers are invited to make an appointment to come and view Little Footsteps. One of the management team will guide the tour of the nursery; this will include an insight into the day-to-day running of the nursery, the nursery layout, the different structure of the nursery rooms and the services we provide. At this point, you will be given our nursery prospectus, a copy of our policies and procedures and an application form (alternatively you can download this from our website). During the tour, we will discuss the your individual needs and those of your child in order to provide the services you require. If you feel Little Footsteps is the nursery for you, a booking can be made.

 

Once the booking has been made we can discuss an appropriate starting date and settling in sessions. We feel that these sessions will benefit you and your child by making the transition to nursery easier. On the first session, you and your child will be introduced to your Key-worker (this is a designated member of staff that will work closely with you and your child throughout their time within this room) and any other relevant staff members. Before the first settling in sessions we will ask you to complete a “Care Plan” which will include all details of your child, e.g., allergies, medical conditions, routines and dietary requirements. Every child’s needs are different; therefore, we will discuss with you the required amount of sessions needed.

The nursery takes great care to treat each individual as a person in their own right, with equal rights and responsibilities to any other individual, whether they are an adult or a child. The nursery is committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families according to their individual needs. Discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, ethnic or national origin, or political belief has no place within this nursery.

 

A commitment to implementing our inclusion and equality policy will form part of each employee’s job description. Should anyone believe that this policy is not being upheld, it is their duty to report the matter to the attention of a manager at the earliest opportunity.

 

The nursery is accessible to all children and families in the local community and further afield through a comprehensive and inclusive admissions policy. 

 

The nursery will strive to ensure that all services and projects are accessible and relevant to all groups and individuals in the community within targeted age groups.

 

Early learning opportunities offered in the nursery encourage children to develop positive attitudes to people who are different from themselves. It encourages children to empathise with others and to begin to develop the skills of critical thinking.

✿ Ensuring that all children have equal access to early learning and play opportunities 

✿ Reflecting the widest possible range of communities in the choice of resources

✿ Avoiding stereotypical or derogatory images in the selection of materials

✿ Acknowledging and celebrating a wide range of religions, beliefs and festivals

✿ Creating an environment of mutual respect and empathy

✿ Helping children to understand that discriminatory behaviour and remarks are unacceptable

✿ Ensuring that all early learning opportunities offered are inclusive of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and children from disadvantaged backgrounds

✿ Ensuring that children whose first language is not English have full access to the early learning opportunities and are supported in their learning.

We would start the admissions process by having an initial meeting with the parents/carers to find out all relevant information and specific need requirements. The meeting may then result in the nursery contacting other professionals involved with the family to gather further information or arranging another meeting with parent/carers, professionals involved and nursery. Once we have a clear outline of what the family's requirements and needs are, we will endeavour to adapt the setting with reasonable adjustments if needed, make sure staff have relevant training and move forward with a start date.

Children are encouraged to plant, care for and grow their own vegetables in our vegetable patch. At particular times of the year, they will harvest their crops for use at snack and meal times.

 

Each child is be provided with a healthy snack option that includes fresh fruit, vegetables, milk and water. Fresh water is available for the children throughout the day. Milk will also be provided to all children at all meals. This is included within the session fee. 

 

We also provide, at an additional cost, three meals a day. These will be well balanced, healthy and nutritious based on the Norfolk County Council Nutritional Values Guidelines. All meals are homemade and prepared onsite by our qualified Chef and all ingredients are sourced locally (whenever possible). We offer vegetarian options and cater for all dietary needs, NO nuts will be allowed on site.