Chatterbox Day Nursery & Preschool - Childrens Nurseries in Ryde ...

Chatterbox
Day Nursery &
Preschool
2013 Prospectus

Welcome to our Nursery
Our promise to you at Chatterbox Day Nursery is to give the highest quality childcare
in a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment.
Our aim is to provide a homely, caring, relaxed and happy atmosphere. We recognise
our parents and children’s individual needs and concerns and agree that their
satisfaction and happiness is paramount. Flexibility and understanding is very
important.
We are very proud of our home from home environment which includes freshly
prepared home cooked meals every day.
Opening times
We are open from 8.00am to 6.00pm
Contact Information
Owners: Amanda & Simon Bitchenor
Chatterbox Day Nursery
32 Nelson Street
Ryde
Isle of Wight
PO33 2EY
Telephone: 01983 616779
Website: www.chattytots.com
E-mail: info@chattytots.com
Ofsted Registration number
EY417354
Registered for 59 children.

Location
The nursery is based in a lovely Victorian house close to the sea front in Ryde. It has
been maintained to the highest standards to create a bright and stimulating
environment in which your child will be safely cared for. The building has a large,
securely enclosed play area to the rear and admittance to the nursery is strictly
monitored.
Departments
The Nursery is split into two departments, babies and pre-school. Babies occupy the
first floor, while the ground floor is dedicated to pre-school.
The Staff Team
All our nursery staff hold a relevant childcare qualification. All senior staff have their
BA Honours Degree in Childcare & Education with all other staff having a minimum
of NVQ level 3. All staff hold a current paediatric first aid certificate. There is a
continual program of staff development to enhance their knowledge and
understanding of childcare.
Parental Involvement
At Chatterbox Day Nursery we recognise that parents need to feel confident and
comfortable with the childcare that they choose. To ensure this we operate an ‘open
door’ policy, so that parents can discuss any aspect of their child’s care or
development at any time with a staff member or a manager. Your child will have a
key person who will act as a special person for your child and will work with you to
plan care and provide feedback about your child’s activities at nursery. We also have
a parent’s notice board in the entrance hall to keep parents up to date with Nursery
issues.

Babies & Toddlers Department
The babies department provides excellent facilities for babies from 6 weeks up to 2
years of age (although in some cases we can extend this to 2 ½ years depending on the
babies developmental needs).
The baby / toddler department has a main playroom where they are free to explore the
many toys and use the various equipment i.e. baby walkers, rocking toys etc. There is
a second play room, which caters more for the toddler’s needs; here they can role-play
using the toy kitchen, dolls, prams and cots e.t.c. They can play with the various toys,
cars, garage, read stories, threading and puzzles. The children also spend time sitting
together with staff each day for singing, stories, rhymes and musical instrument
sessions.
In the wet / dinning room the babies and toddlers can involve themselves in various
art and craft activities such as painting, sticking, play dough, cookery e.t.c. During
these times the children are involved in activities such as colours, numbers, shapes,
sorting and letters e.t.c.
When not being used for arts and crafts this room doubles as the dining area with
highchairs and a low table and chairs, where the children can sit together to eat their
meals, good manners play a big part during these times and promoted by the staff, as
is general hygiene i.e. washing hands and faces.
We have a sleeping room with cots and prams for the children to have their sleeps,
this room has a baby listening monitor so that the staff can hear as soon as a child
wakes, sleeping babies are also checked regularly by staff using a timer.
There is also a bathroom /changing room, for every child’s toiletry and changing
needs. All potty and toilet training is taken on by staff when the child is ready.

There is a general day to day timetable for the department, which obviously takes into
account each individual baby’s and toddler’s routine.
We have buggies, rain covers and sun canopies so that the children can go out for
walks to feed the ducks, see the boats, the hovercraft and the train, play on the beach,
or at the park, visit the library or the local shops. (We do need parent’s signature on
the application form to take children off the premises).
The children have their own daily records to take home at the end of the day,
informing parents or carers exactly what their child’s routine has been during the day.
Each child has their own key worker who is responsible for closely monitoring your
child’s developmental progress and recording this within the child’s personal records.
You are free to look at and discuss your child’s development with their key worker or
the nursery manager at any mutually convenient time.
The information within the file is passed onto the next department or a new nursery if
the child moves. When a child is ready to move downstairs (usually between 2yrs and
2 ½ yrs) we start an integration process. This is done very gradually taking into
account each individual child’s needs.
Key Facts
• Staff Ratios are 1:3
• Meal Times - Lunch is available from 11:30.
• Tea is available from 3.45pm.
• Snacks will be given mid morning and mid afternoon.
• Water and Milk is available throughout the day for all children.

Pre-school
This department has a large playroom with a whole variety of toys and equipment.
Including a tool bench, a dolls house, a home corner, lego, cars, animals, shapes
dressing up clothes etc.
During free play sessions the children are encouraged to share and play independently
and within a group, they are encouraged to respect each others thoughts and ideas and
treat the various equipment with care, and with the guidance yet not interference from
the qualified staff, the children will feel free to develop at their own rate. There is also
a book corner with a variety of books, which are changed once a term when the
mobile library visits. The children are involved in choosing new books and are
encouraged to use them with respect and correctly.
We also have a second playroom where the children are able to experiment with
weighing scales, magnifying glasses, pouring equipment, scoops etc and a whole
variety of dried foods. There is also mathematical equipment, which encourages
sorting, size and colour recognition etc. There is a dedicated area for writing and use
of the computer.
This room also provides a messy area where the children can express themselves
through a whole variety of art, craft and messy activities including water play, sand
play, creative materials, clay, play dough, glue, paint, scissors, crayons, pencils and
paper etc.
Meal times are an important time allowing children to sit together in an informal yet
sensible manner, chatting between themselves and with staff about various events. We
encourage children to think about their manners and to be independent at these times
as well i.e. helping to set up, pouring their own drinks, sharing out fruit etc.

The nursery provides a varied, well-structured and carefully planned timetable taking
into account the needs of the full time child as well as the needs of the part time child.
We work in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance and ensure that this
is all incorporated in our planning of the timetable. The seven areas of learning are:
Prime Areas
Personal Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Communication and Language
Specific Areas
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Every child has their own key worker, and at various times during the week will work
with them and children of their own age for more structured activities.
An example of various projects we cover are the sea-side, the weather, different
countries and cultures, transport, people who help us, wild animals, insects, growing
things etc. Every project is planned well in advance and will include all seven areas of
learning. The following is just a sample of some of the activities your child will be
able to participate in:-
• listening games
• memory games
• sorting games
• pre-maths
• numbers
• clay modeling
• cutting and sticking
• water experiments
• letters
• phonics
• pre-reading
• reading
• sentence making
• play dough
• junk modeling
• music & movement
• pre-writing
• writing
• cookery
• drama
• walks & outings
• bubble painting
• blow painting
• needle work
During free flow play the staff will organise a few activities that the children may or
may not want to involve themselves in. Otherwise they are free to independently
choose the room they would like to be in, the equipment they would like to use, or an
activity they would like to do.
The children enjoy sitting together for stories, singing and rhymes. They also enjoy
these times to tell the group and us about their experiences and their family etc. It is
also a time for us to discuss various subjects with the children. We may also use the
opportunity to discuss children and families of other cultures using stories and
pictures.
Key Facts
• Staff Ratios are 1:4 for 2-3 year olds and 1:8 for over 3s
• Meal Times - Lunch is available from 12:00 noon
• Tea is available from 3.45pm
• Snacks will be given mid morning and mid afternoon.
• Water and Milk is available throughout the day for all children.

Nursery Facilities
Kitchen
The kitchen is designed to the highest standards and food provided is to the highest
quality. Our menus are planned carefully to ensure a good nutritional balance for all
children. We cater for all children with special dietary requirements and weaning
foods which are prepared on site by our nursery cook.
Toilets
There are two toilet areas within the nursery and 2 changing areas. The baby room has
their own changing area. All toilets can be freely accessed by the children to promote
their independence. The sinks and toilets are all child height. We work very closely
with parents to support toilet training.
Outdoors
We consider outdoor play to be vital for your child’s health, development and
education. We have one large outdoor play area mirroring some of the activities
available, such as water and sand play.
Part of our planned activities involves planting and growing our own vegetables and
flowers in the garden. A wall and railings surrounding the play area ensures security,
along with locked gates.
Drop off/collection
The entrance to the nursery is via the main front door, this cannot, along with all the
other doors to the setting be opened from the outside. All doors are locked throughout
the day.
Polices & Procedures
Copies of our polices and procedures are available on request and include:
• Fire Drills
• Bullying
• Equal opportunities
• Confidentiality
• Complaints
• Medicine
• Incident
• Accident
• Late Collection
• Behaviour
• Child Protection
• Special Educational Needs

Settling In
We aim to help parents and other carers to help their children settle quickly and easily
by giving consideration to the individual needs and circumstances of children and
their families. The nursery staff will work in partnership with parents/carers to settle
their child into the nursery environment by:
• Encouraging the parents/carers and children to visit the nursery during the weeks
before an admission is planned.
• Planning settling in visits and introductory sessions (lasting approximately 1-2
hours). These will be provided free of charge over a two or four week period
dependent on individual needs, age and stage of development.
• Welcoming parents/carers to stay with their child during the first few weeks until
the child feels settled and the parents/carers feel comfortable about leaving
him/her.
Settling in visits and introductory sessions are key to a smooth transition and to ensure
good communication and information sharing.

Chatterbox Fees 2013
Chatterbox Ryde
Babies / Toddler Fees (Children aged 6 weeks to 3 years
Morning 8:00am – 12:30pm £ 19.00
Afternoon 1:30pm – 6:00pm £ 19.00
Full Day 8:00am – 6:00pm £ 38.00
Full Time (Mon – Fri) £165.00
Per Hour £ 4.50
Breakfast 8:00am Own provided
Cooked Lunch 12:00 noon £ 2.00
Tea 3.45pm £ 1.50
Pre-school Fees (Children aged 3 to 5 years
Morning 8:00am – 1:00pm £ 16.00
Afternoon 1:00pm – 6:00pm £ 16.00
Full Day 8:00am – 6:00pm £ 32.00
Full time With Funding (Mon – Fri) £ 96.00
Full time Without Funding (Mon – Fri) £135.00
Per Hour £ 3.50
Breakfast 8:00am Own provided
Cooked Lunch 12:00 noon £ 2.00
Tea 3:45pm £ 1.50
Standard Terms
• 15 hours free childcare is available for all 3-5 year olds (Government funded).
• All fees are payable in advance.
• We accept the majority of childcare vouchers (please ask if you have any questions).
• Please note child care vouchers can be used for children up to 15 years of age and for all
sessions and clubs provided by Chatterbox.
• Fees are payable if your child does not attend the nursery for any reason.
• One months notice in writing is required if you no longer require your place.
• To reserve a child’s space we require a £50.00 deposit, refundable in the first month of
attendance.
• Swapping of sessions will only be aloud in the event of an emergency and staff permitting.
• Chatterbox reserve the right to add or modify the terms and conditions subject to suitable
notice.