Care, Learning and Play

We at Next Steps aim to ensure that your child is encouraged to reach their full potential. To assist us to do this, we work in line with the Every Child Matters (Early Years Foundation Stage).

Staff will: -

• Listen observe support, challenge and participate in a range of ways to develop and extend thinking
• Engage in their interests.
• Support children to reach achievable targets.
• Celebrate children's success and offer praise for their achievement.
• Encourage all children to develop their own learning.
• Support and challenge them to build on what they already know.
• Encourage to make their own choices to pursue their interests further and to achieve more.
• Encourage children to talk about what they are doing as they work through each stage of the creative process.
• Help children to interact and share with each other.
• Assist the children to choose and use resources.
• Talk and listen to the children.
• Provide an interesting and stimulating range of activities, allowing for both play and relaxation.
• Encourage children to use appropriate language.
• Introduce new language.
• Share knowledge.
• Provide support but encourage the child to take risks and be independent.

Snacks/Lunch

Next steps Nursery provide children with adequate and nutritious snacks and drinks, we have a good understanding of children's dietary and religious requirements and meet these appropriately. Fresh drinking water is available to children i.e water fountain.

Children will assist in preparing and clearing away at snack times.

Click for weekly lunch menu

Sick Child Policy

If your child becomes ill while attending our setting they will be comforted and reassured while yourselves (or designated emergency contacts) are contacted. All incidents will be shared with yourself.

If a child is unwell due to:-

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Influenza
• Sticky eye

or anything that is thought to be contagious, you will be advised not to bring your child to the setting until the infection clears (incubation periods will vary but at least 48 hours is recommended).

We ask that you inform us of your child being ill at the earliest possible convenience. If, after an absence of three weeks, you have not communicated with the setting, we will take it that you no longer require your child's place.

Medicines

Medicines will not be administered unless they have been prescribed for that child by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist. Consent forms and a care plan have to be completed by yourselves, notifying the manager of the details. All the forms are kept in a locked medicine cupboard, located in the play room.

Accidents

In the event of a minor incident, first aid will be given on the premises and all details will be recorded in the incident book. The incident will be discussed with yourselves verbally and by letter on the day of the incident, a signature will be required of information discussed with you.

In the event of a severe accident, the first aider will treat incident until medical assistance arrives, you will have been contacted of the accident by another member of the team advising of details and were to meet ourselves. Any child hospitalised all information will be shared with to Ofsted and H&S Executives.

• An Emergency kit is taken on the outing and also a credited mobile phone.

• Routes will be planned which staff will follow unless an unknown hazard has arisen. In this case, the senior staff member will phone the setting and relate any changes.

• If during the outing a child should get lost then the senior staff member will make a search of the immediate area. All other staff will stay with the remaining children and provide comfort where necessary. If the child is not found then the senior staff member will enlist the help of passers by to widen the search. If the child is still not found then the senior staff member will phone the Police and the setting. The senior staff member will then follow the Police instructions.

• The setting will send out any available support and the child's Parent/Carer will be contacted.