How long has Kids at Heart been established?
Kids at Heart was established by Julie Shaw in 1994 to provide high quality childcare in a comfortable, safe and stimulating environment. Nidderdale Nursery has been operating since 1994, although the current nursery was purpose-built in 2004. The School House Nursery in Pannal has been operating since 1995 and Woodlands Kids’ Club opened in the same year too.
Are you Ofsted registered and what does this mean?
All our settings are registered separately as required by Ofsted. The purpose of the Ofsted inspection is to identify strengths and weaknesses so that we, as providers, can improve the quality of educational provision and help children achieve the Early Learning Goals for children’s learning on entering compulsory education. It is also to assure parents and the public that the nursery education funded by the Government is of an acceptable quality. Currently this allows 15/30 hours of funded entitlement (where eligible) for children the term after their 3rd birthday. This entitlement is for term time only (we do not currently offer a stretched entitlement). For more information see our
Ofsted page.
What times do sessions run?
Nidderdale Children’s Day Nursery is open from 7am to 6.30 pm with sessions running up to, or from, 1pm. The School House Nursery is open from 8am to 6pm with sessions running up to, or from, 1pm.
Is the nursery open throughout the year?
We are open 51 weeks of the year. We are closed for the week between Christmas and New Year, Public Holidays and weekends.
Can I book extra sessions if I need more care?
Yes, we will always do our best to provide extra sessions, subject to availability.
How many children and carers are in each room?
Each room is different and we follow Ofsted guidelines. The numbers of children are determined by the amount and age of children along with the available floor space.
Our minimum staff:child ratios requirements are as follows:
0-2 years 1:3
2-3 years 1:4
3-5 years 1:8
Where there are children with additional needs, staff to child ratios will be increased to appropriately meet the particular needs of these children. In calculating ratios of staff to children, students on placement will not be counted although they may be involved as occasional helpers within the group as part of their training.
Will my child have the same carers each session?
Each room has a team of carers working together under a Room Head. The teams are carefully put together to ensure a diverse range of qualifications, experience and personalities. Key Persons within the team are appropriately matched to the children with regard to days they both attend.
How are staff selected, screened and trained?
Rigorous interviewing and robust safeguarding checks made through the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) are carried out for each new member of staff. All staff are qualified or working towards a childcare qualification as well as on-going internal and external short courses. All staff work under the guidelines of written policies and procedures to ensure consistency, high quality and safety standards. Policies and Procedure manuals are available for inspection in reception at any time.
Are all staff qualified and/or experienced?
All staff are qualified, or working towards a qualification, in childcare. Staff are also trained in Child Protection, Paediatric First Aid and Basic Food Hygiene as a minimum. We strongly encourage and support all staff training and have staff trained from NVQ/Diploma level 2 in Early Years Childcare and Education, up to post graduate Early Years Professional status.
Do you update me on my child's progress?
Observations and assessments are carried out on your child on a regular basis to ensure that they are working towards, meeting or exceeding the Early Learning Goals. Each stage of your child’s development is recorded and used to plan for their next steps. Photographs and observations are recorded on Tapestry (which is an online learning journal) by your child’s Key Person. This helps nurseries and parents record, track and celebrate children’s progress in their Early Years education. Summative assessments will be available for you to pass on to school. This link with the school also helps to effect a smooth transition for your child from Pre-school.
How often do the children go outside?
Every day – whenever possible. We believe strongly in a healthy lifestyle which includes fresh air and exercise, and that includes babies through to pre-schoolers. We ask you to bring wellies, warm waterproof coats, hats and scarves – although we also have a selection of waterproofs, wellies and sunhats available. Curiosity is a key disposition for learning that we want to foster in young children. Within our secure garden environment, curious children, from a very early age, explore the world around them through touching, smelling, listening and looking. Through asking questions and trying things out, children make sense their world and develop their skills as independent learners. We aim to provide them with opportunities to find out about themselves, significant people in their lives, their immediate environment and the natural and man-made world.
What's included in the fees?
Nidderdale and The School House fees include Nursery care, 2-course freshly prepared hot lunch and tea, plus snacks and drinks. Kids’ Clubs fees include snacks and drinks.
What else do I need to bring?
Spare clothes, wellies, warm coat and sunhat. You will also need to provide nappies and formula milk if appropriate. For Kids’ Clubs please provide suncream, if required.
Do the children come in for an introductory session before they start?
The Room Head or Nursery Manager will contact you to arrange introductory sessions before your child’s start date. This will give you and your child the opportunity to come into the nursery a few times for an hour or two to familiarise yourselves with the carers and the new environment and it will also allow you to sit down with your child’s Key Person to go through the Care Plan and share information about your child’s developmental stage, routine, interestes, personality, likes, dislikes and so on.
What happens if my child needs to sleep during the day?
Each room has sleeping arrangements and we will follow your routine. The babies and younger children have sleeping areas within their rooms, the older children join the toddlers in their quiet room for a chance to recharge their batteries.
What's the menu like?
The menus are carefully drawn up to ensure nutritious, well balanced meals which the children will enjoy. The menus are seasonal to ensure as much fresh produce as possible. Babies’ meals are adapted from the main menu and individual diets are catered for wherever possible. We are committed to helping to combat tooth decay in all children and endeavour to avoid hidden sugars in food and drinks where possible. Although we have delicious home cooked desserts as a treat, there is always yoghurt and fruit healthy options available.
Help with fees?
As a parent starting nursery, you may or may not be aware that you might be entitled to help with nursery fees. For more information, contact Childcare Choices or Family Information Services. Also your employer may use a tax free voucher scheme which is deducted from your monthly salary. You may be entitled to access help with childcare costs through Employer Supported Childcare, Childcare Vouchers, Tax Free Credits or Universal Credit. Tax Free Childcare Vouchers replaced the existing Employer Scheme and is open to all qualifying parents, regardless of Employer involvement, visit Childcare Choices for more information. We also offer 10% sibling discount when 3 full days or more are booked (this does not apply when your child gets a funded entitlement) We also accept 2 year old funded entitlement and offer up to 30 hours funded extended entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds, (providing the criteria is met and a nursery space is available).
How do I know what my child has been doing?
Children who attend Stage 1, 2 ,3 and 4 will be given a written daily report sheet detailing sleep, feed times and nappy changes (where applicable) verbal communication will be given for Stage 5 children and Kids’ Club. Staff from your child’s room will be available at the beginning and end of each session to tell you about your child’s day. Each child will have their own unique online learning journal within the ‘Tapestry’ software package that we use, allowing us to capture and share your child’s experiences as well as monitor development and learning. Monthly newsletters are sent out by email giving details of what’s happening in nursery and what’s coming up. These are also available to collect from nursery. In our Nurseries, Parents’ Evening is held annually to enable you to discuss your child’s progress with their Room Head or Key Person. However, senior staff are available on a daily basis, or an appointment can be made for a more comprehensive discussion. We believe that an open access policy is the best way of encouraging participation with parents. Parents are welcome to view the policies and procedures file at any time. They are also welcome to see the records kept on their child, but as this would require withdrawing a member of staff from their usual duties, arrangements should be made in advance to ensure staff availability. We welcome the opportunity to share your child’s learning with you.