Can I Ask?

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to make an appointment to look around?

No, we welcome visitors both existing and prospective parents – so you are welcome to visit us at anytime. We do request you avoid between 12pm and 2pm when it is our busy lunch time.

What are the ratios of adult to children?          

The current Ofsted recommended ratio in the baby rooms (under 2’s) is 1:3, the toddler rooms (2-3 years) 1:4 and the pre-school rooms is 1:8 or 1:13 with an Early Years Teacher and our out of school clubs are on 1:12. However, at the settings we often operate with a higher ratio of adults to children which enables us to maintain our reputation of providing high quality early years provision.

What qualifications do your nursery staff hold?

Our staff hold various childcare qualifications such as NNEB, Level 3 Childcare and Education, Level 2 or 3 in Children’s Learning & Development and in Playwork,  BTEC in Nursery Nursing, First Aid, Child Protection, Designated Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Additional Educational Needs, Management training, Early Years degrees and graduate level Early Years Teacher qualifications. Over 95% of our staff have achieved a recognised early years qualification (50 % is the norm within children’s nurseries).

How do I register my child for a place at the Nursery?

Please complete and return the Registration Form & Parental Agreement which can be downloaded from your sites own page.

Do you have a settling in period?

Yes we have a comprehensive settling in process to ensure your child is fully relaxed and happy in their new environment.  Our nursery registration fee of £50 (non refundable unless a space cannot be found) entitles you to a programme of up to 4 visits as a minimum, and we will work with you if you feel more is needed. The club registration fee of £40 entitles you to one settling visit.

My child is 3, when are they entitled to receive the Nursery Education Funding or Early Years Free Entitlement?

All 3 and 4 year old children are eligible for the 15 hours of Nursery Education Funding (NEF), sometimes known as Nursery Education Grant (NEG) or Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE), the school term after their 3rd birthday. They can claim up to 570 hours per academic year (38 weeks) or if attending all year round can have it spread over 51 weeks.  Please speak to the Nursery Manager for further information.

Does my 2 year old qualify for any funding?

From September 2014 around 40% of 2 year olds become eligible for 15 hours funded education, with those from most deprived areas receiving places first.  There is information on your local authority’s website about eligibility in your area. To find out more from the Department of Education click here.

Do you accept childcare vouchers?

Yes we accept childcare vouchers from many providers such as KiddiVouchers, Fideliti, Edenred, Computershare, Busy Bees, Care-4 and Sodexho PASS plus many others. If your employer uses a different provider, your Nursery Manager will be able to make the necessary arrangements.

Do you open for Bank Holidays and holidays?

Our nurseries are open 51 weeks a year, during which time full fees are payable. On Bank Holidays and over the Christmas period we are closed.

How often do you review your fees?

Our fees are reviewed each July through a structured process to look at the costs of operating the nursery. If we feel that the operating costs have risen we will then increase the fees accordingly. You will receive notice during July-August of the fee increase, with the first month of the increase being September.

Do you take the children out for trips?

Yes on occasion your child may go on trips to the park, museums or other places of interest. These trips will help extend your child’s learning and are well planned in advance. You will always be advised of these trips before they occur.

 How do I know about my child’s daily routine?

At the end of the day, your child’s key person will feed back information about your child’s day. For the babies and younger children, this will include information about their sleep times, mealtimes and nappy changes. The key person will also feed back information about activities and experiences that your child has been involved with over the day. If the key person is not there, the backup key person or another nominated staff member will be available to share that information with you.

My child has an allergy. How can you ensure they do not become exposed?

When you register you will be asked for general information and then during your settling visits we ask you to complete a permissions form where there are a number of questions about allergies. If your child has an allergy, you will be asked to complete these allergy questions that will highlight the allergen, the symptoms if they are exposed and treatment required. We then also have a procedure where we complete a number of forms for the kitchen and room staff. All staff who are working with your child on any day will be made aware of the allergy. All staff have paediatric first aid training and where an EpiPen is required staff undergo additional training if required. Through our procedures, we feel that the risk of exposure to the allergen will be unlikely.

Who can I speak to if I have any questions regarding my child’s care and I don’t want to talk to the Nursery Manager?

You can talk to Jo Lynton our Group Management Executive at Head Office on 01527 452430 or email her on jo@bright-kids.co.uk and she will be happy to deal with your enquiry. Alternatively you can contact our Chief Executive, Tricia Wellings on tricia@bright-kids.co.uk.

How do I make a complaint?

It’s often best to talk to us first if you have a problem. However we do have a Complaints Policy that outlines the steps you need to take to make a formal complaint. You will also find details of Ofsted’s complaints number on display in all the nurseries.

What does the nursery do about medications?

We have strict policies and procedures about the types of medicines we are allowed to administer and our Parent Guidance is available to download. Our full Medications Policy is also online or can be viewed in the nursery. You may also download a Medication Form here to complete before you come to nursery.

What happens if there is a fire?

Thankfully not something that happens often but in the event of a fire we follow our fire evacuation procedures which we practice several times a year. We keep records of these and they are inspected by the Fire Officer at regular intervals. We are able to empty all of our buildings in under 2 minutes and have sourced other local buildings to take care of the children whilst we contact all parent to come and collect in the event of a real emergency.

How do I know my child will be kept safe?

Safeguarding is of paramount importance to us and an aspect that is highly regulated by Ofsted and the local authorities. All staff undergo safeguarding training every year and we have a Designated Safeguarding Person at every setting who audits all of our safeguarding procedures. These procedures include everything from recruiting staff, greeting visitors at the door, ensuring passwords are in use to making sure the equipment is safe to use. All of us have responsibilities in this area and the best form of safeguarding for children is combined vigilance at all times. If you have any concerns or issues then please speak with the Nursery Manager in the first instance.