OLDBURY CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 52 CHILDREN ACROSS OUR 5 ROOMS EACH DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SAFE, NURTURING AND EXCITING ENVIRONMENT FIT FOR THE AGE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INHABITANTS.

EXPLORERS 2

2.5 – 3 years

This is our second toddler room, aged from 2.5- 3 years. In the Explorers 2 room, we have a well-structured routine, to prepare these children for the transition from toddlers to pre-school. Again all learning areas are clearly defined and more boundaries are set, such as, a designated amount of children in each area, and using sand timers to give children 5-minute warnings until tidy-up time etc. We also have self-registration where children start off by recognising their picture, once they are confident doing this, we move onto recognising their name. Children have access to the snack bar, as well as the toilet area, as we understand children are still toilet training at this age. Explorers 2 spend some of their days doing adult initiated activities, with a good balance of fun, educational, and child-led activities too. Staff promote good manners, hygiene, diversity, equality and essential British values into the children’s daily routine.

INVENTORS

3 years +

The Inventors children are our Pre-School children aged from 3+. Our Inventors children have a jam-packed day full of educational activities, preparing them for school as well as child-led, fun and spontaneity. Inventors spend some of their days preparing for school by recognising their name, learning to form letters from their name or actual words, mark-making using malleable materials, recognising shapes, numbers and colours, learning phonics, letters and sounds, scientific experiments and much more. The Inventors room leads out on the garden, meaning children can have free-flow indoors and out. The Inventors group have a very strong and structured routine, they have registration time in the morning and afternoon in which they talk about their feelings, sing songs, have stories, discuss the weather, look at the date, talk about time, and other educational topics such as recognising colours and numbers etc. The children also have a wind-down time in the afternoon where they practise yoga. Again, staff instil good manners, hygiene, diversity, equality and essential British values into the children’s daily routine. This includes being open to others religions and beliefs, celebrating cultures, and embracing our differences. The room is arranged in an orderly fashion, where all areas are clearly defined, children are encouraged to share, take-turns, tidy-away their toys once they have finished with them, and adhere to the boundaries set in the Inventors group. When the Inventors children are ready to leave for school, we have a sound transition process in place to help them settle into their new setting.

For any further information on our fees and charges please contact accountso@5stardaynursery.co.uk

Latest Nursery News

Essential information for parents

We know and understand that leaving your child with anyone is a big step and can be a stressful time for both children and families.  We want to make sure that everything we do helps you and your child to settle, feel less anxious and most of all enjoy the experience they will have with us at 5 Star.  We pride ourselves on offering a high quality and unique service to children where your involvement as parents is actively encouraged and highly valued.  We believe that the relationship we have with our families is critical to giving children the best possible start in life.  Our staff are friendly and approachable and always on hand to answer your queries, address any concerns or to hear about your child’s experience outside of the nursery. 

Our nursery rooms are bright, airy and child-friendly with appropriate furnishing and activities.  The nursery consists of –

Five rooms:

Discoverers- 0-1 years 

Pre- explorers- 1-2 years

Explorers One- 2-2.5 years

Explorers Two- 2.5-3 Years

Inventors- 3+

5 rooms where children can take part in age-appropriate activities that meet their individual needs and abilities. Moreover, we believe that children should be able to interact with other children across age ranges and we provide many opportunities to do this throughout the day both indoors and outdoors, or at meal and snack times for example.

5 Star Day Nursery strongly believes in children being safe at all times

We have implemented effective systems and practices to enable a safe and secure environment for all children, staff, parents/carers and visitors as follows:

• We have an access control door system so that all staff are fully aware of who is coming in and leaving the nursery
• We will challenge and question unauthorised and unrecognised individuals in and around our premises
• All parents/carers must provide the nursery with a password and inform the staff of who will be dropping off and/or collecting their child each day. If someone other than the child’s parent/carer is collecting then they must also provide the password given to us by the parent and photographic identification 
• Parents are asked not to admit an unauthorised person(s) into the setting at any time
• We recruit staff with care and attention. Every member of staff must undergo a clearance with Ofsted and a criminal record bureau check
• Settings are secured with fences, fully secured gates, doors and locks internally and externally.
• Our toys and equipment are age-appropriate and of the highest quality; they are risk assessed as per our Health and Safety Policy on a regular basis
• All necessary areas are covered by CCTV giving parents peace of mind that their child is in a safe and secure environment   

Our monthly newsletters give parents useful information and updates along with a calendar for the coming month highlighting our activities and special events.  Our Facebook page is updated three to four times a week with reminders, event invitations and useful articles and links.

Tax Free Childcare

Parents can pay fees through a Tax Free Childcare account if they are eligible. For every £8 you pay in, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year, which is up to £500 every three months. Parents can check online to see what help with childcare they are eligible for at

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare

Early Learning for Two’s

5 Star Day Nursery offers ELT (Early Learning for Two’s) government funding for eligible 2-year olds. This is 15 hours free high-quality early years provision with the added benefit of Family and Home Learning Support. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200298/early_years_and_childcare/1790/free_early_educationchildcare_places_for_two-year-olds

Universal funded places for three and four-year-olds – 15 hours a week

This free entitlement for all 3- and 4-year olds is at the heart of the Government’s (and our) vision – for all children to have access to high quality early years provision in order to help them reach their full potential. It offers free provision universally, from the term following a child’s third birthday up until they reach compulsory school age.

AVAILABLE SESSIONS

As some of you may know, last year we reviewed the sessions offered at our 5 Star Day Nurseries, as of 1^st September 2017 the following changes were applied;

Funded Only Sessions (15 hours per week, term time only):

These are the only options for children who do just funded hours

15 hours entitlement:

1. 8:00am – 1:00pm x 3 (15 hours)
2. 1:00pm – 6:00pm x 3 (15 hours)
3. 8:00am – 1:00pm x 1 & 1:00pm – 6:00pm x 2 (15 hours)
4. 8:00am – 1:00pm x 2 & 1:00pm – 6:00pm x 1 (15 hours)
5. 8:00am – 6:00pm x 1 & 8:00am – 1:00pm x 1 (15 Hours)
6. 8:00am – 6:00pm x 1 & 1:00pm – 6:00pm x 1 (15 Hours)   

30 HOUR ENTITLEMENT

From 1^st September 2017 we began accepting children eligible for 30 hours free childcare.

We offer this to eligible full time children or children who want to do more than the 30 hours by simply deducting the equivalent of 30 hours from the total cost, leaving parents / carers the remaining balance.

For those entitled to 30 hours who want to do just 30 hours, we offer this as three full days only;

30 hours only offer:

1. 8:00am – 6:00pm x 3 (30 hours)

WANT TO DO MORE THAN JUST YOUR FUNDED HOURS?

If your child is entitled to either 15 or 30 hours funding and you want them to attend nursery for more than just the funded hours, you can chose which ever sessions you want and have the entitled funding hours deducted. For example, if you are entitled to 30 hours and want your child to do 4 full days (40 hours) we will deduct the equivalent of 30 hours and you will pay the balance (the equivalent of 10 hours).

To find out the cost implications of session options, please contact Kelly Spencer – Finance Manager at Head Office; 0121 448 0830 email: accountso@5stardaynursery.co.uk

15 Extended Hours (total 30 hours of funding for eligible children)

A further 15 hours is offered to working families for 3- and 4 year olds. You will need to check if you are eligible, but parents can usually get 30 hours childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are in work and each are earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week and earn less than £100,000 per annum. Eligibility can be checked at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

For further information please refer to the HMRC website;

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

Parents Guide to EYFS

Ofsted

OfSTED is the ‘Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills’. They regulate and inspect to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages.

Ofsted inspect all childcare settings to ensure that they deliver effective support for children through the EYFS. Following an inspection of a setting, the nursery receives a full report documenting the inspector’s findings.

Link to latest Ofsted report here https://files.api.beta.ofsted.gov.uk/EY482368__2.PDF

5 Star

If you’d like more information on our childcare philosophy and practice, our standards, and how we do things, then please call in and have a chat with the 5Star team, who’ll be delighted to show you around.

oldbury@5stardaynursery.co.uk