Tawara Tots Childcare
We are a private day nursery offering full and part time places for children aged two months to five years. We are located in purpose-built accommodation. Our facilities enable us to provide high-quality childcare and early years education for children. We offer a safe, fun and nurturing environment where children can learn and grow.
We have eight spacious playrooms and a very large, secure garden. Outdoor play is a key part of daily life here and activities are structured to encourage a free flow of movement between the indoor and outside areas. Our secure garden is very well equipped and has many features the children love. It has an area of 600 square metres with extensive safety surfacing which provides an all-weather playground. We are fortunate to be located next to Solstice Woodland Park. This has its own woodland walk and is used for nature trails and pushchair outings. Older children participate in forest activities such as den building, climbing and obstacle courses.
Staff
We consider our staff to be our most valuable asset and they make a real difference to the service we provide. We employ over 40 staff who have been carefully selected to ensure your child receives the highest quality care and education. Our staff have a wealth of childcare experience and share a love of working with children. We work with a child ratio of one member of staff to three children. All our staff are qualified in childcare and education to a minimum of level three and our managers hold level five qualifications.
We understand that continuity of care is important for children. We value our staff and are committed to promoting staff loyalty. As a result our staff turnover is very low and many staff have been with us since the nursery opened in 2006. We invest in staff training and are currently sponsoring members of the team to pursue higher education goals. Paediatric first aid, safeguarding and basic food hygiene qualifications are mandatory for all staff and are regularly updated.
Catering
Eating healthily is extremely important in the development of young children. We are lucky to have two dedicated nursery cooks who ensure the children eat delicious, healthy and nutritious meals every day. All meals are cooked on site using produce from local suppliers. We operate a strict no nut policy and minimise the use of foods containing sugar, fat and additives. We comply with all food safety and hygiene regulations.
We do our very best to protect children who suffer from food allergies. At registration we obtain information about any special dietary requirements, including food allergies and intolerances. Our kitchen staff monitor and manage a wide range of dietary needs. They keep daily records of children attending the nursery and their specific dietary requirements. All our staff are trained to recognise and deal with sudden or severe allergic reactions.
Curriculum
We believe that children learn and achieve best through play. We therefore follow a play-based curriculum that supports children from birth to five years of age. Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through seven approved areas of learning and development:
communication and language
physical development
personal, social and emotional development
literacy
mathematics
understanding the world
expressive arts and design
Our skilled staff use these learning areas to plan challenging and enjoyable activities to meet the individual development needs and interests of your child. This curriculum provides a complete development plan. It ensures our children are well prepared for school having benefited from a range of well-directed learning opportunities that involve both practical and educational activities.
Key Person
We are very proud of our embedded key person approach. Each child is assigned a key person to support their needs and development whilst attending Tawara Tots Childcare. The key person is a named member of our qualified staff who has responsibility for working with you and ensuring care is tailored to meet the individual needs of your child. The key person will spend time observing your child with a view to understanding their interests and how to develop their learning. We have found that the presence of a key person helps the child to feel emotionally secure when away from home and provides a reassuring point of contact for parents. It also ensures every child in the nursery is given the appropriate level of attention and care.
The key person will be your main point of contact with the nursery and will also be responsible for exchanging information with you. They will be observing and monitoring your child’s development whilst in the nursery. You will get verbal updates most days and regular written summaries about how well your child is progressing. They will also keep an online learning journal of your child’s learning and development through their early education. It will contain observations, annotated photographs, snapshots of significant achievements, quotes from your child and their artwork. Parents can view and comment on these observations and contribute their own stories.
Induction Process
At Tawara Tots Childcare we understand that the transition from home to the world of the nursery can be a stressful and emotionally overwhelming time for children and parents. It is a significant change that needs to be handled with care and sensitivity. For that reason, we follow a structured and considered induction process to ensure you and your child experience a happy, smooth and positive transition into the routines of the nursery.
Wherever possible we arrange for your key person to visit you at home prior to your child starting nursery. This provides the opportunity to meet your child in their home environment where they will feel more relaxed. It also gives you an opportunity to discuss your child’s likes and dislikes and any preferred routines. Home visits start the process of sharing information and helps to develop trust and a strong relationship between families and practitioners.
The home visit is followed by three induction sessions at the nursery. These usually last for two hours. You are invited to stay with your child at the first session as this will help them to get to know their new surroundings whilst still having you nearby. After the first session you are welcome to wait in reception or come into the office to watch your child on our CCTV system. Together we will build your child’s confidence so you are able to leave them for longer periods. Young children are very adaptable and most settle down very quickly as they begin to make friends and enjoy their new surroundings.
Choosing a nursery can be one of the hardest decisions a parent has to make. Demand for good quality childcare places far exceeds supply as the number of working parents continues to rise. Our nursery has achieved excellent inspection ratings as well as awards from the local education authority for high quality practice. We are open all year round from 6.30 am until 7.30 pm Monday to Friday, and from 6.30 am until 2.00 pm on Saturdays. We provide a full range of meals, snacks and drinks for your child during their time with us. Healthy snacks and milk are also provided mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Fresh water is always available. Fees include the set meals listed:
Session	Times	Includes	
Full Day	08:00 to 18:00	Breakfast, lunch, tea	
Sunrise Club	06:30 to 08:00	Breakfast	
Morning	08:00 to 13:00	Breakfast, lunch	
Afternoon	13:00 to 18:00	Lunch, tea	
Twilight Club	18:00 to 19:30	Tea	
Saturday	08:00 to 14:00	Breakfast, lunch	
We are happy to discuss your requirements and for potential clients to visit our nursery. Our staff will help you and your child become familiar with the nursery environment and ensure you are happy and confident with the high-quality care we offer. Our aim is to provide the best outcomes for children and families that we can. Please visit our website for contact information.