FAQ's
1. Do you open for Bank Holidays?
Our nurseries are open all year round apart from the statutory UK Bank Holidays.
2. How can Merry Poppets help me with the nursery fees?
Merry Poppets accepts child care vouchers from a variety of schemes, please contact the administration department for further information.
3. How often do you review your fees?
Our fees are reviewed each year through a structured process. We look at the expenditures of operating the nursery with staffing, training, utilities and food costs. If we feel that our operating costs have risen we will inevitably have to increase our fees. All parents will receive advanced notice of any fee increase. However, it has always been our aim to provide exceptional childcare at an affordable rate. Since opening, we continually strive, and are proud to remain the most cost-effective daycare nursery in the local area.
4. When does my child qualify for Free Early Education Entitlement?
Some children aged 2 years are entitled to free early year’s education, comprising of 15 hours per week term-time only. Parents do not contribute towards this minimum entitlement but will be charged for essentials any services or child care that is an addition to the free place. Please contact the administration office for details of who can assess your individual criteria.
All 3 and 4-year-olds become eligible for the free early education entitlement called the Nursery Education Funding (NEF) the term after their third birthday. Your child may be entitled to free nursery education and childcare for up to 30 hours per week. Please contact the administration office for further information.
5. Do you take the children out for trips?
Children may go on trips to the park, shops or other places as part of their educational development. These trips will help extend children’s learning and will be well planned and risk assessed, however, parental consent is always required and parents will always have the choice to decline. Parents will always be advised of these trips before they occur.
6. How do I know about my child’s daily routine?
We use an app called ‘Parentzone’ for parents to keep up to date with their childs day. The staff within the room will feedback information about your child’s day. This will include information about their sleep times, mealtimes, and nappy changes. The key person will also feedback information about activities and experiences that your child has been involved with over the day. If the key person is not there the deputy manager will be available to share that information with you.
7. How does Merry Poppets prepare my child for school?
We provide children with a variety of play experiences and activities that encourages them to make decisions and become independent learners. “Being School Ready” means that your child has a curiosity about the world and a desire to learn. Equipping children with the Personal, Social and Emotional skills allows them to progress in all areas of learning and development. By the time they graduate from Merry Poppets each child will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and personal attributes they need to develop positive, respectful relationships and make informed choices about their Physical health, wellbeing and empathise with others. Be effective lifelong learners by having key knowledge; by being able to apply skills independently; by becoming critical thinkers; by being able to move their learning forward.
8. How do you cater for children’s allergies?
When you complete the prospectus and pre-conditions books, there ae a number of questions about allergies under dietary information. If your child has an allergy, parents will be asked to complete an allergy questionnaire prior to their child starting nursery. Once a child starts nursery, our Practitioners will draw up an allergy health care plan with parents which will be reviewed regularly. All relevant information is passed onto the Nursery Cook advising of the special arrangements in place for meal times.
9. Who can I speak to if I have any questions regarding my childs time at Nursery?
It is always best to speak directly to the Roomleader or Deputy at your childs setting, however if they are otherwise engaged. Please feel free to contact Lisa Boniface, Paige Banfield or Jane Laycock who are the senior principles at Merry Poppets. Each have an excellent relationship with all Merry Poppets parents and children. Mobile numbers are readily available for parents and can be found at nursery or by contacting the administration office on 01462 850242 or 812470.
10. What should I provide for a typical day at nursery?
- Spare changes of clothes (including vests and baby grows and bibs for children under 2)
- Nappies
- Wipes
- Nappy Cream
- Comforters
- Hat (summer months)
- Suncream (summer months)
- All in one (winter months)
- Hats, scarf and gloves (winter months)
- Calpol or nurofen (unopened)
For any questions regarding baby milk- please contact the nursery directly.
11. What if someone else has to collect my child?
This is not a problem although can you please inform us beforehand. We have a password system set up in case it is someone that the nursery haven’t met before.
12. What is a key person?
A key person is a specific practitioner within your childs room that has direct contact and involvement with your childs development. The key person will decide alongside parent’s the best ways in which to support their learning and development based on the child's individual needs and current levels of development. The key person will build a relationship with the child allowing them to learn about their interests and how they learn best. Your childs key person will be your go to for any questions in regards to their development whilst at nursery.
