Baby Unit
Aged 0 – 1 Years
Your baby will flourish in our loving 
home-from-home environment that encourages exploration and investigation through play.
Our Baby Unit is designed with areas for messy play and eating (without the worry of making a mess when learning to feed ourselves); free play, allowing space for ‘growing and developing’ and a cosy area to allow quiet times and encourage ‘emotional well-being’.
Our separate baby changing room is designed to keep nappy changing times fun and hygienic whilst respecting the privacy of the child. A milk kitchen allows staff to prepare milk feeds and babies solid feeds in a clean and sterilised environment.
Below is a guide of what to expect when you first visit The Baby Unit. We are happy to incorporate any special requests you have for the care and development of your child:
The Environment:
- Homely with comfy chairs and cushions which enables the opportunity for your baby to snuggle in
- Equipment and resources that promote discovery as well as encourage development and sustain curiosity
- We offer many opportunities for your child to sleep including traditional cots, bean bags and comfy cushions
- Our Baby Unit has direct access to the garden and outdoor play
The Staff:
- Our staff are fully qualified, CRB checked and also highly trained within this age group
- Staff will spend time talking to all of the babies
- The staff to child ratio is one to three in the baby unit
- The staff in the baby unit genuinely enjoy their work and will show a real interest in every baby as an individual
The Routine
We do not have a specific routine within our baby unit. Your child will be encouraged to follow the same routine at Nursery as they do at home.
You will be asked to remove your shoes to keep the floor clean and hygienic before entering The Baby Unit.
Settling In
To help your child feel more secure about being left 
in the Nursery, your child’s key person will arrange a ‘settling-in period’ with you, a week or two before your child’s first proper day. This could be for a couple of hours, half a day, or a few short visits over a week, depending on your child’s needs. This experience prepares you for the first occasion when you leave your child at the Nursery, ensuring a smoother transition for you both!
On Arrival
When you drop off your child the Nursery team will be ready to give your baby a cuddle to ensure that they are feeling secure and safe on your departure.
Reassurance
You will be invited to call us during the day for an update about how your baby has settled in.
Going Home
When you collect your baby you will be given a daily sheet which tells you:
- How much your child has eaten and drunk
- What activities they have been doing and have enjoyed
- How many nappies they have used and their condition
The staff will be on hand to help you with your babies coat and other belongings.
What you should bring
- Nappies
- Nappy cream
- Comforter
- Expressed breast or formula milk. We follow Health Protection Agency guidelines on bottle feeding and we ask that you bring a sealed tub of milk which will need to be replaced monthly due to vitamin depletion
- Change of clothes for the time of year – including vest, top, trousers and socks
- Coat, hat and gloves
- Sun cream/ sun hats
- Any special creams that need administering
- Photographs of special people in their lives
Mealtimes
Mealtimes are a special time of day and a pleasant social occasion.
Our Food
Meals are freshly cooked on site and are healthy and well balanced. We include fresh fruit or vegetables at main meals and ensure no extra salt is added. We cater for individual needs and preferences. We will discuss your child’s dietary preferences and eating habits with you and any special dietary requirements or food allergies are displayed in the kitchen.
Our Philosophy on Feeding Babies
Babies come to us from birth and at that stage babies will still be on a diet of purely milk, so their mealtimes are dictated by their routine at home. We will feed them when they are hungry with their milk, which you provide. They will be held and cuddled while they are fed just like they would be at home.
Once the child is weaned we will feed them in either a high chair or floor chair. Their food will be freshly made and pureed. We will give you full details of what they have eaten and how much. Again we will stick to the routine they have at home.
Once the child gets more confident with food he or she will join the older babies, who sit up in high chairs, and they will all be fed together.
Children will be given cow’s milk once they are old enough to have it, usually at about a year.
Our staff take a full part in meal times and will chat with the children as they feed them.
Our children learn how to use cutlery as they get older and, through eating together, learn about taking fair shares and other necessary skills for eating together. No one is expected to rush, or to eat food they don’t like.
Making Arrangements to View and Registration
Due to the high demand for sessions within our Baby Unit we would recommend that you view the Nursery as soon as possible as we often have a waiting list.
To arrange a viewing please call 01704 842222.
Meet the Team
| Senior Practitioner: | Amy Cartwright - BTECH Level 3 |
| Senior Practitioner: | Clare Mitchell – NVQ Level 2, 3, & 4 |
| Floating member of staff: | Bekky May McIlwaine – NVQ Level 3 |