Busy Bees

 

 

Would my child be eligible for a funded place?

Funding is available for all 3 and 4 year olds, commencing the term after their 3rd birthday. Funded children receive 15 hours of free childcare a week.  Please refer to the information under the 'Parent Info' tab if you would like to find out if you child is eligible.  Alternatively, you can call us for confirmation.

Funded hours can be taken between 9am and 3pm term time only.

 

What is the age range of children attending?

The preschool sessions are for children aged 2-5 years.  Our breakfast club, afterschool club and holiday club offer sessions for children aged from 2-11 years.

 

How many spaces are available for children?

We are registered with Ofsted to care for 24 children at any one time.

 

How do I register my child at Preschool?

Initially, you can telephone, email or call in for a welcome pack and registration form and we would also encourage you to come for a visit with your child beforehand.  Our Deputy Manager, Bev Hughes will show you around and talk to you about what we have to offer.  Spaces at Busy Bees fill very quickly, especially after Christmas and Bev will be able to tell you what we have available.  Your space will be guaranteed once we have received a completed registration form and the non-refundable deposit (not payable if your child is claiming their 15 hours free childcare)

 

How fo I register my child for Breakfast Club and/or After School Club?

As with the Preschool, you can email, call in or telephone to talk about your requirements.  Spaces at After School Club in particular fill up very fast but we will try our best to accommodate your needs.  Your child's space will be guaranteed once we receive a completed application form.  

 

Do you accept children in nappies?

Yes.  Please do not worry if your child is still in nappies when they begin sessions with us.  When your child is ready, we will offer help and support with your child's toilet training needs.  If your child is still in nappies,  we ask that you provide plenty of nappies, wipes and nappy sacks and plenty of spare clothes when you begin toilet training,.

 

What should my child wear to Preschool?

Please be aware that your child will be participating in activities involving paint and glue and therefore we advise parents to send your children in old clothes.  Our basic  uniform is available but not compulsory. Please speak to Jodie for details.

In cold weather please provide a warm coat, preferably waterproof as well as a hat and gloves. The garden can get very muddy so we suggest you send your child with wellies.

During the warmer weather, children must be provided with a hat and suncream in order for them to enjoy outdoor play.

 

I will not be dropping my child off or collecting them as they will be with a childminder.  How can I communicate with you about my child?

We have had many children with us who are dropped off and/or collected by a childminder so we see the parents/carers infrequently.  Communication between the setting and the parents/carers is still just as important, whether you are collecting your child or not.  If your child will be collected by a childminder, you will have a communication diary which will be filled in at the end of every session.  This will be passed to your childminder and is an opportunity for you to read about what activities your child has taken part in, what they have achieved or particularly enjoyed and what they have eaten for snack.  We encourage you to complete the communication diary too so we can build up a two way flow of information between us.   

 

How do I know if my child is making progress?

Each child is allocated a key person who will be responsible for getting to know you and your child.  They will observe your child in play and plan activities for them to extend their learning and development.  Your child's key person will be available for you to communicate with when you drop your child off and collect at the end of a session.  The key person will keep you fully informed of your child's progress.  Each child will have a Learning Journey which is a record of their time with us - this will include photos, drawings, observations and comments.  We would like you to contribute to your child's Learning Journey too so we get a complete picture of the child both at the setting and at home.  The Learning Journey acts as a record of your child's progress and you are able to see this at any time.

 

 

 My child requires medication, is this a problem?

Please speak to us about your child's requirements.  We are able to administer medication in accordance with our policy.  We ask you to complete a form detailing the medication, dosage, times etc and sign to give your consent for us to administer.  We are not able to give your child any medications not prescribed by a Doctor or Health Professional and therefore we will not give your child Nurofen or Calpol.

 

Can I come and look around before making the decision to send my child to Busy Bees?

Yes, please do.  Busy Bees actively encourage you to come and see what we have to offer your child before making the important decision on whether to register them with us.  Coming for a visit will ensure you feel comfortable with the setting and will help you choose the right environment for you and your child.

 

I am worried about how my child will settle, will it be a problem?

All children are different and therefore take different times to settle into the preschool environment.  We will build up a relationship with you and your child beforehand and would like you to take the opportunity to visit us so your child is familiar with the setting.  We offer a free settling in session initially and this is an opportunity for you and your child to stay and play for a whole session if you feel your child needs it.  Your child's key person will liaise closely with you when your child starts and will be a source of support and reassurance.  We recognise that leaving your child for the first time can be difficult.  Please speak to us if you need to - we are here for you as well as your child.

 

I am interested in becoming more involved in Busy Bees - how do I do this?

Busy Bees is parent committee run.  We have five parent Directors who have overall responsibility for the running of Busy Bees.  If you would be interested in joining the committee, please speak to a member of staff.  We can take your details and ask a Director to contact you with more information about being a Committee member.  Additionally, we always require parental help with many aspects of Busy Bees.  For example, we operate a Parent Rota whereby parents come into the setting as volunteers and help during the session by reading stories, supervising craft activities, engaging in outdoor play etc.  Help from parents is also required on Sports Day, for our Christmas Production, Forest School sessions, PE and many other events and activities throughout the year.  We are always very appreciative of any help parents are able to offer, however small it may seem.  Please speak to a member of staff if you are interested in becoming more involved.

 

Do you follow a curriculum at Busy Bees?

At Busy Bees we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and you can find more information under the 'Parent Info' tab. 

 

 

 What are your staff to children ratios?

The number of staff we require at Busy Bees depends on the number of children we have in and their ages.  For two year olds, we have one member of staff per four two year olds.  For children under eight, we have one member of staff for every eight children.

 

Do you provide any extra activities for the older children at Preschool to prepare them for School?

When children are in their final year before starting school, they join our Butterfly Group.  This group is just for children who are due to start school in the September and they take part in more structured activities including Gardening Club, PE and daily phonics sessions.  More information on this can be found under the 'Parent Info' tab.

 

My child attends the Nursery at LPS, can they come to Busy Bees as well?

Yes.  We work in conjunction with LPS to offer flexible childcare options.  We are able to offer wrap around care which enables your child to attend both settings if your wish.  If your child attends mornings at Nursery, we can collect them at 11:45am and they can spend an afternoon at Busy Bees.  Similarly, if your child attends afternoons at Nursery, they can spend the morning at Busy Bees and we will take them down to Nusery at 12:15pm.  Please discuss your requirements with us.  Children who attend both settings will still be part of our Butterfly Group which is explained above.

 

How do I pay for my child's sessions at Busy Bees?

Children attending Preschool sessions: Invoices are issued at the beginning fo each half term. For instance, for Spring Term 2013, invoices will be issued during w/c 7th January and will cover the whole of the half term.  Payments must be made via BACS within 7 days.

 

Breakfast Club/After School Club sessions: Invoices are raised at the end of each month.  For example, if you child attends during January, we will invoice you for the sessions taken at the end of January.  Payments must be made within 7 days vai BACS.

 

What are your staffing arrangements?  

This differs according to the ages of the children.  For children aged 2, the requirement is that there is one adult to every 4 children.  For 3 and 4 years olds, the requirement is for 1 adult to every 8 children.  

For the Breakfast Club, After School Club and Holiday Club, the requirement is that for every 8 children aged under 8, there must be one adult.  We always have at least 2 members of staff working and regularly have 3 should the number of children require this.  

At all times at Busy Bees, these ratios are met.  

 

My child is feeling under the weather - will they still be OK to come?

The setting is a fun, stimulating environment for children who are fit and healthy.  However, if your child is unwell please think carefully before bringing him/her to Busy Bees.
No child with a temperature or an infectious disease should be at Busy Bees.  Similarly, we believe that if your child has had to have Calpol or Nurofen for Children prior to the session then they are probably not well enough to attend.

A child with vomiting or diarrohea must be kept at home for 48 hours after the symptoms have ceased.  We will refuse admission if 48 hours have not ceased as we have an obligation to protect children and staff at the setting and do our best to ensure infections are not passed on.  We thank you for your cooperation with this.