Baby Barn

Baby Barn 

Please find below information about our Baby Barn where we look after children from six months to two years, please contact us if any further information is required. 

We want our families to always feel welcome in our nursery and for it to feel like a second home to children. Somewhere everyone can feel comfortable, safe and secure. Please see our daily routine below and how we plan our activities for babies and toddlers. This routine is flexible to support home routines and meet all children's needs in our care.  

Our Baby Barn is set on the first floor of the nursery, this is an open planned room with a separate cosy sleep room. The room is set out to meet all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage and allows babies and toddlers to explore confidently and safely. There is access throughout the day to the outdoor environment and walks in the surrounding areas. 

Our Day

8.00am Nursery Opens, breakfast is offered till 8.30am and is included in the price of the session. When babies and children arrive they are greeted by a member of staff who will support the transition from carer into the nursery environment. A photo self registration card is used to help all babies and children have a sense of belonging with us.

8.30am our later morning session starts, babies and children are welcomed and settled as above.

8.30-10.00am Children's choices, the practitioners within Baby Barn set up the room with resources and sensory play to meet the ages and stages of the babies and children in their care. During this time there is also hello and welcome songs and singing.

10.00-10.30am Morning snack time, this is a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables with water or milk to drink. Children are sat all at the same height to encourage this social time. 

10.30-11.45am Garden time, babies and children are given the opportunity to explore the outdoor area, this also includes going for walks in the surrounding area. Baby Barn team set up learning and exploring opportunities within the garden area and go out in all seasons.

11.45-12.00 Singing and action songs

12.00-1.00pm Lunch time (also start and end to sessions). The seating we provide for meal and snack times means children are all sat at the same height, this encourages early social interactions. Staff support children with eating and encourage older children with feeding themselves. Please see our menu's for the food we offer

1.00-3.00pm Children's choices, as above, the practitioners within Baby Barn set up the room with resources and sensory play to meet the ages and stages of the babies and children in they're care. Most of Baby Barn babies and children sleep during this time also.

3.00-4.00pm Garden time as above

4.00-4.30pm Afternoon snack time, this is choice of fruit and vegetables as well as drinks of milk and water offered. We also offer crumpets, toasted muffins, pancakes, tea cakes, wraps, crisp bakes with a range of toppings, fillings and dips.

4.30-6pm Story time, Children's choices as above, babies and children finish sessions 4.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm & 6pm. Handovers are given from Baby Barn team with details of the day. 


Drinks
We have water for the children to drink during the day which is offered regularly. Children can bring their own named water bottle to have during the day. We try to encourage drinking as much as possible throughout the day.

Nappies
Nappies are changed throughout the day and checked regularly. This is documented in children's day books.

Nap time (if required) 
Children sleep in cots, they bring comforters if required. Practitioners support children with home sleeping routine. Regular sleep checks are carried out and documented. Nap time can also happen anytime of day to meet the children's needs/home routine. 

Key Persons & Planning

In our Baby Barn we have a Room Leader and 4 other Early Years Educators. Each person has a group of key children. Our team work very closely and know all the babies and children really well. Planning is carried out all together and is a shared thought process. This then means if we have staff holidays or sickness that they can look after each others key children and planning for these children is consistent. 
The key person is the main person who will care and record a child's progress. 
The key person will plan for your child, looking at starting points, observing, following interests and setting next steps/goals for them. These can been seen on your Tapestry account. This cycle of observing and planning to achieve will continue whilst your child is with us. Parents evenings are held throughout the year but are welcome at any point if you would like them.
Handovers and personal care will be carried out by the key person where possible. If you need anything please see your key person, they will always be happy to help as will all of our team.

Starting Nursery & Transitions

When your family starts with us we have an induction period. Before your baby/child is due to start sessions we welcome you in for a meet and greet session. During this session we show you around the nursery again and meet the team. A member of staff from the Baby Barn room will go back through the registration form to make sure all information is correct and up to date. We then have an 'all about me' form which is all about your baby/child and home routine. We like to know as much as possible to help us provide the best care possible for your family. You will also be given a welcome pack which includes information about the nursery, our day and what to bring each time.

We offer 3 settling in sessions before starting full sessions with us, these are usually around 2 hours long. They can be more or less depending on attachments and how comfortable you feel. We understand some children take longer to settle than others and we are here to support with this transition. Settling in sessions are flexible with timings to help work around home routines.
Once your baby/child is settled we start full sessions, these can be our shorter sessions/days if looking to build up to our longer days. If you are returning to work it is possibly best to start the settling in period 2 weeks before returning to work to ensure you and your family are settled well with us.

When the time comes for your child to transition to Fledglings Barn we follow the same process with having a meet and greet session and settling in sessions. Settling in sessions will happen when your child is already with us on their normal days. 
The transition to Fledglings happens between 18 months to 2 years of age. We have this flexibility in age so the transition can happen when a child is ready rather than based wholly on age. Transitions usually happen the begging of a term, January, April, September and this is usually several children together. 
When Baby Barn team think your child is ready they will discuss this with you first to ensure you are happy with this. This will then be confirmed in writing with the settling in sessions.

Medication

Our medication policy is included in our welcome pack, please keep this for reference.
We understand babies and children may need pain relief medication for teething reasons. This is a very strict policy and a child must be well within themselves to attend nursery. This is to stop the spread of infectious illness protecting our staff and other babies and children in our care.
If your baby/child has been prescribed medication by a medical professional they need to be taking this for 48 hours before returning to nursery in case of any reactions to this medication. 
Medication forms are required to be completed by main carers before they can be administered. These forms will also require signing at the end of the session for any administration of medication given.
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