do re mi Day Nursery Ltd Company Number 08616950 1 © ♫do re mi Day Nursery Ltd 2016
♫do re mi, an inspiring place to be!
Unit 5 City West Business Park St. John’s Road
Meadowfield Industrial Estate Durham, DH7 8ER
0191 447 0907
www.doremidaynursery.com [email protected]
do re mi Day Nursery Ltd Company Number 08616950 2 © ♫do re mi Day Nursery Ltd 2016
Welcome to ♫do re mi! Thank you for your interest in our nursery. I hope that the information provided gives you an insight into who we are and what we are about. In short (in the
words of one of the mums) “You’re not just a nursery, you’re a nurtury” Welcome to ♫do re mi day nursery, Durham. ♫do re mi is a small, independent, family-run nursery located in Meadowfield. We place great value on delivering high quality childcare; seeing each child as an individual. We pride ourselves in nurturing happy, well-rounded children who have positive and fulfilling learning experiences in their formative years. We believe the role of music is key in this: the joy it brings and the positive effects it has for all. Each child is precious, and as parents we all want to feel that we have given our child every opportunity to have the best start in life. We believe that ♫do re mi can help to fulfil this through our unique musical approach. Whether it is by having a part time or full time place at ♫do re mi Day Nursery, we want to develop a love for music and a love for learning in all children. We love seeing little one's faces lighting up as they are sung to, hear a musical instrument or respond to a piece of music. Which in turn, leads them on a step on their musical journey... As we are a small setting we can invest time in really getting to know all of our children and their families. We highly value working in partnership with parents to ensure that home routines are followed and children feel comfortable and safe in the nursery environment. We have found that this aids a smooth settling-in process. The ♫do re mi story
Do re mi was established in 2013 by Dr Jane Todd. Jane was a primary school teacher for 12 years, teaching in local state and private schools. Alongside a teaching role, Jane had a management role and spent a term as ‘Acting Head’ at a Prep school before leaving to start ♫do re mi. Jane graduated from Durham University with a first class honours degree in education, a Masters degree with distinction in educational policy, and most recently in 2012 with a Doctorate in Education. Alongside her time in the classroom and her academic study, Jane is also a mother to two
Our Vision: ‘♫do re mi day nursery aims to be an inspiring and imaginative place to give children the best learning
opportunities and to create amazing memories’.
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young boys. When the eldest was born in November 2012, Jane was fascinated by the difference music made to his early development. It was whilst Jane was on maternity leave that Jane’s dream of ♫do re mi started to become a reality. Jane’s understanding and recognition of the importance of music for all children drove her to develop a way for more children to be able to benefit from her educational and musical knowledge and experience. Jane started ♫do re mi music classes for 0-5’s in September 2013. However, as a working mother herself, Jane appreciated that not all parents could attend such
classes with their little ones, yet still wished their children to benefit from such an approach. That is why ♫do re mi Day Nursery was developed. Do re mi is thought to be Britain’s first nursery founded on a musical approach. Jane has been interviewed by both ‘Nursery World’ and ‘Teach Nursery’ publications on her unique approach and the benefits it has in children’s formative years.
Ofsted’s Opinion of ♫do re mi ♫do re mi were inspected by Ofsted four months after opening. We were awarded ‘good’ across the board with outstanding elements. At this early stage, this was particularly pleasing. Ofsted praised the quality of staff interactions with children, the positive impact of music on learning, the safeguarding of the children, and the pastoral care including the attachment of children to their key person.
♫ “do re mi, do re mi do re mi, it’s the place to be!”
The ♫do re mi curriculum As all other nurseries, we follow the mandatory Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS). What is significant is how this is interpreted, and how practitioners structure the learning experiences they provide. We work hard to deliver the requirements through a child-centred, creative approach to learning. When opportunities present themselves for delivering objectives through a musical approach, these will be utilised, but a broad and balanced learning experience will be provided within a positive learning environment. We favour a creative approach to the delivery of EYFS where learning through play; discovery and hands-on experience is crucial. Our practitioners’ are strongly encouraged to look for quirky approaches in delivering the ordinary; to think differently in order to make the nursery an exciting place to be. The use of open ended resources which spark
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children’s imagination and ‘possibility thinking’ together with the support and scaffolding from experienced staff, enable children to learn and discover things for themselves. We aim to provide plentiful and varied opportunities and experiences for all our children, many of which arise impromptu in response to something that happens on the day. If an elephant walks past the window, we don’t stick to our original plans... our day becomes about the elephant! As well as a musical approach (where appropriate), dancing, art, craft, messy play, sensory experiences, yoga, creative play, treasure baskets, role play, outdoor play, loose parts play,
gardening and forest school activities are all recognised as important to develop the well-rounded child and have a place in our nursery. Rather than having people from outside the nursery come in and lead sessions for the children once a week, we believe in training our staff so that they can respond to the children’s needs and interests so that these things are embedded into a nursery day and make up the wealth of experiences our children partake in. As well as a qualified music teacher on the staff team we also have a qualified dance teacher and professional ballerina who head up the ‘♫do re mi dance’ programme, and a qualified forest schools instructor who leads our forest school adventures. Age Groups
0-2’s We have a dedicated 6-place room for children of this age. Our Room Lead, a Senior Nursery Practitioner with over 20 years of experience of working with this age, will ensure that the routines you have in place at home are followed within nursery. Daily activities follow your child’s interests and schematic play with learning structured around The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Stimulating and creative activities are provided which promote learning in the three prime areas of development: Personal, Social and Emotional; Physical, and Communication and Language.
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Children take part in lots of sensory activities, messy play and treasure basket experiences. Once children are mobile, we respond to their needs and look for opportunities to integrate them where appropriate in [the larger room] for certain activities; whilst still retaining the security of returning to their home base. Flexibility is key in enabling us to respond to the needs of your child; which is why there is not a set age at which children ‘move up’.
2-3’s Exploration and curiosity are fundamental for our 2-3’s. We want every day to be a ‘discovery day’. Through a mix of self-initiated play and adult-led interaction children are able to inquire and engage with activities that promote learning and development in a creative, fun and ‘hands on’ way. Again, practitioners respond to the needs and interests of the individual child to determine next learning steps and subsequent activities.
3-4’s Our pre-school children continue to learn in the way that was started in 2-3’s; following the EYFS to expand and enhance knowledge, skills for life and schematic play. In addition, there is also a focus on ensuring your child is ready for school when they leave us. A daily routine which includes snack, group times and time with their key person, helps to build the necessary relationships which allow your child to feel safe and secure and increase positive learning dispositions. Appropriate boundaries are in place to ensure each child feels safe and their voices are heard. In addition, children are offered focused activities based around their interests which incorporates ‘hidden curriculum’ such as letters and sounds and mathematics. In this way they are learning unconsciously, sowing seeds in preparation for their time at school. The balance of child-initiated learning, and adult-led activities, based around the individual child’s needs, ensures all areas of development set out in The Early Years Foundation Stage are met. The ♫do re mi difference Our vision is that ♫do re mi day nursery is a musically rich environment, where quality musical learning takes place. Music in the early years is very valuable with much research discussing the positive effects on children’s development: social, behavioural, cognitive, and emotional as well as academic. Children love music and singing, dancing and making music come very naturally to young children. As
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such, music is the perfect outlet for children’s creativity, and for fun and positive experiences.
First and foremost, our priorities are providing first class quality learning, development and care. Within this, the ♫do re mi musical learning programme is embedded in the day nursery setting and is an integral part of nursery life. Rather than a weekly session delivered by an ‘outsider’; little and often is the approach within the nursery, with children participating in short, daily adult-led circle time music sessions, provided by the nursery staff who know how our children learn best rather than ‘tagging on’ music as an extra. There is then scope for the children to engage in child-led musical experiences and ‘musical free play’ both inside and out, using an array of musical instruments and props. This allows our children to
explore their own musicality and express themselves. We echo Zoltán Kodály’s (the Hungarian Educator) belief that ‘music belongs to everyone’ and the Kodály Concept informs and underpins our music education within the nursery, providing a high quality, properly structured approach which is systematic and holistic. The main tool we use for this is the voice, the instrument that we all have. However, it is far more than ‘just singing’. This is where foundation skills are developed in preparation for future musicianship, such as learning to play an instrument. Alongside our singing-based approach, children are also introduced to movement activities, circle games and a wide selection of wooden percussion instruments to support this work. Puppets, dance scarves, lycra cloths and a variety of props are all part of our sessions. Other opportunities to learn through music are also utilised where appropriate, such as: Early Writing – we promote early writing skills by making
the gross motor movements required for writing to music. Fine motor skills – through manipulating playdough into
specific shapes and in different ways to music, fine motor movements are developed.
Number skills – through specifically selected songs and rhymes,
Personal, social and emotional development – this is encouraged through the incorporation of story, music, dance and yoga movements.
Physical Development – we use a fun and fitness music and movement programme that helps achieve the physical development and health and well-being early years requirements
Our aim: ‘♫do re mi musical learning aims to nurture children’s musical development through a progressive musical journey’.
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Communication and speech and language development – this is encouraged and positively promoted by the ♫do re mi approach towards the use of rhymes and songs.
Musical Development – songs are specifically selected to be progressive and encourage a strong sense of pulse in children and to develop their inner hearing and accurate pitching. Creativity – by allowing space and time for individual expression to music, the use of a wide range of quality sound-makers, mark-making to music, and encouragement to improvise song words or tunes The nursery rooms are arranged deliberately to ensure a rich and exciting musical environment that allows for both child
and adult led musical activity is created. Our experienced practitioners work with the children’s natural enthusiasm for singing, dancing, moving and playing and use the playfulness, eagerness and curiosity that our children display to develop them in all areas of learning and wellbeing, weaving music through the daily rhythms of the nursery day. Our practitioners use songs and music in a creative and playful way, and enjoying musical experiences and musical free play is a natural part of the ♫do re mi day.
♫ “It’s a do re mi day, We’re here to have some fun
It’s a do re mi day, Welcome everyone
Welcome, welcome, welcome everyone!” ♫ Our Team
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Although Ofsted only require 50% of staff to hold a Level 3 childcare qualification, at ♫do re mi we pride ourselves on all our staff holding at least a level 3 childcare qualification. Both our Director and Assistant Manager are qualified to Level 6 with Jane being a qualified Teacher and Louise holding EYP status (Early Years Professional, equivalent to Early Years Teacher). However, we believe that it is more than qualifications which ensure your child receives the best care and nurture. We value staff who are experienced, really engage the children, ‘think outside the box’ when planning activities for them; are passionate, enthusiastic, and really demonstrate their love and care for each child. Our management team is complemented by Anne, a very experienced Senior Practitioner who leads our Baby Room as well as regularly overseeing operations across the nursery. When employing staff, as well as using her professional judgement, decisions are also informed by the high standards that Jane has as a ‘mum’ whose sons are part of the nursery, and for whom she wants to give the very best. Our Facilities
Small and homely, ♫do re mi is homed in a timber framed building with solar panels on the roof on a little business park surrounded by a hairdressers, café, restaurant, fitness centre, physiotherapist and solicitors. Inside we have a dedicated room for our babies, and two large rooms for our 2’s and 3-4’s. There are folding doors in the middle of these which give great flexibility and allow for the space to be opened up and a variety of play activities and tasks, as the space can be
organised in numerous different ways, and for different age groups. Our facilities are three years old. We have a kitchen on site and cook yummy home-made meals for the children each day (Rated the highest mark, a ‘5’ by Food Hygiene) in line with early years nutritional guidance. We have a breadth of natural resources and toys to excite and engage your child in creative and sensory play. However, we believe it is what the children do with these, and how the practitioners guide use of these that is of central importance – not the resources themselves. Our indoor and outdoor areas are organised to provide areas for play and exploration, including: Story corner, cosy corner, maths, malleable, ICT, art and design, mark-making, writing, construction, music, home corner and role play. These areas are often multi-purpose or flexible.
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Outdoor area Immediately outside the nursery we have an all-weather astro surface which allows outdoor play every day of the year come rain or shine (although we do teach the children to dress appropriately for the weather and waterproofs are provided). We have a mounded grass area that allows for ‘risky play’ activities and other learning opportunities; a mud kitchen, sand play area and raised beds which the
children can grow their own plants and vegetables in. This area also provides opportunity to dig for worms and learn about mini-beasts and other insects and creatures in their natural environment. Our main approach for our outdoor area is a space where open-ended creative play and learning can take place, rather than using fixed play equipment and resources that can limit imagination and play.
Mealtimes Children are provided with nutritious meals and snacks which ensure they have the energy to continue their explorations throughout the day. These are in line with government recommendations and are freshly prepared for the children each day. A sample weekly menu: Breakfast Lunch Tea Snacks Monday
A selection of healthy cereals, white or brown toast
Cottage pie with vegetables
Scrambled egg on muffins
Yogurts, toast,
raisins and breadsticks, fresh fruit.
Tuesday Home-made tuna fish goujons and
savoury rice
Vegetable soup and chunky bread
Wednesday Vegetable risotto with garlic bread
Jacket potato and butter
Thursday Roast chicken dinner
Herby tomato pasta
Friday Pork and apple casserole
Beans on Toast
This is only an example as we buy seasonal food. In addition, vegetarian options and special dietary requirements are catered for.
Babies – We will follow your routine with regard to feeding (breast milk or formula). Once your child starts weaning we will prepare healthy, fresh food appropriate to their stage of weaning.
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From our parents:
My little girl has just started her preschool hours at Do Re Mi and absolutely loves it - she comes home singing songs and talking about the day’s adventures. The staff have been fab and I am sure it will prepare her well for school. We get up in the mornings and say "Yay! It’s a Do Re Mi Day!"
Do Re Mi is a wonderful, nurturing environment. It’s small, personal and the staff are very caring. They are flexible and really keen to meet the individual needs of my children. The unique musical focus captures imagination and develops skills and talents, I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
I have been so happy with the development of my daughter and the activities she has been involved in, her character and personality has been allowed to develop and her interests have been encouraged. She immediately settled into the nursery which made my return to work easier than expected.
Extremely well thought out activities and experiences for the children involving very well qualified and engaging staff. The relationship my daughter has with all the staff is an example of how the owner has strived to make the nursery a home from home experience for all the children.
My Son absolutely LOVES do re mi; he doesn't even glance back on a morning when I drop him off, he just runs straight in. It’s lovely to see his confidence growing with every session, he's learning to share and he's learning manners and I have no worries at all about leaving him, all the staff are lovely and friendly and I know he's well looked after from the moment I walk away - a fantastic nursery, that I would recommend 100% ‘people who are just looking at
price lists are missing out on something quite amazing, I don’t believe there’s another nursery in Durham quite like this’
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Places Care is available 51 weeks of the year (we are closed Christmas week) from 7.30am* until 6pm. If you require care outside of these hours, please speak to us as we may be able to accommodate. As a 38-place nursery our capacities are as follows: Age Maximum
Places Staffing Ratios
0-2’s 6 At least 1:3 2-3’s 16 At least 1:4 3-5’s 16 At least 1:8
Out of School Care Our main after school provision is held at Neville’s Cross Primary School, 3.30-5.30pm and we also provide a walking bus service for children from St Margaret’s Primary School. If numbers allow, we are able to offer out of school care at nursery for children up to the age of 8 years old. Dependent on the location of the school, we can offer a walking or transport drop-off/collection service. Meals are included and children can take part in a variety of activities, whether they are musical, down on the allotment, creative, messy, physical, or even ‘quiet time’. Fees Fees include: food as specified daily resources specialist music provision by our qualified music teacher dance sessions taught by our qualified dance teachers yoga sessions, sensory sessions, in-house forest school activities (by our trained
forest school instructor) Session Times Meals Under 2 Over 2 Full day 8.00am-6.00pm includes all meals £46.00 £43.00
Morning session
8.00am-1.00pm includes breakfast, snack and lunch
£25.00 £24.00
Afternoon session
1.00pm-6.00pm includes snack and tea
£24.00 £23.00
Hourly rate*
Minimum of 2 hours
Not included £7.00 £7.00
* or any part thereof Additional Charges Early morning care: 7.30-8am £5.75 Morning Meals: £3.00 (Breakfast, snacks, and two course lunch) Afternoon Meals: £2.00 (Snack and Tea) Before School Care: 8.00-9.00am, including breakfast and travel to school, £10.00 After School Care at Do Re Mi: 3.00-6.00pm, including collection and tea £14.00
*Core hours are 8am-6pm, but for a small additional charge care is available from 7.30am.
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After School Care at Neville’s Cross: 3.30-5.30pm including snack tea £12.00 After School Care from St Margaret’s: 3.30-5.30pm including collection from school and
snack tea £13.00 NB These charges are valid until August 2017 and fees are reviewed annually. There is a minimum of two sessions per week (either one full day or two separate sessions). No charge is made for Bank Holidays or Christmas week. Flexible provision may be available (such as term-time only) and will be considered on an individual basis (subject to availability). Please speak to us to discuss your requirements. Discounts Full Time Place Discount: A 5% discount is available for
children who attend full time (Monday-Friday, all year round)
Sibling Discount: We offer parents who have more than one child at the nursery for 5 sessions or more, a 10% discount for the child doing the lesser number of sessions, if all children do the same sessions we offer a 10% discount for the oldest sibling in the nursery.
‘Play and Learn’ Places (Funded 2’s) / Free Early Education Hours (3-4’s): We are able to offer places to children who qualify for the free early learning funding the term after their birthday. This entitles them to the equivalent of 15 hours per week term time only (38 weeks), which works out as approximately two do re mi sessions weekly for 51 weeks of the year. Please note this funding only covers education hours and not additional daycare or meals.
Childcare vouchers are accepted for payment/part-payment of the monthly bill (please speak to your Employer to find out if they are in a registered scheme). If you require more information, please ask. Registration A completed enrolment form and registration fee is required to secure a place with us. Prior to your child’s start you will complete a full registration form and meet with your child’s key person to go through your child’s needs and care routine. If you would like to arrange a visit, or require any further information about the nursery, please contact Dr Jane Todd (Managing Director) or Mrs Louise Carr (Assistant Manager).
We look forward to welcoming you to the ♫do re mi
family!
