About Us

Introduction to The Growing Tree Nursery

The Growing Tree Nursery is a private day care setting for children aged 3 months to 5 years, which is registered for up to 104 children.

The nursery opened in November 1998, and moved to new premises at the old Ruislip Elementary School in October 2007. We are close to all local amenities, only a short walk from West Ruislip and Ickenham Underground Stations.

The nursery has spacious rooms that are bright and welcoming providing a totally child orientated environment. There is a sleep room for the babies with cots, nappy changing areas, child height toilets and sinks encouraging independence. We have areas for messy creative play, carpeted and soft areas and large outdoor gardens for each individual age group

This brochure can only give a brief glimpse at what our nursery can offer you and your family, due to Covid-19 we are currently unable to accommodate showarounds. Please visit our virtual tour of the nursery.

The Growing Tree Aims

We think it is important to have aims in our nursery as it underpins exactly what we hope to achieve. Effective aims demonstrate a good understanding of quality care, which we strive to achieve at The Growing Tree Nursery.

Our Aims are as follows:

We aim to offer a quality day care service to children aged 3mths - 5 years.
We work within Educational Guidelines following the Early Years foundation stages and every child matters Framework.
We offer a high standard of care, recognising the importance for children to have opportunities for social interaction.
We work in Partnership with Families.

Staffing

By investing time and regular developmental child care training in our qualified or well experienced staff, we at The Growing Tree Nursery have a happy, friendly, welcoming staff team who provide love and quality care to all the children that attend.

By having the following ratios we can provide your child with the attention they need to settle and grow in a nursery environment.

For children aged 3 months - 2 years we have 1 member of staff to 3 children.
For toddlers aged 2 - 3 years we have 1 member of staff to 4 children.
For children aged 3 - 5 years we have 1 member of staff to 8 children.

Equal Opportunities

At The Growing Tree Nursery we promote equality of opportunity, which values the communities culture and diversity.

To do this we practice our Policies of Anti-discrimination, which is incorporated in The Birth to Three Matters Framework and into the nursery Curriculum teaching all children to respect others and promoting British Values.

Physical Environment

We endeavour to provide a nursery which is welcoming to both children and parents, making a warm and friendly atmosphere displaying the children’s work and bright and colourful posters.

We have large rooms divided into different areas, there are quieter spaces for the children to relax and areas for more messy, creative and loud play.

Outside Play Area

At The Growing Tree Nursery we have large outside play areas which are separated for the different age ranges, with areas for bike riding and climbing frames with slides. These enable the children to enjoy a wide range of physical play.

We also encourage other areas of learning development by having sand and water play, a play house and chalks to encourage some children that prefer indoor play to participate in the outdoor environment, thus ensuring that all children are given opportunities whilst taking into consideration them as individuals. The outside play areas are accessible directly from each of the nursery rooms allowing the children free-flow access, choosing where they want to play.

Education and Activities

All children need intellectual stimulation and play, which is why at the Growing Tree Nursery we follow the framework and standards set by the E.Y.F.S. The framework is based on 4 themes and principles and supported by 16 commitments. It recognises children as individuals and competent learners. The E.Y.F.S is delivered through a well planned play based approach to learning and development.

For all children learning starts at birth. The E.Y.F.S helps staff provide appropriate play experiences to enable your child to develop new skills. For young children it is important that they are made to feel safe and secure in their surroundings. This is aided by having a key person within the setting who gets to know you and your child well and builds a positive relationship with you both.

Staff are able to provide your child with appropriate play and learning experiences for their stage of development and help them develop new skills. The activities that are provided for young children will underpin the skills they need to work towards the Early Learning Goals in the following areas at the end of their reception year at school.

Communication, Language and literacy
Personal, social and emotional development
Problem solving and reasoning
Creative development
Physical development
Knowledge and understanding of the world

All areas are of equal importance and many activities will cover many areas. Each area is divided up into stages of development and staff are able to identify resources and learning opportunities for individual children dependant on their development needs.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

We provide activities for large groups of children to encourage the learning of social skills, such as sharing, turn taking and teamwork, where the children will learn to listen to each other and work together. By providing an inclusive nursery allowing all children to be a valued member of the nursery, the children learn to be accepting, thus gaining a good self-image and high self-esteem.

Mathematical Development

At The Growing Tree Nursery we believe that children will gain greater experiences through play. Therefore by providing opportunities all around the nursery, for example, water play – filling different sized cups and beakers which begins basic understanding of capacity, wooden bricks – counting and matching: the children can begin to understand basic mathematical concepts from fun experiences around them.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

The aim of this area of learning is to teach the children about the world environment, the features of natural and man made materials, places and people around them. We have visits to the nursery from the local community, such as the Fire Brigade. We go to the library weekly and recycle the nursery paper. Also by having projects, such as a butterfly house and tadpoles in the spring the children can see similarities, differences, patterns and change first hand. The children also take turns in helping look after the garden.

Physical Development

Play is an excellent way to encourage physical development by providing opportunities and equipment for jumping, balancing, throwing and catching, running and hopping the children can develop gross motor skills – building muscle tone and improving co-ordination. As well as fine manipulative skills by for example small building bricks - hand eye co-ordination.

Communication, Language and Literacy

To promote language development we aim to give all children the opportunity to talk. Through play the children are able to talk with adults and each other, learning extended vocabulary, how to listen and communicate.

Creative Development

At the nursery we have a wide range of creative and art activities, such as drawing and painting through to imaginative music and dance. The children can investigate using all of their senses to create anything that their imagination can conjure.

Activities

Every month we have a different theme, for example mini beasts, and the children will investigate and learn all about this topic. The activities surrounding each topic are planned so that we meet all seven areas of development.

Key Worker

When your child starts nursery with us they are allocated a certain member of staff who will be their Key Worker. With them you and your child can build an effective and caring relationship, passing on information about your child’s achievements and building on their progress together.

All younger children have a daily diary. Staff will write what your child has been doing throughout the day etc.

Sleep

If the children sleep during the day, we have cots and beds with individual sheets for them to use, each child’s routine and sleep preferences are catered for.

Meals

Providing children with quality care also means taking care of their physical needs, which we at The Growing Tree Nursery meet by having a well-balanced nutritious menu, which is varied to reflect cultural, religious, and any special diets.

It consists of breakfast (No sugary cereals), a hot meal for lunch and an afternoon tea, all of which are given with milk or water. There is also fruit, or age appropriate snacks, provided in the morning and afternoon.

The children also have access to fresh drinking water throughout the day.

We have regularly achieved a 5 star hygiene rating by the Environmental Health Agency.

Partnership with Parents

At The Growing Tree Nursery we believe that one of our key aims is to work in partnership with parents, by respecting that parents are the most important people in their children’s lives.

To do this we build positive relationships with all parents from the first introduction by using effective lines of communication, visits to the nursery, two annual parents evenings to discuss your child’s progress, newsletters, daily diaries, informal meetings and chats on the telephone or when you're dropping off or collecting your child.

When your child starts at the nursery you will receive a Parent Pack which is a brief summary of the nursery’s Policies and Procedures, however if you wish to receive a full copy of all of these please ask any member of staff.

Ofsted

By being registered with Ofsted we follow the “National Standards”, which are a set of outcomes for providers to achieve. By following these standards we ensure a good quality of care for the children.

Ofsted inspect our nursery regularly to ensure that we are meeting the required standards. Their report is available on the notice board and by request. We also strive to work in partnership with other relevant agencies that can help us to maintain our good practice.

Parents can visit the Ofsted site to view our recent report.

Growing Tree Nursery outside planting area

Security

When children start at nursery with us parents are given a password. This password is for when parents need someone to collect their child who may be unknown to the nursery staff. We also require written acknowledgement from the parents if this will be happening (where possible) and that the person coming to collect their child has some form of identification verifying their name. If someone comes to the nursery without any of the above requirements the child will stay in our care until the parents can be contacted.

Also in the interests of safety the main door is always kept locked and is only answered by members of staff.

Prices

from September

All prices include Breakfast, snack and a cooked Lunch during the morning session. Snack and Tea in the afternoon. Bottle-feeds for babies have to be supplied by the parents or carers.

Once the non-refundable registration fee has been received along with the application form (included at the back of this brochure) your child will be allocated the number of sessions and written confirmation will be sent to you. A cheque will then be required for 50% of your child’s monthly fees as a deposit. This deposit is only cashed if you decide that you no longer want the nursery place that you have reserved and give us less than two months notice of this decision. As soon as your child starts with us the cheque is returned to you.
Nappies, wipes and creams are supplied, and the cost included within the fees for all children under the age of 18 months, The month after your child turns 18mths these will need to be supplied by the parents or carers.
Payment is made on the 1st day each month by direct debit. We also accept many different voucher schemes.
You may be entitled to Working Families Tax Credit. To find out please telephone them on 0845 300 3900 for more details.
A 5% discount is available for siblings at the nursery, attending at the same time.

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