01624 674655
Baby Bees - 0-2 years
Beehive Baby Wing
What to expect when you first visit
The Environment
1. Homely and welcoming.
2. Brightly decorated with lots of colourful pictures on the wall and artwork hanging from the ceiling.
3. There is a separate sleep room or area for the babies to sleep in. Each baby will have his or her own cot/bed, with their own clean bedding.
The Staff
The staff will be engaging in activities with the children, talking to and encouraging the children to progress in their development.
The staff to child ratio is one to three in the baby wing.
The staff in the baby wing genuinely enjoy their work and will show a real interest in every baby as an individual.
Baby Bee's Routine
8.00am Nursery opens
Younger babies are given a cuddle and go straight to carpeted area.
Older children will be encouraged to join in activity in the messy play area, e.g. sand, play dough, puzzles and drawing .
8.30am Free Play
9.30am Nappies are started at this time; every child is checked and changed if necessary. (NB children will be changed throughout the day as and when they need it.)
9.45am All children sit down for a drink of water/milk
10.00am If a walk in the prams has been arranged at about this time or earlier we will depart for a stroll in the prams, usually we go round the block, to the duck pond or park.
11.00am All children will be seated at highchairs or table ready for their lunch, a member of staff will entertain children with songs, rhymes and stories while they wait for their lunch to arrive.
12.00pm All children's nappies are changed.
1.00pm Morning children are collected by parents, slumber tot children are put down in their cot or bed.
1.30pm Adult led activity is begun with children, this will include art and crafts, messy play such as jelly and corn flour play and water play. In mild weather children will go outside to play in garden. We may also go out for a walk in the prams at this time.
3.00pm Children sit down for their afternoon tea; again the children will be entertained whilst they wait for their food to arrive.
4.00pm Nappies are changed ready for children to go home and free play.
6.00pm Nursery Closes
You will be asked not to enter the carpeted area of the baby wing as this can be quite disruptive to the other children as well as being a health and safety risk. (Exceptions are made when parents are visiting or the staff have a private matter they wish to discuss with you.)
What you should bring
• Nappy cream (if you have a preference)
• Cooler Bag containing Lunch/Tea and refillable sippy cup
• Expressed breast or formula milk
• Change of clothes for the time of year - including vest, shirt, trousers and socks.
• Coat, hat and gloves
• Any special creams that need administering
Dropping off and picking up your baby for the first time
Settling in
To help your child feel less apprehensive about being left in the nursery, your child will be provided with free induction sessions lasting one hour whereby the child is left with the nursery staff to get to know them and the new surroundings, as well as experiencing a short time away from their main carer, we will organise these sessions with you, a week or two before your child's first proper day. This could be for a couple of days, or a few sessions over a week, depending on the child. This experience prepares you for the first occasion you leave your child at the nursery for a full session, ensuring a less fraught time 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, if your child is mobile there will be activities in the messy area your child will be encouraged join in.
Please ensure the nursery staff know if your child is on medication or there are any changes in behaviour, eating patterns, sleep etc.
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 child you will be given a daily record 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.
Inducting to the Beehive Toddlers
When does this happen?
Babies move up to Beehive Toddlers when they are between eighteen and twenty one months old, however, this very much depends on your child's individual needs and stage of development. If for instance they are very mobile they may move up more quickly. We only move children when they are ready. If change is managed as part of a natural progression it will be less unsettling.
Before moving up
Your child will have visits to the toddler room for an hour or two to familiarise him or her with the new surroundings.
You will also be invited to meet the staff and see the room where your child will be spending their time.
Reassurance
You can call us during the day to check on your child's progress for your own reassurance.
Our first and most important aim is to produce happy, confident children who are interested in all they see, hear and do and who have enquiring minds. Every baby at the Beehive Baby wing has the opportunity to:
• play as a happy member of a group in a secure and exciting environment
• talk and listen to adults and children learn from what he or she can do and not from what he or she cannot become self-confident and have a good self-image
• experience the outside enjoy the use of colour and making things enjoy listening to and making music express his or her own feelings begin to understand what is right and wrong.
Developmental stages
All children develop at their own rate, and these age groupings are broad and should be taken as guidelines and not rigid measures. The individual record keeping and joint planning of staff at our nurseries will ensure the children's needs are met.
• Three months
• Six months
• Nine months
• Twelve months
• Sixteen months
Three months
Things to observe:
• Visually alert
• Follows small toy dangled vertically
• Holds rattle for a few moments, sometimes knocking themselves with it
• Sudden noises distress them
• Enjoys listening to voice
• Gazes at carer's face when feeding
• When supported enjoys looking around
Things to do at this stage to encourage development:
• Your baby needs to hear language spoken to him or her, real words not baby talk
• Regular singing of nursery rhymes and games of calling their name just outside their vision field. Play "boo" with them.
• Take every opportunity to play finger games. When changing a nappy - gently squeeze your baby's fingers, encouraging them to practise gripping objects
• Constant eye contact when handling and lots of talking
• Toys to handle and soft toys to cuddle
Six months
Things to observe:
• Sits with support
•Turns head from side to side to look around
• Kicks strongly
• Looks everywhere, follows adults movements
• Stares at toys and when they are dropped watches them fall
• Turns immediately to a familiar sound or voice
• Tries out sounds like "ah" "oo" "dada" "mama"
• Laughs and chuckles, shows annoyance
• Puts everything in mouth, including food
• Reaches for rattle
• Finds own feet and hands interesting
• Begins to support weight on arms
• Rolls over on to back
Things to do at this stage to encourage development:
• Take your baby for walks. At an Asquith Nursery babies are regularly taken for walks locally to the park to feed the ducks, to local pet shops or just for a gentle stroll to enjoy the fresh air.
• Play hiding games with small soft toys, with just a bit showing so your baby can find it.
• Respond to your baby's experimental sounds with similar sounds.
• Show and read books which encourage laughter and involvement, e.g. books with touchable fabrics and built in sounds.
• Play with water - let them wash their hands in a bowl of water.
• Introduce a treasure basket full of things which your baby can explore. This could include a lemon, wooden balls, clothes pegs, bunch of bells, a natural sponge, a spoon.
Nine months
Things to observe:
• Sits unsupported on the floor
• Attempts to crawl and stand with effort
• Shouts to attract attention
• Babbles for self amusement
• Understands "no"and "bye bye"
• Begins to eat with spoon
• Drinks from a baby cup
Things to do at this stage to encourage development:
• Read more frequently using books which are special favourites over and over again.
• Always make sure the child is sitting on your lap and looking at the book in the same way you are. Talk about the pictures.
• Use more demanding toys, perhaps ones which make noises in response to actions.
• Extend the treasure basket with new things like a leather purse, a funnel, an orange and other 'touchy' 'feely' things.
Twelve months
Things to observe:
• Sits on the floor for longer periods
• Can rise, crawl or bear walk
• Holds on to furniture and steps sideways
• Points with finger at items of interest
• Picks up small objects
Things to do at this stage to encourage development:
• Read more frequently using books which are special favourites over and over again. Continue to talk about the pictures.
• Spend more time looking at pictures on the wall as well as in books. Constantly talk about everything you see and do together.
• Use more demanding toys, perhaps ones which make noises in response to actions.
• Play games with their names, sing it to them, bounce your child to the same rhythm. Play singing games that involve clapping and hand play.
• Listen to nursery rhymes on tape together. Play with toys while sitting on the floor together.
Sixteen months
Things to observe:
• May walk alone
• Manipulates bricks
• Grasps crayons with whole hand
• Makes speech-like sounds and a few words
• Understands simple instructions
• Holds and drinks from cup
• Pushes and pulls toys
• Physically restless, and has no fear, so needs constant supervision for protection from dangers.
Things to do at this stage to encourage development:
• Read more frequently using books, which are special favourites over and over again. Continue to talk about the pictures.
• Spend more time looking at pictures on the wall as well as in books. Constantly talk about everything you see and do together.
• At this stage the child needs more physical activity. Play with bricks and other building toys, encourage higher building.
• Identify objects which they are interested in, and make conversation all the time
• Give simple instructions and expect a response.
• Provide push and pull toys for outside play.
Our philosophy on feeding babies
Babies come to us from two months 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 the 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 a high chair. The food will be provided by the parent or guardian in a small cooler bag, which should be placed on the lunch trolley in the morning. We will give you full details of what they ate and how much.
Once the child gets older and more confident with food he or she will join the older babies, who sit at the table, and they will all be fed together and will be encouraged to feed themselves.
N.B Please do not provide your baby with juice in a bottle, if you wish to give your child juice please provide a cup. Milk or water is best for babies and toddlers.
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. Are respected - no one is expected to rush, or to eat food they don't like
How eating Develops
• From three to six months
• From six to nine months
• From nine months onwards
• From ten months onwards
From three to six months
• Formula milk
• Wean around 4 to 6 months
• Solid foods introduced like baby cereal/rice (free from sugar/salt)
What can they eat?
• Apple, pear, bananas, papayas (4- 5 months)
• Carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, courgettes, squash, green beans, swede, sweet potatoes (4-5 months)
• Dried fruit, peach, apricot, plum, melon, avocado (5-6 months)
From six to nine months
• Introduce fresh pureed vegetables and fresh fruit
• Finger foods - bread sticks, rusks, toasted finger bread
• Cows milk can start to be introduced into foods
What can they eat?
• Peas, tomatoes, spinach, celery, leek, parsnip, peppers (5-6 months)
• Eggs, fish, chicken, dairy foods (from 6 months)
• Citrus fruits, berries and mango
• Mushroom, sweet corn
• Other meats (6 to 12 months)
From nine months onwards
• Introduce adult meals including more unusually-flavoured food - very mild curries, casseroles
• Food to start to be textured, do not completely puree, - helps with teething
• Provide more and more finger foods - toast with marmite
• Cows milk can be given from 12 months
• From 12 months honey can be introduced into the diet
From ten months onwards
Babies should be encouraged to start feeding themselves from around ten months. This would include holding bottles and cups. Let them experience messy play when feeding, by putting their hands in the food. This introduces them to different textures and temperatures.
Books and Songs
You can support your child at home by?
• Reading with your child, choosing from books specially designed to appeal to their age group
• Involving them as much as possible in everything you do
• Identifying objects which they are interested in, and making conversation all the time
• Spending time outside with them taking them and out in their pushchairs
• Using every opportunity to go outside with your child with toys like mobiles etc. Be aware to protect your child from the sun especially during the summer.
• Visiting places like pet shops - great trips for very small children
Songs
Songs to sing actions with include:
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• Row, Row, Row The Boat
• Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes