Working Together For Your Children

At Holly House we maintain the ratio of adults to children that is set through the Welfare Requirements.

We also have students and apprentices where possible to complement these ratios. This helps us to:

•    give time and attention to each child;

•    talk with the children about their interests and activities;

•    help children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide; and

•    allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety

Our Age-range

We provide care and education for young children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years.

Our Opening Hours

We are open from 7.45am to 6.00pm, 5 days each week (Mon - Fri), 51 weeks each year.

We are closed for one week at Christmas, Bank/public holidays and one training day.

Our Timetable and Routines

At Holly House we believe that care and education are equally important in the experience which we offer children. The routines and activities that make up the day in the setting are provided in ways that:

•    help each child to feel that she/he is a valued member of the setting;
•    ensure the safety of each child;
•    help children to gain from the social experience of being part of a group; and
•    provide children with opportunities to learn and help them to value learning.

Starting at Holly House

The First days

We want your child to feel happy and safe with us. To make sure that this is the case, the staff will work with you to decide on how to help your child to settle into the setting. Holly House has a policy about helping children to settle in which is available to view upon request.

The Holly House Day

We organise the day so that children can take part in a variety of child-chosen and adult-led activities. These take account of children's changing energy levels throughout the day and caters for children's individual needs for rest and quiet activities during the day. Outdoor activities contribute to children's health, their physical development and their knowledge of the world around them. Our wonderful outdoor space (of which we're very proud!) allows for plenty of outdoor play and activities. We also plant and grow our own produce in our large vegetable patch and encourage the children to participate in the planting, growing, harvesting, cooking and eating of the vegetables! Whatever the weather we aim to spend at least an hour a day outside.

Clothing

We provide protective clothing for the children when they play with messy activities and waterproofs for outdoor play when the weathers not too great.. We encourage children to gain the skills that help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet and taking off, and putting on, outdoor clothes. Clothing that is easy for them to manage will help them to do this. We hope that you and your child enjoy being members of our setting and that you find taking part in our activities interesting and stimulating. Staff members are always ready and willing to talk with you about your ideas, views or questions.

Snacks and meals

At Holly House we make snacks and meals a social time at which children and adults eat together. We plan the menus for snacks and meals so that they provide the children with healthy and nutritious food. All of the meals that we provide are freshly prepared in the setting on a daily basis.  We cater for all dietary requirements.