ABOUT US
Daisychains Nursery, previously Daisychains Playgroup, was established in 1976 in a hall in Minster Village. Michelle Morley took over as Manager of the Playgroup in September 2006 and in January 2010 the Playgroup was re-named Daisychains Nursery and relocated to its current location on the St George’s Primary School site, Minster on Sea.
We are members of the Early Years Alliance, a leading charity specialising in early years. We are also Ofsted registered, ensuring the highest possible standards of education and care for your child.
We provide childcare for children from the age of 3 months until they reach Primary School admission age (4 years and 11 months) and are open Monday to Friday between the hours of 08:00 to 18:00, 51 weeks a year (we are closed between Christmas Eve and January 2nd).
We have 3 separate rooms to cater for Babies, Toddlers and Pre-School Children:
Blossom Room – for babies and children aged 3 months to 2 years
Buttercup Room – for children aged 2 to 3 years
Daisy Room – for our pre-school children.
Transition between rooms is child led, the ages listed for the rooms are a guide only, children will move only when they are ready.
Whilst attending our nursery children will follow the Early Years Foundation Stage which sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to 5 years.
We believe that every child deserves the right to a safe, secure and happy childhood and recognise that a child’s experience in the early years can have a major impact on their future life chances.
All our sessions are structured and planned around every child’s individual needs. Every child is allocated a ‘Key Person’ who will carry out observations and record progress in the child’s learning journal. Learning journals are started as soon as a child enters the nursery and are used to record progress and development, noting significant achievements until they leave us to start school. We believe a child’s learning journey must be a joint venture between home and the nursery and therefore parents are encouraged to review and contribute to the Learning journals at regular intervals.
We have an extensive range of age appropriate indoor and outdoor toys and equipment to stimulate young minds and to provide opportunities to explore and encourage learning and sharing through constructive play with peers. Children will be encouraged to become more independent by deciding which activities they would like to do during our free play sessions
Our Mission Statement
We are committed to providing outstanding care and pre-school education for your child by using qualified and experienced practitioners and providing a spacious and stimulating learning environment. We endeavour to meet the requirements of each and every family that uses our nursery and believe that every child has a right to be respected as an individual. We understand the importance of a parent’s and carer’s contributions to a child’s overall wellbeing and development and will work in partnership with you to provide the very best for your child. We acknowledge that every child has the right to develop at their own pace and children will be supported in reaching their full potential through the use of varied resources to extend and excite their imagination and understanding.
Daisychains Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and their families and all staff share this commitment.
Our Ethos
Valuing the processes in play to develop lifelong learners.
Using the characteristics of effective learning as building blocks alongside the prime areas with the child at the centre. Giving a broad range of opportunities to prepare children for their transition into school.
SESSION TIMES
| Early Morning Session (Flexible) | 07:45 – 09:00 | Drop off times 07:45, 08:00 or 08:30 |
| Morning Session (Fixed) 09:00 – 12:00 | 09:00 – 12:00 | Children required to attend for the full session. |
| Afternoon Session (Fixed) | 12:00 – 15:00 | Children required to attend for the full session. |
| Late Afternoon Session (Flexible) | 15:00 – 18:00 | Pick up times every half hour from 15:30 – 18:00 |
We aim to be as flexible as possible with drop off and pick up times, but charges will be applied for the full booked session even if you drop off late or pick up early.
Children can attend full time (51 weeks) or term-time only (38 weeks per year, term dates set by nursery to align with KCC PVI Calendar wherever possible).
We recommend that children attend a minimum of 2 days per week, even if only for a few hours each day, as we find this helps them to settle quicker.
FEES AND FUNDING
Deposit
If your child is offered a place at our nursery, you will be required to pay a conditionally refundable deposit* equivalent to one month’s fees to secure their place. Once your child starts nursery you will then be asked to pay the first month’s fees in advance.
- Your deposit will be refunded once your child leaves the nursery as long as they have attended for a minimum of one calendar month. If you withdraw your child prior to them starting we reserve the right to retain your deposit.
- If your child leaves the nursery before transition to Primary School, we require one month’s notice of leaving. If your child leaves without notice we reserve the right to withhold your deposit in lieu of notice.
Nursery Fees
Fees will be invoiced and must be paid on a monthly basis in advance. Invoices are emailed to the Bill Payer and can be viewed via our ParentZone App.
Fees are payable for all booked sessions regardless of absence due to sickness, holidays etc.
Children that attend full time (51 weeks) and are not in receipt of government funding, are entitled to two weeks holiday at ½pay. One month’s notice is required prior to the holiday for the reduction to be implemented.
Failure to pay fees promptly may result in the nursery cancelling your child’s place.
Current Fees
Blossom Room (0-2yrs) £5.50 per hour
Buttercup and Daisy Rooms (2yrs +) £5.25 per hour
Fees are not charged for Bank Holidays and days when the Nursery is closed, except for Staff Development Days.
Daisychains has 3 Staff Development Days per academic year, if they fall on a day that your child would normally attend then payment will be required in full. These development days will be carried out during school term dates and will be published at the start of the academic year (ie in September each year).
Invoices should be paid by direct bank transfer; we also accept payment via various childcare voucher schemes.
Early Drop Off / Late Collection Penalty
Children should be dropped off no earlier than the start of their booked session and must be collected promptly at the end of the session. If you drop your child off early or fail to collect them at the correct time a penalty charge may be imposed at the rate of £2.50 per minute.
If you do need to drop off early or collect late please contact us as soon as possible so we can ensure suitable cover is available.
Changes to Hours
Any request for changes to your child’s hours needs to be put in writing or submitted via our ParentZone app. Wherever possible we request one month’s notice of any changes.
Some children are eligible to receive up to 15 hours free childcare per week for 38 weeks per year from the term after their 2ndbirthday, dependant upon a parent’s income.
If you believe you are eligible for this funding you will need to apply via the KCC Website:
Universal Funding
All 3-4year olds in England are eligible for free childcare up to a maximum of 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year from the term after their 3rd birthday.
This funding is applied automatically starting the term after your child’s 3rd birthday.
Extended Funding
Some 3-4year olds are eligible for up to 30 hours free childcare per week for 38 weeks per year, depending on parental circumstances. (15 hours universal funding plus up to an additional 15 hours extended funding)
Eligibility for 30 hours funding needs to be confirmed via HMRC. Parents need to apply via the Government Website and if eligible will be provided with a unique code that can be used by the nursery to claim the funding.
Applications for 30 hours funding can be done via the following websites:
If you register for the governments Tax-Free Childcare Scheme, you can get up to £500 every 3 months for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare.
You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare if you are eligible for both.
For more information visit the gov.uk website:
Please ensure you submit your applications for funding at the appropriate time as we require confirmation of eligibility before the start of the term in which funding will be applied.
For funding purposes the Terms are as follows:
Autumn (September to December, Terms 1 and 2)
Spring (January to March/April, Terms 3 and 4)
Summer (March/April to July, Terms 5 and 6)
For example:
If your child turns 2/3 between 1 January and 31 March the nursery would require proof of eligibility before the start of Term 5 (the term after Easter) for us to be able to claim the appropriate funding.
Please check the guidance on the above mentioned websites for cut-off and eligibility dates.
If your child attends nursery for more than the funded hours, all additional hours will need to be paid in full at the current hourly rates.
ADMISSIONS
Information on Admissions
We are a fully inclusive nursery, open to every family in the community. No child will be refused admission on the grounds of gender, family status, disability, colour, ethnic origin, culture, religion, or belief.
Children will be admitted in accordance with Kent County Council guidelines/our admissions policy, ie we will offer places to siblings of children at the nursery first and then on a first come, first served basis. However, except for the Baby Room we only have one admission group per year which is in September. Our admission request window for September admissions opens on 1 March each year, or the next working day if 1 March falls at the weekend.
Requests for places in the Baby room can be made at any time. All requests are subject to availability of places.
We offer a choice of full or term time contracts, full time contracts are for 51 weeks per year and term time contracts are for 38 weeks a year (term times will be set by the nursery to align with the KCC PVI Calendar wherever possible).
If you would like more information or to apply for a place for your child please contact us.